Australian Nuclear Association (recommended website)

Link to website: http://www.nuclearaustralia.org.au/

ANA Constitution AUSTRALIAN NUCLEAR ASSOCIATION Incorporated in New South Wales CONSTITUTION Adopted: 25th October 1983 Amended: August 1997 and September 2012 1.0 NAME The name of the Association shall be the “Australian Nuclear Association”, which may be referred to in abbreviated form as “ANA”.

All references to the Association herein under, shall be interpreted as meaning the Australian Nuclear Association.

2.0 OBJECTS The objects for which the Association is established are: (i) To provide an association of individuals having common interests in nuclear science and technology. (ii) To promote the knowledge and practice of the peaceful, safe and effective use of nuclear science and technology. (iii) To provide a forum for the presentation, exchange and dissemination of information in the field of nuclear science and technology. (iv) To be non-sectarian, non-political and independent of other commercial and governmental organisations with interests in the field of nuclear science and technology.

ANA Statement on Nuclear Power Nuclear Power is Vital for Australia’s Energy Future Australian Nuclear Association Inc October 2014 Nuclear energy is recognised internationally as an essential component of electricity system that meets global environmental and energy utilisation objectives. With abundant coal, gas and uranium resources and wind and solar potential, Australia is uniquely placed to set standards for integrated, environmentally sustainable energy utilisation. To be credible, Australia must embrace the domestic use and not just export of uranium to generate base load electricity.

The global demand for electricity is expected to increase by more than two-thirds over the period 20112035 as the world’s population of currently seven billion is predicted to increase to over nine billion by 2050. In Australia, gross electricity generation is projected to grow by around 49 per cent to 2049-50.

The continuing reliance on fossil fuels as a primary electricity source will impose a large burden on future generations by its contribution to global warming and pollution. As the world’s population steadily progresses towards 9 billion the failure of combining huge population growth with fossil fuel consumption is abundantly clear and an urgent need to increase the use of nuclear power is unfolding.

Nuclear power offers both an economic use of resources as well as low greenhouse gas emissions to produce large-scale electricity. Nuclear power is available when needed night or day, wind or no wind. It provides affordable reliable supplies of electricity and will expand to be the primary component of the global electricity future if effective action to address global warming is to be implemented. Nuclear power has very good price stability because its fuel is a small percentage of production costs.

Most importantly as demonstrated in France, nuclear power is capable of providing electricity for powering a modern highly industrialised nation. The carbon emission intensity (CO2/kwh) for electricity production in France where nuclear power provides 75% of electricity is only one tenth of Australia’s emission.

With the current design of pressurised and boiling water reactors, nuclear power provides the World with safe electricity power generation based on over 15,000 reactor years of operation since the first commercial power reactor in 1956. There are 434 nuclear power plants connected to the grid in 31 countries, with an addition 72 nuclear power reactors under construction and 173 nuclear power reactors on order or planned with approvals, funding or major commitment in place. Current nuclear technology can certainly meet the World’s needs for carbon emission reductions and the nuclear fuel cycle has even greater potential for industrial progress and environmental protection.

Nuclear power is important for Australia’s long term prosperity and well-being. In 2011-12, about 90% of Australia’s electricity was generated from fossil fuels with the result that Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions per capita are amongst the highest in OECD countries. Reducing this high usage of fossil fuels by installing nuclear plant would significantly reduce Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution.

Nuclear power is a viable option for Australia. Small modular reactors can be used at remote locations and larger reactors or sets of small modular reactors can be installed closer to major demand, perhaps by replacing aging coal plant at existing sites. .

The Australian Nuclear Association strongly supports the use of nuclear power for Australia and also our nation’s involvement in all stages of the nuclear fuel cycle.