Bradwell
PROTESTERS campaigning against a planned nuclear power plant were making their feelings known during a procession. The procession, led by someone dressed as the Grim Reaper, was organised by the Blackwater Against New Nuclear Group (BANNG) who are opposed to the building of a nuclear power base at Bradwell-on-Sea.
Gazette 30th Aug 2010 more >>
Flamanville
EDF experienced renewed problems with welding quality at the EPR nuclear reactor being built in Normandy, according France’s nuclear safety agency. Faults in welds of the containment liner of the Flamanville EPR, the utility’s first in France, were found during an inspection in July, the Autorite de Surete Nucleaire said in an Aug. 27 report on its website. EDF officials weren’t immediately available for a comment. EDF is developing a similar model in Taishan, China, and plans more in Italy, the U.K. and U.S. The state-controlled operator of France’s 58 nuclear reactors in July said the Normandy reactor will cost 5 billion euros to develop, about 50 percent more than initially estimated, and will be delayed by about two years to 2014.
Bloomber 30th Aug 2010 more >>
Germany
German chancellor Angela Merkel has announced an extension to the nation’s nuclear power plant operations for up to 15 years beyond a scheduled phase-out, in a move critics fear might signal that atomic power is here to stay. The decision comes after a panel of experts advised that keeping the plants open was the only way of ensuring climate protection and economic goals were met and that electricity prices did not soar out of control. Merkel, who spent last week touring some of the country’s 17 plants, said phasing them out by 2021 as had been planned was unrealistic if the country wanted to meet certain environmental goals.
Guardian 31st Aug 2010 more >>
Utility Week 30th Aug 2010 more >>
The future of nuclear power is causing heated debate within Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel’s administration. Germany’s latest energy policy has been giving rise to new nuclear power controversies as the dangers, costs and benefits of nuclear energy debates resurface.
Recycle 30th Aug 2010 more >>
North Korea
President Barack Obama widened U.S. financial sanctions on North Korea today in an effort to cut off sources of income that fund the nuclear weapons program of the regime’s leader, Kim Jong Il.
Bloomberg 30th Aug 2010 more >>
Iran
Iran said it would produce in a year the nuclear fuel needed for a medical reactor in Tehran, a news agency reported on Monday, days after the Islamic state began loading fuel into its first atomic power plant. Iran’s nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi said Tehran so far had produced 25 kg (55 lb) of uranium to a level of 20 percent purity for the Tehran reactor, the official Irna news agency quoted Salehi as saying in an interview with the country’s Arabic-language TV station, Al-Alam.
Reuters 30th Aug 2010 more >>
India
India is moving closer to passing a Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage bill. This legislation would ensure that foreign suppliers of civilian nuclear equipment would pay no more than $322 million compensation in the event of a nuclear accident. Passage of this bill would constitute a landmark in India’s nuclear development.
Oil Price 30th Aug 2010 more >>
Hugh Richards
TRIBUTES have been paid to one of Wales’ foremost anti-nuclear campaigners, who has died from cancer at the age of 65. Hugh Richards, who lived at Hundred House, near Llandrindod Wells, founded the Welsh Anti Nuclear Alliance (Wana) in 1980 with a number of other activists including Newport West Labour MP Paul Flynn. Writing on his blog, Mr Flynn said: “Hugh has kept the anti-nuclear movement inspired and informed for 30 years. He was a resourceful and brilliant researcher. “Wana achieved great things, changed the opinion of the Welsh nation and was commercially successful.”
Western Mail 31st Aug 2010 more >>
Trident
The MoD does not want the full cost of upgrading the Trident missile system included in its budget. Excuse me: Trident is not a defence matter? Funnily enough, it probably isn’t. The renewal of Trident is about posturing on the world stage. It is about a small and increasingly insignificant country – Britain – desperately clinging to its imperial past. Many of our political class (and this includes many Labour politicians as well as Tories) want us to pose as a world power, with all the fantasies that entails: a special relationship with the US, a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, a cherished place at the “top table” of nations. Strategically, this is grandiose folly. Even worse, it is expensive fantasy, and unaffordable fantasy, as we prepare for the swingeing October spending review. But don’t discount the efforts that will be made be made to justify a Cold War weapons system in a post-Cold War era.
Herald 31st Aug 2010 more >>
Mr Osborne is sticking firmly to the position that the full £20bn cost of renewing the Trident nuclear deterrent must be covered by the defence ministry, while Mr Fox wants it ring-fenced to protect spending on conventional equipment.
FT 31st Aug 2010 more >>
Britain and France are preparing to reveal unprecedented plans to share the use of their aircraft carriers in a controversial step to maintain military power in an era of cost-cutting. In a potential threat to thousands of shipyard jobs, the move would make it easier for Britain to scrap or downgrade one of the two replacement carriers which are already under construction at a cost of £5.2 billion.
Times 31st Aug 2010 more >>
Renewable Heat Incentive
The £27bn tax on heavy industry to fund “green boilers” for 1m British homes is expected to be radically overhauled, amid claims that the devices are expensive and unreliable at keeping houses warm. The hefty subsidy, called the Renewable Heat Incentive, is likely to raise gas bills by up to £104 for domestic consumers and £321 for industrial customers by the end of the decade.
The scheme – which gives around £1,000 per year to households that generate their own green heat – was due to be introduced in spring next year.
Telegraph 31st Aug 2010 more >>
Energy Efficiency
The upcoming CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme will soon require firms and organisations which are intensive energy users to buy government permits for their carbon emissions. Revenue will be recycled back to the participants, with financial incentives for the biggest reductions in energy use funded by penalties imposed on those with the worst record. But there are concerns it will not be a level playing field, as cash-strapped public sector bodies will not be able to afford energy-saving initiatives to compete with business.
Telegraph 31st Aug 2010 more >>
