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From the Office of Warwick Smith, M.H.R. Shadow Minister for Science and Energy ÃÂ²

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IMMEDIATE RELEASE 18 February '8

THE NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE: DILEMMA FOR GOVERNMENT

(062) 72 6214 (003) 31 4322 (003) 448517

Australia should play a bigger role in the world's

nuclear fuel cycle, Warwick Smith, Shadow Minister for

Energy, said in the debate on the Nuclear

(Non-Proliferation) Safeguards Bill.

Australia has the largest low-cost uranium resources in

jthe world. However, it now accounts for. only 10% of the

fuel used in nuclear power plants.

This has cost Australia $4.5 billion in lost uranium

exports over the past 10 years.

With uranium demand and prices expected to surge in the

Tiid-1990's Australia has a marvellous opportunity to

wipe off its foreign debt.

Mr Smith called for the abandonment of the Government's

Three Mine Policy and the establishment of a uranium

snrichment industry.

As a front runner in the development of nuclear waste

storage techniques Australia has the potential to host

an international facility.

A growing number of countries have indicated their

commitment to nuclear energy. Australia cannot afford

to throw away it natural advantages.

It is time that confused ideology gave way to

common sense.

Fu3 >

Status of  nuclear  electrical  generating  capacity: 406

operating  reactors in 26  countries

Nuclear share ÃÂ¿I  electricity Total capacity (magawahs-alactric)

14 74ÃÂ

18 4%

50 3-nr

2 5  4  -  0

b y  ÃÂ¿-ÃÂ 4  J  6 -  0

35 :- . i

38 4S,

6 85ÃÂ¿

1 1 64t>

30 0-/o

4 5 %

25 85ÃÂ¿

' 2 7%

1 I 3=yÂ«

5 4%

O l i o

6 2%  1.850 Worid total:

283 823 m egaw atta-etectric

NumOar o/ unite

USA (103)

Franca (49)

USSR (53)

Japan (36) Germany. Fao Rap. (21)  Canada (19) UK (38)

Sweden (12)

Spam (8) .

Belgium (8)

S 3 8 0 6 9 9  Korea. Rap ol |7) Taiwan. Cnma (6)

Switzerland *5)

Czechoaiotaaia (7)  Finland (4)

South Africa (2) Germany 0am Rap (Sj

Bulgaria (4)

Italy (3) Hungary (3)

India (6)

Argentina (2) Yugoslavia (I)

Brazil (l)

Netherlands (2) Paaiaun ( 1)

Source IAEA PftiS: data praanwiary a# or 1 AuguM  4 Brazil 0.1  Kf Pakistan 1.8  -ui India 2.7  - * 4 Italy 4.5  —^4  Yugoslavia 5.4  — 6  Netnerlands 6.2  — 5 j South Africa 6.8 .  — ' 4  USSR 10.0  — t - * 4 Aiguntmu 11.3  — ?—6  German OR 11.6  -------- ^ 4 Canada 14.7 4 United States 16.6  Hungary 18.3  - 1  United Kingdom 18.4  Czechoslovakia 21.0 . —* 4  Japan 24.7  J  Spain 29.4  Germany FR 29.4  Bulgaria 30.0  4 Finland 38.4  Switzerland 39.2  * - 4 Korea RP 43.6  — B ja iw a n  43.8  — 4 Sweden 50.3 ---------- * . -  . ^Belgium  67.0 --------— - ------- ÃÂ· ÃÂ  France 69.8 ÃÂª Per cent ol all electricity Ã¢ÂÂ² Sweden has joined those countries having  more than half their electricity supplied by  nuclear power. In 1986, however, Taiwan  generated a significantly smaller proportion  of its electricity from nuclear than in 1985,  43.8 per cent compared with 53.1 per cent.  Brazil, the Soviet Union, East Germany,  Britain, Hungary, FR Germany, Bulgaria  and Switzerland also generated a smaller  proportion of their electricity from nuclear  power in 1986 than in 1985. In contrast,  Korea almost doubled its proportion of nuÂ­ clear electricity in 1986 compared with the  year before -  up from 22.1 per cent to 43.6  per cent. WORLDSURVEY N u c l e a r  p o w e r  r e a c t o r s  i n  o p e r a t i o n ,  u n d e r  c o n s t r u c t i o n  a n d  p l a n n e d a t  t h e  e n d  o f  1 9 8 6 C o u n t r y I n  o p e r a t i o n U n d e r  c o n s t r u c t i o n P l a n n e d N u c l e a r  e l e c t r i c i t y   s u p p l i e d  I n  1 9 B 6 %  o f U n i t e M W e U n i t s M W e U n i t s M W e T W h t o t a l A r g e n t i n a 2 9 3 5 1 6 9 2 1 o r  2 7 0 0 5 . 4 ‘ 1 1 . 3 * B e l g i u m 8 5  4 8 6 - - - - 3 7 . 1 6 7 . 0 B r a z i l 1 6 2 6 1 1 2 4 5 1 1 2 4 5 0 . 1 0 . 1 B u l g a r i a 4 1 6 3 2 4 3  8 2 6 2 1 9 0 6 1 1 . 2 3 0 . 0 C a n a d a 1 8 1 1  2 4 9 5 4  3 6 1 - - 6 7 . 2 1 4 . 7 C h i n a - — 1 2 8 8 2 1 8 0 0 - -  ' C u b a - — 2 8 1 6 1 ? ' - - C z e c h o s l o v a k i a 7 2  7 9 9 9 5  5 0 8 6 5  4 8 4 1 6 . 2 * 2 1 . 0 Â· E g y p t - - - - 2 2  0 0 0 Ã¢ÂÂ¢ - - F i n l a n d 4 2 3 1 0 — - Ã¢ÂÂ¢ - - 1 8 . 0 3 8  4 F r a n c e 4 9 4 4  6 9 3 1 4 1 7  8 0 9 1 1 4 5 0 2 4 1 . 4 6 9 . 8 G e r m a n  D R 5 1 6 9 4 6 3  4 3 2 4 1 6 3 2 1 2 . 2 * 1 1 . 6 Â· G e r m a n y  F R 2 1 1 8  9 4 7 . 4 4  0 5 2 1 0 1 2  6 2 1 1 1 2 . 1 2 9 . 4 H u n g a r y 3 1 2 3 5 1 4 1 0 5 4  7 5 0 7 . 0 1 8 . 3 I n d i a 6 1 1 5 4 4 8 8 0 4 8 8 0 4 . 5 2 . 7 I r a n Ã¢ÂÂ¢ - — 2 2  4 0 0 — - - - I t a l y 3 1 2 7 3 3 1 9 9 9 2 1 9 0 0 8 . 2 4 . 5 J a p a n 3 5 2 5  8 2 1 1 0 8  4 3 1 7 6  7 8 5 1 6 6 . 5 2 4 . 7 K o r e a  R P 7 5  3 8 0 2 1 8 0 0 2 1 8 0 0 2 6 . 6 4 3 . 6 M e x i c o - — 2 1 3 0 8 — - Ã¢ÂÂ   - - N e t h e r l a n d s 2 5 0 7 - — 2 2  0 0 0 4 . 0 6 . 2 P a k i s t a n 1 1 2 5 Ã¢ÂÂ   — — 1 9 0 0 0 . 5 1 . 8 Â· P o l a n d - — 2 8 8 0 6 ' 4  6 8 0 - - R o m a n i a ’ — — 5 3  1 4 5 1 4 0 8 - -  . S o u t h  A f r i c a 2 1 8 4 2 - — - - 8 . 8 6 . 8 S p a i n 8 5  5 9 9 2 1 9 2 0 4 3  7 8 0 3 5 . 9 2 9 . 4 S w e d e n 1 2 9  4 5 5 Ã¢ÂÂ   - — ' — - 6 7 . 0 5 0 . 3 S w i t z e r l a n d 5 2  9 3 2 — — 2 2  1 4 0 2 1 . 3 3 9 . 2 T a i w a n 6 4  9 1 8 — — 4 4  1 2 0 2 5 . 8 * 4 3 . 8 ‘ T u r k e y - - - Ã¢ÂÂ   - 1 - ' - - U K 3 8 1 0  2 2 2 4 2  5 2 0 1 1 1 7 5 5 1 . 8 1 8 . 4 U S A 99 8 4  5 9 2 2 1 2 3  3 0 1 — — 4 1 4 . 0 1 6 . 6 U S S R 50 2 7  6 5 7 3 3 3 0  6 6 0 3 6 3 6  1 6 3 1 4 8 . 0 * 1 0 . 6 Â· Y u g o s l a v i a 1 6 3 2 — 1 1 0 0 0 3 . 8 5 . 4 T o t a l 397 2 7 3  7 1 5 1 4 1 1 2 3  6 6 3 1 0 9  o r  1 1 0 1 0 1  3 1 9 1 5 1 4 . 6 ‘IAEA estimates Source: International Atomic Energy Agenqy Power Reactor Information System, apart Irom Comecon countries. Total: 2.48 million IU WOCA known uranium resources (ie reasonably assured  resources plus estimated additional resources below  $80/kgU) as at end 1986. (WOCA — world outside centrally  planned economies area.) Source: Crijins et al. 1987. |  30000 WOCA uranium supply and demand to the year 2000. The  shortfall in supply beyond 1995 is expected to place pressure on  prices since by then existing stockpiles (not taken account of in  the diagram) will have been drawn down. Source: Crijins etal, 1987. ,

4 Brazil 0.1  Kf Pakistan 1.8  -ui India 2.7  - * 4 Italy 4.5  —^4  Yugoslavia 5.4

— 6  Netnerlands 6.2  — 5 j South Africa 6.8 .

— ' 4  USSR 10.0  — t - * 4 Aiguntmu 11.3  — ?—6  German OR 11.6

-------- ^ 4 Canada 14.7

4 United States 16.6  Hungary 18.3

- 1  United Kingdom 18.4  Czechoslovakia 21.0 .

—* 4  Japan 24.7  J  Spain 29.4

Germany FR 29.4  Bulgaria 30.0

4 Finland 38.4  Switzerland 39.2

* - 4 Korea RP 43.6  — B ja iw a n  43.8

— 4 Sweden 50.3 ---------- * . -  . ^Belgium  67.0

--------— - ------- ÃÂ· ÃÂ  France 69.8

ÃÂª

Per cent ol all electricity

Ã¢ÂÂ² Sweden has joined those countries having  more than half their electricity supplied by  nuclear power. In 1986, however, Taiwan  generated a significantly smaller proportion  of its electricity from nuclear than in 1985,  43.8 per cent compared with 53.1 per cent.

Brazil, the Soviet Union, East Germany,  Britain, Hungary, FR Germany, Bulgaria  and Switzerland also generated a smaller  proportion of their electricity from nuclear

power in 1986 than in 1985. In contrast,  Korea almost doubled its proportion of nuÂ­ clear electricity in 1986 compared with the  year before -  up from 22.1 per cent to 43.6  per cent.

WORLDSURVEY

N u c l e a r  p o w e r  r e a c t o r s  i n  o p e r a t i o n ,  u n d e r  c o n s t r u c t i o n  a n d  p l a n n e d

a t  t h e  e n d  o f  1 9 8 6

C o u n t r y

I n  o p e r a t i o n U n d e r  c o n s t r u c t i o n P l a n n e d

N u c l e a r  e l e c t r i c i t y

s u p p l i e d  I n  1 9 B 6

%  o f

U n i t e M W e U n i t s M W e U n i t s M W e T W h t o t a l

A r g e n t i n a 2 9 3 5 1 6 9 2 1 o r  2 7 0 0 5 . 4 ‘ 1 1 . 3 *

B e l g i u m 8 5  4 8 6 - - - - 3 7 . 1 6 7 . 0

B r a z i l 1 6 2 6 1 1 2 4 5 1 1 2 4 5 0 . 1 0 . 1

B u l g a r i a 4 1 6 3 2 4 3  8 2 6 2 1 9 0 6 1 1 . 2 3 0 . 0

C a n a d a 1 8 1 1  2 4 9 5 4  3 6 1 - - 6 7 . 2 1 4 . 7

C h i n a - — 1 2 8 8 2 1 8 0 0 - -  '

C u b a - — 2 8 1 6 1 ? ' - -

C z e c h o s l o v a k i a 7 2  7 9 9 9 5  5 0 8 6 5  4 8 4 1 6 . 2 * 2 1 . 0 Â·

E g y p t - - - - 2 2  0 0 0 Ã¢ÂÂ¢ - -

F i n l a n d 4 2 3 1 0 — - Ã¢ÂÂ¢ - - 1 8 . 0 3 8  4

F r a n c e 4 9 4 4  6 9 3 1 4 1 7  8 0 9 1 1 4 5 0 2 4 1 . 4 6 9 . 8

G e r m a n  D R 5 1 6 9 4 6 3  4 3 2 4 1 6 3 2 1 2 . 2 * 1 1 . 6 Â·

G e r m a n y  F R 2 1 1 8  9 4 7 . 4 4  0 5 2 1 0 1 2  6 2 1 1 1 2 . 1 2 9 . 4

H u n g a r y 3 1 2 3 5 1 4 1 0 5 4  7 5 0 7 . 0 1 8 . 3

I n d i a 6 1 1 5 4 4 8 8 0 4 8 8 0 4 . 5 2 . 7

I r a n Ã¢ÂÂ¢ - — 2 2  4 0 0 — - - -

I t a l y 3 1 2 7 3 3 1 9 9 9 2 1 9 0 0 8 . 2 4 . 5

J a p a n 3 5 2 5  8 2 1 1 0 8  4 3 1 7 6  7 8 5 1 6 6 . 5 2 4 . 7

K o r e a  R P 7 5  3 8 0 2 1 8 0 0 2 1 8 0 0 2 6 . 6 4 3 . 6

M e x i c o - — 2 1 3 0 8 — - Ã¢ÂÂ   - -

N e t h e r l a n d s 2 5 0 7 - — 2 2  0 0 0 4 . 0 6 . 2

P a k i s t a n 1 1 2 5 Ã¢ÂÂ   — — 1 9 0 0 0 . 5 1 . 8 Â·

P o l a n d - — 2 8 8 0 6 ' 4  6 8 0 - -

R o m a n i a ’ — — 5 3  1 4 5 1 4 0 8 - -  .

S o u t h  A f r i c a 2 1 8 4 2 - — - - 8 . 8 6 . 8

S p a i n 8 5  5 9 9 2 1 9 2 0 4 3  7 8 0 3 5 . 9 2 9 . 4

S w e d e n 1 2 9  4 5 5 Ã¢ÂÂ   - — ' — - 6 7 . 0 5 0 . 3

S w i t z e r l a n d 5 2  9 3 2 — — 2 2  1 4 0 2 1 . 3 3 9 . 2

T a i w a n 6 4  9 1 8 — — 4 4  1 2 0 2 5 . 8 * 4 3 . 8 ‘

T u r k e y - - - Ã¢ÂÂ   - 1 - ' - -

U K 3 8 1 0  2 2 2 4 2  5 2 0 1 1 1 7 5 5 1 . 8 1 8 . 4

U S A 99 8 4  5 9 2 2 1 2 3  3 0 1 — — 4 1 4 . 0 1 6 . 6

U S S R 50 2 7  6 5 7 3 3 3 0  6 6 0 3 6 3 6  1 6 3 1 4 8 . 0 * 1 0 . 6 Â·

Y u g o s l a v i a 1 6 3 2 — 1 1 0 0 0 3 . 8 5 . 4

T o t a l 397 2 7 3  7 1 5 1 4 1 1 2 3  6 6 3 1 0 9  o r  1 1 0 1 0 1  3 1 9 1 5 1 4 . 6

‘IAEA estimates Source: International Atomic Energy Agenqy Power Reactor Information System, apart Irom Comecon countries.

Total: 2.48 million IU

WOCA known uranium resources (ie reasonably assured  resources plus estimated additional resources below  $80/kgU) as at end 1986. (WOCA — world outside centrally  planned economies area.) Source: Crijins et al. 1987.

|  30000

WOCA uranium supply and demand to the year 2000. The  shortfall in supply beyond 1995 is expected to place pressure on  prices since by then existing stockpiles (not taken account of in

the diagram) will have been drawn down. Source: Crijins etal, 1987. ,

