[ RadSafe ] " Uranium mining to grow: Canadian mogul "

[Franta, Jaroslav]

Uranium mining to grow: Canadian mogul
The Australian, 11 August 2005
Katharine Murphy, Samantha Maiden 

AUSTRALIANS need to prepare themselves for the inevitability of more uranium
mining and nuclear power, according to the chief executive of the world's
biggest uranium company. 

Gerald Grandey, chief executive of Canadian mining giant Cameco, is in
Australia to appear before a parliamentary inquiry that is examining the
merits of expanding uranium mining and the potential for nuclear power. 

"In the longer term I think nuclear power is inevitable," Mr Grandey told
The Australian last night. "No country wants to be completely dependent on
one source of energy. 
"We see most of the countries in the industrial world and developing
countries wanting to have a diverse energy base, so nuclear forms a
component of that." 

In Canberra last night, Mr Grandey privately met federal Resources Minister
Ian Macfarlane, who will today meet representatives of mining companies and
the South Australian and Northern Territory governments to draw up a new
policy framework to boost uranium mining and exports. 

Despite opposition from environmentalists and community groups, the Howard
Government has been building the case to dramatically expand uranium mining
in Australia, and has been pressuring the states to end the bans that
prevent nuclear activities in some jurisdictions. 

The new uranium framework will map out steps to overcome impediments such as
state bans, infrastructure constraints and problems with shipping. 

"We have the opportunity and responsibility to move with that increased
demand, and do it in a way that makes us the world's safest and most
responsible uranium exporter," Mr Macfarlane said. 

Science Minister Brendan Nelson told the National Press Club yesterday that
Australia needed a serious debate about the merits of nuclear energy. "In my
opinion, it borders on hypocrisy for us to enthusiastically dig the stuff
out of the ground, send it to other countries for their power generation and
yet here we are."
====================================================










CONFIDENTIAL AND PRIVILEGED INFORMATION NOTICE

This e-mail, and any attachments, may contain information that
is confidential, subject to copyright, or exempt from disclosure.
Any unauthorized review, disclosure, retransmission, 
dissemination or other use of or reliance on this information 
may be unlawful and is strictly prohibited.  

AVIS D'INFORMATION CONFIDENTIELLE ET PRIVILÉGIÉE

Le présent courriel, et toute pièce jointe, peut contenir de 
l'information qui est confidentielle, régie par les droits 
d'auteur, ou interdite de divulgation. Tout examen, 
divulgation, retransmission, diffusion ou autres utilisations 
non autorisées de l'information ou dépendance non autorisée 
envers celle-ci peut être illégale et est strictement interdite.