Sizewell
ACTIVITIES of the Civil Nuclear Constabulary in the Leiston area have been criticised by a member of a community liaison group. The CNC comprises officers trained to handle firearms and its primary function is to help protect the security of the Sizewell nuclear site, especially its highly radioactive materials, from the terrorist threat. However, officers also help out their Suffolk police colleagues on various occasions, including incidents needing an early armed response. But Bill Howard, who represents Leiston Town Council, told the quarterly meeting of the Sizewell Stakeholder Group that CNC officers had also got involved in minor incidents in the area and he objected.
East Anglian Daily Times 9th March 2011 more >>
Uranium
An expected surge in demand for uranium to fuel new reactors may go unfilled if new supply does not soon come on stream, meaning a setback for China, the United States and other countries that are increasingly relying on nuclear energy to power their economies.
Reuters 9th March 2011 more >>
Companies
Argyll-Ruane started 2011 with the exciting news that, having secured relevant sponsor company nominations, its membership as a recognised training provider has been approved by the National Skills Academy for Nuclear. During the last twenty-plus years, Argyll-Ruane has been an active provider to engineering, inspection, insurance and government defence organisations involved in the provision of nuclear activities, from subsea through to power generation.
NDT News 9th March 2011 more >>
Germany’s largest utility company, Eon, expects profits to dip this year and next as it absorbs a new German tax on nuclear power and tries to get out of supply contracts that force it to buy gas above current market rates.
FT 10th March 2011 more >>
UK-based construction products and nuclear supplier Hill and Smith has acquired pipe manufacturer The Paterson Group (TPG) in a deal that expands its operations in North America.
Mandadeals 9th March 2011 more >>
DevonWay and Scientech, a subsidiary of Curtiss-Wright Flow Control Company, have formed an alliance partnership to deliver cyber security management for nuclear power plants. As per the terms of the partnership, DevonWay will supply its pre-configured CyberWay software preloaded with all controls specified in NEI 08-09 rev.6 guidelines.
Energy Business Review 8th March 2011 more >>
Ireland
THE GOVERNMENT should rescind legislation that bans nuclear power, according to a leading energy advocate. The Fine Gael-Labour Coalition should also form an expert group to advise on nuclear power generation, Prof Philip Walton said yesterday. Dwindling fossil fuels and the uncertainty about oil prices makes planning for Ireland’s energy future all the more pressing, he said. Prof Walton, NUI Galway emeritus professor of applied physics, was one of three speakers addressing the issue of “nuclear power: facts and fiction” at a presentation in NUIG last night. It is one of a series being held throughout the State by the voluntary group Better Environment with Nuclear Energy (BENE), of which he is a key member.
Irish Times 10th March 2011 more >>
Canadian Waste Shipment
The Canadian Environmental Law Association and Sierra Club Canada announced Tuesday they have launched legal action against a plan to ship radioactive waste through the Great Lakes.
Windsor Star 8th March 2011 more >>
Iran
United Nations sanctions “are not stopping Iran’s drive to enrich uranium” for potential nuclear weapons, according to the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency. The sanctions haven’t slowed operation of Iran’s heavy water nuclear reactor or the installation at its Natanz facility of more centrifuges that could enrich uranium to weapons-grade levels, Army Lieutenant General Ronald Burgess, director of the DIA, says in a statement prepared for the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Bloomberg 9th March 2011 more >>
The United States said military aspects to Iran’s nuclear work were “increasingly apparent,” as the big six world powers urged Tehran on Wednesday to cooperate with the U.N. atomic watchdog to help resolve such concerns.
IB Times 9th March 2011 more >>
A film featuring a detailed examination of Iran’s nuclear ambitions and their impact on international security will have its European premiere at a London synagogue next week. Iranium, a documentary narrated by actress Shohreh Aghdashloo, who escaped Iran during the Islamist revolution of 1979, will be screened at Barnet Synagogue on March 16. The event has been arranged by the Barnet Israel Group.
Jewish Chronicle 9th March 2011 more >>
Test Veterans
Peter Brook signed up at 16 and trained as an engineer in the Army College at Chatham’s School of Military Engineering. In 1956 he began a three-month trip on board HMS Devonshire to Christmas Island, now known as Kiritimati. He left in 1957 after 12 months, having witnessed two nuclear weapon tests, but returned in 1958 and spent 12 months on Christmas Island. He left again in 1959 and was de-mobbed in 1960.
Huddersfield Examiner 9th March 2011 more >>
Renewables
Subsidies for renewable heating systems in England, Scotland and Wales will be announced later by the government. Money will be given to those who choose technologies such as wood chip burners instead of cheaper but more polluting fossil fuel heating systems. Some 860m of government cash will be spent over four years on the scheme. Most of the burning systems are likely to be located at schools, hospitals or community housing because of the size of the equipment involved. But there will also be incentives for householders who put solar panels on their roofs to heat water or install heat pumps to get heat from the ground.
BBC 10th March 2011 more >>
