Radwaste
The UK body responsible for implementing geological disposal of nuclear waste says it could begin disposal between four and 90 years sooner than previously planned, depending on the waste type. On current expectations, first emplacement of legacy intermediate level waste is scheduled in the year 2040, followed by other types of waste and ending with spent fuel from new nuclear power plants more than 100 years from now in 2130. But according to a new report, the UK Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) said earlier emplacement of waste in the as-yet unbuilt repository could be achieved by conducting some phases of the program simultaneously, rather than sequentially. Other possible means to bring forward the disposal dates for nuclear waste range from dividing the emplacement of some classes of waste into two phases, changing waste packaging concepts, and abandoning the currently planned underground vault design for a deep borehole concept. The latter would involve a 20-year period of research and development, the report said, but could enable the emplacement of high-level waste 30 years earlier than current plans, while disposal of spent fuel from new reactors could be brought forward by 90 years.
i-Nuclear.com 10th Jan 2012 more >>
The Minister of State for Energy, Charles Hendry, asked our Radioactive Waste Management Directorate (RWMD) to review the programme for implementing geological disposal of higher activity radioactive waste with a view to bringing the date for first waste emplacement forward from the planned 2040 date to 2029. He also asked us to look at reducing the timescales for first emplacement of high level waste (currently 2075) as well as the dates for spent fuel and waste from new build power stations presently indicated to take place in 2130. We have today published a preliminary response to the Minister’s request.
NDA 22nd Dec 2012 more >>
At the request of the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority (SSM), the NEA organised a panel of international experts to perform an independent peer review of the Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Company (SKB)s reporting of post-closure safety in the license application for the spent nuclear fuel repository to be constructed in Forsmark. The NEA peer review supports the independent review by the Swedish decision makers by providing an international reference regarding the maturity of SKBs spent fuel disposal program vis-à-vis the best practices in the area of long-term nuclear safety and radiation protection. Public hearings were held on 12, 13 and 15 December in which the NEA panel posed questions to SKB representatives. On 16 December, the NEA expert panel presented its preliminary conclusions on the peer review. Watch the webcast of the hearings and preliminary conclusions. The final review report is expected in May 2012.
NEA News December 2011 more >>
Dounreay
THE destruction of almost 170,000 litres of radioactive fluid at Dounreay is likely to be completed within the next three months, its operators have said. The work is seen as one of the greatest priorities in the clean-up of the UK nuclear industry and staff have worked in shifts around the clock during the Christmas and New Year period to keep on track the destruction of liquid metal from Britain’s experimental fast breeder reactor, which was housed in Dounreay’s landmark dome. It follows a hiccup when the work was suspended for a week in October, after a pinhole in a stainless steel pipe allowed a litre of the radioactive fluid to escape. More than 161,000 litres of sodium and potassium, which was used as coolant in the defunct reactor, have been destroyed so far and the site is on course to complete the destruction of the estimated 6300 litres still remaining by the end of March.
Herald 11th Jan 2012 more >>
Scotsman 11th Jan 2012 more >>
Sellafield
The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority’s top man at Sellafield is leaving to take up a new job in America. Dr Ian Hudson is to join the URS Corporation as Vice President of US Performance Assurance in South Carolina. He will leave west Cumbria at the end of March to team up with URS, one of the three consortium companies of Nuclear Management Partners, Sellafields parent body. His role will be to deliver high performance results for American government and commercial projects.
Cumberland News 11th Jan 2012 more >>
Westinghouse
Westinghouse Electric Co. will be lead by new co-presidents following the retirement on March 31 of current President and Chief Executive Officer Aris Candris, Westinghouse said in a statement January 10.
i-Nuclear.com 10th Jan 2012 more >>
Energy Scenarios
Mark Lynas responds to last weeks attack on the DECCs 2050 energy calculator model by Christopher Booker.
Guardian 10th Jan 2012 more >>
Big Six
Home energy users may be missing out on millions of pounds of unclaimed compensation every year. Research from Which? published today reveals that the six major energy suppliers received more than four million customer complaints last year. The most common problems reported related to billing and meters, including mistakes on bills, missing bills and inaccurate meter readings. However, nine out of 10 people with complaints unresolved by the energy firms did not take their problem to the energy ombudsman. By failing to do so, customers are missing out on potential compensation payments, which would have topped £4m in 2011, according to Which?
Independent 11th Jan 2012 more >>
Telegraph 11th Jan 2012 more >>
Times 11th Jan 2012 more >>
Japan
Fukushima Update 6th – 9th Jan.
Greenpeace International 10th Jan 2012 more >>
US
Nine operators of the River Bend nuclear power plant near Baton Rouge, La., just landed their employer a $140,000 fine for surfing the web from the plant’s control room, reports Mark Halper at SmartPlanet. While they were supposed to be monitoring the plant, the nine were caught surfing the web for news, sports, and their retirement accounts, but not Facebook (because they are old) or porn (because CNN says so).
Grist 10th Jan 2012 more >>
Iran
Russia has voiced rare “worry” over Iran’s nuclear ambitions as the European Union brought forward a meeting of foreign ministers to decide whether to impose a potentially crippling oil embargo.
Telegraph 11th Jan 2012 more >>
Western expressions of alarm over uranium enrichment begun at a new underground plant in Iran are “politically motivated,” the Iranian envoy to the UN nuclear watchdog said on Tuesday.
Telegraph 10th Jan 2012 more >>
An Israeli think tank with close links to the government has begun preparing for a nuclear Iran, a signal that Israel may be abandoning hope of stopping the Islamic Republic from building a bomb.
Telegraph 10th Jan 2012 more >>
Israel may be able and ready to strike at Irans nuclear programme even after a successful nuclear test by the Iranian regime, according to a group of Israeli analysts and former government officials who took part in a simulation of the aftermath of such an event.
FT 10th Jan 2012 more >>
Another scientist was killed in a car-bomb assassination in Tehran on Wednesday. He was working at Iran’s Natanz uranium enrichment facility, a university website said.
AFP 11th Jan 2012 more >>
FT 11th Jan 2012 more >>
Times 11th Jan 2012 more >>
Nuclear Clock
Global uncertainty on how to deal with the threats of nuclear weapons and climate change have forced the “Doomsday clock” one minute closer to midnight, leading international scientists said Tuesday.
Terra Daily 10th Jan 2012 more >>
Guardian 10th Jan 2012 more >>
Rio Summit
Countries will be asked this summer to sign up for 10 new sustainable development goals for the planet and promise to build green economies at the first earth summit in 20 years. According to a leak of the draft agenda document seen by the Guardian, they will also be asked to negotiate a new agreement to protect oceans, approve an annual state of the planet report, set up a major world agency for the environment, and appoint a global “ombudsperson”, or high commissioner, for future generations. Dozens of heads of state, political leaders and celebrities are expected to go to the UN’s Rio+20 sustainable development meeting, to be held in Brazil in June.
Guardian 10th Jan 2012 more >>
Renewables
The government has quietly raised the feed-in tariff spending cap by nearly £200m in a bid to prevent the subsidy scheme exceeding its budget, after re-allocating funds previously earmarked for the Renewables Obligation (RO) incentive scheme.
Business Green 10th Jan 2011 more >>
