‘Australia should avoid small nuclear reactors until 2040s’

Engineers say skills gaps and regulatory barriers make nuclear a riskier choice

ENGINEERS have warned that if Australia is to reverse years of opposition to nuclear power and begin installing reactors in the country, the least risky option would be to wait until the 2040s once small modular reactor (SMR) technology has matured.

The report comes as the opposition Liberal Party argues the government’s energy strategy is overly reliant on renewables. If elected to power, the Liberal Party would overturn Australia’s longstanding moratorium on nuclear power and develop a nuclear fuels industry.

Sites earmarked for SMRs