“AREVA is not only the French government’s major nuclear reactor operator, but through its subsidiary Cogema it also wants to open a new uranium mine in Kakadu National Park – the ‘Koongarra’ mine near the world famous Nourlangie Rock tourist and cultural site.

“Already Australian uranium goes to AREVA’s reactors in France and France , like the rest of the world, is facing a nuclear waste crisis because after 50 years of operation no safe long term means of disposing of the growing pile of high level reactor waste has been found.

“Clearly the French, like the Japanese, British and many others, would love a waste dump in outback Australia - a place described by Federal Science Minister Brendan Nelson as ‘the middle of nowhere’.

“If the Howard government will not commit to passing legislation to permanently ban the dumping of international radioactive waste in the NT then that is one more reason why the public should reject the flawed and unnecessary dump plan.

“The Howard government has already lied over the locating of a dump in the NT so anything less than legislation banning overseas waste will not have any credibility.”

1. Australia has a “moral obligation” to accept nuclear waste if it wants to increase uranium exports; Comments made by General Manager of AREVA subsidiary Cogema while appearing before Commonwealth House of Representatives Inquiry into uranium mining as reported in the press.

For further information on the proposed nuclear waste dump click here
or contact:
Peter Robertson on (08) 8981 1984
Email: ecnt@octa4.net.au