New Nukes
Letter: In support of his claim that modern nuclear reactors are safe and environmentally friendly, G I Crawford (Letters, November 27) advises “ask the French”. What a pity he didn’t take his own advice. Briefly, because there is so much damaging information in the public domain, he would have discovered that on the night of July 7 this year, there was a substantial nuclear spillage in the Tricastin wine-producing area, which resulted in an emergency situation where people were advised to avoid contact with any water directly related to the water table, such as drinking from wells, bathing in rivers and so on. In addition to a second incident at this plant on July 23, after which workers were evacuated, there were also reportable events at other plants on July 18 and 19.
Herald 29th Nov 2008 more >>
Supply Chain
A Sheffield company approached the Government yesterday with a formal request for part-funding of a £140m plan to build the biggest steel-forging press in the world and steal a march on the booming nuclear industry. Sheffield Forgemasters wants to construct an open-die press that exerts a massive 15,000 tonnes of pressure and can make components big enough for even the largest modern reactors. There are only four super-presses already, including one – a mere 10,000 tonnes – at Forgemasters. But they are too few to meet ballooning demand for nuclear power stations, and only the biggest, in Japan, can manufacture the giant parts needed for super-size, next-generation reactors.
Independent 29th Nov 2008 more >>
Sellafield
Nuclear Management Partners, flying American, French and British flags, are charged with delivering world-class results in running Sellafield safer and more efficiently than ever before at the same time delivering value for money for the taxpayer.
Whitehaven News 28th Nov 2008 more >>
Sellafield’s new owners have revealed a £2.5 million cash handout for west Cumbria.
Carlisle News and Star 25th Nov 2008 more >>
Nuclear Waste
HIGHLAND Councillors in the Far North will next month make their minds up about a new, low-active nuclear dump planned for Dounreay. The development earmarked for land to the immediate south of the licensed site is being tabled at a meeting in Halkirk on December 17. Planning officials are expected to recommend conditional approval of the £110 million scheme despite fierce opposition from residents of the adjoining small settlement of Buldoo.
John O Groat Journal 28th Nov 2008 more >>
Fuel Poverty
Nearly four out five homes in Scotland are in need of repair, with one in four households in fuel poverty, according to official data. The Scottish House Condition Survey 2007, published by Scotland’s chief
statistician, found 79% of homes should have some work done, with 49% of these in urgent need. Elizabeth Leighton, of environmental group WWF Scotland, called for urgent action and greater investment to tackle fuel poverty, saying it “is unacceptable in our modern society”.
Herald 28th Nov 2008 more >>
Tens of thousands of pensioners could die this winter because they cannot afford to heat their home, charities for the elderly said today. The warning came as official figures show that the number of “excess winter deaths” in England and Wales increased by 7 per cent between December 2007 and March 2008, compared with the same period the year before. Excess winter deaths record how many more deaths there are during winter compared to the other months of the year. The figures from the Office for National Statistics showed that 25,300 more people died last winter, up from 23,740 the year before. The vast majority of these, 23,200, were aged over 65.
Times 27th Nov 2008 more >>
Climate
Hydrogen cars, better insulated homes and solar panels will be recommended as part of costly plans being brought forward by the Government to cut carbon emissions, despite the recession. Next week, Lord Turner will set out how the Government is expected to cut greenhouse gases by 80 per cent by 2050 on 1990 levels.
Telegraph 29th Nov 2008 more >>
Attempts to force countries to reduce their carbon emissions per head of population are to be put forward next week at a United Nations climate change conference. The plan, which is being drawn up by Brazil, is designed to put pressure on other nations to agree how targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions should be shared. The revised per capita scheme is thought to go some way towards easing resentment in developing nations that they are being asked to take on an unfair burden on climate change.
Times 29th Nov 2008 more >>
Trident
Deep beneath the surface of the Atlantic, HMS Vanguard one of four identical Royal Navy submarines carrying Trident nuclear missiles is on patrol. Moving at a fast-walking pace, she is out there right now; undetectable, untouchable and armed with more explosive power than was unleashed by all sides in the duration of World War II.
Daily Mail 29th Nov 2008 more >>
Britain’s retention of a nuclear deterrent would be ridiculous if we were all lighting our cigars with tenners. As we enter an immeasurable recession it is full-blown insanity.
Guardian 29th Nov 2008 more >>
Syria
The United States expressed concern here Friday that Syria had cleaned up sites that a UN watchdog had asked to see as part of its probe into alleged illicit nuclear work by Damascus. At a closed-door briefing by International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors last week, “we saw dramatic evidence that Syria took immediate steps to sanitize the three sites after the IAEA requested access,” US envoy Gregory Schulte told the agency’s 35-member board of governors on Friday.
Middle East Online 28th Nov 2008 more >>
Reuters 28th Nov 2008 more >>
The chief United Nations nuclear inspector said his agency’s Syria probe had been hampered because key satellite images of an alleged nuclear reactor bombed by Israel were inexplicably unavailable on the market.
Glasgow Evening Times 28th Nov 2008 more >>
France
A nuclear company will be the first beneficiary of France’s first sovereign wealth fund, its president Nicolas Sarkozy has announced. Paris will sink 20 billion ($25.5 billion) into this strategic investment account, and Sarkozy has announced the fund’s first 80 million ($102 million) investment will go to nuclear industrial equipment and services supplier Daher. It makes nuclear fuel and waste containers, offering related logistics services, including transport and loading.
Nuclear Engineering International 28th Nov 2008 more >>
