Politics
Richard Caborn, the former Trade Minister, is believed to be in the running to lead a nuclear alliance bidding for a £5 billion contract to help to decontaminate Sellafield. Mr Caborn, the Labour MP for Sheffield Central, is thought to have been approached about the nonexecutive role by Amec, the British engineering services group, which is bidding for the clean-up contract with its partners, Washington Group, of America, and Areva, of France.
Times 12th Nov 2007 more >>
Brirish Energy
British Energy will be under pressure to provide a timetable for the return of two of its nuclear power stations when it announces its half-year results tomorrow. The sites have been out of action after the discovery of wire corrosion problems.
Times 12th Nov 2007 more >>
Companies
France’s support for Siemens AG’s stake in Franco-German joint venture Areva NP is set to wane if Germany pursues the phasing-out of nuclear power plants, French finance minister Christine Lagarde told Handelsblatt.
Interactive Investor 12th Nov 2007 more >>
Italy
Edison SpA chief executive Umberto Quadrino said that an EU decision is needed to start reconsidering the possibility of using nuclear power in Italy as a solution to help facing rising energy demand and costs. “A European programme that studies (nuclear power’s) real costs, including long-term such as decommissioning and radioactive waste management, is needed,” Quadrino said in an interview with the La Repubblica newspaper. The expansion of nuclear power industry in Italy was blocked in 1987 after a referendum voted against it.
Interactive Investor 12th Nov 2007 more >>
The people of Italy turned their back on nuclear power in a referendum 20 years ago. Good move. But an Italian company, with government backing, is only too happy to build a dangerous reactor over in Slovakia. We made a surprise appearance during the opening of the World Energy Conference to point out this hypocrisy.
Greenpeace International 11th Nov 2007 more >>
Greenpeace is critical of the recent energy blueprint for tackling climate change published by the World Energy Council, the organisers of the triennial congress. The blueprint sees greenhouse gas emissions peaking by as late as 2030 before decreasing. It also proposes an expansion in nuclear power.
Greenpeace International 11th Nov 2007 more >>
Pakistan
Pakistan said Monday its nuclear weapons were secure and that there was no risk they would be seized by Taliban or al-Qaida-linked militants who have expanded their control beyond northwestern border regions.
Guardian website 12th Nov 2007 more >>
The turmoil in Pakistan has heightened fears that its nuclear technology and materials could fall into the hands of terrorist groups or enemies of the United States.
Telegraph 12th Nov 2007 more >>
Iran
The European Union’s top diplomat and Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator agreed on Sunday to hold a new round of talks on Tehran’s disputed atomic ambitions by the end of this month.
Reuters 11th Nov 2007 more >>
Energy Demand
Opec will this week seek assurances from some of the world’s biggest oil consumers that they will maintain their demand as the members of the oil cartel come under intense pressure to boost investment in production capacity. Consumer countries, in particular the US and in Europe, are investing in alternative sources of energy, such as biofuels and nuclear power, and energy-saving measures to reduce their dependency on crude oil and combat global warming.
FT 12th Nov 2007 more >>
