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PRESS STATEMENT by the Minister for National Development

ÃÂÃÂ¿ t J X . 7 1

MINISTER FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT REPRESENTS AUSTRALIA

__________ AT THE OECD ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE

The Australian Minister for National Development, Mr Kevin Newman, said today that the Environment Committee  of the OECD had recognised that nuclear power was an important  and inevitable energy source for some countries.

Mr Newman represented the Australian Government  at the recent meeting of the OECD Environment Committee in  Paris.

The Minister referred to extensive discussions

that had taken place in the Environment Committee concerning  nuclear energy and pointed out that nuclear power would

continue to be an important energy source for many years  to come.

After the conclusion of the Paris meeting, Mr Newman held detailed discussions with the French Minister  for Industry, Mr Andre Giraud and with officials of the

French Electricity Commission (EDF) and Atomic Energy  Commission (CEA).

At the conclusion of these talks, Mr Newman  commented on the French need for nuclear energy.

11 1  France has few resources of coal or oil,. In

addition it cannot develop further significant hydroÂ­

electricity capacity. Consequently the French Government  is committed to the development of nuclear power for energy

generation".

"At present about 13 percent of France’s electricity  comes from nuclear power. It is anticipated that this will

increase to more than 50 percent by 1985". Â·  Ã¢ÂÂ   Â·

"Nuclear power stations, with a capacity equivalent

to the total electricity requirements of New South Wales,  are being installed in France each year".

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2 .

"The French are anxious to secure stable  supplies for their increasing nuclear programme".

"For this reason they are particularly interested  in Australia as a potential uranium supplier".

13 May 1979  London

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