Uranium Policy in Australia – Embracing the Facts to Address the Challenges

1. Uranium Policy in Australia – Embracing the Facts to Address the Challenges Monika Sarder Senior Policy & Research Coordinator, The AusIMM Australia’s Uranium Conference 2006, Adelaide

2. Uranium – The advantages of understanding context • When I was at university…a story about protestor…. • Everyone wants a better world. Taking the initiative without having all the information can lead to bad outcomes. • Policy under review: Uranium Mining Processing and Nuclear Energy Review, GNEP • We need fully informed debate driven by expert opinion • Technical professional institute – members involved in exploration, mining and milling • Definition of a professional: puts community and profession first • Members have identified this as a key issue

3. Context: Global, National & Local • Globally: burgeoning energy demands, GHG emissions • Nationally: legacy of 1980s and 90s green movement • Locally: NIMBY attitude eg scrapping of Pangaea waste disposal facility in 1999 • Roy Morgan Polling – • 60% favour the development and export of uranium for peaceful purposes • 30% in favour of allowing new uranium mines to proceed • Inverse relationship with people’s perception of risk and the scale at which this activity occurs. • ‘Unbundle’ and systematically address the risks

4. Nuclear Non Proliferation Safeguards • Australia accounts for 22% uranium exports • Eleven countries • All are party to NPT and IAEA safeguards • All have signed bilateral agreements • comprehensive accounting standards for full life of all nuclear material • Australia is an active proponents of strengthened safeguards – Additional Protocol • Nuclear reactors require 5% enrichment, nuclear weapons require 90%. • Gen IV - closed fuel cycle

5. Safety for Miners and Communities • Codes of Practice for Health, Waste and Transport • Radiation: • Australia has 40 years of experience applying international radiation safety regulations at uranium mines • Two out of three are certified under ISO 14001 • Tailings • Normal engineering -tailings dams designed to retain the remaining solids and prevent any seepage of the liquid • Water • Surface run off and water management continually being improved – building of $28 million water treatment plant at Ranger uranium. • Transport • Yellowcake - since 1988, more than 2,000 containers shipped without incident.

6. Downstream: Safety & Waste Management • Materials Stewardship – responsible management across supply chain is a concern of the industry • Nuclear reactors producing electricity for 50 years, 12,000 reactor years of civil operational experience • Chernobyl – Dangerous flawed reactor design, inadequately trained personnel – circumstances have no correlations with current sophisticated environments. • 1000MW plant operating discharges 27 tonnes annually • Comprise less than 1% of total OECD toxic waste • Currently, interim storage then deep geological disposal

7. Benefits: Global • In 2004 – IAEA says worlds energy use in 2030 will be 60% higher than now • Driven by demand from developing countries eg Australia = 9178 kWh, PNG = 250 kWh • On a fuel cycle basis, nuclear power stations produce less than 6 CO2/kWhcompared to 980 gCO2/kWh for coal. • Research into renewables and clean coal (eg geosequestration) • China: 27 new reactors by 2020; India: 17 new reactors by 2012. • With 40% of known low cost known energy reserves Australia is in a position of significant political, social and ethical responsibility.

8. Benefits: National and Local Economic • Spot prices high – more than trebled in last three years • 5 years to mid 2005 uranium exports bring in $2 billion • Projected to increase as secondary sources exhausted • Good for juniors Social (Knowledge Exporter): • ANSTO has acted as a consultant in the rehabilitation mine sites • Synroc for the immobilisation of high-level radioactive waste • SILEX (Separation of Isotopes by Laser EXcitation) Enrichment Technology sold to GE Local • Uranium mining and milling contributes significantly to rural economies as well as indigenous communities. • Over $189 million for Ranger and $7 million for Jabiluka.

9. Industry challenges • Challenges: • Public perception • Skills • CSR • Materials Stewardship • Exploration • Approvals process

10. Role for The AusIMM • Skills: • Promote knowledge transfer, networking and best practice dissemination. • Access to experts. • Education advocacy • Communication with public: • Media • Grass roots • Communication with Government: • UIF Working groups, UMPNER • Formal and informal meetings. • CSR and Materials stewardship: • Stimulate discussion • Promote best practice at conferences, in publications • Exploration: • Advocacy around prospectivity

11. Now what? • Debate that takes place next 3-5 years will have a significant impact. • Best outcomes where: • Decision making based on comprehensive knowledge of context • Activities in an environment facilitates best practice. • Don’t chain ourselves to the wrong bulldozer! • Congratulate Federal and SA Govt on steps they have taken so far • Look forward to being a part of the process. • Policy paper, flyer and Competent Persons Skills list at: http://www.ausimm.com/policy/policy.asp#002 • Email policy@ausimm.com.au