The decision to grant Australia access to US technology for building a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines under the Aukus deal has raised alarm bells among nuclear experts, who warn that it poses a significant risk of nuclear proliferation for millennia. The spent reactor fuel from these vessels will remain radioactive for hundreds of millions of years, fuelling concerns about long-term waste management and international security.
Associate Professor Tilman Ruff, a leading expert on nuclear disarmament, highlighted the risks during a public inquiry into Aukus. He noted that each submarine, with a service life of approximately three decades, will leave behind hundreds of kilograms of high-level radioactive waste. By the end of this century, when all eight of Australia's planned nuclear submarines are retired, the nation could be responsible for managing at least three tonnes of uranium-235 in highly enriched spent fuel.
The transfer of highly enriched uranium to a non-nuclear weapons state under Aukus has also sparked concerns about setting a precedent that other nations could exploit. A former White House national security adviser has warned that countries such as Iran may seek to follow Australia's example, potentially weakening global controls on the spread of weapons-usable nuclear material.
The UK, as a signatory to the Aukus agreement, must consider its own commitment to non-proliferation treaties. The deal has significant implications for international relations and global security, particularly in regions where the spread of nuclear technology is a concern. The UK's involvement in the agreement raises questions about its ability to uphold its obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
Australia currently holds less than 3kg of highly enriched uranium for research purposes. However, the new submarine programme will drastically alter this, with documents released under freedom of information laws indicating that Australia will be accountable for each submarine's nuclear reactor compartment and its spent nuclear fuel.