Finland
Areva and Siemens have warned of a further delay in their construction of the world’s first third-generation nuclear reactor, in Olkiluoto, Finland. The plant’s owner Teollisuuden Voima Oy (TVO) said the companies had informed it that civil construction work is progressing slower than planned and could delay the commercial launch of the Olkiluoto 3 reactor to 2011. The reactor, Finland’s fifth, was initially due to be operational in mid-2009 but has been plagued by delays. According to the previous timetable, the reactor was set to launch at the turn of 2010-2011.
Forbes 10th August 2007 more >>
Namibia
The leader of the Council of Churches in Namibia has expressed concern about environmental problems that could be created if the uranium-rich southern African country accepts an offer by Russia to help build floating nuclear power plants.
Ekklesia 10th August 2007 more >>
US
Hillary Clinton faced scrutiny on Thursday over her attitude towards the use of nuclear weapons, amid a deepening foreign policy dispute with Barack Obama, her rival for the Democratic presidential nomination. Mrs Clinton criticised Mr Obama last week for ruling out the use of nuclear weapons in the hunt for terrorists in Afghanistan and Pakistan, arguing that presidents should not discuss hypothetical military situations. But it emerged on Thursday that Mrs Clinton had herself rejected nuclear weapons as an option against Iran in a television interview last year. “I would certainly take nuclear weapons off the table,” she said in April 2006.
FT 10th August 2007 more >>
India
The Prime Minister of India has refused to back down over plans to expand India’s nuclear power industry. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is facing opposition from his communist partners in his government. However, the Indian PM insisted that the civil nuclear deal with American will not be renegotiated. The deal was closed last month and it means India can buy civilian nuclear technology from America even though India possesses nuclear weapons and India has not adhered to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Product Reviews 9th August 2007 more >>
Heysham
British Energy’s Heysham 2-7 nuclear reactor should return to service soon after shutting because of an electrical fault on Tuesday, a spokeswoman for the company said on Thursday.
Reuters 9th August 2007 more >>
Trident
SOUTH Edinburgh MP Nigel Griffiths has been presented with an award for his stance against nuclear weapons. Two survivors of the atomic bomb attack on Nagasaki handed over the award to the Labour politician. Mr Griffiths resigned his position as deputy eader of the Commons over the Government’s Trident renewal plans.
Edinburgh Evening News 9th August 2007 more >>
Radiation and Health
Nuclear power has a reputation for being lethal even if the reactors don’t explode. The demand to protect us all from even the minutest radiation from accidental discharges and disposal of its waste has made nuclear power punitively expensive. Yet through their survival, the hibakusha are telling us that the LNT is nonsense – and that we are spending huge sums to protect ourselves from non-existent risks.
First Post 9th August 2007 more >>
Sellafield
Test blasts will take place this week-end on the four landmark cooling towers at the closed Calder Hall power station.
Whitehaven News 9th August 2007 more >>
THE BARROW MP who has just taken over the hot seat at the ministry governing Sellafield visited the nuclear plant yesterday. John Hutton, who is the new secretary of state for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform not only toured the Thorp reprocessing plant but he also had lunch with local stakeholders from West Cumbria. Mr Hutton’s department controls the government shareholding in both Sellafield and the NDA. His visit comes as momentum builds towards a programme of building of new nuclear power stations after the government Energy White Paper indicated a willingness to do so. Asked about his predecessor Alistair Darling’s statement in the Energy White Paper that any new nuclear reactors would not have their spent fuel reprocessed, Mr Hutton said he was not aware of any such firm statement.
Whitehaven News 9th August 2007 more >>
DETAILS have emerged of the buyout of Sellafield bidder and Whitehaven RL sponsor, Washington International, by larger multinational URS. During negotiations over a three month period, Washington Group’s board increased the minimum share price it would accept several times, first to $73.00 per share and then to $76.00 per share, which resulted in URS breaking off negotiations on April 30.
Whitehaven News 9th August 2007 more >>
Radioactive Waste
Letter complaining about the lack of public consultation over plans to move low level waste from Sellafield to Lillyhall.
Whitehaven News 9th August 2007 more >>
Japan
The quake-damaged nuclear power plant in Japan’s northern province of Niigata was not expected to resume operation any time soon, according to the international nuclear watchdog Friday.
Monsters and Critics 10th August 2007 more >>
