Dalgety Bay
Government scientific advisers have discovered a near-doubling in the incidence of cancers among people living near Dalgety Bay in Fife, which is contaminated by radioactivity. An expert report for a Department of Health advisory committee on radiation has found a marked increase in liver and blood cancers close to the site of the contamination, the Sunday Herald can reveal. The scientists have recommended an investigation into potential links between the radioactive site and cancer levels. The report pointed out that liver cancers were concentrated in communities near the polluted foreshore. This "reinforces the suspicion" they were linked to the discarded radium that has littered the area for decades, the report said. Yesterday, the revelations provoked concern among local residents, who demanded an in-depth inquiry. Last month, the UK Government’s Health Protection Agency (HPA) issued advice that public health risks from radiation at Dalgety Bay were low. But this has now been undermined by the report for the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (Comare), which advises ministers in Westminster and Holyrood. The "Preliminary Report on Cancer Rates around Dalgety Bay" was presented to Comare’s last meeting on October 10. Its findings were released to the Sunday Herald in response to a request under freedom of information legislation. The report revealed there has been a statistically significant excess of liver cancers around Dalgety Bay between 2000 and 2009.
Sunday Herald 11th Nov 2012 more >>
Sellafield
The cost of securely storing radioactive waste at the now defunct Sellafield power plant in the north of England has spiralled out of control. According to the National Audit Office, the clean-up operation is too slow and expensive. It also warned that plans to replace the nuclear waste facilities face ‘considerable’ uncertainty.
Voice of Russia 8th Nov 2012 more >>
Sizewell
Details have been released about EDF Energy’s consultation process looking at plans for the new Sizewell C nuclear power station on the north Suffolk coast.
Norwich Evening News 9th Nov 2012 more >>
Companies
TWO of Britain’s biggest pension funds have teamed up to launch a £1.2bn bid for part of Scottish Power’s electricity network. The tie-up between the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) and the BT pension fund adds a formidable player to a roster of suitors that includes infrastructure investors and pension funds from Canada and China.
Sunday Times 11th Nov 2012 more >>
AMEC has lost its second top executive in a month amid a falling out between Samir Brikho, chief executive, and his lieutenants over strategy. Mike Saunders, president of the company’s power division, tendered his resignation within the past fortnight. He has been responsible for the contract to decommission and dispose of radioactive materials at the Sellafield nuclear waste dump. His departure follows the resignation of Neil Bruce, chief operating officer, who stepped down with “immediate effect” last month.
Sunday Times 11th Nov 2012 more >>
Gas
Letter Ed Davey: Your article "Huge scale of UK’s ‘dash for gas’ revealed" (News) was highly misleading. Government policy has not moved in favour of a "dash for gas", and the amount of unabated gas generation we expect in 2030, far from quadrupling, has in fact reduced slightly. Before I correct your misreading of the figures, let me be very clear about our policy on gas generation. Unabated gas will continue to play an important role in our electricity mix into the 2020s and beyond, increasingly being used to back up intermittent generation such as wind and to provide variable supply alongside less flexible generation such as nuclear.
Observer 11th Nov 2012 more >>
