New nukes
British Energy plans to solicit proposals for the construction of new nuclear power plants in the U.K. The move may signal the start of a race among other power producers, including E.ON AG, RWE AG and Electricite de France SA, to replace aged power stations with more efficient ones that emit less carbon dioxide. Britain’s government is preparing an energy bill that it hopes will help secure supplies and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. “All of our existing sites are strong contenders for new nuclear build,” said British Energy. British Energy’s existing nuclear sites benefit from advantages such as existing links with the electricity grid and a good relationship with local communities, the company said in the statement. “These benefits are recognized by all the major players who might wish to get involved,” it said. Areva is preparing to apply to U.K. regulators for approval of its design for nuclear power plants. The country’s health and safety regulatory body on Jan. 11 published on its Web site guidance on arrangements for assessing the design of plants that may potentially be built in the U.K. So-called “pre- licensing” could speed up the construction process for nuclear power plants. General Electric Co., the world’s largest provider of power- plant equipment, said in September it was in talks with British Energy to build nuclear reactors in the U.K. The company’s nuclear energy unit also held talks with E.ON, RWE and Electricite de France. E.ON, Germany’s biggest utility, will join the planning and licensing processes for new nuclear power stations in the U.K. to increase the company’s electricity production. Electricite de France has said it’s interested in new sites in the U.K. RWE’s U.K. unit hasn’t made up its mind on whether to invest in new reactors in the U.K.
Bloomberg 30th Jan 2007
Brief mentions.
Daily Mail 31st Jan 2007
Daily Telegraph 31st Jan 2007
On the domestic side there are five key areas in which Blair is closely involved: academies and trust schools; welfare reform (on both of which he had meetings yesterday morning); civil nuclear power; reform of the NHS; and Northern Ireland. Decisions have just been taken on the licensing system for a new generation of civil nuclear power stations, again a Blair priority.
Times 31st Jan 2007
Iran
Senior European policy-makers are increasingly worried that the US administration will resort to air strikes against Iran to try to destroy its suspect nuclear programme.
Guardian 31st July 2007
The United Nations’ nuclear watchdog fears Iran may be days away from ramping up its nuclear programme, a worry that has led to new efforts for a deal between Tehran and the west.
FT 31st July 2007
US President George W. Bush said Monday Iran’s people would face “deprivation” over their leaders’ nuclear ambitions and firmly warned Tehran against sowing “discord and harm” in Iraq.
Middle East Online 30th Jan 2007
United States
America’s President Bush has delivered the latest State of the Union address calling for a shift away from oil imports and towards energy independence through technology-led development, including new nuclear.
Nuclear Engineering International 30th Jan 2007
New nukes
Alistair Darling, the UK trade and industry secretary, has announced the appointment of Dr Tim Stone as senior advisor to lead the development of arrangements for the costs associated with potential nuclear new build decommissioning and waste management. The appointment fulfils a commitment set out in the recent Energy Review.
Nuclear Engineering International 30th Jan 2007
Bulgaria
The EU Energy Commissioner, Andris Piebalgs, has ruled out re-opening the Bulgarian reactors.
EU Business 30th Jan 2007
South Korea
SOUTH Korean and US defence officials are to meet in Washington in February to continue discussions concerning a possible ‘nuclear umbrella’ over Seoul.
Jane’s Information Group 30th Jan 2007
Forsmark
Sweden’s Forsmark nuclear power plant fails to meet standard safety requirements, according to a critical internal report made public six months after a serious incident at the plant. The internal report, written by Forsmark technicians and released late on Monday, cites ‘a degradation of the company’s security culture over a long period of time’.
ABC Money 30th Jan 2007
Oldbury
Most people want to see the Oldbury site returned to nature. Plans to reuse the site as a power station using fossil fuels, or even as one of the next generation of nuclear plants, were rejected by the 1,000 people interviewed.
Bristol Evening Post 30th Jan 2007
Gloucester Citizen 30th Jan 2007
