The Coalition finally has a plan and it is to build nuclear power stations at existing coal fired power station sites in Tarong and Callide in Queensland, Mt Piper in NSW, Collie in WA, Loy Yang in Victoria and Northern Power in SA.
Nuclear power may seem attractive to voters as a way to easily meet the greenhouse gas reduction targets. However, having worked on coal fired and nuclear power plant construction myself, I can see where ‘the plan’ will run into practical problems.
About me: In late 2003 I was invited to Sydney to be mechanical works supervisor at Lucas Heights for the Replacement Research Reactor construction – INVAP. An Argentinian company was engaged for the Open Pool Australian Lightwater, state-of-the-art 20 megawatt multi-purpose reactor, predominantly built to replace the 50-year-old HIFAR reactor (1958–2007). I supervised the mechanical works for the reactor pool, service pool and neutron shutters and then the high-density concrete installation works to encase the mechanical components.
INVAP produces isotopes primarily for nuclear medicine, not power generation. The new INVAP opened in April 2007 by the then PM, John Howard, but serious leaks were found and it was shut down in July 2007 for two months. So, you may want to think again if someone tries to give you an iron-clad guarantee that modern nuclear power plants are 100% safe.
I am a proud Australian Democrat. Our party has a long history of fact-checking, and this is one way in which the party has been ‘Keeping the Bastards Honest’. This also applies to the nuclear power issue. For example, our party-leader, Lyn Allison (former Australian Democrats Senator and guest speaker at our upcoming Sandgate Town Hall meeting) was part of a Senate committee that reported in 2003 on regulating the uranium industry (mines). The executive summary speaks volumes in and of itself, and opens with:
“This inquiry was initiated in response to numerous leaks and spills at the four uranium mines in question and its terms of reference require the Committee to assess the adequacy and effectiveness of the current system of environmental regulation”.
The proposal by the Leader of the Opposition is naïve and reckless. As experts know, Tarong has a capacity of 1400 megawatts of coal fired power. Compare this with the 20 megawat output of INVAP and it becomes clear that small nuclear reactors are not the solution. SMTs are claimed to produce 300 megawatts as an optimum. At this rate, five reactors would be required at Tarong to produce the 1500+ megawatts required!
‘The plan’ may sound attractive, but we are guided by evidence and expert advice. Australia lacks the knowhow and maturity in the industry. Ramping up the skills and knowledge required for nuclear power is unrealistic – a policy in search of a political party to peddle it!
I welcome the opportunity to debate the Leader of the Opposition on this matter at our Sandgate Town Hall meeting on 30th August 2024. Lyn Allison will be able to offer valuable insights into nuclear issues as former Democrats spokesperson on nukes in the Senate.