❓ The Minister for Energy addresses China's energy needs, highlighting their investment in renewable energy, particularly wind power, and downplaying the sole focus on uranium. He also criticises the opposition's uranium mining proposals.
AnsweredQoN 135Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ENERGY SUPPLIES TO CHINA
Can the minister inform the house of any other developments in respect of China’s energy needs? Mr F.M. LOGAN
Can the minister inform the house of any other developments in respect of China’s energy needs? Mr F.M. LOGAN
AnswerView source ↗
I can, and I thank the member for Wanneroo for the question. Because of all the nuclear proponents who have been out in force recently, particularly those on the other side, members could be forgiven for thinking that China is interested only in uranium supplies. On 4 April an online article from the Hobart Mercury highlighted some very good news for the Australian economy and the world’s environment. The article reported that China had signed a $300 million deal for three wind farms with part Tasmanian-owned energy company, Roaring Forties. In that article the managing director of the company stated that the Chinese government had clearly recognised the importance of renewable energy and, by setting a target of 30 000 megawatts of alternative energy by 2020, has provided a major impetus to the development of wind power. Another article recently reported that China has placed an order for wind turbines from a German company. China wanted to install wind turbines, and inquired about the length of the wind turbine blades. The standard length is 32 metres, but China wanted blades that are 45 metres long! The German company said that could be done and asked how many wind turbines China wanted. China asked for 19 000 wind turbines, which is an indication of the volume of alternative energy that China is investing in, and Australia is getting a slice of that market. Returning to the uranium issue, members can see that nuclear power is only a small component of China’s energy needs. Like most developing countries, China is looking for security and diversification of energy. Nuclear power is one of those components. However, during the recent debate in this house about nuclear power, the member for Cottesloe failed to tell us about the massive bonanza to be had from uranium mining in Western Australia should his party win government and be able to call the shots on the mining of uranium. It takes about seven years to build a nuclear power plant, and between the 1960s and 1970s and today the corporate memory and knowledge about building nuclear power plants has been lost. Mr C.J. Barnett : Give us a break! Mr F.M. LOGAN : This information came from someone who knows a little more about nuclear power than does the member for Cottesloe. This information came from a former senior administrator in the department of energy in the United States. He knows a bit more about nuclear power than does the member for Cottesloe. If all the resources available in the world today were used to build three nuclear power stations, it would absorb the entire engineering capacity of the world. Given the fact that it takes seven years to build one nuclear power station, where is the member’s uranium bonanza? It is for that reason that China is looking for other sources of energy, such as renewable energy.
Mr F.M. LOGAN replied: I can, and I thank the member for Wanneroo for the question. Because of all the nuclear proponents who have been out in force recently, particularly those on the other side, members could be forgiven for thinking that China is interested only in uranium supplies. On 4 April an online article from the Hobart Mercury highlighted some very good news for the Australian economy and the world’s environment. The article reported that China had signed a $300 million deal for three wind farms with part Tasmanian-owned energy company, Roaring Forties. In that article the managing director of the company stated that the Chinese government had clearly recognised the importance of renewable energy and, by setting a target of 30 000 megawatts of alternative energy by 2020, has provided a major impetus to the development of wind power. Another article recently reported that China has placed an order for wind turbines from a German company. China wanted to install wind turbines, and inquired about the length of the wind turbine blades. The standard length is 32 metres, but China wanted blades that are 45 metres long! The German company said that could be done and asked how many wind turbines China wanted. China asked for 19 000 wind turbines, which is an indication of the volume of alternative energy that China is investing in, and Australia is getting a slice of that market. Returning to the uranium issue, members can see that nuclear power is only a small component of China’s energy needs. Like most developing countries, China is looking for security and diversification of energy. Nuclear power is one of those components. However, during the recent debate in this house about nuclear power, the member for Cottesloe failed to tell us about the massive bonanza to be had from uranium mining in Western Australia should his party win government and be able to call the shots on the mining of uranium. It takes about seven years to build a nuclear power plant, and between the 1960s and 1970s and today the corporate memory and knowledge about building nuclear power plants has been lost. Mr C.J. Barnett : Give us a break! Mr F.M. LOGAN : This information came from someone who knows a little more about nuclear power than does the member for Cottesloe. This information came from a former senior administrator in the department of energy in the United States. He knows a bit more about nuclear power than does the member for Cottesloe. If all the resources available in the world today were used to build three nuclear power stations, it would absorb the entire engineering capacity of the world. Given the fact that it takes seven years to build one nuclear power station, where is the member’s uranium bonanza? It is for that reason that China is looking for other sources of energy, such as renewable energy.
I can, and I thank the member for Wanneroo for the question. Because of all the nuclear proponents who have been out in force recently, particularly those on the other side, members could be forgiven for thinking that China is interested only in uranium supplies. On 4 April an online article from the Hobart Mercury highlighted some very good news for the Australian economy and the world’s environment. The article reported that China had signed a $300 million deal for three wind farms with part Tasmanian-owned energy company, Roaring Forties. In that article the managing director of the company stated that the Chinese government had clearly recognised the importance of renewable energy and, by setting a target of 30 000 megawatts of alternative energy by 2020, has provided a major impetus to the development of wind power. Another article recently reported that China has placed an order for wind turbines from a German company. China wanted to install wind turbines, and inquired about the length of the wind turbine blades. The standard length is 32 metres, but China wanted blades that are 45 metres long! The German company said that could be done and asked how many wind turbines China wanted. China asked for 19 000 wind turbines, which is an indication of the volume of alternative energy that China is investing in, and Australia is getting a slice of that market. Returning to the uranium issue, members can see that nuclear power is only a small component of China’s energy needs. Like most developing countries, China is looking for security and diversification of energy. Nuclear power is one of those components. However, during the recent debate in this house about nuclear power, the member for Cottesloe failed to tell us about the massive bonanza to be had from uranium mining in Western Australia should his party win government and be able to call the shots on the mining of uranium. It takes about seven years to build a nuclear power plant, and between the 1960s and 1970s and today the corporate memory and knowledge about building nuclear power plants has been lost. Mr C.J. Barnett : Give us a break! Mr F.M. LOGAN : This information came from someone who knows a little more about nuclear power than does the member for Cottesloe. This information came from a former senior administrator in the department of energy in the United States. He knows a bit more about nuclear power than does the member for Cottesloe. If all the resources available in the world today were used to build three nuclear power stations, it would absorb the entire engineering capacity of the world. Given the fact that it takes seven years to build one nuclear power station, where is the member’s uranium bonanza? It is for that reason that China is looking for other sources of energy, such as renewable energy.
Another article recently reported that China has placed an order for wind turbines from a German company. China wanted to install wind turbines, and inquired about the length of the wind turbine blades. The standard length is 32 metres, but China wanted blades that are 45 metres long! The German company said that could be done and asked how many wind turbines China wanted. China asked for 19 000 wind turbines, which is an indication of the volume of alternative energy that China is investing in, and Australia is getting a slice of that market. Returning to the uranium issue, members can see that nuclear power is only a small component of China’s energy needs. Like most developing countries, China is looking for security and diversification of energy. Nuclear power is one of those components. However, during the recent debate in this house about nuclear power, the member for Cottesloe failed to tell us about the massive bonanza to be had from uranium mining in Western Australia should his party win government and be able to call the shots on the mining of uranium. It takes about seven years to build a nuclear power plant, and between the 1960s and 1970s and today the corporate memory and knowledge about building nuclear power plants has been lost. Mr C.J. Barnett : Give us a break! Mr F.M. LOGAN : This information came from someone who knows a little more about nuclear power than does the member for Cottesloe. This information came from a former senior administrator in the department of energy in the United States. He knows a bit more about nuclear power than does the member for Cottesloe. If all the resources available in the world today were used to build three nuclear power stations, it would absorb the entire engineering capacity of the world. Given the fact that it takes seven years to build one nuclear power station, where is the member’s uranium bonanza? It is for that reason that China is looking for other sources of energy, such as renewable energy.
Returning to the uranium issue, members can see that nuclear power is only a small component of China’s energy needs. Like most developing countries, China is looking for security and diversification of energy. Nuclear power is one of those components. However, during the recent debate in this house about nuclear power, the member for Cottesloe failed to tell us about the massive bonanza to be had from uranium mining in Western Australia should his party win government and be able to call the shots on the mining of uranium. It takes about seven years to build a nuclear power plant, and between the 1960s and 1970s and today the corporate memory and knowledge about building nuclear power plants has been lost. Mr C.J. Barnett : Give us a break! Mr F.M. LOGAN : This information came from someone who knows a little more about nuclear power than does the member for Cottesloe. This information came from a former senior administrator in the department of energy in the United States. He knows a bit more about nuclear power than does the member for Cottesloe. If all the resources available in the world today were used to build three nuclear power stations, it would absorb the entire engineering capacity of the world. Given the fact that it takes seven years to build one nuclear power station, where is the member’s uranium bonanza? It is for that reason that China is looking for other sources of energy, such as renewable energy.
Mr C.J. Barnett : Give us a break! Mr F.M. LOGAN : This information came from someone who knows a little more about nuclear power than does the member for Cottesloe. This information came from a former senior administrator in the department of energy in the United States. He knows a bit more about nuclear power than does the member for Cottesloe. If all the resources available in the world today were used to build three nuclear power stations, it would absorb the entire engineering capacity of the world. Given the fact that it takes seven years to build one nuclear power station, where is the member’s uranium bonanza? It is for that reason that China is looking for other sources of energy, such as renewable energy.
Mr F.M. LOGAN : This information came from someone who knows a little more about nuclear power than does the member for Cottesloe. This information came from a former senior administrator in the department of energy in the United States. He knows a bit more about nuclear power than does the member for Cottesloe. If all the resources available in the world today were used to build three nuclear power stations, it would absorb the entire engineering capacity of the world. Given the fact that it takes seven years to build one nuclear power station, where is the member’s uranium bonanza? It is for that reason that China is looking for other sources of energy, such as renewable energy.
Mr F.M. LOGAN replied: I can, and I thank the member for Wanneroo for the question. Because of all the nuclear proponents who have been out in force recently, particularly those on the other side, members could be forgiven for thinking that China is interested only in uranium supplies. On 4 April an online article from the Hobart Mercury highlighted some very good news for the Australian economy and the world’s environment. The article reported that China had signed a $300 million deal for three wind farms with part Tasmanian-owned energy company, Roaring Forties. In that article the managing director of the company stated that the Chinese government had clearly recognised the importance of renewable energy and, by setting a target of 30 000 megawatts of alternative energy by 2020, has provided a major impetus to the development of wind power. Another article recently reported that China has placed an order for wind turbines from a German company. China wanted to install wind turbines, and inquired about the length of the wind turbine blades. The standard length is 32 metres, but China wanted blades that are 45 metres long! The German company said that could be done and asked how many wind turbines China wanted. China asked for 19 000 wind turbines, which is an indication of the volume of alternative energy that China is investing in, and Australia is getting a slice of that market. Returning to the uranium issue, members can see that nuclear power is only a small component of China’s energy needs. Like most developing countries, China is looking for security and diversification of energy. Nuclear power is one of those components. However, during the recent debate in this house about nuclear power, the member for Cottesloe failed to tell us about the massive bonanza to be had from uranium mining in Western Australia should his party win government and be able to call the shots on the mining of uranium. It takes about seven years to build a nuclear power plant, and between the 1960s and 1970s and today the corporate memory and knowledge about building nuclear power plants has been lost. Mr C.J. Barnett : Give us a break! Mr F.M. LOGAN : This information came from someone who knows a little more about nuclear power than does the member for Cottesloe. This information came from a former senior administrator in the department of energy in the United States. He knows a bit more about nuclear power than does the member for Cottesloe. If all the resources available in the world today were used to build three nuclear power stations, it would absorb the entire engineering capacity of the world. Given the fact that it takes seven years to build one nuclear power station, where is the member’s uranium bonanza? It is for that reason that China is looking for other sources of energy, such as renewable energy.
I can, and I thank the member for Wanneroo for the question. Because of all the nuclear proponents who have been out in force recently, particularly those on the other side, members could be forgiven for thinking that China is interested only in uranium supplies. On 4 April an online article from the Hobart Mercury highlighted some very good news for the Australian economy and the world’s environment. The article reported that China had signed a $300 million deal for three wind farms with part Tasmanian-owned energy company, Roaring Forties. In that article the managing director of the company stated that the Chinese government had clearly recognised the importance of renewable energy and, by setting a target of 30 000 megawatts of alternative energy by 2020, has provided a major impetus to the development of wind power. Another article recently reported that China has placed an order for wind turbines from a German company. China wanted to install wind turbines, and inquired about the length of the wind turbine blades. The standard length is 32 metres, but China wanted blades that are 45 metres long! The German company said that could be done and asked how many wind turbines China wanted. China asked for 19 000 wind turbines, which is an indication of the volume of alternative energy that China is investing in, and Australia is getting a slice of that market. Returning to the uranium issue, members can see that nuclear power is only a small component of China’s energy needs. Like most developing countries, China is looking for security and diversification of energy. Nuclear power is one of those components. However, during the recent debate in this house about nuclear power, the member for Cottesloe failed to tell us about the massive bonanza to be had from uranium mining in Western Australia should his party win government and be able to call the shots on the mining of uranium. It takes about seven years to build a nuclear power plant, and between the 1960s and 1970s and today the corporate memory and knowledge about building nuclear power plants has been lost. Mr C.J. Barnett : Give us a break! Mr F.M. LOGAN : This information came from someone who knows a little more about nuclear power than does the member for Cottesloe. This information came from a former senior administrator in the department of energy in the United States. He knows a bit more about nuclear power than does the member for Cottesloe. If all the resources available in the world today were used to build three nuclear power stations, it would absorb the entire engineering capacity of the world. Given the fact that it takes seven years to build one nuclear power station, where is the member’s uranium bonanza? It is for that reason that China is looking for other sources of energy, such as renewable energy.
Another article recently reported that China has placed an order for wind turbines from a German company. China wanted to install wind turbines, and inquired about the length of the wind turbine blades. The standard length is 32 metres, but China wanted blades that are 45 metres long! The German company said that could be done and asked how many wind turbines China wanted. China asked for 19 000 wind turbines, which is an indication of the volume of alternative energy that China is investing in, and Australia is getting a slice of that market. Returning to the uranium issue, members can see that nuclear power is only a small component of China’s energy needs. Like most developing countries, China is looking for security and diversification of energy. Nuclear power is one of those components. However, during the recent debate in this house about nuclear power, the member for Cottesloe failed to tell us about the massive bonanza to be had from uranium mining in Western Australia should his party win government and be able to call the shots on the mining of uranium. It takes about seven years to build a nuclear power plant, and between the 1960s and 1970s and today the corporate memory and knowledge about building nuclear power plants has been lost. Mr C.J. Barnett : Give us a break! Mr F.M. LOGAN : This information came from someone who knows a little more about nuclear power than does the member for Cottesloe. This information came from a former senior administrator in the department of energy in the United States. He knows a bit more about nuclear power than does the member for Cottesloe. If all the resources available in the world today were used to build three nuclear power stations, it would absorb the entire engineering capacity of the world. Given the fact that it takes seven years to build one nuclear power station, where is the member’s uranium bonanza? It is for that reason that China is looking for other sources of energy, such as renewable energy.
Returning to the uranium issue, members can see that nuclear power is only a small component of China’s energy needs. Like most developing countries, China is looking for security and diversification of energy. Nuclear power is one of those components. However, during the recent debate in this house about nuclear power, the member for Cottesloe failed to tell us about the massive bonanza to be had from uranium mining in Western Australia should his party win government and be able to call the shots on the mining of uranium. It takes about seven years to build a nuclear power plant, and between the 1960s and 1970s and today the corporate memory and knowledge about building nuclear power plants has been lost. Mr C.J. Barnett : Give us a break! Mr F.M. LOGAN : This information came from someone who knows a little more about nuclear power than does the member for Cottesloe. This information came from a former senior administrator in the department of energy in the United States. He knows a bit more about nuclear power than does the member for Cottesloe. If all the resources available in the world today were used to build three nuclear power stations, it would absorb the entire engineering capacity of the world. Given the fact that it takes seven years to build one nuclear power station, where is the member’s uranium bonanza? It is for that reason that China is looking for other sources of energy, such as renewable energy.
Mr C.J. Barnett : Give us a break! Mr F.M. LOGAN : This information came from someone who knows a little more about nuclear power than does the member for Cottesloe. This information came from a former senior administrator in the department of energy in the United States. He knows a bit more about nuclear power than does the member for Cottesloe. If all the resources available in the world today were used to build three nuclear power stations, it would absorb the entire engineering capacity of the world. Given the fact that it takes seven years to build one nuclear power station, where is the member’s uranium bonanza? It is for that reason that China is looking for other sources of energy, such as renewable energy.
Mr F.M. LOGAN : This information came from someone who knows a little more about nuclear power than does the member for Cottesloe. This information came from a former senior administrator in the department of energy in the United States. He knows a bit more about nuclear power than does the member for Cottesloe. If all the resources available in the world today were used to build three nuclear power stations, it would absorb the entire engineering capacity of the world. Given the fact that it takes seven years to build one nuclear power station, where is the member’s uranium bonanza? It is for that reason that China is looking for other sources of energy, such as renewable energy.
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