AUSTRALIANS need to prepare themselves for the inevitability of more uranium mining and nuclear power, according to the chief executive of the world's biggest uranium company.
Gerald Grandey, chief executive of Canadian mining giant Cameco, is in Australia to appear before a parliamentary inquiry that is examining the merits of expanding uranium mining and the potential for nuclear power.
"In the longer term I think nuclear power is inevitable," Mr Grandey told The Australian last night. "No country wants to be completely dependent on one source of energy.
"We see most of the countries in the industrial world and developing countries wanting to have a diverse energy base, so nuclear forms a component of that."
In Canberra last night, Mr Grandey privately met federal Resources Minister Ian Macfarlane, who will today meet representatives of mining companies and the South Australian and Northern Territory governments to draw up a new policy framework to boost uranium mining and exports.
Despite opposition from environmentalists and community groups, the Howard Government has been building the case to dramatically expand uranium mining in Australia, and has been aressuring the states to end the bans that prevent nuclear activities in some jurisdictions.
The new uranium framework will map out steps to overcome impediments such as state bans, infrastructure constraints and problems with shipping.
"We have the opportunity and responsibility to move with that increased demand, and do it in a way that makes us the world's safest and most responsible uranium exporter," Mr Macfarlane said.
Science Minister Brendan Nelson told the National Press Club yesterday that Australia needed a serious debate about the merits of nuclear energy. "In my opinion, it borders on hypocrisy for us to enthusiastically dig the stuff out of the ground, send it to other countries for their power generation and yet here we are."
