Hinkley
A pressure group has been formed to lobby for changes to plans to build a new nuclear power plant at Hinkley Point in Somerset. Save Cannington Action Group said it was concerned about the impact the plant’s construction would have on the village, which is seven miles away.
BBC 30th Dec 2009 more >>
BURNHAM MP David Heathcoat-Amory has thrown his backing behind a new campaign opposed to plans for a corridor of pylons in the area. The Pylon Moor Pressure group has been set up by villagers living near one of the two proposed routes for the pylons, which would link the new Hinkley Point development to the electricity transmission system in Avonmouth.
This is the West Country 30th Dec 2009 more >>
Dungeness
Nick Perry, the Lib Dem parliamentary campaigner for Hastings & Rye, is pressing the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Ed Miliband MP, to prioritise our area for new renewable energy projects. This follows the Government’s decision to take Dungeness off the list for new nuclear power stations.
Nick Perry Blog 30th Dec 2009 more >>
Wylfa
There was better news for the island’s battered economy when power companies E.on and RWE firmed up plans for a replacement Wylfa nuclear power station to replace the current plant due for closure in a year or two.
Daily Post 30th Dec 2009 more >>
3,000 jobs for Anglesey depend on permission being granted to build an £8bn second nuclear power station, Wylfa B, at Cemaes.
Daily Post 30th Dec 2009 more >>
Low Carbon Economy
Alistair Darling: The threat of climate change to a strong and stable economy in the future cannot be exaggerated. But the low-carbon sector offers an opportunity to secure this growth. By addressing investment barriers we’ve released billions of pounds for offshore wind, ultra-low carbon vehicles, marine energy, and low-carbon aerospace. Green industries alone could support a further half a million jobs over the next decade. None of this would happen without our support.
Guardian 31st Dec 2009 more >>
Nicolas Sarkozy’s dreams of putting France on the frontline of the fight against global warming were in disarray today, after his flagship carbon tax was ruled unconstitutional two days before it was due to come into effect.
Guardian 31st Dec 2009 more >>
Politics
John Gummer, who had advised the Tory leader on green issues, is to quit the House of Commons. He said he wanted to take up a full-time role fighting for tougher anti-climate change measures after the “deeply disappointing” failure of the recent summit in Copenhagen to reach a legally binding agreement. He said his new role would not leave him enough time to perform his duties as a constituency MP.
Independent 31st Dec 2009 more >>
Times 31st Dec 2009 more >>
Lithuania
Lithuania is to shut down its one and only nuclear power station in Visaginas on 31 December. One hour before midnight, staff at the Ignalina plant will flick the switches, shutting down the only nuclear reactor in the Baltic states.
BBC 31st Dec 2009 more >>
EU Business 31st Dec 2009 more >>
Belarus
Belarus is planning to build a nuclear power plant that will weaken its reliance on energy imports from Russia and the European Union, Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Wednesday.
EU Business 30th Dec 2009 more >>
South Korea
IT IS usually the northerly of the two Koreas that attracts attention for its nuclear prowess. But on December 27th a South Korean consortium seized the limelight by winning a $20 billion contract to build four nuclear reactors in the United Arab Emirates. The consortium, led by Korea Electric Power (KEPCO), a state-controlled utility, could earn another $20 billion running the plants over their projected lifespan of 60 years.
Economist 30th Dec 2009 more >>
US
A project to develop new-generation nuclear reactors in Central Valley, California, will be carried out by Areva and the Fresno Nuclear Energy Group (FNEG). French nuclear engineering firm Areva announced the plans to build either one or two reactors, and added that FNEG is aiming to acquire the European Pressurised Reactor technology (EPR).
New Civil Engineer 30th Dec 2009 more >>
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan said yesterday it had overtaken Canada and Australia to become the world’s biggest uranium miner, as nations rich in the resource raise production to meet demand from a resurgent nuclear power industry. The announcement was made a day after allegations that Kazakhstan was close to clinching a $450m (£280m) deal to sell 1,350 tons of uranium to Tehran. Exports to Iran of purified uranium would breach United Nations sanctions imposed on Tehran for refusing to freeze uranium enrichment activities.
FT 31st Dec 2009 more >>