Expand uranium mining: Campbell

Expand uranium mining: Campbell

From: AAP (Australian Associated Press)

28th March 2006

ENVIRONMENT Minister Ian Campbell says Australia should allow more mining of uranium to help tackle climate change.

Senator Campbell said also that more uranium exports to major polluting nations such as China and India did not necessarily mean Australia should take responsibility for extra nuclear waste.

Prime Minister John Howard today said it was possible that a uranium safeguards agreement would be signed next week with China when Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao visits Australia.

The safeguards pact will open the way for China to begin talks to buy uranium from Australian miners, including BHP Billiton, which owns 30 per cent of reserves in Australia.

But state governments are standing firm against a change in Labor's three-mines uranium policy, which will hamper China's desire to explore for the metal in Australia.

Senator Campbell said an expansion of uranium mining and use of nuclear technology was essential to counter greenhouse gas emissions and global warming.

"It's incredibly important that all of the technologies are available to solve climate change," he said.

"Nuclear is one of the existing technologies that we know that can produce energy with low carbon emissions."