| Australia needs to consider Nuclear Desalination as a | | | | the costs as shown, it is only a matter of time until it |
| part of the Nuclear Energy Debate Australia can | | | | becomes cost effective. The International Atomic |
| decide to become energy, and financially, rich due to | | | | Energy Agency is currently conducting research into |
| the use of its abundant supply of uranium that can | | | | Nuclear Desalination and the International Nuclear |
| be either used locally in home grown Nuclear power | | | | Desalination Advisory Group advises that another 13 |
| plants or sold as a refined product on the world | | | | countries are conducting research and feasibility |
| market. The decision is in the hands of the Australian | | | | studies. These countries are Argentina, Canada, China, |
| people through their elected representatives. There | | | | Egypt, France, India, Israel, South Korea, Libya, |
| are additional issues that need to be addressed in | | | | Morocco, Pakistan, Russian Federation and United |
| parallel with the above issues. The Desalination of | | | | States. There is also major International Collaboration |
| Seawater using Nuclear Power and its benefits need | | | | underway between Indonesia and Korea, Rep of, |
| to be considered in any discussion of Nuclear Power | | | | Tanzania and France, Pakistan and Various |
| in Australia. Large areas of Australia have been in | | | | International Bodies, Morocco and France, Russia and |
| moderate to severe drought conditions for fifteen of | | | | Canada and lastly Eurodesal.[6] It is evident Nuclear |
| the last twenty years.[1] It seems possible that | | | | Desalination is being considered world wide. Australia |
| Australia will join the African region, Latin America and | | | | has 38% of the worlds know Uranium resources and |
| South East Asia as an area suffering moderate to | | | | is about to make a national decision regarding its use. |
| sever water shortages.[2] Desalination is a possible | | | | Public awareness that the potential of Nuclear |
| solution to these shortages in Australia. In the past it | | | | Desalination can solve all of Australia's future water |
| has not been seen as an economical solution to local | | | | requirements as well as, allowing Australia to convert |
| water shortages. However, given, the, potential, | | | | large amounts of inhospitable land into an arable and |
| change in public opinion, attitude and the necessary | | | | profitable resource will ease the resistance currently |
| economic consideration of Nuclear Energy and | | | | being shown by a percentage of the population. The |
| Uranium mining and refinement, desalination of | | | | public must be apprised of the benefits of Nuclear |
| seawater using Nuclear Energy must be considered at | | | | Desalination, while considering the Nuclear Energy |
| the same time. By 2025, about two thirds of the | | | | issue. Submission Prepared by: Ron Gully (Bachelor |
| world population may suffer sever water shortages. | | | | Science in Nuclear Physics) [1] The Australian Bureau |
| Fresh, potable, water will become an internationally | | | | of Meteorology [2] International Atomic Energy |
| marketable product.[3] Desalination of seawater using | | | | Agency [3] International Atomic Energy Agency [4] |
| Nuclear Power is not new and currently there are 13 | | | | International Desalination Advisory Group [5] Uranium |
| reactors operating, in 4 countries, with a combined | | | | Information Center [6] International Desalination |
| 247 reactor-years experience.[4] The cost of nuclear | | | | Advisory Group |
| desalinated water is about 40 cents per kiloliter[5] | | | | Ron Gully has a BSc in Nuclear Physics and is an |
| and while this is 20 to 30 times as much as we are | | | | Internet entrepreneur who successfully listed his |
| already paying, these costs could be lower for | | | | stock market website on the Australian Stock |
| Australia as we have our own uranium. Even given | | | | Exchange in 1999. |