Nuclear for Australia founder Will Shackel appeared on NewsDay with Jaynie Seal.
Interview Transcript:
Jaynie Seal (Host): Great to see you, Will, and happy Easter to you and your family. So, this includes the nuclear debate here and across the world in regards to civil nuclear. What are we seeing developing across the world and new uh projects perhaps?
Will Shackel (Founder of Nuclear for Australia): Yes. So, 38 countries representing 70% of the world's GDP have signed up to triple global nuclear capacity by 2050. And that includes China which currently operates 60 reactors and has got around 35 under construction. So in the context of this fuel crisis, people around the world, countries and including Australians as well are realizing the need for energy security and energy security can be delivered through nuclear power because of its enormous energy density.
Jaynie Seal (Host): And it's bipartisan in places like the US. Talk us through what govern Governor Newsom welcomed.
Will Shackel (Founder of Nuclear for Australia): So recently, actually in the last few days, the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant, the last one in California, which provides around 10% of California's electricity has been had the green light to go for another 20 years, which is incredible news given that just a few years ago, it was set to shut down. So thanks to nuclear advocacy efforts going on in the United States, it's got another lease on life, which is really exciting. And we're seeing so many nuclear power plants around the world and particularly in the US with the data centers and the rising electricity demand from them coming back to life. Another good example is Three Mile Island. Microsoft is partnering with Constellation to restart one of those units. So around the world, they're starting to realise once again the importance of nuclear energy in a balanced energy mix.
Jaynie Seal (Host): And it's interesting, isn't it? We had the head of the International Energy Agency at the National Press Club about a week ago. He spoke about nuclear. Some interesting comments there about France bringing their share of nuclear energy down is like selling the Eiffel Tower to someone else. Talk us through that comment.
Will Shackel (Founder of Nuclear for Australia): Well, France now gets around 65% of their power from nuclear energy because they reversed that phase out now have some of the cleanest and most reliable energy in Europe. You look at the alternative Germany where they shut down their nuclear plants. They have some of the highest emissions, highest power prices, and industry is moving out. It's to the point where now all of their leaders and Dr. Birol, the head of the International Energy Agency, has said it was a huge strategic mistake and now now in the position of having to rethink whether they need to go back to nuclear power. So there's all of these lessons around the world where we can see as Australia the path that we shouldn't be going down which is ignoring nuclear power in our mix particularly with this rising electricity demand from electrification and artificial intelligence.
Jaynie Seal (Host): Dr. Birl also suggested that we didn't need nuclear power plants in Australia. He spoke about our uranium, but he said we should be congratulated, didn't he, about the the the renewables that we have here.
Will Shackel (Founder of Nuclear for Australia): 100% and we need to be using all the clean energy sources we have. I would disagree with Dr. Birol. I think that was probably the politically correct answer in front of our government to say that Australia didn't need nuclear power. But in the context of what's happening with our renewable energy targets, which are set to be around 17% off track, those figures, if he was aware of those, I think are clear indications that we need to be exploring nuclear power in our mix. But the important thing is, as everyone knows, Australia's got the most uranium in the world, around 30% of global reserves, and we should be tapping into that. And he called on the government to be opening that up, especially as countries in our region are exploring nuclear power. We should be using the clean fuel that we have and helping other countries to decarbonise with it.
Jaynie Seal (Host): And what are your thoughts will on plants that are existing? For example, with the Middle East crisis when we're hearing attacks on nuclear power plants, we hear often the IAEA come out talking about radiation I should say and and you know they keep a close eye on that sort of situation. They haven't said anything, but they certainly put out those posts on X a lot just uh you know advising people. What are your concerns? Because no doubt people that are perhaps anti-nuclear would be worried about this.
Will Shackel (Founder of Nuclear for Australia): Well, all power sources are at risk of conflict, but I think that's almost a good thing to see the level of regulation and oversight of these nuclear power plants and we haven't seen a major incident at one of these nuclear power plants even in the context of these crises. I think it's important that when we look at the conflict and the instability around the world that we have energy security in this country and the path that we're going down at the moment means that Australia's electricity supply is less secure because whether it's fossil fuels with the finite resources there or solar panels, wind turbines which are imported from overseas, we should be looking at creating sovereign energy resources with nuclear power, the uranium we have under our feet. I think that's the pathway Australia should go down and that will ensure the security uh in our nation. I think that's the real concern and when you look at nuclear power safety record over its um decades of operation nuclear power even including Chernobyl, Fukushima, Three Mile Island is still statistically the second safest energy source. So my concern is really more energy security and how can we deliver that? I think nuclear power must be part of Australia's energy mix.
Jaynie Seal (Host): And getting back to when Dr. Birol was here with the national press club and he correct me if I'm wrong he mentioned uh that we perhaps should lift the bans here on uranium he was in favour of our uranium for example but what is the government the the current government saying about that.
Will Shackel (Founder of Nuclear for Australia): So the federal government doesn't have the federal nuclear power prohibition doesn't affect uranium one thing that the federal government could do is add uranium to our critical minerals list which is what many other governments have done around the world it's really the state governments where the issues are. There are multiple state prohibitions on uranium mining, which makes absolutely no sense to me, including in West Australia, New South Wales, Queensland. And these these bans basically restrict the uranium which is in the ground in these states from being explored, mined, and exported around the world. Currently, South Australia is the only state which has got a big role in uranium mining. And just with that, South Australia alone basically makes Australia the fourth largest producer. But we've got the largest reserves in the world. So we could be doing much more with our uranium. It's really a state government issue though.
Jaynie Seal (Host): Do you think they're going to move that ban at all in any of the states? I mean, we've had Tony Wood from the Grattan Institute here last year, I think it was, saying that, you know, it's certainly worth that conversation to to look at lifting bans.
Will Shackel (Founder of Nuclear for Australia): I think there is a lot of momentum in Western Australia, New South Wales. John Ruddick has a bill to lift their state nuclear power prohibition and uranium mining prohibition. There's a lot of progress. I think people are realising that even if we don't use nuclear power in our own country, which I think would make no sense if we don't go down that path, but why aren't we using the fuel providing it to other nations which are going down this journey with nuclear power? Already Australia's current uranium exports basically would be able to provide enough energy to cover around 70% of Australia's energy grid as a whole. So this is a huge contribution we could be making to the rest of the world helping them decarbonise and I think over time we'll see more state governments hopefully realise the role that they could play.
Jaynie Seal (Host): Certainly is an ongoing debate. Will Shackel always appreciate your time and expertise. Thank you so much.