New Nukes
Last month’s announcement that Sheffield Forgemasters had secured £80m of government funding to buy and install a 15,000-tonne forging press was rightly seen as a coup for UK manufacturing. As well as helping to secure hundreds of jobs, this large device – one of a handful around the world – could propel the UK to the summit of the global nuclear supply chain. Currently, the only manufacturer able to produce all of the large components required for the next generation of nuclear reactors is Japan Steelworks.
The Engineer 19th Apr 2010 more >>
Five of the UK’s leading universities are working on a collaborative project to better understand the performance of materials used in the next generation of nuclear reactors.
The Engineer 19th Apr 2010 more >>
Cumbria
The Liberal Democrat candidate for Copeland has defied party policy by backing plans for a new generation of nuclear power stations. The constituency is home to Sellafield, which is being decommissioned but remains a major local employer. Nationally, the Lib Dems are against the plans, but Frank Hollowell said a lack of other short-term energy options meant new power stations were needed.
BBC 19th Apr 2010 more >>
Wylfa
FUNDING cuts to North Wales’ counter-terrorism operations have met with concern from a police watchdog. Police Authorities of Wales (PAW) wants the Wales Extremism and Counter Terrorism Unit (WECTU) to keep 18 specialist officers currently facing redeployment, including 11 from this region. With, according to PAW, the Wylfa power plant on Anglesey and Prince William’s deployment to RAF Valley vulnerable targets, Maria Chapman said: “The loss of funding will have a significant impact on the ability of the forces to protect the west coast ports, and for WECTU to protect UK national security.”
Daily Post 19th Apr 2010 more >>
Sizewell
Sizewell has been named by the Government as a site that is strategically suitable for a new nuclear power station. EDF will be consulting on its proposals before submitting a planning application for Sizewell C in 2011. As they begin the consultation process EDF wants to find out the views of the community. The website sizewell.edfconsultation.info provides information and gives you the opportunity to have your say.
Aldringham cum Thorpe Parish Council 14th Apr 2010 more >>
Camp against nuclear new build 23rd – 26th April 2010
Indymedia 6th April 2010 more >>
Stop Nuclear Power Network 8th Apr 2010 more >>
Dungeness
The fuelling machine at British Energy’s Dungeness B nuclear power station uses six rotary selector switches supplied by NSF Controls. The company custom made the units to replace the existing equipment, which had reached the end of its useful life.
Engineering Talk 20th Apr 2010 more >>
Companies
Nuclear engineering specialist Redhall Group (Epic: RHL) is well positioned to benefit from the £50 billion nuclear new build programme in the UK, which is expected to get underway in 2013. A trading update on the 8th April stated several new contracts wins and provided confidence that full-year expectations would be met.
Proinvestors 20th Apr 2010 more >>
China
David Miliband today accused the Tories of trying to wreck Britain’s 60-year relationship with China over comments made by David Cameron during last week’s debate. The Foreign Secretary said Mr Cameron had displayed an ‘appalling immaturity’ by talking about Iran and China in the same breath.
Daily Mail 20th Apr 2010 more >>
ePolitix 19th Apr 2010 more >>
Iran
The White House said on Monday that Iran’s rhetoric on its nuclear program does not always match its capability. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs also said the United States still takes seriously that Iran is not living up to international obligations.
Reuters 19th Apr 2010 more >>
America’s top military officer has said that a United States strike against Iran would go “a long way” to delaying Tehran’s nuclear programme.
Telegraph 20th Apr 2010 more >>
As a new sanctions resolution is discussed at the Security Council, Tehran has sent signals it might still be prepared to strike a deal over its uranium stockpile.
Guardian Blog 19th Apr 2010 more >>
Iran plans to hold talks with all 15 members of the UN Security Council in an effort to break a deadlock over a nuclear fuel deal, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Sunday.
Middle East Online 19th Apr 2010 more >>
When Iran fuels Western alarm over its nuclear ambitions – as it did again yesterday with orders to start construction of new uranium enrichment plants – it has in the past been able to count on widespread domestic support. Even critics and opponent of the regime led by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad have stood up for Iran’s right to develop nuclear technology. However there is now increasing resentment that the once popular nuclear programme could be detracting from more urgent needs in the face of economic mismanagement and sanctions.
Telegraph 20th Apr 2010 more >>
Saudi Arabia
Gulf petroleum exporter Saudi Arabia is setting up a nuclear and renewable energy organisation, the King Abdullah Nuclear and Renewable Energy City in Riyadh.
Nuclear Engineering International 19th Apr 2010 more >>
Ministers from France and Kuwait have signed a cooperation agreement on the development of peaceful nuclear energy in the middle eastern country, while Saudi Arabia has established a new national agency to take the lead role in its nuclear activities.
World Nuclear News 19th Apr 2010 more >>
Trident
Letter from David Lowry: Public opinion polls record that Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg won the party leaders’ television debate. One issue Clegg raised three times was the need to halt the replacement of the Trident nuclear weapons and delivery system, which over its lifetime will cost – at the latest estimate – nearly £100 billion.
Morning Star 20th Apr 2010 more >>
The government could save £100bn if it does not replace the Trident nuclear missile system, according to the Liberal Democrat candidate for Newbury. David Rendel said AWE Aldermaston, where the weapons were developed, could continue as a decommissioning site.
BBC 19th Apr 2010 more >>
Renewables
Electricity industry leaders are demanding an end to “unfair” National Grid charges that they claim are putting tens of thousands of jobs at risk. A joint letter to politicians, seen by The Times, argues that charges levied by National Grid for transmitting electricity may cause some renewable electricity generation projects to be delayed or abandoned. The letter, signed by Nick Horler, chief executive of ScottishPower, and Ian Marchant, chief executive of Scottish and Southern Energy, reads: “The transmission charges are making our renewables strategy more expensive as well as putting at risk the full development of a key natural resource.” Transmission charges on electricity generators pay for the cost of the national electricity grid. They vary according to how far a power source is located from the main centre of demand, which is London.
Times 20th Apr 2010 more >>
