New Nukes
As a string of vans bearing the names of soil analysis companies and then a host of Portakabins turned up at the tiny hamlet of Kirksanton, questions began to be asked. When those living on the farm said they could not talk about it and overall-wearing site workers announced they had signed the Official Secrets Act, rumours ran riot. Even then few guessed the truth that was finally revealed in letters from RWE: that the German energy group was “investigating the possibility” of building a nuclear power station there. Tomorrow RWE will nominate the site as part of a wider move to kickstart a nuclear revolution. RWE will also suggest a site at Egremont further up the “Energy Coast” near Sellafield while EDF of France and E.ON of Germany will put forward their favoured sites for building a new generation of reactors. These companies will be scrambling to put in bids by the formal deadline tomorrow for land being auctioned off by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA).
Guardian 30th Mar 2009 more >>
Obituary
John Harris (generally known as Jack) was a nuclear physicist and metallurgist who was a powerful advocate both for the use of nuclear power and for the abolition of nuclear weapons. He was best known for his interest in metal corrosion and the strain it could place on the underlying material.
Times 30th Mar 2009 more >>
Companies
PANTON McLeod, the Borders-based engineering firm that creates robots to clean the inside of water tanks, has met with nuclear experts to discuss how its technology could be used in nuclear power plants.
The company, which has its headquartered in Newton St Boswells, took its cleaning machines to the Remote Technology Exhibition in Sellafield to display its pair of pioneering underwater robots – the ROV and the VR600.
Scotsman 30th Mar 2009 more >>
North Korea
Taking a tougher line against North Korea in response to any testing of a long-range missile would be counterproductive for Seoul, according to Lee Myung-bak, South Korea’s president.
FT 30th Mar 2009 more >>
North Korea is expected to fire a second missile – and possibly more – if the United Nations condemns the planned launch of what Pyongyang claims is a communications satellite into orbit later this week.
Telegraph 30th Mar 2009 more >>
