The federal government’s $387 billion price tag to replace Australia’s coal-fired power stations with small modular nuclear reactors “doesn’t make sense,” an executive from US manufacturer Westinghouse Electric has claimed, arguing the price could be much cheaper.

Energy Minister Chris Bowen estimated in September that it would cost $387 billion to replace coal-fired plants with small nuclear reactors, assuming that 70 reactors would be needed. He used the figure to argue they are not viable for future power generation.