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| Prime Minister Julia Gillard |
SYDNEY - MAJOR producer Australia is not reconsidering its sales of uranium following the nuclear crisis in Japan, Prime Minister Julia Gillard said on Sunday.
Although Australia uses no nuclear power, it is the world's third-ranking uranium producer behind Kazakhstan and Canada, exporting some 9,600 tonnes of oxide concentrate annually worth over A$1.1 billion (S$1.39 billion).
It also holds the world's largest uranium reserves, with 23 per cent of the total, according to the World Nuclear Association.
Perception of the nuclear industry has been seriously hurt since the Fukushima No. 1 plant in Japan was crippled eight days ago by a massive earthquake and tsunami. But Ms Gillard said it would not affect Australian uranium sales.
'What is happening in Japan doesn't have any impact on my thinking about uranium exports,' she told Sky News. 'We do export uranium and we will continue to export uranium. Countries around the world will make their own choices about how they source their energy.'
Japan is an important customer of Australia, as is China, which last week ordered safety inspections of its nuclear plants and suspended approval of new projects. -- AFP
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