https://padlet.com/helc3122/geeivd9wt08lbysx en-us 2024-03-25 21:45:26 UTC 2024-03-26 02:51:04 UTC hello@padlet.com helc3122 https://padlet.com/helc3122/geeivd9wt08lbysx/wish/2933041460 Nevertheless, in any probable scenario, uranium could be at most a small contributor to Australia’s export revenue and employment. Time has proved that, despite all previous estimates, the global nuclear capability has not grown significantly, and it is not going to grow, since several hundred reactors will have to be built in the coming decades to replace existing plants. Green and Sweeney (2013) point out that another reason for this is that nuclear power gets more expensive over time due to technological and safety factors and this creates a huge barrier to future development. They emphasize that particularly after the accident in Fukushima, the countries to which Australia’s uranium is exported have either already reduced their growth plans or are considering a decrease in their reliance on nuclear power and may even abandon it altogether. When it comes to employment, the average 10% of indigenous workers employed in the mining industry equals to around one job for every three thousand Indigenous Australians (Green & Sweeney, 2013). It is therefore clear that neither the economy nor employment in Australia can benefit significantly from uranium - not now or in the future.]]> 2024-03-25 21:45:26 UTC https://padlet.com/helc3122/geeivd9wt08lbysx/wish/2933041460 helc3122 https://padlet.com/helc3122/geeivd9wt08lbysx/wish/2933041461 However, restrictions are not always met by the mining companies and rehabilitation procedures fail to accomplish their purpose satisfactorily. A 2003 report by a Federal Senate References and Legislation Committee found “a pattern of under-performance and non-compliance” in the uranium mining industry and, in 2008, Marathon Resources was caught illegally discarding thousands of uranium exploration drill samples in the Mt Gee region of the Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary in South Australia. Unfortunately, the scandal was not revealed by the supervisory authorities but by local residents. Furthermore, when an Olympic Dam mineworker showed the media photos of numerous leaks in the tailings dams in 2009, BHP threatened “disciplinary action” against any workers caught taking photos (Green & Sweeney 2013). To further exacerbate matters, the rehabilitation of old uranium mines is not without problems either. Research has proven that there were doubts about the durability of caps and recuperation of leakages to prevent surface water and groundwater contamination with radionuclides and toxic stable metals in the rehabilitated tailings (Carvalho, 2011). Even in the “successful” story of the Mary Kathleen uranium deposit rehabilitation, thick waste rock dumps continue to shed dissolved and particulate contaminants into local soils, sediments and waters (Lottermoser, 2010).]]> 2024-03-25 21:45:26 UTC https://padlet.com/helc3122/geeivd9wt08lbysx/wish/2933041461 helc3122 https://padlet.com/helc3122/geeivd9wt08lbysx/wish/2933041462 Uranium mining and export has little to offer to the Australian economy and employment, especially compared to the environmental risks mentioned above. From 2002 to 2011 uranium exports averaged $627 million per annum and accounted for only 0.29% of all national export revenue (Green & Sweeney, 2013). In addition, uranium has not done any better than exports as far as employment is concerned. The most optimistic of all estimates (The World Nuclear Association, 2013) is 1.760 jobs in Australia’s uranium industry. This figure accounts for just 0.015% of all jobs in Australia. Moreover, all financial benefits to Australia from uranium mining should be considered within the context of foreign ownership. As of March 2013, of the four companies producing uranium, BHP Billiton is 76% foreign owned, Rio Tinto 83%, General Atomics/ Heathgate Resources 100% and Uranium One 100% (Green & Sweeney 2013). If one adds to the above the government’s subsidies and tax breaks to the mining companies, it is therefore clear that foreign investors are the ones who benefit most from Australian uranium, whereas Australians themselves are left with little profit, fewer resources and huge environmental damage.]]> 2024-03-25 21:45:26 UTC https://padlet.com/helc3122/geeivd9wt08lbysx/wish/2933041462 helc3122 https://padlet.com/helc3122/geeivd9wt08lbysx/wish/2933041463 On the other hand, it has been argued that, since Australia has 38% of the world’s low-cost reserves of uranium, with most in a small number of deposits, uranium mining and export could be very profitable, especially in the years to come. In fact, it is estimated that due to globally planned new nuclear power plants and increasing capacities of existing plants there will be a boom in global demand and exports will grow significantly with better prices as well (Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, 2006). As for employment, it has been claimed by the Australian Uranium Association that its members are “significant employers of First Australians” with some companies.]]> 2024-03-25 21:45:26 UTC https://padlet.com/helc3122/geeivd9wt08lbysx/wish/2933041463 helc3122 https://padlet.com/helc3122/geeivd9wt08lbysx/wish/2933041464 In conclusion, although uranium mining was predicted to have a positive outcome both on the environment and finance, reality has proven that it is by no means a “clean” power source and that its assistance to a country’s wealth and employment can be easily rejected, especially in comparison with the environmental costs. The distinctive characteristics and dangers of the uranium sector require serious and considered evaluation and a cost-benefit analysis would prove that this is a high risk, low return activity.]]> 2024-03-25 21:45:26 UTC https://padlet.com/helc3122/geeivd9wt08lbysx/wish/2933041464 helc3122 https://padlet.com/helc3122/geeivd9wt08lbysx/wish/2933041465 First and foremost, the most striking feature of uranium mining is the devastating impact it has on the environment, since it produces the largest volume of waste of the nuclear fuel cycle. After uranium is extracted, 99.7% of the ore is left as solid waste, known as “tailings”, which preserve about 85% of the original radioactivity of the ore. Until December 2005 in Australia, on average, each tonne of extracted uranium generated 848 tonnes of mill tailings and 1,152 tonnes of combined low-grade ore and waste rock (Carvalho, 2011; Mudd, 2006). The process of mining and extracting uranium ore, along with all the chemicals used for this purpose, affects the air, soil, sediment as well as surface and ground water of the mining and the surrounding areas. Some of the potential environmental impacts at these sites are excessive radioactivity levels, ground and surface water contamination and dangerous atmospheric emissions (Lottermoser, 2010). In addition, using polluted water in crop irrigation may transfer radiation to plants, cattle and humans. There have also been certain cases where mill tailing materials have been used in house construction, bringing radioactive materials into close contact with the public (Carvalho, 2011).]]> 2024-03-25 21:45:26 UTC https://padlet.com/helc3122/geeivd9wt08lbysx/wish/2933041465 helc3122 https://padlet.com/helc3122/geeivd9wt08lbysx/wish/2933041466 Conversely, it has been argued that the risk of public exposure to radioactivity is now under better control than in the past and environmental rehabilitation efforts have decreased the spread of radiation in abandoned uranium mines. The international basic safety standards to protect human health and the environment against the harmful effects of radiation have been revised by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) and new stricter dose restrictions have been set (Carvalho, 2011). A good example of how environmental restrictions are applied is the Ranger mine site, which is located in the heart of the Kakadu National Park, a world heritage area. In this case, environmental protection at Ranger Uranium Mines (RUM) was given high priority right from the planning stage and, consequently, Ranger is supervised by two environmental authorities which independently monitor the mine’s operation. (Harries, Levins, Ring & Zuk, 1997). In addition, rehabilitation strategies have been followed and they are thought to have been effective in restricting the dangers from abandoned mines. Rehabilitation plans aim at making the uranium mining sites safe for future land use (i.e. cattle grazing) and public access by keeping radiation levels within standard limits (Lottermoser & Ashley, 2006). One of the most successful stories is the environmental restoration of Mary Kathleen uranium deposit, which was completed in 1985 and won an award for environmental excellence from the Institute of Engineers Australia. During tests conducted in 1999 and 2000 the findings were that the radiation levels were below acceptable limits and the tailings dump structure and its cover were intact (Lottermoser, 2010).]]> 2024-03-25 21:45:26 UTC https://padlet.com/helc3122/geeivd9wt08lbysx/wish/2933041466