Weld Australia is sounding the alarm over a severe shortage of skilled welders needed for the nuclear power plant program recently announced by Opposition leader Peter Dutton.
The organisation warns that this deficiency in highly skilled tradespeople poses a significant threat to the successful execution of the proposed national energy initiative.
Last week, Dutton unveiled a controversial policy for nuclear power, announcing seven potential reactor sites at former or current coal plants.
He claimed operations could begin in the 2030s, citing existing technical attributes such as transmission infrastructure and cooling water capacity at these locations.
However, Geoff Crittenden, CEO of Weld Australia, highlights a critical flaw in this plan: the lack of a skilled workforce.
“Of the 67,000 welders identified in the last census, fewer than 5,000 possess the expertise to weld to the highest standards required for nuclear power plants, submarines, and other critical infrastructure,” Crittenden stated.
He further noted that approximately one-third of these highly skilled welders are nearing retirement.
The proposed nuclear program, combined with increased activities in defence shipbuilding, critical minerals mining, and renewable energy projects, is expected to exacerbate the existing shortage of welders from 70,000 to nearly 100,000.
Crittenden drew parallels with the UK’s Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant project, which has faced significant delays and cost overruns partly due to a shortage of skilled workers.
He emphasised the immense challenge Australia would face in building nuclear power plants without an established nuclear industry.
The situation is further complicated by a global shortage of welders, with the US experiencing a deficit of 480,000 before its recent manufacturing boom and Japan reporting a shortage of 250,000 welders.
Crittenden urged immediate action, calling for practical solutions such as government investment in training programs, incentives for trades education, and a clear strategy to ensure a pipeline of skilled welders and engineers.
“Australia’s energy transition is already struggling, and adding the monumental task of building nuclear power plants without a sufficient skilled workforce is impractical,” Crittenden concluded.
“We are barely able to meet our current commitments, let alone embark on new nuclear projects.”
This critical shortage of skilled welders not only threatens the proposed nuclear power program but also poses challenges for Australia’s broader energy transition and infrastructure development plans.
