The Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission conducted a series of public sessions in which it received oral evidence on issues of interest to it. The sessions were streamed live and transcripts of the proceedings provided. The discussions followed a range of topics and were guided by questions asked by the Commissioner and Counsel Assisting, and helped form factual evidence in line with the Commission’s Terms of Reference.
Additional peaceful participation in nuclear activities is said by proponents to be justified based on the need to address climate change. This public session will seek to explore current greenhouse gas reductions targets, emissions levels, and policy responses both locally and overseas. In addition, existing peaceful participation in nuclear activities around the world is principally the result of demand for electricity. This public session will also seek to explore current and future energy demand in Australia and overseas in order to inform consideration as to whether and how energy from nuclear fuels might play a role in meeting that demand, in the context of a desire to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Day one
9:00am, Wednesday, 9 September, 2015 at the Science Exchange Building, 55 Exchange Place, Adelaide.
List of witnesses for Day One can be found here.
Day two
9:00am, Monday, 14 September, 2015 at the Science Exchange Building, 55 Exchange Place, Adelaide.
List of witnesses for Day Two can be found here.
Day three
2:00pm, Wednesday, 23 September, 2015 at the NFCRC, 50 Grenfell Street, Adelaide.
List of witnesses for Day Three can be found here.
Day four
9:00am, Friday, 23 October, 2015 at the NFCRC, 50 Grenfell Street, Adelaide.
List of witnesses for Day Four can be found here.
Day five
12:30pm, Wednesday, 2 December, 2015 at the NFCRC, 50 Grenfell Street, Adelaide.
List of witnesses for Day Five can be found here.
Day six
11:30am, Thursday, 10 December, 2015 at the NFCRC, 50 Grenfell Street, Adelaide.
List of witnesses for Day Six can be found here.
Electricity is predominantly supplied in eastern and southern Australia via the National Electricity Market. This public session will explore the current and possible future structure and operation of the National Electricity Market in order to inform consideration as to whether and how electricity from nuclear fuels could be used in South Australia.
Public Session
9:00am, Friday, 18 September, 2015 at the Science Exchange Building, 55 Exchange Place, Adelaide.
List of witnesses for Day One can be found here
The feasibility of any commercial nuclear fuel cycle activities in South Australia is dependent upon both the radioactive mineral resources present in the State, and the nature and sensitivities of the State’s geology and hydrogeology. This public session will explore these issues.
Day one
9:00am, Tuesday, 22 September, 2015 at the NFCRC, Level 5, 50 Grenfell St, Adelaide.
List of witnesses for Day One can be found here.
Day two
10:00am, Wednesday, 23 September, 2015 at the NFCRC, Level 5, 50 Grenfell St, Adelaide.
List of witnesses for Day Two can be found here
Electricity generation from coal is currently a significant contributor to green-house gas emissions. There are a number of different ways that energy can be generated. This public session will explore the different types of nuclear, clean fossil fuel and renewable technologies commercially available and in development, and to compare their relative advantages and disadvantages.
Day one
Tuesday, 29 September, 2015 at the NFCRC, Level 5, 50 Grenfell St, Adelaide.
List of witnesses for Day One can be found here.
Day two
Thursday, 1 October, 2015 at the NFCRC, Level 5, 50 Grenfell St, Adelaide.
List of witnesses for Day Two can be found here.
Day three
Wednesday, 7 October, 2015 at the NFCRC, Level 5, 50 Grenfell St, Adelaide.
List of witnesses for Day Three can be found here.
Day four
Friday, 30 October, 2015 at the NFCRC, Level 5, 50 Grenfell St, Adelaide.
List of witnesses for Day Four can be found here.
Day five
Thursday, 5 November , 2015 at the NFCRC, Level 5, 50 Grenfell St, Adelaide.
List of witnesses for Day five can be found here.
In order to assess the potential viability of nuclear fuel cycle activities (for example, the construction of a nuclear power plant), the costs and benefits of those activities need to be estimated. The reliability of those estimated costs and benefits is dependent upon the assumptions that have been made. This public session will explore the types of cost / benefit analyses that are required to assess the commercial viability of nuclear fuel cycle activities.
Public Session
Tuesday, 6 October, 2015 at the NFCRC, Level 5, 50 Grenfell St, Adelaide.
List of witnesses for Day One can be found here.
South Australia has a history with respect to the extraction and processing of radioactive minerals (including at Radium Hill and at Port Pirie). This public session aims to explore the environmental impact of such activities within the State, and the lessons learned.
Public Session
10.30am, Thursday, 8 October, 2015 at the Northern Festival Theatre ballroom, Port Pirie
List of witnesses for Day One can be found here.
South Australia is home to significant radioactive mineral deposits, of which uranium is currently mined and exported. This public session will explore the potential for the expansion of exploration and mining activities for such minerals within the State.
Day One:
Wednesday, 14 October, 2015 at the NFCRC, Level 5, 50 Grenfell St, Adelaide.
List of witnesses for Day One can be found here.
Day Two:
Tuesday, 10 November, 2015 at the NFCRC, Level 5, 50 Grenfell St, Adelaide.
List of witnesses for Day Two can be found here.
South Australia is home to significant radioactive mineral deposits, some of which are mined and exported. This public session will explore the potential for the further processing of radioactive minerals to add to their value prior to export (e.g. conversion, enrichment and fuel fabrication), along with the concept of “fuel leasing”.
Public Session
Thursday, 15 October, 2015 at the NFCRC, Level 5, 50 Grenfell St, Adelaide.
The list of witnesses can be found here.
There are a variety of different nuclear reactor designs in operation and development around the world. This public session aims to explore the progressive safety improvements in nuclear reactor design, particularly those which have followed from accidents and near-misses, along with appropriate regulatory and operational practices to maximise safety.
Public Session
Wednesday, 21 October, 2015 at the NFCRC, Level 5, 50 Grenfell St, Adelaide.
The list of witnesses can be found here.
The accident that occurred at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan in 2011 has had significant ramifications. This public session aims to explore what happened; why; and the current progress in containing and remediating the damage caused.
Public Session
Thursday, 22 October, 2015 at the NFCRC, Level 5, 50 Grenfell St, Adelaide.
The list of witnesses can be found here.
Nuclear fuel cycle activities can result in the release of radiation or radioactive material. This session will examine the risks and possible effects posed by such radiation releases on (i) human health and (ii) the environment (water, air, soil, flora and fauna).
Day One:
Tuesday, 27 October, 2015 at the NFCRC, Level 5, 50 Grenfell St, Adelaide.
The list of witnesses can be found here.
Day Two:
Tuesday, 15 December, 2015 at the NFCRC, Level 5, 50 Grenfell St, Adelaide.
The list of witnesses can be found here.
The nature and scale of damage which may result from nuclear accident has been recognised as requiring specialist insurance arrangements in many jurisdictions. This public session will explore the nature of some of those arrangements, and what might need to be implemented in South Australia were additional participation in nuclear fuel cycle activities to be allowed.
Advance notice
Thursday, 5 November, 2015 at the NFCRC, Level 5, 50 Grenfell St, Adelaide.
The list of witnesses can be found here.
The decision for any State or local community to explore the option of hosting a nuclear facility is complex. This public session aims to explore the general principles which underpin successful community engagement and decision-making around potential nuclear fuel cycle activities, based on national and international experience.
Day One:
Monday, 9 November, 2015 at the NFCRC, Level 5, 50 Grenfell St, Adelaide.
The list of witnesses can be found here.
Day Two:
Thursday, 12 November, 2015 at the NFCRC, Level 5, 50 Grenfell St, Adelaide.
This list of witnesses can be found here.
Day Three:
Monday, 16 November, 2015 at the NFCRC, Level 5, 50 Grenfell St, Adelaide.
This list of witnesses can be found here.
Commerical nuclear fuel cycle activities require radioactive materials (including uranium and waste) to be moved from one place to another. This public session will explore the particular challenges posed by the transport of such materials (including the availability of appropriate shipment services within and from South Australia), and the applicable engineering and regulatory systems which are designed to ensure safe transit.
Public Session:
Tuesday, 17 November, 2015, at the NFCRC, Level 5, 50 Grenfell St, Adelaide.
This list of witnesses can be found here.
Commercial nuclear fuel cycle activities result in low and/or intermediate level waste which needs to be carefully managed. This public session aims to explore the current and proposed approaches to the storage and disposal of low and intermediate level waste both in Australia and overseas, with a view to understanding the feasibility of South Australia’s further participation in such activities.
Public Session:
Wednesday, 18 November, 2015 at the NFCRC, Level 5, 50 Grenfell St, Adelaide.
This list of witnesses can be found here.
GgElectricity generation from nuclear fuels results in highly radioactive spent fuel which needs to be carefully managed. This public session explores the current and proposed approaches to the storage and disposal of high level waste around the world, with a view to understanding the feasibility of South Australia’s participation in such activities.
Day one:
Monday, 23 November, 2015 at the NFCRC, Level 5, 50 Grenfell St, Adelaide.
This list of witnesses can be found here.
Day two:
Tuesday, 24 November, 2015 at the NFCRC, Level 5, 50 Grenfell St, Adelaide.
This list of witnesses can be found here.
Day three:
Wednesday, 25 November, 2015 at the NFCRC, Level 5, 50 Grenfell St, Adelaide.
This list of witnesses can be found here.
Day four:
Monday, 4 April, 2016 at the NFCRC, Level 5, 50 Grenfell St, Adelaide.
This list of witnesses can be found here.
Day five:
Monday, 5 April, 2016 at the NFCRC, Level 5, 50 Grenfell St, Adelaide.
This list of witnesses can be found here.
Day six:
Monday, 6 April, 2016 at the NFCRC, Level 5, 50 Grenfell St, Adelaide.
This list of witnesses can be found here.
Engagement in nuclear fuel cycle activities results in the production or use of materials and technologies that could pose risks to security if employed for non-peaceful purposes. This public session aims to explore the nature of the risks, and the current regulatory responses designed to address those risks.
Day One:
Wednesday, 25 November, 2015 at the NFCRC, Level 5, 50 Grenfell St, Adelaide.
This list of witnesses can be found here.
Advance notice:
Day Two:
Wednesday, 2 December, 2015 at the NFCRC, Level 5, 50 Grenfell St, Adelaide.
This list of witnesses can be found here.
Infrastructure required for commercial nuclear fuel cycle operations is large, specialised and expensive. This public session aims to explore the challenges which are likely to arise in the development, financing, and construction of such infrastructure projects.
Advance notice:
Day One:
Monday, 30 November, 2015 at the NFCRC, Level 5, 50 Grenfell St, Adelaide.
This list of witnesses can be found here.
Day Two:
Wednesday, 2 December, 2015 at the NFCRC, Level 5, 50 Grenfell St, Adelaide.
This list of witnesses can be found here.
Day Three:
Thursday, 10 December, 2015 at the NFCRC, Level 5, 50 Grenfell St, Adelaide.
The list of witnesses can be found here.
Radioactive material is frequently used to diagnose, determine the severity of, or treat a variety of diseases. This public session aims to explore the potential for research and development in nuclear medicine, and radiopharmaceutcial manufacture, to be expanded in South Australia
Advance notice:
Thursday, 3 December, 2015 at the NFCRC, Level 5, 50 Grenfell St, Adelaide.
Expanded participation in nuclear fuel cycle activities would require the availability of a well-trained and capable workforce. This public session aims to explore the potential for developing a nuclear education and research program in South Australia if further participation in the nuclear fuel cycle were pursued.
Advance Notice:
Day One:
Thursday, 3 December, 2015 at the NFCRC, Level 5, 50 Grenfell Street, Adelaide.
This list of witnesses can be found here.
Day Two:
Friday, 4 December, 2015 at the NFCRC, Level 5, 50 Grenfell Street, Adelaide.
The list of witnesses can be found here.
Day Three:
Thursday, 10 December, 2015 at the NFCRC, Level 5, 50 Grenfell Street, Adelaide.
The list of witnesses can be found here.
Undertaking nuclear fuel cycle activities requires robust and transparent regulatory oversight to ensure safety and maintain community confidence. This public session aims to explore the existing regulatory arrangements that apply to nuclear activities both in South Australia and around the world, with a view to understanding the scope of regulation likely to be required in the event that South Australia’s participation in nuclear activities were to be expanded.
Advance notice:
Friday, 11 December, 2015 at the NFCRC, Level 5, 50 Grenfell St, Adelaide
The list of witnesses can be found here.