Time to repeal NSW ban on uranium mining and nuclear power
The NSW Minerals Council supports the proposed repeal of 1986 legislation banning uranium mining and nuclear power for electricity generation in NSW.
“The NSW uranium and nuclear ban is out of date and out of touch, and it’s repeal is long overdue,” NSW Minerals Council CEO, Stephen Galilee, said today.
“The ban on exploring for uranium was repealed in 2012, yet the mining ban remains, creating the absurd situation where it’s legal to explore for uranium in NSW, but illegal to mine it if found.”
Mr Galilee said the Private Members Bill to be introduced into NSW Parliament by the Hon Mark Latham MLC would reverse this ridiculous situation and follow the example of other states.
“It makes no sense that if you step across the NSW border into South Australia it’s legal to mine uranium, as it is in Western Australia and the Northern Territory, yet not here in NSW.”
Removing the ban on uranium extraction has the potential to open up a new export opportunity for our State, creating jobs, investment and royalties for the people of NSW.”
Similarly, the ban on nuclear power for energy generation undermines any genuine technology-neutral approach to energy policy in NSW.
“A true technology-neutral approach to energy policy does not declare one particular form of electricity generation ‘illegal’, especially a source of energy generation that is widely used in many other countries around the world.”
“Nuclear power is part of the energy mix in some of the largest global economies, including many held up as shining examples of having low emissions electricity. It doesn’t make sense that we aren’t even able to consider it as a part of our energy mix here.”
“We commend NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro for his strong interest on this issue and hope his public intervention signals a new opportunity for consideration of nuclear power in NSW.”
“Households and businesses across NSW are struggling to pay their power bills. NSW is facing a serious shortfall in electricity generation in 2022 when AGL closes the Liddell power station. If we’re serious about finding a solution to these issues, no form of generation should be off the table,” Mr Galilee said.