Seeker Blog

In two weeks the Howard government’s nuclear taskforce will report

…that a nuclear industry could be commercially viable within 15 years, giving the green light to the Prime Minister to radically shake up Australia’s energy market.

Former Telstra boss Ziggy Switkowski’s review will also find the cost of nuclear power should come down dramatically as more global powers invest in the technology and the cost of fossil fuels go up.

Last night, Minister for Industry and Resources Ian Macfarlane said a 15-year timeframe was “very realistic”, offering an optimistic assessment from the Howard Government on the way forward for nuclear power.

Mr Macfarlane also said a high-level report, to be released next week by the International Energy Agency, will give added weight to those backing nuclear power.

The release of Dr Switkowski’s draft in two weeks will bolster Mr Howard’s push to make nuclear power a central element of his election campaign.

The Government this week sharpened its policy differences with Labor on energy following the release in London on Tuesday of a report by former World Bank chief economist Nicholas Stern calling for more urgent co-ordinated action to tackle climate change.

The Opposition wants to ratify the existing Kyoto agreement, sign up to a global emissions trading system and give a stronger focus on renewable energy.

The Europe-based IEA, in its world energy outlook, will urge governments to speed up construction of new nuclear power plants, as part of the response to the climate change issue…

…The inquiry’s findings will be informed by the IEA report, due to be released in London on Tuesday, which will urge governments around the world to push nuclear as the only way to ensure energy security.

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