MINISTER FOR RESOURCES AND ENERGY  SENATOR GARETH EVANS Q.C.

19 September 1985

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AUSTRALIA TO CO-OPERATE WITH ITALY ON RADIOACTIVE WASTE

MANAGEMENT

Australia and Italy have agreed to co-operate in a research

program which will examine ways of dealing with high-level

radioactive waste.

The agreement was signed yesterday in Rome by Professor Max

Brennan, Chairman of the Australian Atomic Energy Commission

and Professor Umberto Colombo, President of the Ente Nazionale

Energie Alternative. The two organisations will exchange

information and collaborate in the development of technology to

manage and permanently dispose of high level wastes.

The first work undertaken will involve SYNROC and the Italian

Sol-Gel process,  which could lead to an improved waste

immobilisation process.  SYNROC - a synthetic rock developed by

Professor Ringwood at the Australian National University - is

designed to immobilise high-level radioactive waste by

ÃÂ incorporating radioactive elements into its very stable crystal

structure.  Italian Sol-Gel technology has the potential to

simplify the SYNROC manufacturing process.

This is the third bilateral agreement concerning high-level

radioactive waste in which Australia is involved.  Italy joins

the United Kingdom and Japan,  with whom co-operation has

already begun. Such co-operative agreements are one of the

ways in which Australia can make a positive contribution to

radioactive waste management.

$  i

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The Australian Government has allocated over $4.6 million to

the research and development of SYNROC.  This includes $2.75

million for the construction of a non-radioactive pilot plant

developed by the Australian Atomic Energy Commission at Lucas

Heights,  which will be used to demonstrate the feasibility of

manufacturing full-sized blocks of SYNROC.

The new agreement will assist both countries in the search for

improved ways of dealing with radioactive waste - an issue of

international concern.  I welcome this co-operative arrangement

with Italy and I look forward to the contribution it will make

towards realising the full potential of the SYNROC process.

Enquiries: Mr I.W. Morison

(062) 45 8585 (BH)

CANBERRA

