. Nuclear boom
nuclear energy is seen as a vital tool to guarantee energy security; in the continent's largest economy, however, things are a bit different. One of the fiercest opponents of nuclear energy is a German federal minister. Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel of the center-left Social Democratic Party is one of the architects of the German plan to phase out nuclear energy by 2021. Earlier this week he increased the pressure on the German nuclear energy industry after security deficits surfaced at two plants run by Vattenfall Europe.
Speaking at a Committee for Economic Development of Australia lunch, Mr Switkowski said he believed the Prime Minister's taskforce looking at a carbon emissions scheme will put a cost on greenhouse gases within the next decade."Australia along with other countries … will put a price on our pollution … That is the way the wind is blowing," he said. "Once carbon dioxide emissions are costed and .. people make a decision they really do want to reduce greenhouse gas emissions then the only alternative which is cost-competitive, clean and safe … is nuclear power."
Before civil nuclear trade can begin, several hurdles remain. American and Indian officials need to work out a separate technical nuclear cooperation agreement, expected to be finished next year. The two countries must now obtain an exception for India in the rules of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, an assembly of nations that export nuclear material. Indian officials must also negotiate a safeguard agreement with the IAEA.The IAEA's database on trafficking in nuclear materials has logged more than 550 incidents since 1993, it revealed at a conference in Stockholm. The rate of incidents in 1999 and 2000