Oldbury
A new power station on the site of the Oldbury atomic plant is looking increasingly likely as companies come forward to buy land from nuclear bosses. Those living near the site have been told German-owned E.on, which has stated an interest in having a £4-billion nuclear plant at Oldbury, has already been snapping up pieces of privately owned land near the station. Now it is set to be among organisations bidding to acquire land currently in the hands of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) and which is due to be sold next year. But any plans might have to be delayed by a few years if the Oldbury station gets permission to carry on generating, which is looking more likely as inspectors complete their examination of the site. The plant had been due to stop generating electricity in just seven weeks but is on the verge of remaining in operation until 2010.
Bristol Evening Post 13th Nov 2008 more >>
Scotland
Letter: Westminster finds itself in a dilemma over the SNP’s opposition to its energy policy. It is quite obvious that the SNP is using devolved planning powers to undermine Westminster’s UK-wide nuclear plan. Many will accuse the party, probably rightly, of behaving in a rather underhand manner. This does not, however, mean these actions are illegal or unconstitutional.
Scotsman 14th Nov 2008 more >>
Electricity Supplies
The closure of dozens of factories this winter is set to reduce demand for electricity, minimising the threat of disruptions to Britain’s power supplies, National Grid said yesterday. The operator of the UK’s power network published new figures that indicated that normal peak demand for electricity would be about 500 megawatts lower than previously forecast this winter, at 58,400MW. In some weeks, peak demand could be up to 1,000MW lower than had been expected, National Grid said. Earlier this year, loss of the use of several ageing nuclear and coal-fired power stations for repairs prompted concern that Britain could face power supply shortfalls this winter because of a lack of spare generating capacity.
Times 14th Nov 2008 more >>
Sellafield
SELLAFIELD’s operators have been accused of using “bribery and blackmail” to persuade workers to accept the company’s pay deal. The allegations, refuted by the employers, came in an angry reaction from union representatives after industrial workers voted heavily in favour of finally accepting the offer. They have now ended several weeks of industrial action.
Whitehaven News 12th Nov 2008 more >>
NEW business secretary Lord Mandelson has thrown his weight behind the Energy Coast plan for West Cumbria. The former Hartlepool MP, who replaced Barrow MP John Hutton in the role in a cabinet reshuffle, has reiterated Government backing for scheme, which aims to revitalise the area’s economy through the nuclear and renewable energy sectors.
Whitehaven News 13th Nov 2008 more >>
NDA
THE Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has published its national strategy to develop a world class, sustainable workforce to support its mission for the clean up and decommissioning of the UK’s existing civil nuclear legacy.
Whitehaven News 12th Nov 2008 more >>
Nuclear Submarines
RUSSIAN authorities have charged a sailor with causing the death of 20 people on a nuclear-powered submarine.
Scotsman 14th Nov 2008 more >>
Sky News 13th Nov 2008 more >>
Nuclear Weapons
A WORLD without nuclear weapons is a vision as old as the nuclear age. The makers of the bombs that exploded over Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 fretted a lot about the ultimate consequences for mankind of their devilish ingenuity. Now anti-nuclear campaigners are hoping that “Yes, we can!” will do more for their cause than older slogans like “Ban the bomb!” ever did.
The Economist 13th Nov 2008 more >>
Talks on nuclear arms getting under way in Geneva should indicate how relations will develop between the US and Russia under President Barack Obama.
BBC 13th Nov 2008 more >>
Spain
Spain’s 1,000-megawatt Vandellos II nuclear power station was reconnected to the national grid on Thursday afternoon, the plant’s operators said in a statement. The plant near to the northeastern port of Tarragona had been disconnected since early on Wednesday after a control rod had fallen into the reactor core on Saturday.
Money AM 13th Nov 2008 more >>
South Africa
South Africa’s plan to build a nuclear plant to tackle its energy shortages will have to be revisited in the light of the current economic climate, an energy ministry official said on Thursday. The country plans to build its second nuclear power plant, estimated to be worth billions of dollars and meant to provide 20,000 megawatts of power. France’s Areva and U.S.-based Westinghouse Electric have bid for the contract.
AFX 13th Nov 2008 more >>
Reuters 13th Nov 2008 more >>
Renewables
More than a dozen of the UK’s former coal mining sites are to be redeveloped as wind farms under a scheme to turn old energy into new. UK Coal, once the main part of the National Coal Board, has announced a joint venture with Peel Energy that would see 14 former colliery locations used to erect 54 turbines generating up to 133 megawatts of electricity per hour, enough to power 80,000 homes.
Guardian 14th Nov 2008 more >>
