Natural gas is cheaper than nuclear fuel and cleaner than coal, and it is available now, said APIA chief executive Cheryl Cartwright.

“It is regrettable that the Prime Minister’s review does not consider other fuels,” she said.

“If it did so, the economic and environmental benefits of natural gas would be readily apparent, and would demonstrate that natural gas is the transitional fuel to the next phase of electricity generation.

“If Australians and Australian businesses want to reduce greenhouse emissions while they wait for renewable energy sources to become cost-efficient and reliable, then they should turn from coal to our abundant supplies of natural gas.”

Cartwright said even if further uranium mining was recommended, any move towards the use of nuclear for energy generation was some years away.

In the meantime, Australia has the choice of continuing to use highly polluting coal or to increase the use of greenhouse-friendlier natural gas for energy generation.

“In the longer term, renewable energies could become more cost efficient or nuclear power for energy generation could become more acceptable,” Cartwright said.

“Nuclear and renewables are energy options over which many questions remain. There are no such doubts over gas. We know it can give us a cleaner energy future.”