NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS – AUSTRALIA

Peter Dutton’s nuclear power plan could lead to major electricity shortages, analysis says

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Original article by Graham Readfearn
The Guardian Australia – Page: Online : 16-Apr-25

Modelling by Frontier Economics concluded that Australia’s remaining coal-fired power stations would need to keep operating until the Coalition’s proposed nuclear plants are built. However, the Institute for Energy Economics & Financial Analysis contends that Frontier Economics has not taken into account the growing unreliability of coal-fired power stations as they get older. The IEEFA argues that the modelling is based on the assumption that the coal-fired plants would be able to keep operating at 72-81 per cent of their generation capacity. The IEEFA notes that the 13 coal-fired plants that have closed down since 2000 operated at just 66 per cent of their capacity in the last 10 years of their operating life.

CORPORATES
FRONTIER ECONOMICS PTY LTD, INSTITUTE FOR ENERGY ECONOMICS AND FINANCIAL ANALYSIS

Nuclear power ‘not cool’, declares Forrest, as iron ore threat looms

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Original article by Brad Thompson
The Australian – Page: 15 : 11-Apr-25

Mining magnate and philanthropist Andrew Forrest has told a business breakfast in Perth that nuclear power is not the best energy option for Australia. Amongst other things, he questioned why taxpayers should fund nuclear power stations via the Coalition’s plans if the private sector is not willing to take on the "massive risk". The founder of Fortescue also warned that Australia’s iron ore industry is facing challenges such as the low grade and high impurities of Pilbara iron ore, as well as imminent competition from the higher-grade ore that will soon be produced in Africa.

CORPORATES
FORTESCUE LIMITED – ASX FMG

Nuclear lawyer says Australia would not be starting from scratch

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Original article by Clare Armstrong
Herald Sun – Page: Online : 9-Jul-24

Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen has contended that amongst other things, legal hurdles could not be overcome quickly enough for the Coalition to achieve its ambitious target of building the first of seven nuclear power stations by 2035. However, expatriate nuclear lawyer Helen Cook argues that agreements and safety regulations that are already in place would make it easier for parliament to pass the legislative changes that would be required to add nuclear to the energy mix. She notes that Australia has already ratified most of the treaties that would be required to build and operate nuclear reactors.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF CLIMATE CHANGE, ENERGY, THE ENVIRONMENT AND WATER

Nuclear debate could undermine AUKUS

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Original article by Ben Packham
The Australian – Page: 5 : 25-Jun-24

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese does not expect the nation’s current debate on nuclear energy to have any impact on bipartisan support for the AUKUS alliance. However, Peter Dean from the United States Studies Centre has emphasised the need for a factually informed, evidence-based discussion on the issue of nuclear power. He adds that the alliance is not based on Australia having a civil nuclear industry, and that the scale and size of the reactors in the AUKUS nuclear-powered submarines is very different to a civil nuclear power industry. Professor Dean was the lead author of the federal government’s Defence Strategic Review.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES. UNITED STATES STUDIES CENTRE

Coalition MPs meet to sign off on proposed nuclear reactor locations

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Original article by Clare Armstrong, Jade Gailberger
Herald Sun – Page: Online : 19-Jun-24

A number of Coalition MPs have stated that they expect Opposition Leader Peter Dutton to unveil its nuclear policy on Wednesday. The policy – and the likely location of nuclear power stations – was discussed at a shadow cabinet meeting on Tuesday night; it will then be put to a full party room meeting ahead of an official announcement. A Coalition source has indicated that the Callide and Tarong coal-fired power stations in Queensland have been identified as future sites for nuclear reactors, while Victoria’s LaTrobe Valley is said to have been ruled out.

CORPORATES
LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Dutton’s perks for nuclear plan

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Original article by Simon Benson
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 3-Apr-24

The Coalition’s push to add nuclear energy to Australia’s energy mix has received a boost from a report released by the US Department of Energy. The report concluded that replacing coal-fired power stations with nuclear reactors can generate significant economic benefits to communities where the power stations are built. Shadow climate change and energy minister Ted O’Brien says the Coalition’s energy policy will include an incentive package for coal-fired power station workers to upgrade to higher-paying jobs at nuclear plants. The Coalition has already identified about six potential sites for nuclear reactors.

CORPORATES
LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, UNITED STATES. DEPT OF ENERGY

Scott Morrison: No issue with nuclear power but it doesn’t stack up

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Original article by Ben Potter
The Australian Financial Review – Page: Online : 9-Oct-18

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has questioned the merits of nuclear power from an investment perspective. While Morrison says he does not have any issues with nuclear energy, he argues that there is a stronger investment case for Hydro Tasmania’s proposed pumped hydro project. Several nuclear power projects in the US and the UK have been marred by cost blowouts, while a recent report by Deloitte noted that the all-in cost of nuclear power has risen over the last eight years. In contrast, there has been a sharp fall in the cost of solar and wind power.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, DELOITTE TOUCHE TOHMATSU LIMITED, SOUTHERN COMPANY, EDF ENERGY PLC, AUSTRALIA. OFFICE OF THE CHIEF SCIENTIST

Bernardi’s bid to lift bans on nuclear power

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Original article by Michael Owen
The Australian – Page: 6 : 13-Nov-17

Australian Conservatives leader Senator Cory Bernardi will table a bill on 13 November that would remove a ban on nuclear power plants, along with nuclear processing and enrichment. His bill follows on from a call by former prime minister Tony Abbott in October that the construction of nuclear power plants should be allowed. Bernardi notes that Australia has ample uranium supplies, but at the moment is just exporting it.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN CONSERVATIVES, SOUTH AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET