Getting Rid Of The Nuclear Moratorium in 2025

This article is about how I believe soon to be PM Dutton will get rid of the Nuclear Moratorium in 2025

1. Preparation

Review Key Documents: 2025, PM Dutton will review briefing papers, legal texts, and expert opinions to understand the historical, legal and technical aspects of the moratorium.

Consultation with Experts: He will have to engage with energy experts, legal advisors, and national security officials to scrutinize the implications of lifting the moratorium.

Agenda and Talking Points: Once he’s got it all sorted out, he will finalize the agenda and talking points for parliamentary debates, media briefings and stakeholder meetings.

2. Drafting the Official Statement

Rationale: His team will draft a statement explaining the economic, environmental and provide answers to any questions relating to safety with lifting the moratorium.

Safety and Compliance: They will need to emphasize the comprehensive safety measures and regulatory frameworks to be instituted.

Public and Parliamentary Support: LNP will need to make sure they address potential concerns and provide transparent information to garner support.

3. Cabinet Approval

Cabinet Meeting: PM Dutton will present the proposal to the cabinet, highlighting the potential benefits and addressing concerns.

Debate and Decision: All present will engage in a thorough discussion and reach a consensus or majority decision.

4. Parliamentary Session

Presentation: PM Dutton will present the proposal to Parliament, covering all aspects comprehensively.

Addressing Concerns: He & Energy Minister O’Brien will acknowledge and address any concerns raised by ALP opposition members.

Legislative Endorsement: PM Dutton will seek legislative endorsement for the proposal.

5. Implementation and Monitoring

Regulatory Framework: The LNP will have to establish comprehensive regulatory frameworks, emphasizing safety protocols and compliance measures.

Safety Protocols: The will develop protocols covering emergency preparedness, radiation protection, waste management and environmental impact assessments.

Regulatory Body: Establish an independent regulatory body to oversee the Australian Nuclear Industry.

Continuous Monitoring: Mandate regular updates and reports from nuclear facilities, with periodic reviews and assessments.

6. Public Communication and Engagement

Information Campaign: Launch a public information campaign using various media channels to educate the populace about nuclear energy.

Addressing Misconceptions: Hold regular press briefings and engage experts to address public concerns and misconceptions and how not everything that the Simpsons TV Show portrayed is going to happen.?

Public Forums: The LNP will have to organize hundreds of town hall meetings and forums for direct engagement with the public.

Educational Partnerships: The LNP will partner with educational institutions to develop nuclear science and engineering programs.? I would expect at this point that the CSIRO is getting heavily involved with the go forward plan.

7. Economic Impact Assessment

Job Creation: Assess the full potential for job creation directly in the nuclear sector and the many related industries.? Some we’ll already have (thermal power), others will be new (The reactors, spent fuel – what we’ll be doing with it etc)

Investment: 10 to 20 Year plan (the further out into the future, the better) for significant capital investment in nuclear infrastructure.

Energy Prices: Evaluate the impact on energy prices, just how much they will come down and fully understand the economic competitiveness in this space.

Supply Chain Development: Fully map out the nuclear supply chain and offer incentives for local businesses.

8. Research and Innovation:

R&D and investment planning in the next generation of nuclear technology.

For instance, The AP1000 Gen III+ reactor cannot be directly upgraded to a Gen IV reactor or replaced with a fast nuclear reactor without significant redesign and reconstruction.

The Gen III+ and Gen IV reactors have fundamental differences in design, technology, and operating principles.

The Key Differences are:

Coolant: AP1000 uses water as a coolant, while Gen IV fast reactors typically use coolant types such as:

Sodium: Is mostly used in sodium-cooled fast reactors

Lead is used in lead-cooled fast reactors and Lead-bismuth eutectic is occasionally used in some LFR designs

Fluoride salts are used in some molten salt reactor (MSR) designs and Chloride salt can be used in certain MSR variants, particularly for fast spectrum applications

Helium is being proposed or may well be agreed upon for gas-cooled fast reactors due to its low neutron absorption and scattering properties.

Nitrogen-15: Is being suggested as an alternative to helium for gas-cooled fast reactors

Neutron spectrum: The AP1000 operates with thermal neutrons, while fast reactors use fast neutrons, fast neutrons have much higher energy and move at much higher velocities.

9. Fuel:

The AP1000 reactor and fast reactors are very different in their fuel usage and capabilities:

AP1000 uses traditional uranium dioxide (UO2) fuel pellets; fuel rods contain enriched uranium in the form of cylindrical pellets and may include axial blankets with reduced enrichment at the ends of the fuel pellet stack.

Fast reactors can use various fuel types, including: Mixed oxide (MOX) fuel, Metal alloy fuel, Uranium-carbide fuel (used in the Indian prototype).

The breeder type of fast reactors can "breed" new fuel, producing more fissile material than they consume.?? They can often use plutonium as the basic fuel due to its efficiency with fast neutrons and can utilize uranium-238 or thorium, which are more abundant than uranium-235.

Breeder reactors can convert fertile materials like uranium-238 or thorium-232 into fissile materials, effectively extending the nuclear fuel supply. This breeding capability allows for much higher fuel utilization compared to traditional reactors like the AP1000.

Safety systems: AP1000 incorporates passive safety features, but Gen IV designs aim for even more advanced safety mechanisms.

Efficiency and sustainability: Gen IV fast reactors offer significantly higher fuel efficiency and can potentially use nuclear waste as fuel.