Nuclear Energy
See also: Nuclear Power in AustraliaIn terms of resources, aside from its strong production of low-cost coal and natural gas, Australia has approximately 40% of the world's uranium deposits, and is considered to be the second largest producer of uranium behind Canada. Nuclear technology offers significant generation capability. Claiming that it is carbon-free, some claim that increased reliance on nuclear power could reduce greenhouse gas emissions which cause global warming. Others dispute this claim, pointing out that large amounts of fossil fuels are burned to construct, operate, and maintain these facilities.
Other perceived problems include that enriched uranium can also be used as a nuclear weapon, prompting security issues such as nuclear proliferation. Also nuclear waste requires extensive waste management because it can remain radioactive for centuries.
The only nuclear reactor in Australia is currently located at Lucas Heights, and it has had leaks of water into heavy water since its completion, reducing public confidence in nuclear power plants in Australia.
Read more about this topic: Mitigation Of Global Warming In Australia
Famous quotes containing the words nuclear and/or energy:
“American universities are organized on the principle of the nuclear rather than the extended family. Graduate students are grimly trained to be technicians rather than connoisseurs. The old German style of universal scholarship has gone.”
—Camille Paglia (b. 1947)
“After the planet becomes theirs, many millions of years will have to pass before a beetle particularly loved by God, at the end of its calculations will find written on a sheet of paper in letters of fire that energy is equal to the mass multiplied by the square of the velocity of light. The new kings of the world will live tranquilly for a long time, confining themselves to devouring each other and being parasites among each other on a cottage industry scale.”
—Primo Levi (1919–1987)