Australian Uranium Association

The Australian Uranium Association was an Australian industry trade group which represented companies involved in uranium exploration, mining and export. It operated from September 2006[1] until 2013, after which its responsibilities were absorbed by the Minerals Council of Australia.

History

From 2006 to 2013 the Australian Uranium Association acted as a national advocate for uranium mining and export and commissioned research and polling on uranium mining issues. Its predecessor, the Uranium Information Centre, was replaced by the Association in the same year of the AUA's foundation.[2] The chairman of the Association was Rob Atkinson, Chief Executive Officer of mining company Energy Resources of Australia (ERA) and its chief executive was Michael Angwin.[3] Responsibility for the uranium portfolio within the Minerals Council of Australia was passed to Daniel Zavattiero,[4] a former senior executive with BHP's uranium business.[5]

Membership

The Association had two full members (BHP and ERA), and 29 participating and associate members. Associates comprised all of Australia's uranium mining and export firms plus a number of explorers and project developers working to take the next set of uranium mines into production.

Nuclear industrial advocacy

The Association supported increased exports of Australian uranium for power generation purposes, arguing that nuclear power produces virtually no greenhouse gas emissions,[6] is a cheap alternative to coal and oil-based energy production[7] and that if Australia becomes a major player in uranium exports it would be in a position to ensure adherence to international nuclear safety standards and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.[6] The Association maintained that Australia has sufficient uranium to cater for one third of worldwide demand, and viewed restrictions on new mines as an issue affecting the nation's international competitiveness.[8]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Australian Uranium Association". Zeus Resources. Archived from the original on 14 February 2015. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  2. ^ "Uranium Information Centre:Australian Uranium Association Ltd". Uranium Information Centre. 2007. Archived from the original on 20 December 2007. Retrieved 30 January 2008.
  3. ^ "Paydirt Uranium Conference". 18 February 2011. Archived from the original on 18 February 2011. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  4. ^ "Presenters - Daniel Zavattiero". South Australian Resources & Energy Investment Conference. 2014. Archived from the original on 12 March 2015. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  5. ^ Validakis, Vicky (14 November 2013). "Australian Mining". Retrieved 10 September 2014.
  6. ^ a b "Submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties: Transfer of Nuclear Material to China" (PDF). Australian Uranium Association. October 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 29 January 2008.
  7. ^ "World Nuclear Capacity Growth Accelerated Last Year, Group Says". Bloomberg News. 17 January 2008. Retrieved 29 January 2008.
  8. ^ "Australian Uranium Association forecasts 50% increase in nuke power uranium consumption". Mineweb Holdings Limited. March 2008. Retrieved 1 February 2009.