So, what could unfold if the Coalition forms government and pushes this nuclear initiative forward?
Australia’s aluminium smelters are among the highest industrial energy users in the country. The Tomago smelter in New South Wales alone accounts for 12 per cent of the state’s total electricity use. As decarbonisation pressures mount, the industry is searching for dependable, low-emission baseload power. In theory, nuclear fits this requirement. However, Australia has yet to demonstrate any practical application. Rough estimates suggest that powering all four major aluminium smelters with nuclear energy would require around 3 gigawatts of dedicated capacity. That could mean:
