25 June 2010

New Nukes

Britain’s lights will stay on even without new nuclear power plants replacing the aging reactors which are set to close in the next few years, energy secretary Chris Huhne said on Thursday. Reiterating that the government will not block new nuclear builds, Huhne said that nuclear’s contribution to power generation could fall below the current 20 percent level with no risk of an energy gap if there was sufficient investment in other sources.

Reuters 24th June 2010 more >>

Britain’s Centrica (CNA.L) is sticking to its timetable for potential investment in new nuclear, its CEO said on Thursday, even as energy minister Chris Huhne reiterated the industry would not receive subsidies. Laidlaw said he believed there would be some sort of support mechanism put in place for nuclear, which many believe could play a key role in ensuring the lights stay on in Britain as it seeks to cut carbon emissions. “If there’s a mechanism that supports offshore wind and clean coal, which it looks like there will be, there needs to be some mechanism for nuclear and I think he (Huhne) recognises that.” He added plans by the government to introduce a minimum carbon price in Britain UK were a step in the right direction although said there was a long way to go.

Reuters 24th June 2010 more >>

Supply Chain

EDF Energy is to host a regional supply chain events entitled “New Nuclear Opportunities” to highlight the company’s plans to invest in a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point in Somerset and the role that Somerset businesses could have in helping deliver the project. The event will take place at The Exchange, Bridgwater on 6 July. A second event will take plave in Wodbridge, Suffolk, on 8 July, to inform local companies about opportunities at the Sizewell site.

Utility Week 24th June 2010 more >>

NDA

A decision to axe 60 well-paid nuclear jobs in west Cumbria will deliver a “shock” to the west Cumbrian economy, a leading councillor has warned.

Cumberland News 24th June 2010 more >>

Nuclear Trains

ECO campaigners are fuelling the fight against nuclear power with a protest rallying against the use of a commuter railway line to carry “radioactive” trade waste. The protest outside Harringay Green Lanes railway station, on Saturday, drew support from crowds angered over trains carrying “dangerous” materials and rattling past their homes at all hours of the night.

Tottenham Journal 24th June 2010 more >>

Sizewell

The role that local businesses could have in helping deliver a billion pound project to build a new nuclear power station at Sizewell will be discussed at a regional supply chain event next month. EDF Energy will hold a Suffolk nuclear suppliers forum entitled New Nuclear Opportunities on July 8. The company intends to build four new European pressurised reactors in the UK by 2025.

Eastern Daily Press 23rd June 2010 more >>

BONI Sones was eight when the bulldozers and cranes came. They changed forever the face of the coast and heathland where she played, scraping away more than 200 acres of scrub and grass to build a nuclear power station. Memories of Sizewell are captured in the two books of short stories just published by the writer and broadcaster, whose career spans 30 years in print, radio and television journalism.

East Anglian Daily Times 24th June 2010 more >>

Oldbury

Hundreds of Thornbury residents had to miss the big match today courtesy of Eon central networks. “Just as we were all watching the pre-match national anthem the power went down” said one local resident. “We soon realised it was a power cut, Eon central networks helpline told us that hundreds of local homes were down and they had no clue how long it would take!” It all happened way too late for anyone to make alternative arrangements. Thank you Eon for their well timed power cut! What happens on Sunday when we play Germany--If England score will E-on in Dusseldorf switch off our or is it their electricity----It will be a test for energy security in England!! Well E-on are always telling us if they dont get some sort of subsidy--the lights will go out...........Maybe this is part of the softening up process!!

Shepperdine Against Nuclear Energy 24th June 2010 more >>

Dounreay

Prime Minister David Cameron promised to seriously consider a plea to back an international nuclear materials testing facility for the north. He gave the undertaking in the Commons during prime minister’s questions, after Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross MP John Thurso proposed the idea of the UK hosting the facility. The scheme is linked to plans for an experimental next generation nuclear fusion plant in the south of France. It could create 200 jobs in Caithness, preserving work for nuclear scientists, technicians and other workers who would otherwise have to move elsewhere as the clean-up of the old Dounreay nuclear plant runs down.

Press and Journal 24th June 2010 more >>

Uranium

Letter Marianne Birkby: The prospect of nuclear accident, incident or even “routine” emissions is an unreasonable trade off for being able to boil a kettle. It is true that there is plenty of uranium left in Australia. Problem is the Australians see it as the “new asbestos.” So much so that Aussie Unions have banned their members on ethical and safety grounds from working in all aspects of the nuclear industry, from mining to power plants. The Electrical Trade Union is equivalent to our Unite (representing members in the electrical, communications, power, manufacturing, education, hospitality, aerospace and food industries). The unprecedented stand taken this summer by the ETU has been shied away from by the British press despite the ethical and practical implications for the future of the nuclear industry.

Westmorland Gazette 24th June 2010 more >>

Areva

Areva, the French nuclear-reactor builder, took a new provision for cost overruns at a plant it’s building in Finland, leaving the door open for more charges as the project is still 2 1/2 years away from completion. The new charge takes total provisions for cost overruns to about 2.7 billion euros for the first-of-its-kind project, which Areva pledged in 2005 to build for 3 billion euros and complete in 2009. That’s adding pressure on the state-controlled company, which is seeking to raise about 3 billion euros by selling new shares this year to fund expansion and preserve its A credit rating, which may be cut by Standard & Poor’s.

Bloomberg 24th June 2010 more >>

Germany

The country’s utilities, especially Eon and RWE, the two biggest, are understandably furious. The irony is that when the new coalition came to power 10 months ago free from anti-nuclear parties, they felt that Berlin would at long last give greater support to the nuclear sector. Not that they expected a sudden renaissance in the nuclear industry. Germany is committed to shutting down all its nuclear plants and this policy has not changed. But the new government was on the whole favourable to extend the life of Germany’s 17 nuclear plants. In exchange for the additional earnings the industry would derive from this life extension, the government would claw back a slice of these profits. In turn, these funds would be used to reinvest in new renewable energy projects.

FT 25th June 2010 more >>

South Asia

China’s proposed sale of nuclear reactors to Pakistan will intensify nuclear rivalry with India. But the damage will go far wider. Yet the sale (really a gift, as Pakistan is broke) has caused shudders at the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), an informal cartel of countries who want to stop their advanced nuclear technology getting into the wrong hands. They are meeting in New Zealand, for what was supposed to be a quiet and nerdish rule-tightening session. But their efforts may now fall victim to China’s rivalry with America. By any measure, Pakistan is a shocker. Its proliferation record would make the serial nuclear mischief-makers of North Korea blush. If the Chinese reactor deal goes ahead, the damage will be huge: beyond just stoking the already alarming nuclear rivalry between Pakistan and India.

Economist 24th June 2010 more >>

Vietnam

A recent World Bank study found Vietnam could produce more than 500 gigawatts of electricity from land-based and off-shore wind farms, 10 times the country’s expected national demand in 2020, and yet the take-up of renewables in Vietnam is poor to say the least. Cheaper, easier alternatives to nuclear that are ready to go right now are available to the people of Vietnam and yet Mr Dung is committing his country to the expensive, difficult and long term nuclear option. Just why is that?

Greenpeace Nuclear Reaction 23rd June 2010 more >>

Vietnam has announced a masterplan for the introduction of nuclear energy into the country. Some 14 nuclear power reactors are to be constructed at eight locations in five central provinces by 2030.

World Nuclear News 24th June 2010 more >>

Poland

In the Polish village of Klempicz, less than an hour from the German border, Lech Wojcieszynski is hoping to bring the first atomic reactor to his country, overcoming the Chernobyl disaster’s legacy.

Bloomberg 24th June 2010 more >>

Iran

The US Congress has overwhelmingly approved new sanctions against foreign companies that trade with Iran, over its nuclear programme.

BBC 24th June 2010 more >>

Italy

A claim against Italy’s federal nuclear policy brought by eleven regional governments has been rejected by the Constitutional Court. The claim had been filed in February by 11 regions that said a pro-nuclear policy should not have been brought in without proper consultation. Imposing a unilateral decision was an abuse of power by the government, the regions said, because 2001 reform of the Italian constitution shared competence on energy between central and local governments.

World Nuclear News 24th June 2010 more >>

Saudi Arabia

Oil giant Saudi Arabia gave its strongest signal yet that it wants to develop atomic power by announcing a new centre for nuclear and alternative energy technologies.

Alexandre’s Gas and Oil 18th June 2010 more >>

Kuwait

France and Kuwait agreed to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, the latest Gulf Arab nation to eye nuclear power, and raising the prospect of lucrative contracts for French firms.

Alexander’s Gas and Oil 17th June 2010 more >>

Fusion

A web designer from New York has revealed a home-made nuclear reactor which he’s constructed himself in a Brooklyn warehouse. Mark Suppes is said to be the 38th independent physicist in the word to achieve nuclear fusion from a self-built reactor.

Newslite 24th June 2010 more >>