New nukes
Westinghouse is planning a nuclear renaissance that will use Britain as a springboard to supply reactors to the whole of Europe, creating more than 15,000 jobs here. Stephen Tritch, president and chief executive of the US-based reactor maker, which is owned by Toshiba, told The Times that the UK was one of four major markets on which Westinghouse was concentrating because of the Government’s stated intention to develop a fleet of new-generation nuclear power stations.
Times 27th March 2008 more >>
French expertise and money is likely to play a pivotal role in the drive to build a new generation of nuclear power plants in the UK. EDF, the energy company controlled by the French Government, has said that it wants to build four new nuclear power stations in Britain — a far more ambitious proposal than any of the other five big utilities in the UK. The Government has estimated that each plant would cost about £2.8 billion to build, but the cost could run to as much as £3.6 billion. EDF has also stated clearly that all four of these would be to a French design developed by Areva, the nuclear energy giant that is also part-owned by the French state.
Times 27th March 2008 more >>
A major expansion of Britain’s nuclear power sector that could create 100,000 new jobs has been heralded by the Government. John Hutton, the Business Secretary, signalled that the next wave of nuclear plants will form a much larger part of Britain’s energy mix in future, saying the country must “significantly expand” its nuclear sector.
Telegraph 27th March 2008 more >>
Britain needs urgently to replace its elderly power stations, and Business Minister John Hutton said on Wednesday the government was doing all it could to encourage firms to finance and build nuclear power plants.
Christian Today 27th March 2008 more >>
Energy companies cannot be charged a fully commercial price by the government for disposing of nuclear waste without “killing the prospect” of a new generation of reactors, a government adviser will warn today. The analysis will fuel opposition to the government’s contentious and aggressive drive to expand the UK’s nuclear capacity. Gordon Brown will today underscore his determination to attract investors to build reactors, at his summit with Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president. The leaders are expected to agree to Anglo-French co-operation on nuclear skills and regulation.
FT 27th March 2008 more >>
French President Nicolas Sarkozy is to hold talks with Gordon Brown on nuclear energy, on the second and final day of his state visit to the UK. The two leaders are expected to seal an agreement on a new generation of power stations, during talks at Arsenal Football Club’s north London stadium.
BBC 27th March 2008 more >>
Newcastle Evening Chronicle 27th March 2008 more >>
Channel 4 News 26th March 2008 more >>
Times 26th March 2008 more >>
Business secretary John Hutton has called for a “significant expansion” in Britain’s nuclear power industry. In a speech to the Unite trade union, he argued the industry should go beyond replacing its 23 ageing reactors, which provide 20% of the UK’s electricity. Hutton said “I think the technology is proven, not just in terms of producing electricity but in terms of safety as well. In terms of waste disposal, I don’t think there is an argument about how it should be done – there is an argument about where it should be done.” SNP MP Mike Weir, said: “The UK government are becoming increasingly obsessed with the illusion that nuclear power is the “silver bullet” to tackle climate change. This is completely crazy given that there is no solution to the huge problems associated with nuclear power, particularly the disposal of nuclear waste.”
BBC 26th March 2008 more >>
Telegraph 26th March 2008 more >>
Telegraph 27th March 2008 more >>
Times 26th March 2008 more >>
Asked if the Prime Minister agreed with John Hutton that the Government should go further than the 23 existing nuclear reactors, the Prime Minister’s Spokesman (PMS) told the assembled press that John Hutton spoke on behalf of the Government, so the Prime Minister did agree.
No.10 Downing Street 26th March 2008 more >>
Letter from Colin Challen MP: John Hutton’s latest reflections on nuclear power demonstrate how rapidly British energy policy is regressing to its default mode – dig it up and burn it. At the same time as we are promised the nuclear pipe dream, we are also set to have new coal-powered power stations without carbon capture and storage. This comes at the same time as we have fought for one of the lowest renewables targets in the EU, are languishing third from bottom in current renewables provision out of 27 EU states, and are announcing yet another microgeneration review. The message Hutton’s department seems to want to promulgate in its energy policy is to reassure everybody that no serious change is needed, that we should carry on increasing our demand for energy and that climate change isn’t as urgent as some people make out. One can only conclude that the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform is utterly unfit for purpose and should have the title Department for Fiddling While Rome Burns.
Guardian 27th March 2008 more >>
Letter (1): The idea of reducing global warming CO2 pollutants by nuclear stations, relying on an ever-dwindling supply of finite uranium, runs diametrically counter to government commitments to embark on a programme of renewable energy resource developments. Letter (2): centralised power generation, from whatever source, is massively wasteful, with high energy loss in generation and distribution. Moreover, the way we use energy is also massively wasteful. The future lies with microrenewable generation, mediated by fuel cells, set in local networks and coupled to more efficient energy use. Letter (3) Prof Lewis Lesley: This is yet another chapter in a 50-year fantasy that nuclear power will bring untold riches. The Thorp plant at Sellafield, which has never worked properly. For 10% of the tax money spent without results on nuclear power, we could have retrofitted 100% of our housing stock to a zero-carbon standard, and saved 40% of our energy consumption. Perhaps Emperor Nero might advise?
Guardian 27th March 2008 more >>
Business Secretary John Hutton’s claim that Britain must “significantly expand” its nuclear power production for the sake of national security and to combat climate change is misleading and dangerous, Friends of the Earth said today. The environmental campaign group said that if the government put this level of commitment into genuine green solutions – expansion of renewables, energy efficiency, combined heat and power and cleaner carbon technology – we could lead the world, create thousands of jobs and meet our energy needs.
Friends of the Earth Press Release 26th March 2008 more >>
We need to see early action taken by the government to provide the ‘clear route map’ which Hutton talks of, and the leadership required to build global investor confidence in Britain’s nuclear energy market.
CBI Press Release 26th March 2008 more >>
What happens in little old Copeland, which is after all the home of Britain’s commercial (and military) nuclear power industry? We know there are laudable efforts underway to mitigate the predicted employment rundown at Sellafield as a result of the NDA’s decommissioning programme. But don’t we deserve our fair share of the 100,000 new jobs?
Whitehaven News 26th March 2008 more >>
The Liberal Democrat candidate for Barrow-in-Furness has attacked Hutton’s plan to expand nuclear power.
North West Evening Mail 26th March 2008 more >>
Gordon employed his brother Andrew as his personal assistant in the 80s when both were young-ish (her reference: Bower, Tom) and it’s not impossible that this week, 25 years later, Brown Minimus is lurking somewhere in the Emirates stadium for Sarkozy’s visit. When the nuclear-powered Napoleon offers to share with Brown French nuclear expertise, it’s partly the younger Brown’s firm that would supply it – Andrew Brown is head of communications for EDF Energy, the UK subsidiary of French state-controlled power firm, EDF.
Guardian 26th March 2008 more >>
Nuclear Weapons
President George W. Bush on Wednesday reassured Hu Jintao, the Chinese president, that a US shipment of nuclear missile components to Taiwan in 2006 was a “mistake”. Stephen Hadley, the White House national security adviser, said Mr Bush made the comments to Mr Hu in a phone call on Wednesday morning. The Pentagon on Tuesday said the US had mistakenly sent electrical fuses for intercontinental ballistic missiles, instead of a consignment of helicopter batteries.
FT 27th March 2008 more >>
John McCain on Wednesday vowed to lead a fresh global push towards nuclear disarmament if elected president, arguing that the US did not need all the atomic weapons in its arsenal.
FT 27th March 2008 more >>
At Easter in 1958 some 10,000 people marched from London to the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) in Aldermaston to protest against Britain’s first hydrogen bomb tests. This year over the Easter weekend people came together from across Britain – some of whom had protested in the original march – to participate in the 50th anniversary event.
Guardian Weekly 26th March 2008 more >>
Companies
Diversified engineering conglomerate Toshiba will invest $300 million in Nuclear Innovation North America, a new company formed by power generator NRG Energy. The newly formed company will promote the deployment of advanced boiling water reactor nuclear power plants in North America.
Energy Business Review 26th March 2008 more >>
Balfour Beatty is close to joining a consortium of major energy providers bidding to deliver Britain’s new generation of nuclear power stations. Balfour said it is in talks with major energy players about becoming a “first tier” player in the £10bn programme.
Contract Journal 26th March 2008 more >>
