AP1000
Last October, federal regulators discovered significant safety concerns in the design proposal for the Westinghouse AP1000 reactors that are slated to be used for the Georgia project and six others around the country. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) rejected the proposal after determining that the shield design would not protect the reactor from earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, and airplane crashes. Michael Johnson, director of the NRC’s Office of New Reactors, noted that the agency had “consistently laid out our questions” to Westinghouse about the design, which did not yet meet “fundamental engineering standards.” Westinghouse says it will submit a new design this month. But it’s unclear when the NRC would even review the do-over. “It’s ludicrous they would be handing out a loan guarantee for a reactor design that’s been delayed so much, and there’s no review schedule now,” says Tom Clements, southeast regional nuclear coordinator for Friends of the Earth. “We don’t even know if it can be licensed.”
Mother Jones 17th Feb 2010 more >>
Companies
VT Group said today that it had rejected a second takeover approach from Babcock International worth almost £1.3 billion. The support services group said that it had received a revised proposal of between 680p and 715p per share in shares and cash from Babcock on February 16, which its board had rejected unanimously. VT said that the terms, an improvement on the 633.9p offer that Babcock made earlier this week, continued to significantly undervalue the group and its prospects.
Times 18th Feb 2010 more >>
The hostile takeover approach for VT Group from Babcock International to create a £2.3 billion support services powerhouse could yet be a broken up by Lockheed Martin, a true heavyweight of the defence industry. The American company could be lined up as a potential preferred “white knight” bidder for VT in its attempt to see off the unwanted advances of Babcock.
Times 18th Feb 2010 more >>
Oldbury
PEOPLE wanting to know more about the potential new nuclear power station at Shepperdine are being invited to a special presentation evening. Horizon Nuclear Power, the company behind the plans, is to hold an open surgery session and a presentation in Thornbury next month. The sessions are part of the company’s informal engagement programme to keep residents up to date with the development proposals and is in addition to any formal consultation the company will have to do.
Gloucestershire Gazette 17th Feb 2010 more >>
Following the recent discussion meeting held in Thornbury with representatives from the DECC and the subsequent submissions that numerous bodies and individuals have made to the DECC we feel it is imperative that the Shepperdine site, near Oldbury is removed from the list of 10 sites proposed for new nuclear power stations. This site is totally unsuitable on so many obvious grounds but we have reservations that the government will not listen in their rush to fix the mess they are now in over their predicted energy gap. We are to hold a protest gathering and march in Thornbury town centre on Thursady March 4th at 6.15pm entitled “DECC—-Please See The Light” before the meeting held by the promoter (Eon) on the same evening.
Shepperdine Against Nuclear Energy 17th Feb 2010 more >>
The Nuclear National Policy Statement explains how nuclear fits with energy policy and defines how the new fast-track planning system will process nuclear power station applications. Friends of the Earth has said it may challenge the nps consultation but it is still very worthwhile submitting as many responses as we can muster. There is a simultaneous consultation over the “Justification” of new practices involving radiation. Under new EU law, the Government must justify any health detriment from running new nuclear power stations. This consultation has hardly been trumpeted by DECC but is potentially more of a show-stopper than the nps.
Stop Oldbury 16th Feb 2010 more >>
One of the two new nuclear reactor designs being considered for use next to Oldbury nuclear power station may not be strong enough to withstand a direct hit from a commercial airliner, the UK’s nuclear safety watchdog warned yesterday. The news emerged as council leaders in the West raised serious concerns about the suitability of the site next to Oldbury nuclear power station.
South West Business 18th Feb 2010 more >>
Hinkley
Plans for 46-metre high pylons to be built from Avonmouth down to Hinkley Point in west Somerset are “fundamentally flawed”. At a full county council meeting, councillors said National Grid’s consultation into the proposals had excluded many local people. The council has now called for National Grid to make all relevant information available for a new consultation. The energy company said it had been consulting the public on the plans.
BBC 17th Feb 2010 more >>
Somerset County Council and West Somerset District Council have replaced their collaboration and consultation software with INOVEM Inclusionware to manage stakeholder consultations across multiple channels, including Somerset County Council’s public consultation around the proposed new nuclear reactor at Hinkley Point.
Response Source 17th Feb 2010 more >>
Hartlepool
HUNDREDS of jobs will be secured for 70 years if Hartlepool is chosen as a site for a new nuclear power station. Town Mayor Stuart Drummond and senior councillors have backed the plans, saying the town has the necessary “experience” and “workforce” in place.
Hartlepool Mail 17th Feb 2010 more >>
Wylfa
HUNDREDS of jobs are set to be created under ambitious plans to turn Anglesey into a “wind energy hub”, the Daily Post can reveal. Manufacturers want to transform the former Anglesey Aluminium site into a wind turbine factory and are in detailed talks with Peter Hain, Secretary of State for Wales, about the project. Last night he declared he believed it “could be the beginning of good times” for the area as he set out his vision for the island to become a centre of excellence for green technology. Combined with a successful bid to build Wylfa B, billions of pounds would be attracted to the island, rejuvenating its fortunes following Rio Tinto’s decision to pull out of the smelting plant, he added.
Daily Post 17th Feb 2010 more >>
BBC 17th Feb 2010 more >>
Another day, another obstacle in the way of the building of Wylfa B. Both the FT and the Times today report that the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have registered its “most intense level of concern” regarding the design of the Toshiba-Westinghouse AP1000 – the nuclear reactor which Horizon Nuclear Power wants to build at Wylfa. The HSE is concerned that the design of AP1000 as it currently stands would not be strong enough to withstand a direct hit from a commercial airliner.
The Druid 17th Feb 2010 more >>
Sellafield
Sellafield’s former top boss Barry Snelson got a £2 million pay off when he left the site just over a year ago.
Carlisle News and Star 17th Feb 2010 more >>
Whitehaven News 17th Feb 2010 more >>
THE NDA’s chief executive has been accused of “scaremongering” after comparing Sellafield to the Texas City oil refinery which caught fire killing 15 workers. The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority said that comments made to a Sunday newspaper by its new chief Tony Fountain were taken out of context and referred to past operations and practices at Sellafield which the authority is now clearing up.
Whitehaven News 17th Feb 2010 more >>
Cumbria
THERE was a free vote yesterday (Wednesday) for Copeland on where they would like to see nuclear rectors built in the area. Just after The Whitehaven News went to press, the council met in Whitehaven to decide on its formal stance. But Elaine Woodburn, leader of the Labour-controlled council, confirmed that the Party whip would not be put on to guarantee a policy. Tory opposition group leader David Moore said it would be the same for his Conservative colleagues – but both leaders were putting forward different views. Sellafield, Braystones and Kirksanton are on the government’s provisional list as “potentially suitable” sites for nuclear new build which would create many thousands of new jobs. Cumbria County Council’s view is that it is “not minded to support either a new power station at either Braystones or Kirksanton” and that Sellafield is the preferred location. Elaine Woodburn said: “My personal view is that if we just went for one site and for whatever reason Sellafield was found to be unsuitable we would lose the option of having a nuclear power station in Copeland and in my opinion that would be a price too high to pay.
Whitehaven News 17th Feb 2010 more >>
Politicians and the public are broadly supportive of Sellafield as a location, but opposition in Braystones and Kirksanton has been vehement. Copeland MP Jamie Reed, a staunch advocate of the nuclear sector, has said he does not expect the two controversial sites to be chosen ultimately. Despite energy giant RWE npower backing the Braystones and Kirksanton schemes, it is thought highly unlikely Cumbria will get three new nuclear power stations.
Cumberland News 17th Feb 2010 more >>
IAEA
Egyptians plan to give the former UN nuclear chief Mohamed ElBaradei a hero’s welcome when he returns home for a visit on Friday, amid hopes that he might challenge the longtime president, Hosni Mubarak, for power. Dustor, a local opposition newspaper called on people to meet the former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency at the airport.
Guardian 18th Feb 2010 more >>
US
NRG Energy Inc’s nuclear development unit and CPS Energy of San Antonio have settled an ownership dispute over the $10 billion development of two nuclear reactors in Texas, giving the project a second chance, the companies said on Wednesday. CPS will reduce its stake in the two-unit nuclear expansion project to 7.625 percent from 50 percent for payments of more than $80 million. Nuclear Innovation North America (NINA), a partnership between NRG and Toshiba Corp will retain a 92.375 percent ownership stake, assume full control and development costs going forward for the proposed South Texas Project units 3 and 4, according to a press release.
Reuters 17th Feb 2010 more >>
Two new nuclear power plants in the USA are set to receive loan guarantees as the Obama Administration attempts to jumpstart the country’s nuclear renaissance.
Modern Power Systems 17th Feb 2010 more >>
The Ecologist 16th Feb 2010 more >>
Nuclear Weapons
Uranium exists in several forms, or isotopes, only one of which can sustain the energy-releasing chain reaction that makes the element so powerful. The isotope of interest to nuclear engineers is known as U-235. This makes up less than 1 per cent of naturally occurring uranium. The heavier, more stable – and thus less useful – isotope U-238 makes up almost all of the rest.
New Statesman 18th Feb 2010 more >>
Iran
China’s unwillingness to support sanctions against Iran may preoccupy the international community, but the discussion ignores the key development in the lack of a Russian obstacle. To put the situation in perspective, Russia has the world’s largest stockpile of nuclear weapons, estimated to be in the region of 16,000 (although the Start II Treaty limits the number of operational warheads to 4250). It also has a traditional hostility towards America’s aggressive foreign policy and a vested interest in keeping US/Iranian relations frosty in order to knock out a major competitor in oil production. Along with China it has forced a watering down of three previous attempts at sanctions against Ahmadinejad’s regime. Their combined resistance to tough international measures has left many feeling that, to date, sanctions have been largely toothless.
Prospect Magazine 17th Feb 2010 more >>
Australia
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on Wednesday ruled out introducing nuclear power to Australia, saying the government was working to cut greenhouse gas emissions through other means.
Mathaba 17th Feb 2010 more >>
