Uranium mining in Australia | Academic Papers Help
Uranium mining in Australia
Introduction
Uranium is a radioactive element which finds various industrial applications due to its unique nuclear properties. It is used in the military for various purposes and in civilian environment for power generation in nuclear power plants. Its discovery is attributed to a German chemist back in 1789. Since then, research on the element has continued from various scientists and with nuclear fission, uranium has been able to find various uses in the power industries. In Australia, radioactive ore mining started as early as 1906 with significant amounts of uranium being extracted. In fact, Australia harbors over twenty percent of the worlds uranium reserves with other world major reserves being USA, Canada and South Africa to name a few. However, Canada is the largest exporter of uranium with Australia following closely as the third after Kazakhstan. With more nations adopting nuclear power generation as a means of generating power from alternative sources to curb global warming, uranium demand has increased in recent years. Therefore, Australia stands to gain more value from its uranium reserves and this is positive development for the countrys GDP. For decades, uranium has been an integral source of economic gain for Australia despite political and environmental criticism. Critics have been crying foul on behalf of indigenous land and environmental wellbeing. For this, they have been asserting for uranium industry restriction or total banning. Opposition to uranium mining has been widespread in Australia. However, with the mining becoming increasing inevitable, Western Australia had to lift its ban on uranium mining in 2008. This paper aims at discussing why Western Australia lifted its ban on uranium mining.
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