‘Populism’ thwarts uranium and nuclear debate

The boss of Australia’s newest uranium miner says populist political leaders are not interested in casting a fair eye over nuclear energy’s potential as part of the nation’s future energy mix.

Fresh from overseeing first ore production at Boss Energy’s reopened Honeymoon mine in South Australia on Monday, chief executive Duncan Craib called on the federal government to open the door to nuclear reactors to ease energy shortages and drive decarbonisation.

Speaking at a Quorum breakfast in Perth on Tuesday morning, Mr Craib said Australia’s current uranium exports could fuel more than two thirds of the nation’s energy needs.

“What really keeps me up at night is that Australia does not embrace nuclear power as a tool to achieving net zero carbon emissions, despite Australia being a significant exporter of uranium to the rest of the world,” he said.

“Australia is the only G20 country in the world with a blanket ban on nuclear energy.

“What is incredible in this age of populism is that in Australia there is not a serious consideration by the federal government or various state governments for taking a more educated deep dive into politically controversial technology.

“All we want in the industry is to have these conversations and proactively consider nuclear energy.”

Mr Craib’s comments come as the federal opposition spruiks the merits of nuclear power, while the federal government presses the case for renewable energy from solar, wind, hydro, and backup batteries.

Quorum panelist and Mine Earth director Shannon Mackenzie said while mining uranium was a “no-brainer”, nuclear power was a distraction for Australia.

“Australia is geopolitically stable, we have strong alliances globally, we are well-endowed… we are very experienced with mining, we do it safely, and we do it in an environmentally sustainable manner.

“Nuclear energy could play a part but the technology, the infrastructure, and the perceptions… around safety and environmental concerns are major hurdles.

“We have an abundance of wind, we have an abundance of sun, we have wave energy and all the forecasts are… that we can quite easily meet our energy demands in Australia from those renewable sources.”

Mr Mackenzie said a long track record of failed mine closures globally – not just uranium – was problematic for the industry.

The panelists said growing up with portrayals in popular culture of uranium by the likes of Midnight Oil and The Simpsons furthered negative sentiment towards the industry.

“A lot of us in the room looked at some of these nuclear disasters from a distance and I suppose it is hard for that not to be triggering,” Hydrobiology WA regional manager Shirley Dawe said.

“The technology we are looking at today is very different.”

On Australia’s potential to supply uranium to the world, Mr Craib said we produced 7 per cent of global uranium despite being home to one third of the work’s natural uranium resources.

“Despite Australia's tremendous potential there are only now three operating mines mining and producing uranium, Boss Energy yesterday became that third mine,” he said.

“There is very little inventory now in the world of uranium, there is a structural deficit going on and demand is rapidly increasing.

“With its political and economic stability Australia can really help contribute this net zero targets around the world.”

WA Liberal leader Libby Mettam has pledged to lift the ban imposed on uranium mining in WA by the state government in 2017 should her party win next year’s state election.