SA seeks nuclear know-how
South Australia’s Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis is getting Canadian government officials involved in SA’s royal commission into the nuclear industry.
Mr Koutsantonis, also the state’s Energy Minister, is pushing for the development of a nuclear energy industry.
Last week, he attended the world’s largest mining convention - the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada International Convention.
While the Treasurer was overseas, Liberal MP Rowan Ramsey said he hoped a potential site for a national nuclear dump could be found in his electorate, which covers a vast area of South Australia's far north.
Mr Ramsey even nominated his own 2,400 hectare farm.
After the conference, Koutsantonis told News Corp reporters that South Australia’s planned royal commission into nuclear industries was a hot topic in meetings among the 25,000 attendees from 100 countries.
Canada is certainly a nuclear-friendly nation, gaining 17 per cent of its electricity from 19 nuclear power stations.
It is also home to vast reserves of uranium ore.
Mr Koutsantonis met with many senior government officials to talk about a potential nuclear fuel cycle in South Australia.
“We are among world experts in this field and I will welcome any participation they may want to provide in our royal commission process,” he said.
The SA Treasurer was keen to hear that nuclear technology contributes more than $5 billion to the Canadian economy every year, while directly employing more than 30,000 people.
He said he had seen an “overwhelmingly positive” reaction to Premier Jay Weatherill’s announcement of a nuclear industry royal commission.