Discover the Only Nuclear Plant in Australia (And What Lives Around It)

Written by Jennifer Gaeng
Updated: June 7, 2023
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Australia is home to some of the world’s most unique and diverse wildlife. Did you know it also houses only one nuclear plant? Keep reading to discover the only nuclear plant in Australia and also what lives around it!

The Only Nuclear Plant In Australia

Australia’s lone nuclear power station is in the southwest suburb of Lucas Heights, just outside of Sydney. It is primarily utilized for the production of medicinal isotopes. It is one of more than 200 research reactors spread across the globe. The mining industry, forensic science, and also academic research all benefit from the company’s products and services.

Union Electric Callaway Nuclear Power Plant, MO

The only nuclear plant in Australia is primarily utilized for the production of medicinal isotopes.

©Joseph Sohm/Shutterstock.com

What Are Medical Isotopes

Medical isotopes are small amounts of radioactive substances that are used in medical imaging, diagnosis, and treatment. These isotopes emit radiation that can be detected by medical equipment to produce images of internal structures of the body. They are produced in a nuclear reactor or cyclotron and are used in a range of medical procedures, including PET scans, SPECT scans, and radiation therapy. In addition, medical isotopes play an essential role in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, heart disease, neurological disorders, and many other medical conditions.

How Are Medical Isotopes Made?

Inside the nuclear power plant in Australia, medical isotopes are made using a variety of methods. This includes nuclear reactors, particle accelerators, and cyclotrons.

One common method is through the nuclear fission of uranium-235 in a nuclear reactor. This process produces a variety of isotopes, including molybdenum-99, which is used to make technetium-99m, a commonly used medical isotope. The molybdenum-99 is extracted from the reactor and transported to radiopharmaceutical manufacturing facilities where it is used to produce the technetium-99m.

Another method is through the use of particle accelerators and cyclotrons. These machines can bombard various target materials with protons, neutrons, or other charged particles to create a specific medical isotope. For example, fluorine-18, which is used in PET imaging, is produced in a cyclotron by bombarding oxygen-18 with protons.

Overall, the production of medical isotopes requires careful control of the nuclear reactors to create the desired isotopes in the required quantities and with the necessary purity for safe use in medical imaging and therapy.

Why Doesn’t Australia Have Nuclear Power?

Building nuclear power plants is prohibitively expensive and time-consuming. This is why there is currently only one nuclear power plant in Australia. According to CSIRO, solar and wind power, plus storage, are the cheapest ways to make electricity. Also, the costs for nuclear construction and operation in Australia remain unfeasible.

Discussions about the potential for nuclear power in Australia date back to at least the 1950s. Australia is the third largest uranium producer in the world, behind Kazakhstan and Canada, and is home to 33 percent of the uranium resources throughout the world. Australia’s abundant, cheap natural gas and coal reserves have long been cited as grounds against the country’s adoption of nuclear power.

What Lives Around The Nuclear Plant In Australia?

Nuclear Power Plant

There are currently no plans to build another nuclear power plant in Australia.

©Eder/Shutterstock.com

The area around the only nuclear power plant in Australia is home to many different species of native flora and fauna including wallabies, koalas, and possums as well as various birds such as kookaburras and cockatoos. The nearby Woronora River provides an important habitat for these creatures while also acting as a buffer zone between them and any potential radiation from the reactor core should something go wrong during operation or maintenance work being carried out inside its walls.

Is The Nuclear Power Plant Beneficial To Australia?

This nuclear plant protects the environment by stopping the discharge of toxic emissions into the atmosphere. Unfortunately, this cannot be said for other sources of nuclear power.

Is Nuclear Power Bad For Australia?

There is nowhere in Australia where nuclear power plants can be built. Every single state and territory outlaws them. Fears for the health of the people and the environment led to the implementation of these laws. Numerous federal and state parliamentary inquiries have been held. All have agreed that it makes no sense to have nuclear power in Australia.

Besides, due to its high levels of solar and wind energy production, Australia is able to meet its energy needs 500 times over. Even with the addition of storage, making electricity through large-scale solar and wind projects is the most cost-effective option in this region. In addition, it is safe, renewable, and environmentally friendly. Simply put, nuclear power is Australia’s slowest, most expensive, riskiest, and least adaptable option for generating new electricity.

Using technologies that are currently available in Australia, we must take strong and immediate action this decade if we are to meet the climate challenge. Due to its many drawbacks, nuclear energy has no chance of helping Australia cut its carbon footprint.

The photo featured at the top of this post is ©


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About the Author

Jennifer Gaeng is a writer at A-Z-Animals focused on animals, lakes, and fishing. With over 15 years of collective experience in writing and researching, Jennifer has honed her skills in various niches, including nature, animals, family care, and self-care. Hailing from Missouri, Jennifer finds inspiration in spending quality time with her loved ones. Her creative spirit extends beyond her writing endeavors, as she finds joy in the art of drawing and immersing herself in the beauty of nature.

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