Lessons: Dr Switkowski says Australia can learn from the aftermath of the Chernobyl disaster. [File photo]
Last Update: Thursday, October 5, 2006. 8:46am (AEST)

Nuclear energy panel considers Chernobyl

The Federal Government-appointed panel investigating nuclear power has visited the sites of major overseas nuclear disasters, including Chernobyl and Three Mile Island.

Chairman Ziggy Switkowski says it is important for the members of the investigation to consider the experience of Chernobyl.

"You can't have a conversation around nuclear energy without being mindful of the experiences of Chernobyl, which was a devastating accident in the Ukraine in 1986," he said.

"Although the characteristics of that reactor and the circumstances of that accident seem like they can't be reproduced anywhere in the world, nevertheless there's now 20 years of aftermath from that accident that we can learn from."

The disaster occurred when an explosion at Reactor 4 of the Ukrainian power plant spewed a cloud of radioactivity over Europe and the Soviet Union.

The cloud particularly contaminated Belarus, Russia and Ukraine.

The Chernobyl Forum says so far 57 people have died in the disaster but the final death toll is expected to be 4,000.

It predicts most of the 4,000 deaths would be among emergency workers exposed to high radiation doses shortly after the accident, who are at higher risk of contracting cancer even decades later.

Competitiveness

The panel is also tasked with investigating the economic viability of nuclear power in Australia.

Dr Switkowski maintains nuclear power can be competitive with conventional methods.

"I think the sum of the experiences of other countries suggests that nuclear power can be competitive with conventional power generation infrastructure," he said.

The inquiry is due to report next month.