New nukes
Energy giant E.ON said on Wednesday that Britain risked increasing CO2 emissions by between five and 11 percent if it chose not to replace its ageing nuclear reactors with a new generation of nuclear plants. The German firm’s UK division also said the industry was ready to spend 30 to 40 billion pounds on building a new mix of electricity capacity, including nuclear and renewable energy.
Reuters 10th Oct 2007 more >>
Nuclear Consultation
It’s now patently clear that the government decided some time ago that they wanted to pull together a sham consultation designed to rubber-stamp their pre-ordained decision to support new nuclear power stations.
Greenpeace 10th Oct 2007 more >>
The Nuclear Industry Association submission says nuclear is in the UK’s best interests.
World Nuclear News 10th Oct 2007 more >>
The controversial consultation on the future of the nuclear energy in the UK has been closed for submissions this week, with further claims that the public are being ‘wilfully mislead’ once again clouding the debate. Environmental group Greenpeace has filed an offical complaint over the conduct of the process with the Market Research Standards Board (MRSB), following their withdrawal along with other NGOs from the consultation last month.
Green Consumer Guide 10th Oct 2007 more >>
Environmental campaigners have spoken out about more nuclear power stations being built in the UK on the 50th anniversary of the worst nuclear accident to occur in the west.
View London 10th Oct 2007 more >>
Scottish ministers have rejected new nuclear power stations in their response to the UK consultation on nuclear power. New plants were described as “dangerous and unnecessary” by the Scottish government, which previously opted out of the separate Westminster consultation pursuing deep disposal of nuclear waste.
Nuclear Engineering International 10th Oct 2007 more >>
Terror
Speech by Dr Liam Fox: I want to begin with three simple facts. (1) In 1997 Technical Area 18, a highly secure area of Los Alamos National laboratory in New Mexico, was successfully breached by US special forces in a special security exercise. They were able to steal enough fissile material for a nuclear bomb. (2) Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the German government reported more than 700 cases of attempted nuclear sales, including 60 instances that involved seizure of nuclear materials. And that was only in the first three years. (3) Following the collapse of the Taliban after the invasion of Afghanistan, American forces uncovered details of an Al Qaeda nuclear planning cell. Osama bin Laden has called for the killing of 4 million Americans.
Conservative Party Press Release 10th Oct 2007 more >>
Liam Fox today gave a stark warning of the nuclear terrorist threat as he criticised the non-proliferation treaty (NPT) for fuelling the problem. The shadow defence secretary called for a “more proactive policy” to deal with the terrorist threat facing the 21st century as he outlined “the clear and present threat not only to our security but to our entire way of life”.
Guardian website 10th Oct 2007 more >>
If terrorists use nuclear weapons to attack the U.S., Americans immediately would want to know who is responsible. But the nation is ill equipped now to quickly track down the make and origin of nuclear materials.
Guardian website 10th Oct 2007 more >>
NDA
The official cost of cleaning up 20 of Britain’s nuclear facilities will be more than £73bn, 16% higher than estimated last year, according to the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority yesterday. The latest rise in clean-up costs came as the government completed consultation on whether to proceed with a new generation of atomic plants, with one potential operator arguing there was a “moral imperative” to allow more to be built. The NDA blamed the soaring cost estimates for clean-up on obtaining more detailed estimates for dismantling buildings and clearing sites from individual operators managing locations such as Sellafield in Cumbria for the state-owned agency.
Guardian 11th Oct 2007 more >>
Italy
Italy will not reverse its Chernobyl-era ban on nuclear power, its government said on Wednesday. Instead it urged power companies to focus on renewable energy as part of an effort to combat global climate change.
Reuters 10th Oct 2007 more >>
Forbes 10th Oct 2007 more >>
Russia
Rusal, the aluminium producer, will build its own nuclear reactor as soaring energy costs force large-scale industrial projects to find their own power sources.
Times 10th Oct 2007 more >>
Radioactive contamination
EXTRA testing for radioactive particles along the Solway Coast is being held up in a row over cash. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency wants to inspect for pollution from Cumbria’s Sellafield plant at Powfoot, Kirkcudbright and Southerness but is still 40 per cent short of the necessary £100,000 funding. SEPA is locked in talks with Sellafield Ltd, which runs the plant on the English side of the Solway, for the shortfall. SEPA’s radioactive monitoring expert Dr Paul Dale this week revealed that they have been ready to conduct the tests since August and are “frustrated” by the delay.
ICDumfries 10th Oct 2007 more >>
Iran
There is no proof Iran is pursuing a nuclear weapons programme, the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, said today. But he said Tehran should make its atomic activity “as transparent as possible”.
Guardian website 10th Oct 2007 more >>
Channel 4 News 10th Oct 2007 more >>
India
The U.N. nuclear watchdog’s head arrives on Wednesday in India’s capital as concern grows a prolonged government row with the communists could scupper a nuclear deal with the United States or spark snap elections. Mohamed ElBaradei, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief, will visit top government officials in a long-scheduled trip which coincides with threats from the leftists to withdraw crucial parliamentary support if the deal moves ahead.
Reuters 10th Oct 2007 more >>
Europe
WE are on the brink of the “third industrial revolution”, according to José Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission – who believes it means nations may have to embrace nuclear power.
New Scientist 13th Oct 2007 more >>
Renewables
Giant turbines are rapidly becoming a feature of the landscape. And now a wave of applications is poised to make Britain the world leader in offshore wind power generation. But there’s one hurdle in the way of this breakthrough for renewable energy: bureaucracy.
Independent 11th Oct 2007 more >>
