New nukes
British Energy, the nuclear generator, has held talks with Europe’s largest power companies about building a new generation of nuclear reactors in the UK. The company has had meetings with executives from the French group EDF and German group RWE, which owns npower in the UK, ahead of next month’s publication of the Government’s White Paper on energy. E.ON is also understood to be involved. The White Paper will pave the way for a renaissance of nuclear power in this country. The Government is expected to make it financially viable for the UK’s ageing reactors to be replaced, for example by guaranteeing a minimum electricity tariff for nuclear power.
Independent on Sunday 11th Feb 2007
NDA
The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has hired a helicopter to ferry its executives around the country at an estimated cost of £1,000 per hour, despite a budget crisis. The authority said it could work out cheaper to fly employees from its base near Whitehaven in the North West of England to its 20 reactor sites. But a union said it was “disgraceful” the NDA was spending money in this way.
Independent on Sunday 11th Feb 2007
Sweden
State-owned Swedish energy concern Vattenfall on Saturday admitted further serious security deficiencies at its controversial Forsmark nuclear power plant, which it described as ‘not acceptable.’
Monsters and Critics 10th Feb 2007
Trident
THE REAL cost of maintaining and replacing the Trident nuclear weapons system over the next 50 years could top £100 billion – five times higher than the prime minister, Tony Blair, has said. A new analysis of projected spending based on official figures suggests that the cost of buying and operating a successor to Trident will be around £70bn. Added to that, there is the £30bn it will cost to keep the existing warheads in service until 2023. This contrasts with the £15bn-20bn highlighted by Blair and other ministers as the cost of buying a replacement to Trident. “Tony Blair is trying to persuade parliament to sign up to his nuclear insurance policy without revealing its true cost,” alleged John Ainslie, the co-ordinator of the Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND).
Sunday Herald 11th Feb 2007
Nuclear War
Many historians will agree the fall of the Berlin Wall marked the end of the Cold War, but in Switzerland the threat of nuclear war has left an unexpected legacy.
BBC 11th Feb 2007
RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin yesterday warned that the United States’ increased use of military force is creating a new arms race, with smaller nations turning toward developing nuclear weapons.
Scotland on Sunday 11th Feb 2007
Iran
Iran marked the 28th anniversary of its revolution on Sunday seeking to show unity over its nuclear policy, but Western pressure and cautious voices at home dampened prospects for a major statement on atomic progress.
Reuters 11th Feb 2007
How close is Iran to mastering nuclear technology?
BBC 10th Feb 2007
Iran insisted on Saturday a dispute with the West over its nuclear programme could be resolved by negotiation as its chief nuclear negotiator arrived in Germany for meetings with European officials.
Reuters 10th Feb 2007
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Saturday that the international community is determined to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.
CNN 10th Feb 2007
North Korea
Talks to end North Korea’s nuclear arms program fell short of an accord on Saturday as a dispute over how to compensate Pyongyang for taking disarmament steps clouded prospects for agreement on an initial plan.
Reuters 10th Feb 2007
