Private pilot SA N-plant pushed [23apr06]

Private sector investors are preparing a submission to government to build a privately funded pilot nuclear power plant north of Port Augusta.

In its early stages, the proposal would seek in-principle support for the construction of a 20MW to 50MW generation plant at an estimated cost of between $70 million and $150 million.

"Whether the State Government likes it or not, we are in the uranium business, so why shouldn't we be part of the full cycle," said Phil Sutherland, chief executive of SA's Chamber of Mines and Energy, who declined to name the interested investors.

"Given we are captive to the other states for our power needs, why not build a pilot nuclear power plant in an area where people will not need to be nervous about its existence?"

Based on the type of reactors that power warships, Mr Sutherland said a small "out-of-sight" plant could light up the whole of Adelaide.









"(The aircraft carrier) USS Ronald Reagan carries 6000 sailors and 80 combat aircraft – it is powered by two nuclear reactors that can operate for more than 20 years without refuelling," he said.

Discussions on a pilot proposal followed a presentation at an Adelaide conference on March 30 by Uranium Information Centre general manager Ian Hore-Lacy.

"Renewed attention to nuclear power is driven by three factors – improving of the basic economics, the prospect of carbon emission costs on fossil-fuelled alternatives, and energy security," Mr Hore-Lacy told the Paydirt Media's 2006 Uranium Conference.

He explained similar examples of small nuclear power plants where the entire plant was underground, including:

SOUTH Korea's SMART (system-integrated modular advanced reactor) is designed for generating electricity (up to 100 MW) and/or thermal applications such as seawater desalination. A one-fifth scale plant is being constructed, for operation in 2007.

WESTINGHOUSE'S International Reactor Innovative & Secure (IRIS) is being developed as an advanced third-generation reactor. IRIS-50 is a modular 50MW reactor which could be deployed this decade.

RUSSIA's KLT-40S, a reactor used in icebreakers and now proposed for wider use in desalination. Produces 35MW of electricity as well as up to 35MW of heat for desalination.

"It is not Disneyland thinking," Mr Sutherland said.

"We really are the uranium state, so it is time we developed the political will to look into our future power needs that encompasses a mix of diesel, gas and nuclear energy."

A State Government spokeswoman said its position on nuclear power was unchanged.

In June last year Energy Minister Pat Conlon told Parliament "nuclear power in South Australia is not an option".

Replying to a question, Mr Conlon said construction cost and size were major stumbling blocks.

"Given the wealth of Australia's energy sources, it is unlikely nuclear power will ever be a cost-effective method of supplying electricity in any Australian state," he said.

"The test for the economics of nuclear power in Australia, however, is the lack of commercial interest in developing a power station."

Opposition energy spokesman Martin Hamilton-Smith said it was a question of timing.

"Nuclear power generation is a debate we can't avoid, but its time has yet to come," he said.

"The community deservedly needs time to be given assurances and will need some convincing.

"Sooner or later, the debate needs to be had."