Nuclear Sites
The Government today fired the starting gun on the most lucrative land auction in Cumbria’s history. The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has offered up a parcel of land adjacent to Sellafield which has been earmarked for a new nuclear reactor. The world’s largest energy companies are expected to join the race with the final price tag estimated to be as much as £300m.
Cumberland News 9th June 2009 more >>
Business Gazette 9th June 2009 more >>
BBC 9th June 2009 more >>
Wylfa
Wylfa nuclear power station on Anglesey has been given the go-ahead to produce electricity for an extra nine months. The plant was due to close in March 2010 with the loss of hundreds of jobs, but will now carry on until at least December 2010.
BBC 9th June 2009 more >>
THE Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has announced that Wylfa Power Station has been granted approval to continue generating electricity for at least another nine months. The approval will extend its planned closure date from March 2010 to at least December 2010. This news could now help negotiations between the NDA and Anglesey Aluminium Metals in Holyhead on a new power deal for the plant, that could save more than 500 jobs. The current deal is due to run out this September.
Daily Post 9th June 2009 more >>
Cumbria
THE leader of Copeland Borough Council will quiz 150 nuclear experts at a conference in London, to discuss the future of nuclear power in the country. Councillor Elaine Woodburn will chair a panel at the Nuclear Industry Forum on Wednesday and Thursday. The panel will discuss the state of community support for ‘nuclear activities’ and will involve representatives from the world’s biggest energy companies, including E.ON UK and the National Decommissioning Authority, which owns Sellafield.
NW Evening Mail 9th June 2009 more >>
Europe
Green parties celebrating their success in last week’s European Parliament election are gearing up for a fight over nuclear power. The coalition of green parties, who are unanimous in their anti-nuclear position, increased their presence in the European Parliament from 5.5% to 7.1% (52 seats). Although not enough to force any changes, science-policy experts anticipate a major battle on the issue in the next legislature.
Nature 9th June 2009 more >>
North Korea
North Korea warned it would use nuclear weapons in a “merciless offensive” if provoked, two weeks after testing a Hiroshima-size device. It appeared to be the first time the communist state had referred to its nuclear arsenal as “offensive” in nature. Pyongyang has long claimed that its nuclear weapons programme is for self-defence against perceived US threats.
Guardian 9th June 2009 more >>
China
China is planning a vast increase in its use of wind and solar power over the next decade and believes it can match Europe by 2020, producing a fifth of its energy needs from renewable sources, a senior Chinese official said yesterday.
Guardian 10th June 2009 more >>
Telegraph 10th June 2009 more >>
