Finland
Today, six activists from the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise boarded the cargo ship Happy Ranger in the Fehmarn Belt between Denmark and Germany. The activists are carrying banners reading “Nuclear Madness, made in France”. The ship is carrying steam turbines supplied by the French nuclear company AREVA to the Olkiluoto 3 nuclear reactor currently under construction in Finland. Today’s action was taken to highlight the fact that nuclear energy not only exposes the public to radiation hazards, but undermines effective climate protection. Greenpeace is calling on the Finnish government to stop the work at Olkiluoto 3.
Greenpeace 16th Nov 2009 more >>
Dungeness
Southampton-based support services firm, VT Group, has secured an order from British Energy to supply high integrity reactor bio-thermal assemblies to its nuclear power station in Dungeness. This will be the first contract for the group to manufacture parts for the industry after expansion of its nuclear manufacturing capabilities in January 2008. The contract will see VT manufacture the bio-thermal units, used specifically for advanced gas-cooled reactors, at its facility near Chester until summer 2010. The replacement of the bio-thermal assemblies is a key element in ensuring that Dungeness B can continue to operate for many years to come.
The Engineer 16th Nov 2009 more >>
Power Engineering 16th Nov 2009 more >>
Cumbria
Welcome to the Nuke District, where THREE atomic power stations will be built to solve our looming energy crisis. But is nuclear power really the right way to go? Retired Meteorological Office researcher Martin Forwood stands on a potential nuclear-designated site at Kirksanton, a place locals describe as “the forgotten corner” of Cumbria. The second oldest wind turbine farm in the country is here. If Kirksanton nuclear plant is built, at least six of the eight windmills will be pulled down. Martin asks: “What clearer sign of this Government’s dismissal of renewable energy can be given? “It would be the kiss of death for any chance for Cumbria to diversify its economy away from its dependence on the nuclear industry. It will seal its fate.
Daily Mirror 16th Nov 2009 more >>
Cumbria Wildlife Trust has expressed concern about Government announcements that the new, unelected Infrastructure Planning Commission will be able to fast-track major projects such as ports and power stations. This is a particularly relevant development for Cumbria as three sites in the county have been selected to host nuclear power stations. The conservation charity fears wildlife may not be given adequate consideration when decisions are made about developments on these three sites. This could have major impacts on the natural environment.
Get Noticed Online 16th Nov 2009 more >>
Hartlepool
PLANS for a new nuclear power station which could create thousands of jobs have been considered by Teessiders. The Government Department of Energy and Climate Change is taking exhibitions to each of the possible sites for the energy-producing facility around the UK. If the Hartlepool site is eventually chosen, it will create up to 9,000 construction jobs and more than 500 full-time jobs at the site. Hartlepool’s Mayor Stuart Drummond is among those supporting the proposals. But opponents say the town has already had its fair share of nuclear power and insist the Government should be looking at cleaner forms of energy for the future. More than 100 people went along to exhibitions and a public discussion to find out more.
Sunday Sun 15th Nov 2009 more >>
Hinkley
EDF Energy is to hold a series of public events to consult people on its proposals to build a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point in Somerset. The energy company is seeking public and stakeholder comment in two stages. This month sees the start of the first stage, consulting on initial proposals and options for the project. EDF Energy will then consult again, around March next year, on the preferred proposals.
Bristol Evening Post 16th Nov 2009 more >>
Ireland
The reality – if you want to have the ‘‘dangerous nuclear’’ conversation – is that huge areas of the Irish Republic are already at maximum risk because of the nuclear locations in Britain. Of the proposed ten new sites, two are within 70 kilometres of the greater Dublin region (Wylfa and Trawsfynydd in Wales) with its two million population. Five more including Braystones, Kirksanton and Sellafield (in Cumbria, Hartlepool and Heysham in Lancashire) are all within 150 kilometres of Ireland. This means that were an accident to occur in our prevailing westerly wind conditions, radioactive fallout would not be extensive over Ireland. However, an incident at Wylfa in north Wales would represent a far greater risk to the much closer Dublin than to cities such as London, Glasgow or Edinburgh, the more so if the wind were blowing from the east. We need to face up to the falacy that because we don’t have a nuclear plant on Irish soil, we are safer. Our geographical location has compromised us for many years.
Sunday Business Post 15th Nov 2009 more >>
Companies
A Chineses infrastructure company controlled by billionaire investor Li Ka-shing is considering bidding for EDF’s £4bn of UK electricity distribution networks.
Telegraph 17th Nov 2009 more >>
Electricity Supplies
The UK is in chronic need of new sources of power generation about 30 per cent of our generation capacity will close by 2020 but progress on new plants has been hampered by the need to move to low-carbon sources. While the move to low carbon is an excellent ambition, it needs to be supported by the right financial framework. For example, a guaranteed floor to the price of carbon in emissions trading schemes would provide certainty to potential investors. The difficulty of raising finance in the markets is exacerbating this challenge. This has left the UK with the spectre of the lights going out. Energy demand in Britain has dropped by 4.5 per cent year on year as companies and consumers tighten their belts. This resets the energy baseline and reduces the risk of power shortages. This decreasing demand could give us time to plan and implement the low-carbon energy economy. This creates an opportunity for the British energy industry to re-invent itself as a new, diversified industry.
Times 17th Oct 2009 more >>
Iran
United Nations and Iranian officials have been secretly negotiating a deal to persuade world powers to lift sanctions and allow Tehran to retain the bulk of its nuclear programme in return for co-operation with UN inspectors. According to a draft document seen by The Times, the 13-point agreement was drawn up in September by Mohamed ElBaradei, the directorgeneral of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in an effort to break the stalemate over Iran’s nuclear programme before he stands down at the end of this month.
Times 17th Nov 2009 more >>
The United Nations nuclear watchdog has expressed fears that Iran may have other secret nuclear sites following the discovery of the facility hidden in a mountain near the holy city of Qom. The International Atomic Energy Agency, in a report published today, said the previously secret site at Fordo was in “an advanced state of construction” and was scheduled to start up in 2011.
Guardian 17th Nov 2009 more >>
The United Nations questioned on Monday whether Iran was hiding more nuclear facilities following the recent revelation that Tehran was constructing an undeclared uranium enrichment plant. The International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN’s nuclear watchdog, said it had yet to be convinced by Iran’s explanations on the peaceful nature of its programme.
FT 17th Nov 2009 more >>
Telegraph 17th Nov 2009 more >>
BBC 16th Nov 2009 more >>
Russia dealt a blow to Iran’s nuclear ambitions on Monday when Moscow announced it would not activate the Islamic Republic’s first nuclear power station by the end of this year as planned.
Telegraph 17th Nov 2009 more >>
Iran has played down a report by the UN’s nuclear watchdog that found questions remained unanswered about a nuclear facility near the city of Qom.
BBC 17th Nov 2009 more >>
Europe
A study from Europe’s electricity industry reveals that retaining and increasing nuclear power will help cut carbon emissions faster. After a joint study with the Athens Technical University, Eurelectric concluded that a carbon-neutral power sector was achievable by 2050. That would involve an efficiency drive, an international cap and trade system, the use of every low-carbon power technology and the offsetting of remaining emissions.
World Nuclear News 16th Nov 2009 more >>
A EUR1.4m (GBP1.3m) research and development project aims to develop a lightweight robot for the automated inspection of nozzle welds in nuclear reactors. The project, which is backed by EC funding, brings together Phoenix Inspection Systems, Peak NDT and The Welding Institute (TWI) in the UK with partners in France, Spain, Bulgaria, Lithuania and Greece. The partners aim to provide existing and new-build nuclear power plants, with a versatile inspection machine hoped to revolutionalise the pre-service and in-service inspection of plant components.
Engineering Talk 16th Nov 2009 more >>
India
India has tightened security and put its nuclear power plants on alert after intelligence about possible attacks, according to a report. The move comes after a man arrested in the US on charges of plotting attacks in India was found to have travelled to Indian states that have nuclear installations.
ITN 16th Nov 2009 more >>
Turkey
Turkey will issue the second of three tenders to build and operate a nuclear power plant in Turkey in three to four months, Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz said on Monday. Turkey, which is facing a power shortfall in coming years without investment, has already held one tender to construct a nuclear power plant, but that tender is under threat by a court decision which could invalidate it.
Interactive Investor 16th Nov 2009 more >>
Jordan
Jordan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC) has signed a $11.3 million contract with WorleyParsons Limited (WorleyParsons) to conduct the pre-construction consultancy services for the Kingdom’s first nuclear power plant. As per the contract, WorleyParsons will carry out technology selection and assist in fuel cycle engineering and waste management for the plant, which is expected to be built in Aqaba.
Energy Businesss Review 15th Nov 2009 more >>
US
Officials with San Antonio’s municipal utility CPS Energy said on Monday that Toshiba Corp officials pledged to provide a “new, lower cost estimate” to build two nuclear reactors in Texas by year end. The utility’s interim general manager Steve Bartley told the CPS board his message to Toshiba was that a cost estimate exceeding $13 billion was not acceptable and that the utility will look at other alternatives.
Reuters 17th Nov 2009 more >>
Submarines
The biggest and most powerful attack submarine ever built for the Royal Navy – Astute – has taken to the seas.
Public Technology 17th Nov 2009 more >>
Independent 17th Nov 2009 more >>
Climate
A former anti-apartheid campaigner who today became the new head of the environmental group Greenpeace promised to keep the pressure up on governments to tackle climate change. Kumi Naidoo, from South Africa, who recently went on a hunger strike to press for solutions to Zimbabwe’s political and economic crises, said it was vital that December’s Copenhagen climate talks result in a binding treaty to cut carbon emissions. “We either get it right and all of humanity comes out on the other side with a new world,” Naidoo said, “or we get it wrong and all the world is going to sink.”
Guardian 17th Nov 2009 more >>
Peak Oil
George Monbiot: I don’t know when global oil supplies will start to decline. I do know that another resource has already peaked and gone into free fall: the credibility of the body that’s meant to assess them. Last week two whistleblowers from the International Energy Agency alleged that it has deliberately upgraded its estimate of the world’s oil supplies in order not to frighten the markets. Three days later, a paper published by researchers at Uppsala University in Sweden showed that the IEA’s forecasts must be wrong, because it assumes a rate of extraction that appears to be impossible.
Guardian 17th Nov 2009 more >>
