THIS country has maximum uranium reserve to make nuclear bomb but it does not have any nuclear bomb due to…, the country is…

New Delhi: Uranium is one of the critical raw materials for nuclear weapons, and today, it stands at the center of global concern among the world’s major powers. The recent Iran-Israel conflict is the latest example of this. Israel, during the 12-day-long war, launched brutal attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities, fearing that Iran was getting dangerously close to developing a nuclear bomb. The world today knows that whoever controls uranium holds the key to becoming a nuclear power.

Australia has the largest uranium reserves in the world, yet it has no nuclear power plants and no nuclear weapons. It’s the same country that supplies uranium to other nations but doesn’t use it to generate electricity or build weapons itself.

Australia: World’s Largest Uranium Reserve

  • Australia holds 1.68 million tonnes of uranium.
  • It is nearly one-third of the world’s total uranium reserves.
  • Australia neither has a single nuclear power plant nor does it possess any nuclear weapons.
  • Australia doesn’t even use this precious metal for itself.
  • Instead, 17% of its energy exports come from uranium — meaning it sells it to other countries.

Where are Australia’s uranium mines?

  • Uranium is extracted from three major sites in Australia: Olympic Dam, Honeymoon, and Beverley-Four Mile.
  • Only Olympic Dam and Four Mile are operational, while the others are either shut down or under maintenance.
  • In 2022, Australia produced 4,553 tonnes of uranium, accounting for 8% of the world’s total uranium production.
  • This makes it the fourth-largest uranium-producing country globally.

Here’s why Australia is staying away from nuclear power:

Australia’s anti-nuclear movement is the main reason why the country is keeping it away from nuclear power. Ordinary citizens, environmental groups, and activists have consistently opposed nuclear energy and weapons since the 1970s. In 1972, France’s nuclear tests triggered protests, and later in 1976–77, Australia’s own uranium mining sparked major controversy.

Organizations like the Movement Against Uranium Mining and the Campaign Against Nuclear Energy led widespread opposition. Governments changed, policies shifted, but public sentiment remained firm: no to nuclear.

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