Wylfa
Following Welsh Environment Minister, Jane Davidson’s demand for a public inquiry into a new generation of reactors, Welsh Conservative candidate for Ynys M n, Trefor Jones has called for clarification of the Welsh Assembly Government’s policy towards nuclear power. Jones said: “With the recent news about Anglesey Aluminium closing resulting in job losses, the importance of Wylfa B to the Island’s economy cannot be understated. I’ve been worried for some time about the Labour/ Plaid coalition’s negative attitude towards Wylfa B and Jane Davidson has given voice to it.”
Trevor Jones 18th Aug 2009 more >>
Sizewell
The first flask of used fuel has been dispatched by rail from the Sizewell A nuclear power plant in Suffolk, UK, to be reprocessed at the Sellafield plant in Cumbria. The two-unit plant was permanently shut down on 31 December 2006.
World Nuclear News 17th Aug 2009 more >>
East Anglian Daily Press 17th Aug 2009 more >>
Companies
MARINE services firm James Fisher has acquired Leyland-based MB Faber in a deal worth £5.25m. The business, which provides electrical and engineering services to the nuclear and aerospace industries, will be integrated with James Fisher’s Cumbrian nuclear decommissioning business.
Liverpool Daily Post 19th Aug 2009 more >>
Scotsman 19th Aug 2009 more >>
James Fisher shares jumped 37 – 8.15pc – to 497.6 after the marine services group bought MB Faber, a Lancashire nuclear and aerospace engineer for £5.25m.
Telegraph 19th Aug 2009 more >>
New Nukes
Letter from Tim Flinn: Brian Christley says we should be planning for infinite electrical power, only to offer the nonsensical solution of supplying it through nuclear energy, thereby ignoring the inconvenient truth that there is less nuclear fuel on the planet than there are rapidly declining stocks of fossil fuel. Infinite electricity is available only from an infinite fuel supply, which, until the sun burns out (and us with it), means renewables such as solar, wind, tides, ocean currents and hydro. There is more than enough always-on, ocean-current power flowing around the UK to supply the whole of Europe “forever”. Scotland is ideally placed to design and build (and capture the world market for) suitable submarine turbines. Wise, future-oriented governments should be ploughing millions into the necessary R&D.
Scotsman 19th Aug 2009 more >>
Submarines
UNIONS and environmental campaigners are plotting an autumn campaign against plans to decommission nuclear submarines in Devonport dockyard – urging the city to look at green industries instead. The TUC and anti-nuclear group CND will stage two demonstrations in Plymouth on a single day in protest at what they see as the potential blighting of the city.
Plymouth Herald 17th Aug 2009 more >>
Iran
An Iranian official has denied he said Tehran was ready for talks with the West on its nuclear programme based on mutual respect and without conditions. State television had earlier reported that Ali Asghar Soltanieh, Iran’s envoy to the UN’s nuclear watchdog, had announced its willingness to negotiate.
BBC 18th Aug 2009 more >>
Renewables
Vestas, the wind turbine manufacturer that laid off 425 workers when it closed its Isle of Wight factory this month, has hired more than 5,000 extra workers for its new factories in China, the US and Spain. The company said it was expanding heavily in China and the US because these markets were growing the fastest, in contrast to the sluggish pace of wind farm development in the UK. Vestas wants to supply all its markets from domestic factories, which is why the company decided to stop making turbines to export to the US from its Isle of Wight factory.
Guardian 19th Aug 2009 more >>
