Turkey
A law setting out a legal framework for the construction of the country’s first nuclear power plants has been adopted by the Turkish parliament.
Nuclear Engineering International 17th May 2007
Climate
The third part of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fourth Assessment Report on climate change mitigation technologies and practices advocates the development of new nuclear generation as a method of tackling climate change. Along with technologies such as carbon capture and storage, and advanced renewable energy, including tidal and wave, concentrating solar and solar PV, the report says that nuclear power is a key mitigation technology which is currently available.
Modern Power Systems 17th May 2007
Nuclear Engineering International 18th May 2007
The oceans are losing the capacity to soak up rising man-made carbon emissions, which is increasing the rate of global warming by up to 30 per cent, scientists said yesterday.
Times 18th May 2007
Telegraph 18th May 2007
Companies
General Electric (GE) of the USA and Hitachi of Japan have signed a ‘formation agreement’ to proceed with merging their nuclear businesses.
Described as a ‘global alliance’, the combined nuclear player would have great expertise in boiling water reactor (BWR) design construction and maintenance. The companies said that potential areas for investment would include new infrastructure, advanced reactor design and service tehcnology.
World Nuclear News 17th May 2007
NPT
David Lowry: At the end of last week in Vienna, a major international diplomatic conference on nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation finished in acrimony, as Iran refused to accept being the only state named as not being compliant with its obligations under the 1968 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), with over 190 nations, the planet’s most extensive nuclear security pact. Coming barely two months after ministers from Tony Blair downwards cajoled and pressurised Labour MPs to vote in parliament for plans to replace the UK’s Trident WMD system, it is odd to read the opening words of the UK submission to the NPT preparatory committee in Vienna, presented by British disarmament ambassador John Duncan: “The United Kingdom is absolutely committed to the principles and practice of multilateral nuclear disarmament. Our ultimate goal remains unchanged: we will work towards a safer world free from nuclear weapons – and we stand by our unequivocal undertaking to accomplish their total elimination.”
Guardian website 17th May 2007
New Nukes
THE building of a third nuclear power station on the Suffolk coast could be forced through as part of a major Government shake-up of the planning system. A White Paper is set to be released by the Government next week which is expected to outline plans to overhaul the planning process for new developments.
Suffolk Evening Star 17th May 2007
The government will next week issue plans for a major energy policy overhaul, opening the way for new nuclear power plants and also putting the onus on individuals in the battle against climate change. One of the expected main points of the Energy White Paper to be announced on Wednesday by Trade and Industry Minister Alistair Darling is a proposal to smooth the way for a new generation of nuclear power plants, including pre-licensing of reactor design.
Reuters 17th May 2007
Nuclear Transport
Badgers have set up home underneath the main Barrow to Whitehave rail line, but there is no immediate threat to passenger or nuclear freight safety.
Whitehaven News 17th May 2007
A new ‘gun boat’ – the Pacific Heron – which will ship radioactive materials from Sellafield – has been launched in Japan.
Whitehaven News 17th May 2007
NDA
The search is on for a new chairman for the NDA who can expect an £80,000 salary for a two day week.
Whitehaven News 17th May 2007
China
Guangdong Nuclear Power Holding Co Ltd confirmed today that it is the firm in talks with French’s Framatome (Areva NP) and Electricite de France (EDF) to introduce European Pressurized Reactor (EPR) third-generation nuclear technology.
ABC Money 18th May 2007
US
An overloaded computer network shut down a nuclear reactor in Alabama last year, and even nine months later, regulators cannot pinpoint the source of the failure. The incident occurred last August at the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Browns Ferry plant. Since the Sept. 11 strikes, Congress has been concerned that utilities and other high-risk facilities might be vulnerable to cyberattacks because of their reliance on computer networks to control operations.
Guardian website 18th May 2007
Energy Security
National Grid is to invest more than £500m in two projects to increase Britain’s capacity to import energy, increasing the country’s security of supply. It is spending £310m to expand its liquefied natural gas plant at the Isle of Grain in Kent and is close to a deal to invest £200m building an interconnector between Britain and the Netherlands with the capacity to switch the equivalent of the output of a large power station between the two countries.
Guardian 18th May 2007
Renewables
The world’s biggest wind farm, with 370 turbines towering 150m (492ft) above the waves, is planned for the Bristol Channel.The turbines would cover an area the size of the Isle of Wight and generate 1,500 megawatts, more than half the energy needs of the West Country and enough to power 1.1 million homes.
Times 18th May 2007
