NuGen
GDF Suez’s nuclear reservations hit government energy policy. French firm needs more financial incentives if it is to proceed with new nuclear plant in Cumbria, says CEO Gérard Mestrallet. The government’s energy policy has suffered a fresh blow when GDF Suez, the French firm behind plans to build a new nuclear plant in Cumbria, said it needed more financial incentives if it was to proceed. Gérard Mestrallet, chairman and chief executive of GDF, said he wanted talks with the government about the right fixed or minimum price for producing nuclear energy: “We are, with our partners, going to take a decision in 2015 . Today it is very difficult to invest in a nuclear power plant without clear visibility.”
Guardian 16th April 2012 more >>
With RWE, E.ON and now GDF Suez getting cold feet about UK projects, has the nuclear renaissance turned radioactive? And then there was one. Well, we are not there yet, but there is no doubt the comments from the GDF Suez boss that his NuGen consortium wants more financial concessions to build atomic plants in Britain is not a casual warning but a threat that it could pull out, leaving EDF the only company willing to build new reactors. The great atomic renaissance is certainly unravelling. Critics always said it did not make financial sense, and indeed it seems it is basic economics that is undermining the project rather than environmental worries. There is also the concern that Nicolas Sarkozy may be overturned in the elections and a new president may put the brakes on nuclear in France. EDF may then reconsider building in Britain too. And then there were none.
Guardian 16th April 2012 more >>
Hinkley
ISG is to build a £1.5 million construction and mechanisation training facility at Bridgwater College in Somerset to enable the college to offer courses in a range of civil engineering and construction programmes. The scheme is being funded by EDF Energy to help ensure that the skills are available locally to help deliver the proposed Hinkley Point C nuclear power station project, which the energy supplier hopes will be operational by 2020. The 26-week construction programme will see ISG construct a single storey teaching block with adjacent vehicle storage, and a maintenance and training yard on a brownfield site at the college, ensuring that Bridgwater College can offer both theoretical and practical vehicle and equipment training.
Industry Today 16th April 2012 more >>
Dungeness
The final fuel flask will be removed today from the Dungeness nuclear power station in Kent. The fuel will be transported to Sellafield in Cumbria for reprocessing. The decommissioned power plant provided electricity for the national grid for nearly 40 years.
ITV 17th April 2012 more >>
Wales
WALES should match Scotland’s ambition in aiming to generate all its energy from renewable energy and eventually ditch nuclear power, Wales’ environment minister has said. Talking to the Western Mail, John Griffiths also defended the Welsh Government’s Tan 8 policy which has seen wind farms spring up in parts of Wales and called for all consenting powers on all major energy projects to be devolved to Wales from Westminster – apart from nuclear energy projects.
Power Engineering 16th April 2012 more >>
Japan
After a long and arduous battery of routine inspections, not to mention many power failures and blackouts, Japan is ready to resume using nuclear energy after Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda last week declared that two reactors were already safe to reactivate and operate after having passed undergoing computerized “stress tests”.
IB Times 17th April 2012 more >>
Japan’s government is in a race against time to approve the restart of two reactors and possibly determine the fate of the country’s troubled nuclear power industry.
Guardian 16th April 2012 more >>
