What was claimed
Australia is the one G20 nation that doesn’t use nuclear energy.
Our verdict
Deceptive. 5 different G20 nations don’t generate nuclear energy, and two of these don’t use it.
Opposition Chief Peter Dutton claims Australia is the one nation to not use nuclear power out of the world’s 20 largest economies. That is deceptive. 5 different nations within the prime 20 — Germany, Italy, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia — don’t generate nuclear power. Germany, Italy and Türkiye import very small quantities of electrical energy generated from nuclear sources, however Indonesia and Saudi Arabia don’t eat any nuclear energy.
Australia is the one prime 20 financial system that doesn’t generate, import or have a plan to take action.
Dutton has made the declare not less than 4 occasions in interviews in regards to the Coalition’s plan to construct seven nuclear energy stations in Australia with out clarifying that he’s counting nations planning to make use of nuclear energy amongst these which are really utilizing it.
Dutton stated nuclear energy was “utilized by 19 of the 20 greatest economies on the planet” at a June 18 press convention in NSW. He once more claimed that of the highest 20 economies on the planet, “Australia is the one one which doesn’t have nuclear” in a June 20 interview on Sky Information.
That very same day, the opposition chief spoke out about how Australia may gain advantage from nuclear energy “as 19 of the world’s prime 20 economies have achieved” in an ABC Information Breakfast interview. Dutton once more stated Australia was the one one of many 20 greatest economies that “doesn’t function” nuclear at a press convention on July 5.
When requested to make clear his claims, the opposition chief’s spokeswoman instructed AAP FactCheck that he’s counting nations which have nuclear energy and people “taking steps in direction of embracing nuclear”.
Dutton precisely said 19 of the world’s 20 greatest economies used nuclear energy or “have signed as much as it” in one other press convention on June 19 and in a Right now Present interview on June 21. He additionally stated Australia was the one G20 member that didn’t use or plan to make use of nuclear energy in an ABC TV interview on April 21.
The G20 is a world discussion board for nations with massive economies. Regardless of its title, the G20 consists of solely 19 nations, plus the African Union and the European Union. Spain is invited to the G20 as a everlasting visitor.
It’s unclear if Dutton is referring to the G20 nations plus Spain, or the 20 largest nations by gross home product, as he’s used each interchangeably. Nonetheless, AAP FactCheck has analysed the previous as a result of the nations that don’t generate nuclear energy and the nations that solely import small quantities of it are precisely the identical for each groupings, as per World Financial institution 2023 GDP knowledge.
Fourteen G20 nations function nuclear energy vegetation: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, France, India, Japan, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, the UK and the US.
Three G20 nations that don’t generate nuclear energy however import small quantities are Germany, Italy and Türkiye.
Germany shut down its last three reactors in April 2023. That yr, about 0.5% of the electrical energy consumed there was imported from France, which generates about two-thirds of its electrical energy from nuclear sources.
Italy closed its final reactors in 1990. About 6% of its electrical energy consumption is imported nuclear energy. The nation successfully banned nuclear energy in 2011, however the present authorities needs to restart it.
Türkiye is constructing a plant that would begin producing electrical energy from 2025. The nation can be planning to construct two different nuclear vegetation. In 2022, the nation imported a tiny quantity of the electrical energy it consumed, together with 0.8% from Bulgaria, which generates about 35% of its electrical energy from nuclear sources. Due to this fact, a fraction of Türkiye’s electrical energy consumption might be produced from nuclear — possible lower than half a per cent.
Saudi Arabia doesn’t use any nuclear power both, but it surely’s taking steps in direction of doing so in future.
Indonesia doesn’t have any nuclear reactors however has tentative plans to construct some within the coming a long time. Dr Yogi Sugiawan, a coverage analyst on the Indonesian authorities company accountable for growing nuclear power insurance policies and plans, instructed AAP FactCheck that his nation doesn’t generate or import nuclear power. Nonetheless, Sugiawan says Indonesia’s authorities is contemplating nuclear energy, with an preliminary plant “anticipated to be commissioned earlier than 2040”.
The decision
The declare that Australia is the one G20 nation that doesn’t use nuclear energy is deceptive. Proof and consultants say six G20 nations don’t generate any nuclear power, and three of these don’t eat it both.
Deceptive — the declare is correct in elements however info has additionally been offered incorrectly, out of context or omitted.
