E

BY THE MINISTER FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

ND51I

ELEVEN TEIvDERS FOR NUCLEAR PO[ER PROJECT

Firms in five countries would submit eleven tenders for

the steam supply system of the Jervis Bay nuclear power project,

the Minister for National Development (Mr. Swartz) said today.

He said four types of nuclear reactor would be offered.

"Prospective suppliers had been required to lodge a

notice of intent to tender by April 15th: tenders

will close on June 15th.," Mr. Swartz added.

"z expect that the Australian Atomic Energy Commission,

having studied the offers, will be able to make a

recommendation to the Government by the end of October.

"These tenders cover the nuclear—fuelled equipment to

provide steam but do not cover the electricity generating

plant. Tenders for this equipment will be called after

reviewing the tenders received for nuclear plant."

Mr.. Swartz said preparatory work at the Jervis Bay site

was making good progress.,,

"This includes clearing arid levelling and the installation

of services such as water and electricity," he said.

"Specifications have been completed for a heavy duty access

road and tenders for that work will be called shortly."

CANBERRA.

5 Vlay, 1970

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__j

s I I

I L\I

BY THE MINISTER FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

N,D. 52

Australia, in its drive to produce the well-known minerals

such as iron ore, coal, bauxite and nickel, should not lose

sight of the potential of other m.inera. _ resources, the Minister

for National Development (Pro Swartz) said to-day?

It was essential that more non-metal deposits be found and

put to work, he said.

Mr $ Swartz quoted from an article in the Australian Mineral

Industry Quarterly Review for March, 1970, which he released

to-day:

"The phenomenal expansion of the mineral industry in

Australia in recent decades has inevitably highlighted our

principal export commodities -- iron ore, coal, and products

of the aluminiora industry - and increased interest in most of

the metals, notably nickel, titanium, copper, tin and uranium.

"Non -Petals as a group, of r .,.atively low unit value and

commanding smaller export markets, have featured little in

recent national F;:xpansion and, apart from salt, gypsum, barite,

phosphate rock and possibly potash, feature little in expansion

in the years ahead.

"However, it is important in the current period of

unprecedented exploration activity in Australia..that the

potential value of non-metallic deposits be kept in proper

perspective and that their occurrence should be sought and

noted.

2.

"Australia produced only 30 per cent of average domestic

requirements of about 6,200 tons of the sillimanite group

of minerals over the period 1966-68, leaving room for some

new production which is unlikely to arise from existing mines

in the near future.

"Expanding domestic demand and a growing market in

Europe (mainly the United Kingdom) and Japan should be

attractive to new producers.

"Principal uses of the minerals are in blast furnace

stoves, glass tank furnaces, cement and ceramic kilns and

other processes which depend on this group of non-metals

because of their chemical stability and high strength at

high temperatures. Minor quantities are used in certain types

of porcelain, as abrasives and for non—refractory ceramic

purposes.

"Major consumers of the minerals are manufacturers of

refractory products such as firebricks, furnace linings,

electric—furnace refractories, insulators for spark plugs

and electrical heat appliances and special refractories."

Mr. Swartz said production figures for major mineral

commodities given in the Quarterly Review underlined the

magnitude of Australia's mineral development.

Ex—mine value of all commodities is estimated to have

increased to $1,100 million in 1969, an increase of 28.7

per cent over the 1968 figure of x855 million. Substantial

increases were recorded in production of all principal metals

and minerals except gold.

7

3.

The Quarterly Review is produced by the Bureau of

Mineral Resources of the Department of National Development.

It may be obtained from the Bureau at P.O. Box 378, Canberra

City 2601, at $1.00 a copy. It is also available at

departmental regional offices in Sydney and Melbourne'.

CANBERRA

13th  May,  1970

