New nukes
The government’s plans to build up to 10 nuclear power plants in Britain over the next decade could be thwarted by a shortage of skilled project managers, industry executives have warned. They have told ministers that the coming nuclear renaissance in Europe and in emerging economies such as Russia, China and India – driven by the need to combat global warming and reduce energy imports – could also constrain the delivery of key reactor components unless decisions are made swiftly and the planning process is speeded up.
Guardian 1st October 2007 more >>
Nuclear Smuggling
Kyrgyzstan on Sunday signed on to a U.S. program to curb nuclear smuggling, becoming the fourth former Soviet state to join the initiative. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Ednan Karabayev signed an agreement that will help the Central Asian nation improve its capability to prevent, detect and respond to the smuggling of dangerous nuclear and radioactive material.
Guardian website 30th Sept 2007 more >>
Korea
The six parties negotiating an end to North Korea’s nuclear programmes suspended their talks for 48 hours yesterday so the governments involved could consider a draft document that will see Pyongyang disable its main nuclear reactor this year.
FT 1st October 2007 more >>
Guardian website 30th Sept 2007 more >>
The leaders of divided Korea will share smiles this week and talk cash but skirt around Pyongyang’s nuclear arms ambitions and human rights abuses in favour of fostering dreams of unification.
Christian Today 30th Sept 2007 more >>
Europe
The Irish Environment Minister is meeting with a number of other European Environment Ministers in Austria today to discuss the future of nuclear energy.
Belfast Telegraph 30th Sept 2007 more >>
US
Anyone who loves California’s stunning coastline can’t help harbouring at least a little resentment at the Diablo Canyon nuclear power station, arguably the most scenic – and most bitterly contested – generator of atomic power anywhere on the planet.
Independent 1st Oct 2007 more >>
Politics
On nuclear power and future airport expansion the Conservative party was close to taking a view, but Mr Letwin did not expect that to be made clear this week.
FT 1st Oct 2007 more >>
Uranium
The world’s biggest mining company is facing a revolt from shareholders who want the group to stop excavating uranium. Activist plan to use the annual meeting of BHP Billiton, which last year made record-breaking profits of $13.4bn (£6.7bn), to force the company to take a “moral stand” and pull out of the highly profitable trade in uranium, which has soared in price as demand for nuclear fuel has grown in the past decade.
Guardian 1st Oct 2007 more >>
Trident
Hundreds of protesters are gathering for the culmination of a year-long anti-nuclear blockade of a submarine base. Up to 1,000 demonstrators, including politicians from across the country, are expected at the Faslane Naval Base on the Clyde, home to the fleet of Trident nuclear submarines.
Local Guardian 1st October 2007 more >>
Pendle Today 1st October 2007 more >>
