Japan
Japan’s nuclear and humanitarian crisis stretched to three weeks Friday with radiation still leaking from a crippled nuclear power plant, thousands of homeless people struggling to rebuild their lives, and little hope of a quick resolution to either. As Tokyo Electric Power Co tries to regain control of its stricken nuclear plant in the face of mounting public criticism and a huge potential compensation bill, the government was reportedly moving to take control of the utility.
Reuters 1st April 2011 more >>
The evacuation of residents near Japan’s quake-hit Fukushima nuclear plant will be long-term, officials say. Many of the tens of thousands of people evacuated from the area around the plant are living in temporary shelters. The announcement came as high levels of radiation were detected for the first time in groundwater near one of the facility’s six reactors.
BBC 1st April 2011 more >>
Reuters 1st April 2011 more >>
Japan is turning to other countries for help as it struggles to stabilise its stricken nuclear plant and stop radiation leaks. French, American and international experts – even a robot – are either in or heading for Japan, and French President Nicolas Sarkozy met the prime minister in Tokyo yesterday.
Press & Journal 1st April 2011 more >>
RADIATION in water around Japan’s crippled Fukushima nuclear plant is 10,000 times over Government safety limits, it emerged last night. Japanese officials are now pleading for help from experts round the world to plug leaks from the plant’s damaged reactors.
Daily Star 1st April 2011 more >>
Japan’s government plans to take control of Tokyo Electric Power Co , the operator of the stricken Fukushima nuclear power plant, by injecting public funds to shore up the company in an attempt to deal with the unfolding nuclear crisis. Shares of the company, also known as Tepco, opened up more than 6 per cent after the Mainichi newspaper reported that the government planned to inject public funds into the firm, although it is unlikely to take more than a 50 per cent stake. Tepco has confirmed that groundwater around the plant, 137 miles north of Tokyo, was “highly” contaminated with radiation, at levels 10,000 times the legal limit, and radioactive iodine-131 at 4,385 times the maximum level in sea water just off the facility.
Telegraph 1st April 2011 more >>
IB Times 1st April 2011 more >>
Radiation exceeding government safety limits has seeped into groundwater under a tsunami-crippled Japanese nuclear plant, according to the operator, but has not affected drinking supplies. But the leak could pose a long-term problem and at the very least it is a concerning indicator of how far Tokyo Electric Power Co (Tepco) is from bringing its plant under control.
Express 1st April 2011 more >>
Metro 31st March 2011 more >>
The mother of one of the workers who are battling to stop a meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear plant said today that they all expect to die from radiation sickness ‘within weeks’. The so-called Fukushima 50 are all repeatedly being exposed to dangerously high radioactive levels as they attempt to restore vital cooling systems following the earthquake and tsunami on March 11. And speaking tearfully through an interpreter by phone, the mother of a 32-year-old worker told Fox News: ‘My son and his colleagues have discussed it at length and they have committed themselves to die if necessary to save the nation. Yesterday the levels of radiation in the ocean was measured at 3,355 times above the standard. Officials have attempted to downplay the dangers posed by the high presence of radioactive isotopes in the water, saying that the iodine-131 isotope loses half of its radiation every eight days. But amounts of the cesium-137 isotope – which has a 30-year ‘half life’ – have also soared to 527 times the normal level. Michael Friedlander, a U.S. based nuclear engineer, told CNN: ‘That’s the one I am worried about.’Plankton absorbs the cesium, the fish eat the plankton, the bigger fish eat smaller fish – so every step you go up the food chain, the concentration of cesium gets higher.’ Fishing is not allowed with 12 miles of the Fukushima Daiichi plant, but authorities still do not know where the radioactive water is coming from.
Daily Mail 1st April 2011 more >>
The leaders of Japan and France strongly defended the use of nuclear power yesterday, despite fresh reports that the crippled Fukushima plant is spewing growing quantities of radiation, with the United Nations suggesting expanding the evacuation zone. Japan’s nuclear safety agency revealed yesterday that radioactive iodine in seawater about 300m off shore from the complex has been clocked at 4,385-times the legal standard, while the plant operator has measured contamination in groundwater underneath one reactor at 10,000 times the government health standard.
Independent 1st April 2011 more >>
Japan’s quake-crippled atomic power station will take years to fully stabilise but officials hope to prevent any further deterioration of the plant and stem the leakage of radioactive material into surrounding areas within a matter of weeks.
FT 31st March 2011 more >>
The NY Times explains how the very efforts to stop a full meltdown have themselves had serious consequences: The setbacks have raised questions about how long, and at what cost, Japan can keep up what experts call its “feed and bleed” strategy of cooling the reactor’ fuel rods with emergency infusions of water from the ocean and now from freshwater sources. That cooling strategy, while essential to prevent full meltdowns, has released harmful amounts of radioactive steam into the atmosphere and set off leaks of highly contaminated water, making it perilous for some of the hundreds of workers at the plant to further critical repair work. Moreover, the discovery of radioactive elements that experts say could come only from the core of a reactor suggest that the government’s strategy may not be working and that partial fuel melting has not been completely halted.
Climate Progress 30th March 2011 more >>
The International Atomic Energy Agency reported that Iitate, a village 25 miles northwest of the power plant, posted radiation levels “about two times higher” than levels at which it recommends evacuations. The mandatory evacuation zone extends only 12 miles around the stricken plant, although the government has encouraged people within 18 miles to evacuate voluntarily.
Washington Post 31st March 2011 more >>
The Fukushima nuclear crisis has already run for three weeks with no end in sight. Nuclear experts warn that it may go on for years. Hironobu Unesaki, a nuclear engineering professor at Kyoto University said that the process of decommissioning Fukushima would take longer than at Three Mile Island. Engineers are encountering entirely new problems. Some experts are suggesting it may take 30 years to make Fukushima safe.
World Socialist Web 1st April 2011 more >>
Full meltdown in full swing? Interview with Chris Busby.
Russia Today 30th March 2011 more >>
Fukushim Aerial Photos
Oregon Live 30th March 2011 more >>
Efforts to contain radiation are ironically spreading radiation, and the difficult conditions are depriving workers of their precious time and energy required to combat this grave problem. The crisis that has enveloped the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant operated by Tokyo Electric Power Co. illustrates the horror of a gigantic system run amok.
Asahi Shimbum 30th March 2011 more >>
Health Ministry spokesman Taku Ohara said the cesium was found in a cow slaughtered March 15 more than 70 kilometres from the plant. It had a total cesium level of 510 becquerels per kilogram. The limit is 500.
Toronto Star 31st March 2011 more >>
Horrific as the situation at Fukushima Daiichi is, at least the plant’s nuclear chain reactions have been shut down. But could chain reactions have started up again in small globs of nuclear fuel? Ferenc Dalnoki-Veress, a physicist at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies in Monterey, California, notes two unusual measurements that could indicate chain reactions in the reactors since their initial shutdown. Others doubt that this is the correct interpretation – and add that such bursts would not significantly worsen the radiation problem even if they are occurring.
New Scientist 31st March 2011 more >>
Implications
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has called for clear international standards on nuclear safety in light of the ongoing crisis at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.
BBC 31st March 2011 more >>
Telegraph 31st March 2011 more >>
How much can the Lib-Dems take? Can the anti-nuclear Lib-Dem MPs continue to back a doomed policy? They were clear in their denunciations before the General Election. Simon Hughes never changed his mind. Now Nick Clegg appears to have cracked. The Deputy Prime Minister cast doubt on the future for nuclear power by predicting that a review into existing plants would recommend higher and more costly safety standards. The coalition agreement says no nukes if subsidies are involved. If the review examines the threat from terrorist attack and loss of electricity that caused the Fukushima meltdown, extra costs will pile up.
Paul Flynn MP Blog 30th March 2011 more >>
New Nukes
Technical presentation on the economics of spent nuclear fuel disposal prices, costs and public subsidies for new nuclear reactors built in the UK. The presentation is based on our Research Report “Subsidy Assessment of Waste Transfer Pricing for Disposal of Spent Fuel from New Nuclear Power Stations” (March 2011). Economic modelling was performed using our Fixed Unit Price Simulation (FUPSIM) model developed by Jackson Consulting.
You Tube 29th March 2011 more >>
Taxpayers face a “secret” £15billion bill for new nuclear power stations, former Government adviser warns in a report for Greenpeace.
Daily Mirror 1st April 2011 more >>
Urenco
Plans to sell a stake in Urenco, the nuclear fuel manufacturer, to raise £1bn for a green investment bank have stalled after the Japanese nuclear crisis. Chris Huhne, energy secretary, said last year the government would sell its one-third share in Urenco, jointly owned with the Dutch government and two German power companies, Eon and RWE. But the estimated £3bn valuation of the business is likely to have fallen after the Fukushima nuclear plant disaster, according to market experts. “It’s an unfortunate time to be trying to sell Urenco,” a senior minister said.
FT 1st April 2011 more >>
Protest
We are deeply shocked about the fact that 25 years after Chernobyl an MCA (maximum credible accident) is obviously happening in Japan which will have immeasurable consequences for the people. The disaster of the century in Japan clearly shows: Nuclear power is not safe and never will be. Human failure, like 25 years ago in Chernobyl, obvious safety deficiencies in nuclear plants like those close to the Austrian borders, or natural disasters like in Japan can cause severe accidents and bring incredible suffering upon hundreds of thousands of people. We demand the worldwide exit from nuclear energy, and we start here and now in Europe. Sign the petition.
Shutdown Nukes March 2011 more >>
Hinkley
Sedgemoor District Council has lodged a formal objection to plans to build a temporary jetty at Hinkley Point. The 500m-long jetty will take delivery of the construction materials for the power station if consent is given to build the nuclear facility. EDF Energy has said the jetty would avoid 80% of shipments being delivered by road and will reduce congestion. The final decision will be made by the Marine Management Organisation. The formal objection was agreed at a full council meeting on Wednesday. A spokeswoman from the Conservative-led council claimed there was a lack of information from EDF about the plans. West Somerset Council has already submitted a formal objection to the Department for Energy and Climate Change.
BBC 31st March 2011 more >>
CLAIMS of nuclear contamination at the Hinkley Point site have been refuted this week. The Environment Agency has this week revealed the findings of an investigation into claims by anti-nuclear campaigners that soil at the site is contaminated with enriched uranium. David Bennett for the Environment Agency said: “In view of public concerns that the allegations may have caused, the Environment Agency undertook soil sampling to provide reliable scientific information about whether or not uranium contamination is present on the proposed site.
This is the West Country 31st March 2011 more >>
The Environment Agency ignores local people’s request for transparent investigation into claim of contaminated land on Hinkley C site.
Stop Hinkley Press Release 31st March 2011 more >>
THE proposed new development at Hinkley Point Power Station needs to give more to the community, according to West Somerset councillors. Andrew Goodchild, the district authority’s planning manager, said EDF’s current proposals are “woefully short” of satisfying some of the council’s major anxieties. Mr Goodchild said: “We have a duty to our communities to explain to government and to EDF Energy that we still have very significant and unresolved concerns about the proposals in their current form.”
This is the West Country 31st March 2011 more >>
Companies
EnergySolutions has today welcomed the extension to its management and operation contract for 22 of the UK’s Magnox nuclear reactor fleet. The extension follows clarification from the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) of its competition schedule for the remainder of its sites. The NDA’s Business Plan, published today, points to the competition for its ten Magnox and two Research sites to begin in 2012 with a likely award in mid 2014.
Market Wire 31st March 2011 more >>
Old Reactors
DECC records ‘technical problems’ at some nuclear power stations meant less nuclear energy was available and, as a result, more coal and gas was used instead. This meant in overall terms there was a 4% cent jump in emissions from electricity generation between 2009 and 2010.
Edie 31st March 2011 more >>
Chernobyl
What happened at Chernobyl was worse even than the worst possible outcome at Fukushima. There was no container at Chernobyl to shield the reactor, and the blast, due to an experiment going wrong, struck when the reactor was at full power; the Japanese plant automatically cut power when the tsunami struck, meaning any potential nuclear explosion would have been a fraction of the magnitude. But the Fukushima incident has caused a worldwide reappraisal of nuclear energy. There is a new uneasiness about safety of nuclear power, a renewal of debates that raged after Chernobyl but had abated in recent years as the world embarked on a nuclear spree.
Independent 1st April 2011 more >>
US
Plans for nuclear power investment in the United States will be sidelined but not derailed by the problems Japan is having with the Fukushima nuclear plant, experts said in a panel discussion on Thursday. The political will that had provided some hope for the industry in recent years has been weakened by the Japan experience, raising doubts about whether there can be any renaissance of nuclear power in the United States and expansion elsewhere in the world. Energy investors have reacted to the Japan disaster with their feet.
IB Times 1st April 2011 more >>
STV 1st April 2011 more >>
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is conducting a “more intensive review” of several U.S. plants as part of its “very conservative” safety review system, its chairman told lawmakers at a hearing on Thursday.
Reuters 31st March 2011 more >>
Yucca Mountain
Republican lawmakers on Thursday pressed the Obama administration on its decision to stop work on a permanent nuclear waste storage site inside Yucca Mountain, Nevada, launching a formal probe and grilling the nuclear regulator on Capitol Hill.
STV 31st March 2011 more >>
Reuters 1st April 2011 more >>
Germany
Power company RWE will mount a legal challenge on Friday against Berlin’s decision to shut seven of the country’s 17 nuclear power stations after the nuclear crisis in Japan. The group will file a complaint with the administrative court in the state of Hesse, home to the Biblis A plant, which RWE took off line after the government decree three weeks ago. Eon could follow soon with a court challenge to Berlin’s new nuclear energy tax. Both challenges could take months to resolve.
FT 1st April 2011 more >>
Switzerland
Two women were injured when a parcel bomb exploded in the offices of the lobby group Swissnuclear in the northern city of Olten yesterday. The Swissnuclear employees were taken to hospital with superficial burns and hearing damage. Switzerland has just suspended the approvals process for three new nuclear power stations so that safety standards can be reviewed in the light of the Fukushima disaster in Japan. Swissnuclear says it works to promote the safe and efficient use of nuclear power and represents utilities that run the nuclear plants which produce about 40 per cent of Swiss electricity. Olten is also home to the headquarters of the energy firm Alpiq, where about 50 Greenpeace protesters held a demonstration yesterday calling for the company to withdraw its application to build a nuclear plant.
Independent 1st April 2011 more >>
Guardian 1st April 2011 more >>
CNN 31st March 2011 more >>
China
The fallout from the Fukushima nuclear disaster looks set to continue after an official from China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) revealed the government was planning to cut its 2020 target for nuclear power capacity. China’s previously-announced nuclear capacity of 80GW may be scaled back, with solar energy coming in to fill the void.
PV Tech 31st March 2011 more >>
Business Green 31st March 2011 more >>
UAE
The United Arab Emirates says it will apply lessons learned from the Japan nuclear disaster when it plans its nuclear programme. Nuclear regulator the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) has asked the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corp (ENEC) to outline how it will review the crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi plant and incorporate this into plans for nuclear reactors.
Engineering & Technology 31st March 2011 more >>
