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- Title
Flirting With Nuclear Energy Down Under.
- Authors
Kampmark, Binoy
- Abstract
The article discusses the contentious issue of nuclear energy in Australia. Currently, Australia has a modest nuclear industry centered around the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization (ANSTO), nuclear medicine, and laboratory products. However, the long-term storage of nuclear waste has been a challenge due to legal challenges from communities and First Nation groups. The recent AUKUS agreement, which promises nuclear-powered submarines for the Royal Australian Navy, adds another complicating dimension to the nuclear dilemma. The article also explores Australia's past ambitions for nuclear weapons and the debate surrounding the use of nuclear power as a solution for meeting emissions reduction targets. The viability of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) is discussed, with concerns raised about their cost and construction time. The article concludes that the debate on nuclear energy in Australia is likely to continue without more real-world data on the economic viability of SMRs.
- Subjects
NUCLEAR energy; NUCLEAR power plants; NUCLEAR nonproliferation; FLIRTING; NUCLEAR reactors
- Publication
CounterPunch, 2023, p1
- ISSN
1086-2323
- Publication type
Article