A look at SMRs for Australia

What they’re saying: “The MCA has long advocated that Australia needs to consider zero-emission nuclear energy, along with carbon capture use and storage and renewable energy, as the country moves to decarbonize the economy,” stated Tania Constable, MCA’s chief executive officer, in an October 6 media release. “Changes in the economic, trade, security, policy, and technology environments in which Australia operates means that all options for low-carbon energy sources must be considered. SMRs offer part of the solution to addressing this necessary requirement.”

Constable additionally noted that Australia’s uranium mining sector supplies approximately 10 per cent of global demand. “That is enough uranium to power almost the entire output of the national electricity market with low-cost zero-emission power,” she said. “Despite this, outdated federal and state bans on nuclear power have seen Australia fall behind as the only G-20 country without access to nuclear energy or plans to develop it.”