PRESS STATEMENT by the Minister for National Development1

MR NEWMAN* S VISIT TO FRENCH ATOMIC ENERGY ESTABLISHMENTS

EMBARGO: 9.00 A.M., MONDAY 14 MAY

The Minister for National Development, Mr Kevin  Newman, said in London today that the French had developed

considerable technology for high level radioactive waste  management.  -  '

The Minister was speaking after his extensive  visits to nuclear installations in the South and North  of France. This was the first leg of Mr Newman’s trip  to various European countries, which will include the U.K.  and Sweden, to ascertain the status of nuclear fuel cycle

technology, particularly radioactive waste management.

"I inspected the waste management plant at Marcoule".

"I was reassured to see, at first hand, the  techniques being adopted by the French”.

"My visits and discussions have confirmed the  position taken by the Australian Government that the  technology exists for effective management of high level  radioactive wastes".

In the South of France the Minister visited the  i  Marcoule plant for the vitrification of high level  radioactive wastes.

In the North, Mr Newman inspected the Le Hague  plant for the commercial reprocessing of spent nuclear  fuels from the reactors of France and other countries.

13 May 1979

London

