India
India’s landmark nuclear deal with the United States was in jeopardy last night after the Government indicated that it was unwilling to sacrifice the country’s ruling coalition and force early elections. The communist parties that back the Government have threatened repeatedly to withdraw their support over the deal, prompting widespread talk of a snap poll next year instead of in 2009.
Times 13th Oct 2007 more >>
Nuclear Missiles
Vladimir Putin warned yesterday that Russia was considering withdrawing from a major cold war arms treaty banning intermediate nuclear missiles unless it was expanded to include other states. President Putin said that Moscow was planning to dump the intermediate range nuclear forces treaty (INF) – signed in a landmark deal between the US and Soviet Union in 1987 – unless countries such as China were included in its provisions.
Guardian 13th Oct 2007 more >>
Times 12th Oct 2007 more >>
Independent 13th Oct 2007 more >>
New Nukes
Letter from Steuart Campbell: If, as Jim Mather alleges the UK government has already made up its mind to allow new nuclear power stations, then it is only fair to point out that he and the SNP have made up their mind not to do so.
Scotsman 13th Oct 2007 more >>
NDA
They now reckon it will cost a staggering £73bn. And what’s worse is that, because there are probably further costs to be added to this already not insubstantial figure, the final bill is likely to be up to £100bn. That’s nearly as much as the entire NHS budget. Just imagine what we could do in terms of renewables, decentralised energy and energy efficiency with all that cash. Yet Gordon Brown’s latest wheeze is to build even more reactors and, presumably, leave the taxpayer to pick up that ever-increasing tab to clean up after them.
Greenpeacce 12th Oct 2007 more >>
Iran
The European Union will leave open the possibility of sanctions against Iran over its nuclear programme, following a demand by France and despite the objections of Germany and Italy.
Interactive Investor 12th Oct 2007 more >>
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has accused Iran of “lying” about the purpose of its nuclear programme. She said there was no doubt Tehran wants the capability to produce nuclear weapons and that it has deceived the UN atomic watchdog about its intentions.
Sky News 12th Oct 2007 more >>
Europe
The European Commission said it held the first meeting of the new High Level Group (HLG) on nuclear safety and waste management today. The group is composed of senior officials from national regulatory or nuclear safety authorities. The commission said it should develop common understanding that will help identify priority safety issues, as well as advise the commission in progressively developing European rules regarding the safety of nuclear installations and the safe management of spent fuel and radioactive waste.
Forbes 12th Oct 2007 more >>
Companies
E.ON AG, Germany’s largest utility, will swap 4.4 billion euros ($6.2 billion) of assets with Norway’s state power company to gain a greater share in nuclear reactors and hydropower plants. E.ON said it will take over the 45 percent of a Swedish venture, E.ON Sverige, that it doesn’t already own from Statkraft SF. Norway’s government-owned utility will get power assets in Sweden, Germany and the U.K. in exchange.
Bloomberg 12th Oct 2007 more >>
Dounreay
Letter: The release of particles was a deliberate act of having to open up the valves at the effluent pits which held these particles and let them go out to sea. There was no option but to let it go; if they didn’t, it would have overflowed at the effluent pits and contaminated the surrounding area.
John O Groat Journal 12th Oct 2007 more >>
Renewables
Britain was accused yesterday of trying to wreck planned EU legislation to enforce a binding target of using renewable power to produce 20% of Europe’s energy by 2020. The ambitious target, agreed by Tony Blair last spring, is challenging for Britain since this country produces only 2% of its power from non-fossil fuel sources such as wind and solar. British officials attending a meeting in Brussels yesterday supported a system of mandatory trading permits between countries so that member countries that did not meet the renewables target would be able to buy in permits from other countries that had surpassed it.
Guardian 13th Oct 2007 more >>
