New Nukes
The UK’s reliance on nuclear power will increase “significantly” over the next two decades, the business secretary said on Wednesday as he set out an expansive vision of the country’s atomic future. John Hutton told the Financial Times he expected the new generation of nuclear power stations the government wants to see built to supply much more of the country’s electricity than the 19 per cent the existing ones deliver.
FT 6th March 2008 more >>
The UK is committed to a dramatic and rapid expansion of nuclear power, ensuring new stations generate “significantly” more of the country’s electricity than the existing stock, according to John Hutton, the business secretary. In an interview with the Financial Times, Mr Hutton also dropped the UK government’s previous commitment to maintaining a minimum 29.9 per cent stake in British Energy, the nuclear generator. Ministers have previously refused to be drawn on the scale of investment in new reactors they hope to attract to the UK, saying it is for the market to decide. But Mr Hutton made it clear the government would pull out all the stops to maximise nuclear expansion. Replacing the UK’s ageing stock of reactors is seen as vital to achieving the government’s targets on cutting carbon emissions and reducing dependence on imported gas.
FT 6th March 2008 more >>
Britain will become increasingly reliant on nuclear power for its energy needs over the next two decades, Business Secretary John Hutton has said. In an interview with the Financial Times, he said that he had been “very encouraged” by the response from investors to the Government’s plans to build a new generation of nuclear power stations. He said that as the new stations came on stream, he expected that they would supply “significantly” more than the 19% of Britain’s energy which comes from nuclear sources. “We need the maximum contribution from nuclear sources in the next 10 to 15 years,” he said. “I’d be very disappointed if it’s not significantly above the current level.”
Milford & West Wales Mercury 6th March 2008 more >>
IC Cheshire 6th March 2008 more >>
Rather than trying to dream up new technologies to capture carbon dioxide, use a technology we’ve already got: nuclear power. It’s just like our CO2 capture scenario: the output is very toxic, and needs careful marshalling. But it’s well-understood. The fuel is plentiful, and unlike oil and coal, doesn’t contribute to climate change. Sure, backing nuclear power is an unusual stance to take in this paper. But renewables – wind, wave, sun – cannot ever meet our growing electricity demand, which is rising by 1% annually. And while fossil fuels constitute the majority of our electricity generation, your electricity bill will rise relentlessly. Green groups don’t like nuclear power because of the waste issue. But the waste from burning oil is far more potent.
Guardian 6th March 2008 more >>
The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority on Thursday starts the auction of land near 19 existing nuclear sites to energy companies that are keen to build the UK’s next generation of reactors. The launch of the tendering process by the state body, which manages the clean-up of the UK’s nuclear waste, is part of a government drive to fast-track the next generation of nuclear power stations. John Hutton, business secretary, said the planning applications were likely to focus on areas close to existing nuclear sites, so “it’s important that the … assets held by the NDA are made available to the market”.
FT 6th March 2008 more >>
Companies that might be interested.
FT 6th March 2008 more >>
John Hutton, the Secretary of State for Business, said yesterday that the Government might sell its 39 per cent stake in British Energy despite last year asserting that it would retain at least 29.9 per cent. He said that a decision would be made in the next few years.
Times 6th March 2008 more >>
Wylfa
The government’s green light for a new generation of nuclear power stations is polarising opinion. Firmly in favour is Anglesey council leader Gareth Winston Roberts, who argues that a replacement for the island’s existing nuclear plant would provide both clean energy and a long-term boost to the north Wales economy.
Public Servant Daily 5th March 2008 more >>
Iran
Divisions persisted within the UN atomic watchdog over the Iran nuclear dossier Wednesday, a day after a Western push for an anti-Iran resolution was scuppered by Russia, China and developing countries.
Africasia 5th March 2008 more >>
The British government said yesterday that Tehran could still be developing a nuclear weapon, and called into question a key American intelligence finding that work on building an Iranian bomb had stopped in 2003.
Guardian 6th March 2008 more >>
Independent 6th March 2008 more >>
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has refused to enter into any new talks with the European Union about Iran’s nuclear programme.
BBC 5th March 2008 more >>
The EU and US have challenged Iran to prove it is not involved with nuclear weapons work.
EU Business 5th March 2008 more >>
Interactive Investor 5th March 2008 more >>
Turkey
Turkey will launch a tender to build a nuclear power plant within 10 days, an Energy Ministry official told Reuters on Wednesday. The energy minister said in November Turkey planned to advertise a tender for the construction of the nuclear power plant on Feb. 21.
Guardian website 5th March 2008 more >>
Terror
Information about the characteristics of nuclear and other radioactive materials stored and used by countries needs to be shared globally to combat the illicit trafficking of nuclear materials and nuclear terrorism, says a report published by the Royal Society today.
Royal Society Press Release 6th March 2008 more >>
Countries should share information about their nuclear material to combat terrorism and illicit trafficking, a report says. The Royal Society report investigated how to better detect nuclear threats, such as the smuggling of nuclear warheads and radioactive materials to make dirty bombs. While there was currently “considerable sensitivity” about sharing such information, it could prove a strong deterrent to terrorists, the report said.
Milford and West Wales Mercury 6th March 2008 more >>
Newcastle Chronicle 6th March 2008 more >>
IC Cheshire 6th March 2008 more >>
International databases to share information about nuclear and radioactive materials are urgently needed to help deter potential nuclear threats, a team of scientific and policy experts said on Thursday.
Reuters 5th March 2008 more >>
India
The US secretary of state for South Asia has again urged India speedily to complete all the steps required to conclude a civilian nuclear deal.
BBC 5th March 2008 more >>
Trident
A hitch in producing an explosive substance may delay indefinitely the renewal of Britain’s Trident nuclear missiles. “Fogbank”, as the substance is codenamed, is essential to extending the service life of W76 warheads assembled at Aldermaston in Berkshire. Last year, parliament voted to renew Trident when its design life ends in the 2020s, and build a £20bn fleet of new nuclear submarines to carry the missiles.
Guardian 6th March 2008 more >>
New Scientist 5 March 2008 more >>
Radhealth
Sellafield workers face an increased risk of death from heart attacks and strokes.
North West Evening Mail 4th March 2008 more >>
British Cardiovascular Society 5th March 2008 more >>
Romania
Iberdrola SA said it is part of a consortium with six European companies to construct and run two nuclear complexes of 750 Megawatts each in Romania.
AFX 5th March 2008 more >>
