Bradwell
The nuclear power industry suffered an embarrassing blow today when the operator of the Bradwell-on-Sea plant was found guilty of allowing a radio active leak to continue for 14 years. Magnox Electric Ltd, the operator of the site, denied some of the allegations but was found guilty of breaking the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 over the way it dealt with waste on the premises.
Guardian 7th Feb 2009 more >>
New Nukes
Letter from Stephen Salter: Steuart Campbell challenges my statements about carbon releases and clean-up costs for nuclear energy. There are two detailed sources, Dan Forster from AEA Technology (which was in line with Mr Campbell’s figure) and papers by Jan Willem Storm van Leeuwen and Philip Smith, both former nuclear engineers but working alone. The Forster paper was specific to Torness and was funded by British Energy.
Scotsman 7th Feb 2009 more >>
Sellafield
THIRTEEN hundred contractors walked out on Monday to join the protest against the employment of foreign workers at the Lindsey oil refinery in Lincolnshire. Construction site union bosses are concerned that if the government gives the green light for at least one new nuclear reactor at Sellafield then a good percentage of the 9,000 promised building jobs might be taken by foreign workers unless there are fundamental changes to European Union laws.
Whitehaven News 4th Feb 2009 more >>
Korea
North Korea wants to advance nuclear disarmament steps if its aid demands are met and it played down concerns over possible missile launches, a former senior U.S. diplomat just back from Pyongyang.
Reuters 7th Feb 2009 more >>
Pakistan
The US hit out at Pakistan yesterday after Abdul Qadeer Khan, the architect of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons programme, was freed after five years of effective house arrest for selling nuclear secrets. Mr Khan was declared to be a free citizen and allowed to move around the country in a brief unexpected order by the chief justice of the Islamabad High Court.
FT 7th Feb 2009 more >>
Abdul Qadeer Khan, the architect of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons programme, was yesterday freed after five years of effective house arrest for his role in sharing nuclear know-how and technology with Iran, Libya and North Korea.
FT 7th Feb 2009 more >>
The US and Britain have reacted angrily after AQ Khan, the Pakistani scientist accused of selling nuclear secrets, was freed from five years of house arrest in a court ruling in Islamabad.
Guardian 7th Feb 2009 more >>
Aldermaston
Anti-nuclear campaigners returned to their post yesterday following a successful appeal court ruling against a “no camping” bylaw which threatened their famous women’s peace camp. The bylaw prohibited “camping in tents, caravans, trees or otherwise” near the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) in Aldermaston, Berkshire. The ban was challenged by the Aldermaston Women’s Peace Camp (AWPC) on the grounds it contradicted their rights guaranteed by the European Convention of Human Rights. The High Court rejected their claims the ban interfered with their rights to free expression and the right to assembly.
Politics.co.uk 7th Feb 2009 more >>
Carbon
The price of carbon has hit new lows as power generators and industrial companies continue to cash in credits to bolster their balance sheets. The price of European Union allowances under the second phase of the emissions trading scheme has plunged to 10.15 (£8.85) a tonne, compared with highs over 30 seen in July last year.
Guardian 7th Feb 2009 more >>
