Unlike fossil fuel-fired power plants, nuclear reactors do not produce air pollution or carbon dioxide while operating. However, the processes for mining and refining uranium ore and making reactor fuel all require large amounts of energy.
Premier Jacinta Allan says she will never let a “toxic” nuclear power plant be built in Victoria while Opposition Leader John Pesutto says it’s too early to say if he will back his federal party leader’s Loy Yang proposal.
Australia has accumulated almost 5,000 cubic metres of radioactive waste (around the volume of two Olympic size swimming pools). This does not include uranium mining wastes, which are disposed of at mine sites.
About 30 countries are considering, planning or starting nuclear power programmes, and a further 20 or so countries have at some point expressed an interest.
