NDA
Mike Parker, chief executive of British Nuclear Fuels (BNFL), which runs the Sellafield plant in West Cumbria, is being considered as the next head of Britain’s nuclear clean-up body. BNFL, owned by the Government, is being broken up and sold to the private sector, which means Mr Parker’s job will come to an end. When that happens, Mr Parker has expressed interest in taking on the role as chief executive of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), which oversees all of the UK’s nuclear sites that are no longer in operation.
Telegraph 10th June 2008 more >>
The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) is preparing to auction off three of its biggest plots of lands for potential new nuclear power stations, an industry source said on Monday. The NDA, which has made land surrounding 18 current or former nuclear power stations available for potential bidders, said in April it had received interest from over 30 parties, including some of Europe’s biggest utilities. The source told Reuters on Monday the NDA would select the three sites that had proven most popular among the potential buyers and then decide on the nature of a sale process.
Reuters 9th June 2008 more >>
British Energy
British Energy, which owns the Sizewell nuclear power station in Suffolk, has rejected an £11bn-plus approach from France’s EDF and said it may stay independent as the UK gears up to build new power stations.The British company said EDF’s approach did not adequately value the rocketing price of electricity and the importance of its nuclear sites
Telegraph 10th June 2008 more >>
FT 10th June 2008 more >>
Guardian 10th June 2008 more >>
Times 10th June 2008 more >>
The auction of British Energy has been thrown into disarray after the nuclear power group rejected the only offer it has so far received, while EDF, the jilted suitor, signalled that it would not budge on price.
Independent 10th June 2008 more >>
Montague, also chairman of British Energy, has made it clear that he would nix a 735p-a-share approach – a bit more than France’s EDF has so far offered but a price the frogs would probably jump to. Apparently, he wants to start negotiations at 740p. Maybe he just likes being chairman.
Telegraph 10th June 2008 more >>
What was billed as an auction of British Energy – to the excitement of all shareholders, including the government – has dwindled in recent weeks from a race with five potential bidders, to two, then one, then zero.Perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised that EDF of France is not yet willing to pay up for the privilege of being excoriated by our nationalist press and dissected by our antitrust authorities. In competition terms, the French company would be the most awkward bedfellow for British Energy, given its existing energy interests in the UK. That is all the more reason for the government to wonder why the process has not yielded a choice of serious suitors prepared to compete for the hand of the nuclear power company.
FT 10th June 2008 more >>
A £10billion deal for Britain’s largest nuclear power generator, British Energy, could be completed in the next fortnight. French group EDF is in advanced talks to do the deal, having made an indicative offer of between 680p to 700p a share.
Daily Express 9th June 2008 more >>
Sizewell
Public meetings will be held by British Energy next month to discuss the proposed new nuclear power station at Sizewell. The six meetings will take place at Westleton Village Hall on July 2, Yoxford Village Hall on July 3, Saxmundham Market Hall on July 7, Aldeburgh Community Centre on July 8, Sizewell Sports and Social Club in Leiston on July 15 and Riverside Community Centre in Stratford St Andrews on July 16. All meetings start at 6.30pm. People wanting to attend need to register in advance. Email mail@sizewellnewbuild.co.uk or call 0800 1976102.
East Anglian Daily Press 10th June 2008 more >>
Hinkley
The first of a new wave of controversial nuclear reactors could be built in the Westcountry, after the world’s largest nuclear energy provider bought land for the purpose. Edf Energy says it is too early to comment on whether a plot near the existing nuclear power station, Hinkley Point B in Somerset, could host the first of the next generation of reactors in the UK. But, as one of only two sites the company has purchased so far, there is a chance that it could be up and running by 2017.
Western Morning News 9th June 2008 more >>
Nuclear energy currently provides around 18 per cent of the UK’s power needs. Most of the county’s existing nuclear and coal capacity is closing over the next 15 years, leaving a prospective energy gap of up to 52 gigawatts by 2025.
Western Morning News 9th June 2008 more >>
Planning
Ever since, Labour has looked at ways of handing over power. From the latest budget cuts for railways, announced last week by a non-elected regulator, to the decision over which city should get the doomed “supercasino”, specific decisions are taken by largely anonymous individuals. Currently, ministers are considering giving away another range of levers relating to big planning decisions, including the location of nuclear power stations. These are big and highly sensitive powers for elected politicians to cede.
Independent 10th June 2008 more >>
Sweden
NCC AB said it has won an order worth 150 million Swedish crowns to renovate and extend the central entrance and goods reception of the Oskarshamn nuclear power plant. The order will be booked in the second quarter of 2008. Work is scheduled for completion in the summer of 2010.
AFX 10th June 2008 more >>
Russia
Russia appears focused on strengthening its nuclear capabilities rather than building up its regular armed forces, which makes maintaining the U.S. nuclear arsenal increasingly important, U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates said on Monday.
Reuters 10th June 2008 more >>
Iran
European Union member states have agreed to intensify financial sanctions against Iran, going beyond existing UN measures aimed at containing Tehran’s nuclear programme, it emerged last night. Diplomats said the agreement was reached last week and would be announced today in a joint communique at the US-EU summit in Slovenia.
Guardian 10th June 2008 more >>
Italy
Enel SpA’s target of generating 50 percent of its domestic electricity production from coal remains in place despite a long-term nuclear option, an Enel spokesman said.
Interactive Investor 9th June 2008 more >>
Enel SpA is planning to build four or five 1,800 MW nuclear plants in Italy, said CEO Fulvio Conti in an interview with daily La Repubblica.
AFX 9th June 2008 more >>
