NDA
The cost of nuclear clean-up operations is to rise further amid increased problems at Sellafield, Britain’s main reprocessing site. The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) yesterday confirmed that resources would be shifted from other clean-up operations to Sellafield and Dounreay to combat high-hazard waste more effectively. However, the NDA has angered unions by not detailing how much would be diverted and what the consequences would be for jobs at the defunct Magnox reactors, including Sizewell A, Dungeness A and Hinkley Point A. Yesterday the NDA opened a three-month consultation on its business plan for the next three years.
Times 8th Nov 2007 more >>
GMB is seeking assurances from the Government that it will maintain its commitment to the clean up and all related and outstanding issues in the Nuclear industry. The Government cannot pretend that the situation at Sellafield was unknown before now.
GMB Press Release 7th Nov 2007 more >>
The UK Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has set the three-year budget for its civil nuclear clean-up programme, starting in April 2008, at 8.5 bln stg, an increase of 671 mln stg compared to its plan for the last three years. In its draft business plan, which is open to consultation, the NDA places an increased focus on safety and ‘hazard reduction’. It also proposes continued investments in facilities that generate revenue to offset the costs of decommissioning. This means that the majority of funds over the next three years will be focused on Sellafield and Dounreay, whilst safety remains the absolute priority across all our sites.’
Forbes 7th Nov 2007 more >>
Plans to speed up the dismantling of Britain’s atomic power stations were in disarray last night after the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority admitted it was slowing down the clean-up process owing to soaring costs and fuel reprocessing problems at Sellafield. One private clean-up company has already switched staff to a four-day week. In a separate development, shares in the country’s main nuclear generator, British Energy, dropped 10% after it discovered more safety problems and could not say when four affected reactors would be brought back on stream. The problems will do little to create confidence in the nuclear industry at a time when the government needs to convince a sceptical public that new atomic plants might be needed to provide energy security for the UK.
Guardian 8th Nov 2007 more >>
British Energy
British Energy’s shares went into meltdown yesterday after the UK’s largest power producer found a second faulty wire on one of its nuclear reactors. The discovery of the failure of a reinforcing wire surrounding the cooling unit at its Heysham 1 nuclear reactor comes just two weeks after the same problem was uncovered at its Hartlepool reactors. The four reactors at the two sites, which account for about a quarter of the company’s nuclear capacity, are now shut. British Energy’s inability to predict when the problems would be resolved sent its shares down 7 per cent on the day, closing at 515p per share.
Independent 8th Nov 2007 more >>
BBC 7th Nov 2007 more >>
Bloomberg 7th Nov 2007 more >>
British Energy tumbled 40 to 515p after revealing more problems with the wiring at its ageing nuclear reactors. Analysts said the issues would take “months rather than weeks” to resolve.
Telegraph 8th Nov 2007 more >>
Nuclear Consultation
The Government faces the prospect of a fresh legal attempt to derail its plans to allow construction of a new generation of nuclear power plants.
Inner Temple Legal Library 7th Nov 2007 more >>
China
China will step up efforts to build nuclear power plants in interior areas, with the country now considering the viability of a number of possible projects in central and southwestern regions, said an official with the country’s atomic industry watchdog.
Forbes 8th Nov 2007 more >>
Representatives with foreign nuclear technology companies have expressed doubt about China’s decision to use Westinghouse’s untested AP1000 technology in a number of new domestic reactors. Speaking on the sidelines of a conference in Beijing, a manager with a European supplier, who wished to remain anonymous, said that ‘the technology has not even been used in the US, and I just don’t know why the Chinese government is taking such risks.’
Forbes 8th Nov 2007 more >>
China’s nuclear power target of 40,000 megawatts of capacity by 2020 will be met, and probably exceeded, said Cao Shudong, director of system engineering at the China Atomic Energy Agency.
Forbes 8th Nov 2007 more >>
Iran
President Bush and French President Nicolas Sarkozy stood shoulder-to-shoulder against a nuclear-armed Iran on Wednesday, demonstrating the cozier relationship between the two countries under France’s new conservative leader.
Guardian website 8th Nov 2007 more >>
Iran is giving not an inch in the stand-off over its nuclear ambitions. Two reports next week are likely to accuse it of breaking international agreements, but with oil at $98 a barrel boosting its confidence, it is not showing any inclination to yield.
Times 8th Nov 2007 more >>
Iran has shown again it intends to press ahead with its nuclear program, in defiance of the world community, by announcing its latest move on uranium enrichment, a senior US official said Wednesday.
Interactive Investor 7th Nov 2007 more >>
Iran’s president has declared that his country’s nuclear programme is “irreversible” and said he “could not care less” about Western sanctions.
Telegraph 8th Nov 2007 more >>
Sky News 7th Nov 2007 more >>
Reuters 7th Nov 2007 more >>
Pakistan
A top Pentagon official said the fate of Pakistan’s military arsenal was a “primary concern” after President Pervez Musharraf imposed a state of emergency in his country.
ADVFN 7th Nov 2007 more >>
Energy Demand
Runaway energy demand will have “alarming” consequences, including higher oil prices, threats to supplies and the acceleration of climate change, the International Energy Agency yesterday warned. The energy watchdog said rapid growth in China and India meant that without a radical change in policies, both countries would double their energy consumption by 2030, putting pressure on scarce resources such as oil and raising emissions of greenhouse gases. To avert those threats, the IEA called for greater investment in nuclear power and renewables, and a drive to improve energy efficiency with policies such as tougher standards for cars and domestic appliances.
FT 8th Nov 2007 more >>
The unrelenting rise in inter national oil prices, to record nominal highs on Wednesday, has thrown into relief the prospect of a looming energy crisis. The International Energy Agency’s annual energy outlook sounds the alarm, warning that without immediate steps to cut energy use and huge investment by oil producers, a supply-side crunch is a real possibility.
FT 8th Nov 2007 more >>
