British Energy
Senior executives at Centrica are this weekend thrashing out the final details of deal to buy a 25pc stake in British Energy, in a move which could dramatically boost its energy production and provide an entrance to the fast-growing nuclear sector.
Telegraph 10th May 2009 more >>
Sunday Times 10th May 2009 more >>
New Nukes/ Finland
Areva, the French company pushing to have its nuclear reactor design adopted in Britain, has been accused of a “lack of professionalism” by safety authorities overseeing a prototype under construction in Finland, a leaked letter shows. Regulators are concerned they have not been furnished with some design details of the Olkiluoto 3 plant and warn the timetable of the delayed project will be further affected if nothing is done. Areva admitted that the scheme, already believed to be three years late, still has no definite new opening date.
Observer 10th May 2009 more >>
Britain’s plans to build a new generation of nuclear power stations have been thrown into jeopardy by startling official safety fears. The nuclear regulatory body in Finland, where the first of the reactors is being built, has taken the extraordinary step of threatening to halt its construction because it has not been satisfied that key safety systems will work.
Independent on Sunday 10th May 2009 more >>
Trident
BRITISH TAXPAYERS are having to fork out an extra £100 million this year to replace the Trident nuclear weapons system because of fears that the missile being designed in the US could be the wrong size. The UK government is funding all of a contract for a US company to design a new missile compartment in an attempt to ensure that it will fit submarines designed in the UK. The revelation raises new questions about the spiralling cost of replacing Trident, and has been strongly condemned by the SNP and anti-nuclear campaigners.
Sunday Herald 10th May 2009 more >>