Hinkley
Residents across West Somerset and Sedgemoor are being asked to help form planning policy for the two new nuclear reactors proposed for Hinkley Point. The two district councils for the area are asking residents for their views on a new Supplementary Planning Document which the local authorities have approved for consultation. It will help inform proposals and assist potential developers, including EDF Energy, in formulating their plans. The councils want the public’s views to help them in their approach for the Hinkley Point project. The SPD will help inform the Councils’ Local Impact Report that will be submitted to the Infrastructure Planning Commission, when it considers the application for the main power station.
This is Somerset 28th Feb 2011 more >>
The developer behind the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station in Somerset has agreed to pour more money into a community fund designed to provide long-term benefits for local people.
Planning 28th Feb 2011 more >>
Radwaste
Newspapers throughout Cumbria have been sent letters from Radiation Free Lakeland in a bid to warn the public about the hasty steps being taken by Government on burying nuclear waste in the county. Marianne Birkby, for the campaign group says in her letter: “If your readers are in favour of dumping high level nuclear wastes deep underground, they are in luck!
Get Noticed Online 28th February 2011 more >>
Old Reactors
The two reactors at Dungeness B power station will restart two days later than initially planned, forecast data from National Grid showed Monday. Nuclear generation was pegged by National Grid at 8.5 GW Monday morning, after the Heysham 2-8 reactor in northwest England lowered output on Friday, and as three reactors were still offline for maintenance.
Platts 28th Feb 2011 more >>
Aldermaston
February’s NIS Update includes news about planning issues relating to the Atomic Weapons Establishment and an analysis of the implications of the Obama administration’s 2012 budget submission for the USA’s nuclear weapons programme. You can also read about the UK government’s new consultation on plutonium management and newly released guidance on CBRN decontamination.
Nuclear Information Service Feb 2011 more >>
SPECIALIST engineering firm Redhall has secured a contract with the company responsible for Britain’s nuclear warheads that could be worth £20m. Wakefield-based Redhall will design, manufacture and install specially engineered doors at the Atomic Weapons Establishment’s facility in Burghfield, Berkshire.
Business Desk 28th Feb 2011 more >>
Chernobyl
Abandoned nuclear disaster site is opened to tourists.
IB Times 28th Feb 2011 more >>
National Grid
Government interventions in the energy market this year will be crucial in determining whether the UK can meet its targets of meeting energy demand and reducing carbon dioxide emissions, the chief executive of National Grid is to say on Tuesday. Energy market reform, which the government is embarking on, is needed to create the right incentives to invest in renewable power generation and encourage a viable energy mix, according to Steve Holliday. “This is a very important year it will be pivotal,” he told journalists on Monday said. “We are seeing huge changes, and we urgently need to rejuvenate the UK’s energy infrastructure. We need joined-up government and real commitment.”
For instance, he pointed to the current “lack of coordi nation” over a national strategy for offshore wind. At present, there is little attempt to coordinate how new offshore windfarms are connected to the National Grid, and plants are likely to be connected on an ad hoc basis. If there were a more coherent plan in place to reduce the number of connections needed, the cost of the connections would come down by about 3bn-5bn in total, he estimated. That money could be spent instead on making the grid “smarter”, he said, by installing new communications technology that would enable utilities to manage electricity demand by taking an element of control over household electrical appliances.
Guardian 1st March 2011 more >>
France
French nuclear utility EDF has declared an anomaly affecting the bearing bushings of its back-up diesel generators at its Blayais, Bugey, Chinon, Cruas, Dampierre, Gravelines, Saint-Laurent and Tricastin power stations to the French Nuclear Safety Authority.
Nuclear Engineering International 28th Feb 2011 more >>
US
Last week, President Obama lauded those who have made an especially meritorious contribution to the United States, world peace and culture by bestowing upon them the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Among this years recipients was the “World’s Greatest Investor,” also one of the world’s greatest philanthropists Warren Buffett. Instead of merely lauding the Oracle of Omaha, President Obama should follow his lead and stop pursuing costly new nuclear power plants. Time and again, Buffett’s corporation MidAmerican has recognized the risks of investing in new nuclear power.
Greenpeace Blog 28th Feb 2011 more >>
Germany
Five states controlled by the opposition Social Democrats (SPD) will challenge in Germany’s highest court on Monday the centre-right government’s decision to extend the lifespan of nuclear power plants. Contesting the decision to keep Germany’s 17 nuclear plants running for about 12 years beyond their original shutdown date, the states will file a challenge to the Constitutional Court, citing improper legislative procedure.
Reuters 28th Feb 2011 more >>
Argus Media 28th Feb 2011 more >>
Korea
The US says there is no reason to redeploy nuclear weapons in South Korea in spite of a report in a Seoul newspaper that Gary Samore, the top White House adviser on nuclear proliferation, suggested Washington could favour such a request from Seoul. The White House said: “Tactical nuclear weapons are unnecessary for the defence of South Korea and we have no plan or intention to return them.
FT 1st March 2011 more >>
South Korean and US troops began military drills yesterday, as North Korea warned that the exercises could trigger a nuclear war on the divided peninsula. Despite the North Korean threats, South Korea and the United States went ahead with their first major combined military exercises since the North shelled a frontline South Korean island in November, killing four people.
Independent 1st March 2011 more >>
Iran
Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said he held fruitful and frank discussions with his European Union counterpart on Monday that he hoped would lead to further talks on Iran’s disputed nuclear programme.
STV 28th Feb 2011 more >>
Iran has been trying without success to obtain Norwegian missile technology for possible use in delivering nuclear weapons, Norway’s security chief said on Monday.
Reuters 28th Feb 2011 more >>
Spain
Nuclear energy may play a role in meeting Spain’s aim of putting one million electric cars on its roads by 2014, said Miguel Sebastian, minister of industry tourism and commerce, as he publicly backed nuclear power. Sebastian was talking to the national radio station Ondra Cero. His comments on nuclear power came as part of a discussion of the reduction of speed limits in the country from 120 km/h to 110 km/h, which he said would reduce fuel consumption by 3%.
World Nuclear News 28th Feb 2011 more >>
Test Veterans
RAF veteran Mr Freeman was one of about 23,000 servicemen to take part in the nuclear tests on Christmas Island in the South Pacific in the 1950s and 1960s, and is convinced the tests ruined his health and that of his family.
Norwich Evening News 28th Feb 2011 more >>
BRITISH nuclear test veterans fighting a legal battle against the Government have made an official complaint after a defence minister misled Parliament about their court case.
Derby Telegraph 28th Feb 2011 more >>
