Peter Dutton vows to bring small nuclear reactors online in Australia by mid-2030 if elected

The Coalition will roll out a nuclear precinct plan for coal communities that want them as Peter Dutton claims that SA Labor premier Peter Malinauskas will be the first to sign up.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has pledged that if elected, the ­Coalition could deliver the first small modular nuclear reactors into the grid by the mid-2030s. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Appleyard

Cheaper power prices would be offered for residents and businesses in coal communities to switch from retiring coal-fired generators to nuclear power if the ­Coalition wins government.

Peter Dutton has pledged that if elected, the ­Coalition could deliver the first small modular reactors into the grid by the mid-2030s, with British manufacturer Rolls-Royce understood to be able to deliver them at an estimated $3.5bn to $5bn each.

Economic impact statements will also be conducted on at least seven communities identified by a shadow cabinet subcommittee ­established by the Opposition Leader to develop the Coalition’s energy security policy.

Mr Dutton confirmed to The Weekend Australian that under the Coalition’s net-zero energy plan, to be released before the May budget, cheaper electricity bills would be offered to those communities that took up nuclear when coal-fired power ­stations were retired.

The plan will involve the ­creation of new precincts for ­advanced manufacturing centred on cheap energy from small nuclear reactors.

Mr Dutton met privately last week with executives from nuclear power plant manufacturer Rolls-Royce and its Australian partner Penske over the pursuit of low-cost small modular reactor technology for Australia.

It is understood Rolls-Royce is confident that its small modular reactor technology could be ready for the Australian market by the early to mid-2030s with a price tag of $5bn for a 470 megawatt plant.

Each plant would take four years to build and have a life span of 60 years.

Rolls-Royce will also build the nuclear reactors for the second tranche of the future AUKUS ­nuclear-powered naval sub­marines under contracts signed in February with the Albanese government.

“There is every reason to be optimistic about bringing small modular net-zero emission nuclear into the power mix in the 2030s,” the Opposition Leader said in an interview with The Weekend Australian, adding: “I think the mid-2030s.

“If we win the election, it is clear to me that (South Australian Labor Premier) Peter Malinauskas would be the first to sign up, and we could deal with regulatory burdens quickly.

“There is no question about that. And there is every reason to believe other jurisdictions would follow suit.

“I think when you look at where technology has advanced and what Rolls-Royce is doing with the nuclear submarines the government has signed up to buy, the future is much closer than we think.

“The ability to produce zero-emissions baseload with 24/7 electricity to firm up renewables is within our grasp.

“My honest view is we have to embrace a new energy system and we have to have an orderly transition but the government doesn’t have a credible pathway to net zero by 2050.”

Mr Dutton said a community engagement process would soon be rolled out once the potential coal sites had been finalised. He confirmed that those communities supportive of future transitions from coal to nuclear would be offered cheaper power prices and higher-paid jobs.

“The key benefit will be cheaper electricity because you don’t have the distribution costs associated with Labor’s plan,” he said.

“For the immediate community that is one option … and that’s just through a saved cost of distribution. You are plugging into an existing network so you don’t have the cost of the infrastructure which is passed on to consumers.

“It also makes it more attractive for heavy industry to start manufacturing in the region. And the jobs will be there for decades to come.”

The first phase of the ­Coalition’s net-zero energy plan was taken to shadow cabinet two weeks ago and will be released ­before the May budget.

The debate facing the ­Coalition now is over the cost and timely delivery of nuclear into the energy mix, as well as the future of some coal communities facing bleak socio-economic outcomes one coal-fired generators exit the system.

Mr Malinauskas this week broke with his federal Labor colleagues and called for a debate on the cost of nuclear options for Australia, claiming nuclear had to be part of the net-zero solution at a global level. However, he later clarified has remarks by saying he didn’t believe the current economics of nuclear stacked up.

“Labor is taking us down a path that might give it more seats and votes in inner city Melbourne and Sydney but our plan is for the whole country that gives us a transition to net zero in a responsible way that doesn’t destroy the economy,” Mr Dutton said.

“I think regional communities have largely been treated with contempt by this government. We are transitioning to a new energy system, the question is how can we do it in our country’s best ­interests.

“A lot has been made of jobs in renewables sector, some of its true much of it is exaggerated. The government has no plan as to how these communities will survive.”

Anthony Albanese told The Weekend Australian his government had a clear focus on the ­future of coal communities and insisted that no one would be “left behind”, claiming Labor’s renewable energy plans would drive new manufacturing jobs in those regions.

“Eleven coal-fired power plants have already closed and the former Coalition government didn’t lift a finger to help workers in these communities,” the Prime Minister said

“Rather than playing politics with the transition, the government is putting in place practical measures to ensure workers are looked after. The Net Zero Economy Authority will support workers to access new employment and to help create jobs in new businesses and industries.

“The Energy Industry Jobs Plan introduced into parliament last week outlines a redeployment scheme to align workers with jobs in new industries.

“The authority will work with business unions and communities.

“We will not leave them ­behind.

“A practical example is the Liddell site in the Upper Hunter which is being transformed into an energy and manufacturing hub, employing more people than the old power station did.

“Recently, Rio Tinto signed Australia’s biggest renewable ­energy deal to power its Boyne aluminium smelter in Gladstone.”