Beware of dodgy second-hand nuclear subs

DEAR News Of The Area,

WHAT could be more dodgy than our Navy squandering $368 billion dollars on ageing, second-hand American nuclear-powered submarines?

Firstly, nuclear-propulsion is complex and dangerous technology, relying on nuclear reactors fuelled with weapons-grade uranium – highly enriched to more than 90 per cent U-235.

Secondly, after years of operation, submarine nuclear reactors contain tonnes of radioactive waste – spent nuclear fuel as well as reactor components contaminated with radioactive fission fragments and transuranic elements – all of which will remain hazardous for thousands of years.

Thirdly, aging submarine reactors are more likely to suffer problems like serious cracking to reactor cooling circuits, coolant leaks and radioactive discharges to the environment.

Britain has struggled with the radioactive problems of nuclear subs for decades but still hasn’t dismantled a single one. They have 23 ‘zombie’ subs sitting stranded in Rosyth and Devonport dockyards, including 12 boats still fuelled with dangerous spent nuclear material.

The UK Ministry of Defence estimates the total cost for maintaining and disposing of all retired nuclear subs will be £7.5 billion over the next century.

In America, the Department of Energy estimates it will cost between $US25 million and $US50 million to dispose of each US sub. They currently have 130 decommissioned nuclear submarine reactors sitting in a 1000-foot-long open-air trench (Trench 94) at Hanford nuclear reservation in Washington state.

If Australia naively accepts second-hand nuclear subs, under the AUKUS deal we will also have to dispose of the nuclear reactors and highly radioactive waste. Buyer beware!

I urge the Federal Government to reject America’s offer, cancel AUKUS and stop squandering taxpayers’ money.

Regards,

Kenneth Higgs,

Raymond Terrace.