Labor angst over nuclear power stations ‘hypocritical’
The woman responsible for developing next-generation small modular nuclear reactors for global energy giant Westinghouse says the “tide will turn” on the no-emissions technology in Australia, and a nuclear reactor could be in operation here by the late 2030s.
While the major political parties remain divided on overturning Australia’s ban on nuclear power, Westinghouse Electric Company chief technology officer Rita Baranwal said it could be the missing link to help the country reach net zero emissions by 2050.
Westinghouse chief technology officer Rita Baranwal says there could be a nuclear power station in Australia by the late 2030s. Brent Lewin
“You can get to 80 per cent with renewables, but I believe nuclear will be part of the solution,” Dr Baranwal told AFR Weekend.
“I’m not one for the all options on the table – that sounds like everyone gets a trophy – but I’m not naive. I have never advocated for all nuclear.
“But there is a point when the sun doesn’t shine and the wind doesn’t blow and that’s where nuclear comes in to provide firm, baseload power. It does need to be in the mix.”
Dr Baranwal, who will speak at The Australian Financial Review Energy & Climate Summit on Monday, took aim at Labor’s support for nuclear submarines under the AUKUS agreement, which she said was “hypocritical” while it staunchly opposed nuclear power stations.
“The fuel in nuclear submarines is much more highly enriched and you have 18-year-old sailors who are right up against it for weeks at a time, and they have operated safely in the United States without incident for decades,” she said.
“It is hypocritical to say it’s OK to have 18-year-olds on ships and have them defend our country, but don’t want a power station that uses less
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