http://kathadelhe05.livejournal.com/1364.html
It is not the first time in Australia's economic history that a prevalent sector reaches its peak and gives way to a rapidly developing new one. However, while the mining and education sectors have apparently hit their peaks and manufacturing continues its decline (as seen by the planned withdrawal of Ford in 2016), there seems to be no replacement underway.
There is another possibility - albeit a controversial one. Could - and should - Australia embrace the manufacture of nuclear fuel?
More specifically, could the fabrication of nuclear fuel elements or fuel rods used in nuclear power generation plants, replace our current export of uranium oxide concentrate - so-called "yellowcake"?
Australia exports nuclear fuel anyway. It is just the matter of doing it smarter and safer, adding more value to Australia's product before it leaves our shores, while creating more jobs for Australians and making the world more secure.
What is the reason Australia has not done this so far? Firstly, the countries capable of exporting fuel elements, such as France, historically started their fuel element fabrication industries intending to generate nuclear-based energy for themselves.
Having abundant and easy to mine coal deposits, Australia did not have to bother about the nuclear industry. Secondly and more importantly, the nuclear industry is strictly (and rightfully) regulated. Even mining uranium ore is a very controversial and politically charged matter.
To start producing fuel elements, a company must lobby federal and state governments; while for governments a huge task would be to face hostile anti-nuclear public opinion. Therefore, a vision and leadership is needed from the governments' side to support any commercial interest in this industry.
Potential market capacity
Most of the yellowcake used for power generation worldwide is produced by 17 nations. Australia is the third largest producer after Kazakhstan and Canada and meets about 20% of the world demand.
Of the producers - Canada, the United States, Germany and France - Australia is the only developed nation producing yellowcake that does not fabricate fuel rods. However, Germany and France produce only miniscule amounts of yellowcake and import considerable amounts of it for their domestic production of rods.
Among growing energy markets, the largest - in absolute terms - potential growth of nuclear energy sectors is expected in India and China.

Source: http://theconversation.com/should-australias-manufacturing-future-be-nuclear-14769

Sterk vekst i produksjon fra ukonvensjonelle kilder for gass og olje vil ha en stor innvirkning på globale energimarkeder til 2030, og redefinerte forventninger for store økonomier og rebalansering globale handelsstrømmer, ifølge BPs siste Energy Outlook 2030, offentliggjort i dag. Dette er den tredje årlige utgaven av Outlook, som setter ut BP syn på de mest sannsynlige utviklingen i de globale energimarkedene til 2030, basert på up-to-date analyse og tar hensyn til utviklingen av det siste året. Fjorårets Outlook ledet an i å vise hvordan Nord-Amerika er sannsynlig å bli selvforsynt med energi. Årets utgave undersøker nærmere revolusjonen i skifergass og tett olje - fenomenet kjører USAs energi vekkelse - inkludert sine globale utsikter. Outlook samlede forventning om vekst i global energietterspørsel til 2030 er lite endret fra i fjor, med etterspørselen forventes å være 36% høyere i 2030 enn 2011 og nesten all vekst kommer fra fremvoksende økonomier. Imidlertid forventninger mønsteret av tilførsel av denne veksten skiftende sterkt, med ukonvensjonelle kilder - skifergass og tett olje sammen med tung olje og biodrivstoff - spiller en stadig viktigere rolle, og i særdeleshet, transformerer energibalansen av USA.

BP (China) has become a key player in that country's oil and gas industry. The BP subsidiary has operations primarily in liquid natural gas production and import, fuel supply, liquefied petroleum gas marketing, service stations, lubricants, solar power installations, and chemical technology. Its bread-and-butter exploration activities date back to 1973 and now includes one of China's largest offshore gas fields in the South China Sea. The company also manufactures petrochemical products via a joint venture with China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation and Shanghai Petrochemical Company. BP (China)'s operations include more than 600 gas stations.