| Australia needs to consider Nuclear | | | | is not new and currently there are 13 |
| Desalination as a part of the Nuclear Energy | | | | reactors operating, in 4 countries, with a |
| Debate | | | | combined 247 reactor-years experience.[4] The |
| | | | cost of nuclear desalinated water is about 40 |
| Australia can decide to become energy, and | | | | cents per kiloliter[5] and while this is 20 |
| financially, rich due to the use of its | | | | to 30 times as much as we are already paying, |
| abundant supply of uranium that can be either | | | | these costs could be lower for Australia as |
| used locally in home grown Nuclear power | | | | we have our own uranium. Even given the costs |
| plants or sold as a refined product on the | | | | as shown, it is only a matter of time until |
| world market. The decision is in the hands of | | | | it becomes cost effective. |
| the Australian people through their elected | | | | |
| representatives. There are additional issues | | | | The International Atomic Energy Agency is |
| that need to be addressed in parallel with | | | | currently conducting research into Nuclear |
| the above issues. The Desalination of | | | | Desalination and the International Nuclear |
| Seawater using Nuclear Power and its benefits | | | | Desalination Advisory Group advises that |
| need to be considered in any discussion of | | | | another 13 countries are conducting research |
| Nuclear Power in Australia. | | | | and feasibility studies. These countries are |
| | | | Argentina, Canada, China, Egypt, France, |
| Large areas of Australia have been in | | | | India, Israel, South Korea, Libya, Morocco, |
| moderate to severe drought conditions for | | | | Pakistan, Russian Federation and United |
| fifteen of the last twenty years.[1] It seems | | | | States. There is also major International |
| possible that Australia will join the African | | | | Collaboration underway between Indonesia and |
| region, Latin America and South East Asia as | | | | Korea, Rep of, Tanzania and France, Pakistan |
| an area suffering moderate to sever water | | | | and Various International Bodies, Morocco and |
| shortages.[2] | | | | France, Russia and Canada and lastly |
| | | | Eurodesal.[6] |
| Desalination is a possible solution to these | | | | |
| shortages in Australia. In the past it has | | | | It is evident Nuclear Desalination is being |
| not been seen as an economical solution to | | | | considered world wide. Australia has 38% of |
| local water shortages. However, given, the, | | | | the worlds know Uranium resources and is |
| potential, change in public opinion, attitude | | | | about to make a national decision regarding |
| and the necessary economic consideration of | | | | its use. Public awareness that the potential |
| Nuclear Energy and Uranium mining and | | | | of Nuclear Desalination can solve all of |
| refinement, desalination of seawater using | | | | Australia's future water requirements as well |
| Nuclear Energy must be considered at the same | | | | as, allowing Australia to convert large |
| time. | | | | amounts of inhospitable land into an arable |
| | | | and profitable resource will ease the |
| By 2025, about two thirds of the world | | | | resistance currently being shown by a |
| population may suffer sever water shortages. | | | | percentage of the population. |
| Fresh, potable, water will become an | | | | |
| internationally marketable product.[3] | | | | The public must be apprised of the benefits |
| | | | of Nuclear Desalination, while considering |
| Desalination of seawater using Nuclear Power | | | | the Nuclear Energy issue. |