5 June 2010

IPC

Energy giant EdF said this week that the new coalition government’s plan to axe the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) would not hamper its new nuclear programme. EdF is planning to build nuclear power stations at Hinkley Point in Somerset and Sizewell in Suffolk. Its planning application for Hinkley Point was expected to be one of the first schemes examined by the IPC and it began considering applications on 1 March.

New Civil Enginner 3rd June 2010 more >>

Nuclear Subsidies

Early Day Motion 150 on nuclear subsidies. more >>

Britain will need to slap stiff penalties on climate-warming plants or radically change the way the power market works if it is to get new nuclear plants to cut carbon emissions and keep the lights on. Low gas prices, tight credit and uncertainty over long-term power prices will likely put off nuclear investors, unless the carbon price is much higher than current levels -- potentially killing off gas plants -- or the market is redesigned. French nuclear giant EDF may push on with its plan to build Britain’s first new nuclear plant by the end of 2017 at a lower carbon price than other utilities, because it has a new reactor to show off to potential buyers and is backed by the French state. Analysts doubt the government will set the carbon levy high enough to cut sufficiently the risks for most nuclear new build in a market where wholesale power prices are driven by variable fossil fuel costs. These costs make up most of the operating expenses of gas and coal plants, which can be shut down when profit margins get too tight.

Reuters 4th June 2010 more >>

Nuclear Waste

Canada has begun a process to select a permanent storage site for its high-level radioactive wastes. As determined by federal government in 2007, the plan is to dispose of used nuclear fuel from the country’s nuclear power plants in a deep geological repository. This is to be located in an “informed and willing community” and the search for this has now begun.

World Nuclear News 4th June 2010 more >>

A geological survey of west Cumbria has begun to “screen out” areas unsuitable for an underground repository. UK independent geological experts The British Geological Survey (BGS) has been commissioned by the Government to carry out a study of the geology of the area as part of the early stages for locating a site for a disposal facility for higher activity radioactive waste.

Carlisle News & Star 4th June 2010 more >>

Burma

The five-year investigation by the Norway-based Democratic Voice of Burma concluded that the southeast Asian country’s ruling generals were a long way from producing a nuclear weapon but had gone to great lengths to acquire the necessary technology and knowledge.

Telegraph 4th June 2010 more >>

BBC 4th June 2010 more >>

Germany

Germany’s environment ministry said on Friday it was considering a tax on the use of nuclear fuel rods to siphon off some of the revenue if a decision is made to extend the life of the country’s 17 reactors. But it warned that there would not be a quick decision in the long, controversial debate at a time that Chancellor Angela Merkel is losing political and legislative support for the extension plans.

Interactive Investor 4th June 2010 more >>

Disarmament

In an early show of opposition to Trident replacement, a number of newly-elected MP from different parties will join CND Chair Kate Hudson at Downing Street tomorrow to call for action on nuclear disarmament from the new government.

The letter has been produced in response to the outcomes of the recent nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference at the UN and will ask the government to outline how it will make progress on reaching the objectives of the agreement, including when and by how much the UK will further reduce its warhead stockpile and how it will reduce the circumstances in which we may use nuclear weapons.

CND Press Release 4th June 2010 more >>