The NEI Morning Clip File

Here are some of the news clips we're reading at NEI this morning. In response to a recent tragedy at a Chinese coal mine, Charles Richardson of crikey.com feels that the anti-nuke campaigners of the world need to realize the full implications of our continued reliance on coal:

China has already admitted to 2,700 deaths so far this year; last year it was 6,300. An earlier story in The Australian reports that "the real figure could be far higher as mines often falsify death counts to escape closures and fines."

...There are serious non-proliferation concerns about uranium exports to China (and to some other places as well). But for the foreseeable future, expansion of baseload power generation for most countries comes down to a choice between coal and nuclear energy.

If anti-nuclear campaigners want to be taken seriously, they need to face up to the implications of continued reliance on coal. And spare a thought for those 123 miners trapped 480m underground.

Australian nuclear energy inquiry chairman Geoff Prosser says that community attitudes are changing in favor of nuclear energy due to the increased focus on greenhouse gas avoidance:

The head of an inquiry into Australia's uranium resources says community attitudes are changing towards the use of nuclear-powered energy and says there has been little objection about the future development of the industry.

Inquiry chairman and Liberal MP Geoff Prosser says Australia has 45 per cent of the world's uranium resources, but only supplies about 16 per cent of the market.

...The inquiry is holding its first public hearing today.

But Mr Prosser says community attitudes are changing as pressure grows to reduce the reliance on fossil fuels.

"Two years ago you would have had this sort of inquiry - there may well have had a lot of opposition," he said.

"We're getting a lot of support and positive submissions now because, as I mentioned, I think most thinking people realise that if we want to meet world greenhouse targets, nuclear power generation's the way to go.

"Australia has a great opportunity to meet that uranium demand.

"This report will further change a shifting thought in the public's mind to a positive attitude towards meeting our greenhouse targets," he said.

Two new nuclear power plants began commercial operations in South Korea yesterday:

South Korea, the world's sixth-largest producer of nuclear energy, yesterday started commercial operations of its 19th and 20th nuclear power plants (NPPs) in Ulchin, North Kyongsang Province.

"The Ulchin nuclear power plants Units five and 6 will enhance the nation's production capacity of electricity, meeting 4.4 percent of the country's annual electricity demands," the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy (MOCIE) said.

"The two power plants can generate 15.2 billion kilowatts electricity per hour, enabling the country to save 800 billion won ($787.7 billion U.S.) per year in oil imports."

Readers, it has been a pleasure. This will be my last post. But do not fret. The able Janice Cane will be taking over my responsibilities. Come back this afternoon to see her handiwork!

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