STATION

Press, Volume C, Issue 29499, 28 April 1961, Page 16

STATION

Proposal For Australia (N.Z.P. A.-Reuter—Copyright) MELBOURNE, April 26. Three British atomic energy experts are discussing with the Australian Government the possibility of setting up a commercial nuclear power station either in South Australia, or in the mineralrich Cape York Peninsula in Queensland. It is believed the experts outlined their proposal to build a nuclear power sta-tion-estimated to cost £62 million—to the Minister for National Development (Senator William Spoonet) several days ago. The three men are Mr R. C. Orford, Britain's “head salesman” of atomic power stations, the deputy-manag-ing director of the United Kingdom's Atomic Energy Group (Dr. H. Kronberger) and the assistant-director of the Atomic Energy Research Establishment at Harwell (Mr L. Gainger). The type of station suggested by the experts has an output of 500.000 kilowats and would take three and a-half years to build. “It would be similar to power stations Britain is now building at Latina, south of Rome, Italy, and at TokaiMura. in Japan.” Mr Orford said in Melbourne today. He said Australia was in a most strategic position to market by - products of nuclear power—isotopes and radioactive materials used in medicine, iridustry and agriculture.