Iran
The Iranian President says he thinks his dispute with the West can be resolved.
Sky 14th Sept. 2006
Reuters 14th Sept 2006
Hunterston
Members of the Amicus union working at Hunterston nuclear power stations A&B have begun taking strike action due to the removal of a 50 pence per hour enhancement that had been in place for 30 years.
Energy Business Review 13th Sept 2006
Legal
Eversheds is to unveil a new-look specialist nuclear practice in an effort to benefit from forthcoming government reforms in the energy sector. The 10-lawyer cross-practice team, which goes live this month, will be headed up by corporate partner Robert Pitcher and international energy head Nigel Robson. The new group will handle work covering regulatory, corporate and commercial, construction, energy and planning, and will act for Eversheds’ existing roster of energy clients including British Nuclear Fuels.
Legal Week 14th Sept 2006
US
A Bush Administration legislative proposal to facilitate management of used nuclear fuel is strongly supported by the nuclear energy industry and would be “a major milestone” on the road to proper environmental stewardship of this material, an industry leader told the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality today.
Orange 13th Sept 2006
Wales
Plaid Cymru MEP Jill Evans called on people in Wales to back the development of a nuclear free Wales at a meeting organised by the Wrexham Peace and Justice Forum’
News Wales 13th Sept 2006
Submarines
One of the Royal Navy’s longest-serving submarines sailed into British naval history after 33 years of service. HMS Sovereign flew her decommissioning pennant as she sailed from her base near Helensburgh for the last time.
BBC 13th Sept 2006
New nukes
BRITAIN is unlikely to go nuclear unless the Government agrees to subsidise the cost, says Public Private Finance (Sept). Whitehall wants private firms to design, build, operate and ultimately decommission the new nuclear plants; it also expects them to cover the cost of managing nuclear waste. It says that there is a “commercial case” behind this and that nuclear power will be able to compete with its non-nuclear rivals. EU and global regulations that penalise some forms of pollution, such as carbon emissions, mean that nuclear and renewable energy look attractive to investors at the moment. However, these apply only until 2012, while the new plants will run for more than 30 years – leaving companies with far too much uncertainty. In its editorial, the magazine says: “The Government is attempting to bully private financiers into both building nuclear plants and shouldering the costs of getting rid of the toxic waste. This would be a foolish thing to do … Without bungs, nuclear power isn’t profitable. And so private firms will walk away.” It says that the Government must find a “realistic way” of paying for waste disposal and decommissioning. “The decision to take the nuclear option is political, not financial. And that’s why the Government will need to dip its hands into its pockets if it wants to go that way.”
Times 12th Sept 2006
