New Nukes
What is Prince Andrew’s new year’s resolution? Not, it seems, to be any less controversial than he was in 2008. This column has learnt of a plan to hold a gala lunch on 5 February at Buckingham Palace for heavy hitters in the nuclear industry, which is, according to critics, a startlingly fraught arena for a member of the royal family to enter. The lunch is to be hosted by the prince as the UK’s special representative for international trade and investment, the idea of the job being that he can use his royal clout to promote Britain abroad, although providing a publicity boost for nuclear energy within the UK is a departure.
Observer 11th Jan 2009 more >>
Companies
A NUCLEAR engineering company from Hampshire has been bought by a French engineering giant for an undisclosed sum. The deal for Gravatom, which has three branches in Hampshire employing 125 people, is expected to create more high skilled jobs in the region. Gravatom, which has bases in Bishopstoke and Fareham and a turnover of £9m, now becomes part of the £147m turnover technology division of the France based ONET Group.
Southern Daily Echo 12th Jan 2009 more >>
Iran
President-elect Barack Obama says the US will take a new approach to dealings with Iran under his leadership. Mr Obama said in a US TV interview screened on Sunday that “Iran is going to be one of our biggest challenges”.
BBC 11th Jan 2009 more >>
Guardian 12th Jan 2009 more >>
FT 12th Jan 2009 more >>
President George Bush expanded covert action intended to sabotage Iran’s suspected effort to develop nuclear weapons last year after sanctions failed to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions, The New York Times has reported.
Independent 12th Jan 2009 more >>
A US investigation into potential sanctions violations has expanded to nine European banks, with authorities suspecting that some of the money transferred through the American banking system might have been used to finance Iran’s nuclear and missile programmes. Investigators have found an e-mail indicating that Iranian interests were trying to buy tungsten, which is used for making long-range missiles, said Robert Morgenthau, the Manhattan district attorney, who has been conducting the joint investigation with US federal prosecutors.
FT 12th Jan 2009 more >>
Slovakia
Austria has condemned an announcement at the weekend by Slovakia to tackle its gas shortages by reopening a power generator at its ageing Jaslovske Bohunice nuclear plant. The plant was shut down last year as part of the conditions for Slovakia’s entry into the European Union, and yesterday neighbouring Austria urged Brussels to ensure Slovakia stuck to its obligations.
FT 12th Jan 2009 more >>
Fears were raised yesterday over a decision to restart a potentially dangerous decommissioned nuclear power plant in the centre of Europe because of a shortage of gas caused by Russia’s dispute with Ukraine. Slovakia, defying undertakings given when it joined the European Union, said that it would reactivate a Soviet-style nuclear generator that has a record of safety problems because it had received no Russian gas since last Thursday.
Times 12th Jan 2009 more >>
Renewables
The government is to close a key support programme for renewable energies almost a year before it launches a new regime, creating a funding black hole that the industry has warned could lead to thousands of green job losses. The government is planning to close the major part of its controversial low carbon buildings programme in June. But it will not launch “feed-in tariffs” until April 2010 at the earliest.
Guardian 12th Jan 2009 more >>
Gas
Plans to build vital facilities to help Britain secure its energy supplies at a time of increasing fears about reliance on Russian gas are in doubt as a result of the credit crunch, energy groups warn. Stag Energy says the credit crunch is making it harder to raise the £600m for the Gateway project to build a storage facility beneath the Irish Sea. It received planning permission for the project in November. The UK has storage capacity of about 4% of average annual consumption, or about 14 days’ worth. This compares to Germany’s reserves equivalent to 21% of annual consumption and France’s 24%.
Guardian 12th Jan 2009 more >>
The crisis puts a premium on the EU’s energy efficiency and alternative fuels policies which will allow members to switch out of gas. Greater investment in renewable technology, clean coal and even nuclear power needs to be considered and then acted on to provide more reliable fuels than Russian gas shipped across Ukraine.
Independent on Sunday 11th Jan 2009 more >>
Climate
Tackling climate change will reduce poverty by cutting heating bills and providing jobs, a report concludes. Installing insulation and investing in public transport to reduce car numbers would both help. The report, Tackling Climate Change, Reducing Poverty, says that the poor are likely to be worst affected by rising temperatures because they tend to live in less energy-efficient housing, have less access to insurance against floods, and have less money to adapt to higher prices of fuel and food. The authors of the study, by Oxfam and the New Economics Foundation, base their findings on work by organisations including Friends of the Earth.
Times 12th Jan 2009 more >>
