Trident
Government plans to replace the £65bn Trident nuclear weapons system face a legal challenge in the High Court that could force a re-think of Britain’s policy on its nuclear deterrent. Lawyers for the anti-nuclear campaign group the Nuclear Information Service (NIS)have warned ministers that a new nuclear weapons facility would contravene international law. Backed by a legal opinion from the international law expert Michael Fordham QC, the NIS also claims the Government is in breach of its legal duty to adequately consult on its proposals.
Independent 9th March 2007
ANTI-NUCLEAR activists inflated a life-size Trident missile inside MP Alistair Darling’s Edinburgh office today, in protest against the Government’s plans to replace the weapons. Around 15 campaigners entered his Rutland Square office at 9.30am, which he shares with Edinburgh Central MSP Sarah Boyack. They hope to put pressure on Mr Darling to oppose the party line in the parliamentary vote on replacing Trident next week.
Edinburgh Evening News 9th March 2007
Letters in response to Gorbachev, including from Margaret Beckett who says: the Government is not developing a “new generation” of nuclear weapons. We have decided to extend the life of our existing missiles. We have made repeatedly clear that there will be no increase to the capability or change to the posture or doctrine of our deterrent. And we have made clear that we will dismantle and dispose of about 40 further nuclear warheads.
Times 10th March 2007
Energy Efficiency
THE end is in sight for the traditional lightbulb after EU leaders yesterday called for a mass switch-off and a push to equip homes and offices with energy efficient alternatives within two years. The initiative, part of an ambitious plan to cut carbon emissions, follows the move by Australia to switch to energy-saving lightbulbs and a similar initiative in California.
Independent 10th March 2007
Decommissioning
NM Rothschild has drawn up a shortlist of bidders for Britain’s Magnox nuclear sites that includes four US companies and none from Britain. Unions expressed anger yesterday that none of the UK bidders had made it through to the final stage despite their having lobbied the Government last year in an attempt to ensure that know-how about the nuclear industry remains in Britain. The four US bidders that Rothschild selected to go through to the final rounds are Jacobs, Fluor, CH2M Hill and EnergySolutions. Buying the ten Magnox sites, which include Sizewell in Suffolk and Hinkley Point in Somerset, will cost about £80m, analysts believe. The successful bidder will also get a dowry of two or three years’ work cleaning up those Magnox plants that are being decommissioned.
Telegraph 10th March 2007
The demolition of the cooling towers at Chapelcross nuclear plant near Annan is to be broadcast live on the internet. The prominent landmark is to come down as part of the decommissioning process at the power plant. British Nuclear Group has confirmed that a webcam will be used to allow people to watch the event from home.
BBC 9th March 2007
Israel
As world leaders debate sanctions to curb Iran’s nuclear programme, hundreds of Israeli families are already installing bunkers in their homes to protect against radioactive fallout from a possible attack.
Times 10th March 2007
Europe
The role of nuclear power in Europe received an unexpected boost yesterday as EU leaders hailed a landmark climate change deal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and switch to renewable fuels. Environmentalists complained that an ambitious headline goal to cut Europe’s CO emissions by a fifth by 2020 had been weakened by concessions to the main nuclear nations and the biggest polluters in Eastern Europe.
Times 10th March 2007
Nuclear Skills
Construction work has started on the Nuclear Academy in West Cumbria.
Whitehaven News 9th March 2007
Nuclear Waste
Washington looks set for a political battle after the US Department of Energy presented plans to fast track a high-grade nuclear waste dump in the mountains of Nevada, stressing the need for an urgent resolution.
Edie 7th March 2007
Iran
Iran today urged Russia to meet its contractual obligations on building and fuelling a nuclear power station at Bushehr, as the two sides tried to resolve financial disagreements in Moscow, ITAR-TASS news agency reported.
Interactive Investor 9th March 2007
