URANIUMFACTS
1. USES FOR URANIUM
WHAT IS URANIUM?
Uranium is a naturally occurring radioactive metal which is
common in rock, soil and water. In some rocks uranium is
present in larger amounts and these can be mined to extract
the uranium.
WHAT IS URANIUM USED FOR?
Uranium is used mainly to make electricity. It can also be used
for other things like medical treatment and research and in
some manufacturing. Australian uranium is not used to
make nuclear weapons. The Australian Government has
agreements in place so Australian uranium is only sold to
countries for making electricity, but may also be used for
other peaceful purposes such as making people’s lives better
by providing medical treatments, conducting research, and
killing germs and bugs, and many other uses for the
environment, industry and agriculture.
HOW DO OTHER COUNTRIES USE URANIUM?
More than 13% of the world’s electricity is generated from
uranium in nuclear reactors. Currently there are about 430
nuclear power plants or reactors in about 30 countries across
the Americas, Africa, Europe and Asia. Some countries are
building, or thinking about and planning to build more nuclear
reactors to produce electricity while limiting carbon emissions
that are thought to damage the climate.
DOES AUSTRALIA USE URANIUM?
Unlike other countries, Australia does not have nuclear power
reactors, nor are there any plans to build any in Australia.
The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation
(ANSTO) has a small research reactor in Sydney that uses
uranium for research and to make special medicines for
treating cancer.
DOES AUSTRALIA USE URANIUM? (continued)
The reactor is used to make a wide range of products for
health, research and electronics. ANSTO is known around
the world for developing peaceful applications of uranium.
Examples include:
• Radioisotopes
Uranium is used to make drugs designed to both find out
what is wrong with a person and then to help them get
better.
Using radioactive chemicals a doctor can see the inside of
a patient’s body without surgery, as happens with x-rays
to see broken bones, and this exposure to radiation
occurs in low levels so the patient is not harmed.
Radiotherapy – using radiation to fight cancer – is another
way uranium can be used as a medicine. Again, this is
done in a controlled way to ensure the patient is not made
more sick by the radiation.
• Research
The rays from a nuclear reaction can also be used in
research. They can work out the age of rocks and fossils
or help people learn about the structure of different
materials or how to make cement stronger.
Germs can be killed by irradiating medical supplies like
bandages and cotton tips. Food can also be irradiated to
kill bugs and keep it fresher for longer.
• Electronics
Irradiation of silicon is essential for the production of
electronics like computers, air-conditioners or microwaves.
ANSTO is a world leader for this kind of work.
Further information:
Australian Uranium Association:
www.aua.org.au
Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation:
www.ansto.gov.au
Uranium Council:
www.ret.gov.au/uranium.council
Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office:
www.dfat.gov.au/asno