RELEASE: Radio :  Midnight, Sunday Sept. 20

Papers :  Mornings, Monday, Sept.21

N.D. 75 '

JERVIS BAY NUCLEAR POWER STATION AGREEMENT

The Minister for National Development (Mr. Swartz) and

the New South Wales Minister for Local Government (Mr. Morton)

today announced an agreement between the Commonwealth and the

State on the proposed nuclear power station at Jervis Bay. Â·

A joint statement by the Ministers said agreement in

principle had been reached on a basis for constructing, operating

and maintaining the station and on payments to be made by the

State.

The agreement would enable detailed negotiations to

continue towards a final formal agreement between the two

Governments.

Major points in the agreement included:-

. The Commonwealth will own the station and finance its

construction.

. The Electricity Commission of New South Wales will

participate with the Australian Atomic Energy Commission in

the design and construction of the station. "

. ‘A co-ordinating board will be appointed comprising

Commonwealth and State representatives. It will have general

administrative responsibility on’policy matters, will supervise

health and safety procedures and ensure compliance with interÂ­

national safeguards.

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. The Electricity Commission of New South Wales will

be responsible for operation and maintenance of the station

as an integral part of the New South Wales power system,

subject to the standards, procedures and controls laid down

by the A,A,E,C, and the Co-ordinating BoardÂ»

. The Electricity Commission will bear costs in the

form of capital charges and charges for the use of nuclear

fuel comparable with those of a coal-fired station of similar

capacity,

. The Commonwealth will own and supply the nuclear fuel

and be responsible for its disposal or re-processing,

- The Electricity Commission will, continue to meet the

requirements of the A.CÂ»TÃ¢ÂÂ on bases to be agreed from time to

time o

(Editors: Full text of the agreement is attached,)

CANBERRA,

September 21, 1970

Pleast. Note Release:

Radio :  Midnight 20/9/70

Papers :  Mornings 21/9/70

BASES OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA

/.

V

AND THE STATE OF NEW SOUTH WALES

FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF A

NUCLEAR POWER STATION AT JERVIS BAY

Construction of the Station

(1) The Commonwealth will own the station and finance  its construction.

(2) There will he joint participation hy the Australian  Atomic Energy Commission and the Electricity Commission  of New South Wales in matters relating to the design  and construction of the station.

Control and Operation of the Station

(3) There will he a Co-ordinating Board appointed by the ‘   Minister for National Development, consisting of a  chairman nominated hy the Commonwealth after consultaÂ­ tion with the State, twoÂ·representatives of the Australian  Atomic Energy Commission, and two representatives of the  Electricity Commission of New South Wales nominated hy

the Minister for Local Government and Highways in New  South Wales.

(4) The Co-ordinating Board will be responsible to the  Minister for National Development for general adminiÂ­ strative oversight in matters of a policy nature and  will ensure;-

(a) that the management of the station complies with  .  the standards and procedures approved hy the Australian Atomic Energy Commission in relation  to nuclear health and safety, the release of

radioactivity into the environment, and such  other matters as relate to the safe operation  .  of nuclear facilities at the station;

(h) that there is compliance with such controls as  may be necessary to give effect to Commonwealth  obligations including those arising from interÂ­ national safeguards and Australia's adherence to

any international conventions or agreements on  nuclear energy and

(c) that fuel management programmes, formulated jointly hy the Australian Atomic Energy Commission  and the Electricity Commission of New South Wales  .  in the interests of the operational requirements

of the New South Wales system and of fuel economy,  conform with the standards, procedures and  controls referred to in (a) and (b) above.

.  .  ./2

(5) There will be a Chief Executive Officer who will be  an officer of the Australian Atomic Energy Commission  with executive duties in respect of all matters which  are the responsibility of the Board. .

(6) The Electricity Commission of New South Wales will be  responsible for operation and maintenance of the  station as an integral part of the New South Wales  power system, subject however to the standards,  procedures and controls laid down by the Australian -   Atomic Energy Commission and the Co-ordinating Board

in respect of matters for which they are responsible.  The Station Superintendent and staff will be provided  by the Electricity Commission but all appointments of  '  personnel normally subject to nuclear licensing

requirements will be subject to the approval of the  Australian Atomic Energy Commission in respect of  their qualifications and competence. Â·

Output of Station and Payments

(7) The total electrical energy produced by the station  will be accepted by the Electricity Commission of New South Wales into the New South Wales interconnected  system at the outgoing terminals of the power station

switchyard.

(8) The Electricity Commission of New South Wales will incur  costs in the form of capital charges and charges for  the use of nuclear fuel which, talcing account of  savings in fuel costs, will be the same as those costs  (including an appropriate adjustment for site  development and other common services) which would  have been incurred in respect of an alternative coal-

fired unit of the same capacity. The Electricity .  ‘ Commission of New South Wales will meet all normal  operation and maintenance costs.

Ownership of Nuclear Fuel '

(9) The Commonwealth will own and supply the nuclear fuel  and be responsible for its disposal or reprocessing.

Guarantee of supply to A.C.T.

(10) The Electricity Commission of New South Wales will  undertake to continue to supply electricity to meet .   the requirements of the Australian Capital Territory as agreed from time to time with the Australian Capital  Territory Electricity Authority.

