[Greens-Media] BHP dumps Olympic Dam plan – uranium industry drifts towards extinction

[Torre, Giovanni (Sen S. Ludlam)]

BHP dumps Olympic Dam plan – uranium industry drifts towards extinction

Australian Greens spokesperson on nuclear policy Senator Scott Ludlam. 22 August 2012.



Australian Greens nuclear policy spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam said BHP’s decision to axe its Olympic Dam expansion plan shows the global uranium market is in critical condition.



“The nuclear industry globally is in terminal decline, contributing to the business case against the Olympic Dam expansion.



“Since the Fukushima disaster, Germany, Belgium and Switzerland have announced a complete nuclear phase-out.  Egypt, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, and Thailand have cancelled projects.  New proposals for plants in Brazil, France, India, and the USA were cancelled,” Senator Ludlam said.  “Now it seems the industry may be headed for a phase-out in Japan as well.”



“Australia stands to benefit from the massive jobs potential of large-scale renewable energy installations.  If Olympic Dam has been proven unsustainable by BHP’s announcement, we are ready to work with State and Federal Governments to fast-track the sustainable jobs that the clean energy economy is all about.



“Jabiluka, Koongarra, Arkaroola, Angela Pamela, Wiluna. The uranium projects that never were and must never be. Today we add the name of the Olympic Dam expansion as the industry slides inevitably towards the extinction it so richly deserves.”





Media contact:  Giovanni Torre – 0417 174 302