FACTCHECK: One-Sided Four Corners Nuclear Episode

Refresh for live responses from our team and Australia's best nuclear experts in response to the false claims on ABC Four Corners' 'Nuclear Gamble' episode. 

Monday 7th October 10:35pm AEST

That's where we'll leave it for tonight. 

Monday 7th October 10:24pm AEST

CSIRO CEO "100% stands behind report" despite contradictory evidence

On tonight's episode of Four Corners the CEO of the CSIRO claimed the "Gencost report is really accurate. We pick the best figures, the most relevant figures to Australia. … we present the data in an objective, considered way...100% stand by the report”. 

This is despite evidence from multiple nuclear experts that their methodology was flawed. One major issue with the report is its failure to factor in the full 80+ year lifetime of a nuclear plant. This was recently analysed in the Nuclear Liftoff Report produced by the United States Department of Energy finding it led to significantly lower system costs than what a typical LCOE calculation would produce. 

Monday 7th October 9:15pm AEST

A picture tells a thousand words...

This is the art Four Corners is using for their 'Nuclear Gamble' episode. The word 'gamble', and colour yellow certainly don't evoke positive or impartial vibes. 

Moreover, the use of a cooling tower is also an intriguing choice given that cooling towers aren't needed in nuclear power plants and aren't involved in fission reactions. It's why contrary to popular belief they release water vapour which isn't contaminated with radioactivity. 

Monday 7th October 8:45pm AEST

Four Corner interviews multiple guests with undeclared conflicts of interests

On tonight's episode of Four Corners there was a failure to declare multiple conflicts of interest.

1/ Malcolm Turnbull

Former Australian Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, is a director of Upper Hunter Hydro and President of the International Hydropower Association. 

2/ Peter Bradford

Peter Bradford is one of the only anti-nuclear commissioners of the NRC. He is a member of the Union of Concerned Scientists a known anti-nuclear organisation and in 2013 claimed that "the United States is more or less on course to exit the nuclear power industry". Since then 2 new reactors have been opened, the United States pledged to triple nuclear capacity by 2050 and there are multiple programs to restart nuclear reactors. It is important to also note his tenure at the NRC was between 1977 and 1982. 

3/ Simon Holmes à Court

Simon Holmes à Court is a Director of the Superpower Institute and Smart Energy Council. 

Monday 7th October 8:20pm AEST

CLAIM: "Nuclear means turning your back on renewables" 

Fact Check: This is not the case. Around the world, nuclear works alongside renewables in balanced energy mixes. For instance, in France nuclear provides 65% of their electricity, and solar and wind fulfils the remainder. The reality is there is a unique role for nuclear in energy mixes whether that be as baseload power, flexible firming power or in off the grid applications. 

Monday 7th October 8:17pm AEST

CLAIM: "Nuclear reactors can't vary their output" 

Fact Check: Nuclear can load follow in support of renewables, we see this in France where renewable and nuclear are key to their net zero success. Nuclear plants can be used in either a large load variation (let's say nightime when PV solar doesn't work) or with smaller automatic load adjustments. 

Monday 7th October 8:10pm AEST

CLAIM: "Nuclear can't stand up on its own 2 feet"

Fact Check: This isn't true. In fact, in the past fortnight 14 of the biggest banks and funds pledged to support plans to triple nuclear energy capacity by 2050. This include Morgan Stanley and Citi. 

Monday 7th October 8:05pm AEST

CLAIM: "No nuclear reactors are being built in the United States"

Fact Check: Whilst this is technically true, it could lead people to assume that there are is no new development in nuclear energy. This is not true. At COP28, the United States alongside 24 other countries pledged to triple their nuclear supply in order to help reach net zero by 2050. There are already many initiatives underway as well as restart programs for the Three Mile Island plant and Palisades nuclear plant.

Monday 7th October 8:00pm AEST

MIT Nuclear Expert (not contacted by Four Corners) responds to Four Corners episode

While serious cost overruns and schedule delays have occurred in recent nuclear build projects in the US and Western Europe, it doesn’t imply that a similar situation would repeat in Australia.

For example, the United Arab Emirates, a country with zero nuclear experience until it launched its civilian nuclear energy program in 2008, now produces 25% of its electricity from 4 large nuclear reactors, built in less than a decade and on budget by a consortium of South Korean companies.

Also, refurbishment of multiple large reactors in Canada, a project that is comparable by complexity, cost and schedule to building a new reactor, is being completed ahead of time and on budget.

Lastly, most issues encountered in the Vogtle and Summer projects in the US were related to an immature supply chain and lack of experience for companies that hadn’t built a nuclear power plant in decades. In other words, these were first-of-a-kind issues. If the same technology (Westinghouse’s AP1000) were built again in the US, it’s quite likely the project would be smoother: in fact, building more AP1000s is under consideration by American electric utilities right now.

Monday 7th October 7:50pm AEST

Have lessons been learnt from Vogtle? 

Contrary to suggestions by Four Corners, there have been many lessons learnt from the Vogtle Nuclear Plant. These have been addressed in the Nuclear Liftoff report released last week by the United States Department of Energy. 

The lessons learnt could reduce the cost of an AP1000 by 25%. This was demonstrated between the construction of Vogtle 3 and Vogtle 4. Vogtle 4 cost 20% less than Vogtle 3. 

Monday 7th October 7:42pm AEST

Four Corners didn't actually tour the Vogtle Plant

This evening it is evident that Four Corners will focus their episode largely on the Vogtle Nuclear Plant, a facility they didn't tour. We find it difficult to understand how they can comment with authority on the plant and its implications for Australia without seeing it first hand and talking to those inside. 

Monday 7th October 7:34pm AEST

If nuclear doesn’t stack up, what’s the rest of the world thinking?

35 countries either have nuclear energy or are currently constructing reactors. This includes Bangladesh and Pakistan. Nigera, Ghana and Kenya are also all preparing their own nuclear power programs.
 
When Four Corners claims nuclear is uneconomic, think to yourself if these countries can afford nuclear, and are choosing it over 100% solar and wind, what is it that we know that they don’t?

Monday 7th October 12:00PM AEST

The issue with the title 'Nuclear Gamble'

Tonight's episode of Four Corners has the title 'Nuclear Gamble'. The reality is, if the ban on nuclear energy was lifted and Australia did pursue nuclear energy it wouldn't be a gamble. 

32 countries have nuclear energy and 50 are considering using nuclear for the first time according to the IAEA. There is a proven track record of nuclear providing clean, cheap, reliable energy across the world in balanced energy mixes. 

Australia's current approach of 100% solar and wind is the real gamble.

No country has decarbonised with only solar and wind and evidence suggests that regions that follow that pathway, such as California could have energy costs 37% higher than a balanced mix of nuclear + solar & wind. 

Monday 7th October 11:45AM AEST

Who do we know wasn't interviewed by Four Corners? 

We currently understand that no Australian nuclear expert or advocate was interviewed by ABC's Four Corners. A list of names and organisations we have confirmed weren't interviewed is below:

Experts:

• Dr Adi Paterson (Former CEO of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation)

• Tony Irwin (Former operator of OPAL, Australia's only nuclear reactor. Commissioned 8 nuclear power reactors in the UK)

• Jasmin Diab (Managing Director in Australia of Global Nuclear Security Partners and President of Women in Nuclear Australia)

• Kirsty Braybon (Nuclear law expert and former Head of Legal for the Australian Radioactive Waste Agency)

• Dr Mark Ho (President of the Australian Nuclear Association)

• Robert Parker (Founder of Nuclear for Climate Australia)

• Dr John Harries (Australian Nuclear Association)

• Helen Cook (Global nuclear law expert)

• Stephen Wilson (Author of 'What would be needed for nuclear energy plants to be operating in Australia from the 2030s' report)  

• (the list goes on)

Advocates:

• Dick Smith

• Anyone from Nuclear for Australia

• Anyone from WePlanet Australia

Monday 7th October 11:00AM AEST

Facts about Plant Vogtle 

In July I had the opportunity to tour the Vogtle Nuclear Power Plant. It appears the plant will be a major focus of tonight's story. However, the Four Corners crew did not tour the plant. 

Here are some facts about Vogtle:

• Vogtle is a 4 unit plant located near Augusta, Georgia

• Vogtle 3 & 4 are the first new nuclear reactors in the United States in 30 years

• The full nuclear plant is the largest generator of clean energy in the United States

• There are well known lessons from Vogtle's construction that led to its higher build cost. These are outlined in the new US Nuclear Liftoff report. 

Monday 7th October 10:45AM AEST

Australian nuclear advocacy organisations not represented on Four Corners

No Australian nuclear advocacy organisation is represented on tonight's episode of Four Corners. Whilst the nuclear advocacy movement in the US has thankfully been engaged, the show will likely not mention the movement's presence in Australia through organisations such as Nuclear for Australia, WePlanet Australia or Nuclear for Climate Australia.

In addition, the Australian Nuclear Association and Women in Nuclear Australia will likely also not be mentioned. 

Monday 7th October 10:20AM AEST

PROMO: "They [Small Modular Reactors] don't exist yet, at least not commercially."

FACT CHECK: There are three operating small modular reactors around the world. In 2020 the Akademik Lomonosov 2 entered commercial operation in Russia. In 2023, the 2 reactor Shidao Bay 1 entered commercial operation in China. More information about the progress of small modular reactor designs can be found here. 

It is important to note the small reactors are not a new concept and are not technically infeasible. Indeed, Australia operates a 20MW research reactor, OPAL, 30km away from the Sydney CBD. 

Monday 7th October 9:47AM AEST

👋 Welcome!

To the best of our knowledge, not a single Australian nuclear expert has been interviewed for tonight's Four Corners episode. We think Australians deserve better.

That's why throughout the episode we'll have our team of experts responding to every false claim & omission to arm you with the facts. Along the way I may also share my thoughts.