EDF
EDF, the French firm which owns eight of Britain’s nuclear power stations has shipped hundreds of tons of used radioactive material to Russia. More than 1,500 tons of spent fuel produced by the power company EDF was discovered in metal containers near a Siberian town. The company claims that it recycles almost all of its fuel. Environmental experts have claimed that 13 per cent of the spent fuel from the company’s French power plants is on the site and described it as “really dirty stuff”. Nuclear experts cited by the Libération newspaper, thousands of tons of that fuel actually end up 5,000 miles away in Seversk, Siberia. They claimed that polluted, depleted uranium sits in an open-air “parking area” in metal containers and is visible from satellite images. Mycle Schneider, an international consultant on nuclear policy, said: “This is really dirty stuff, as it contains harmful radioisotopes like uranium 236. “There’s absolutely no use for this [depleted uranium]. It’s sitting in the rain. The main problem is its toxicity as a heavy metal,” he added. EDF responded by saying the material it handed over to the nuclear group Areva to send to Russia could not be considered “waste” as it was reprocessed and sent back.
Telegraph 13th Oct 2009 more >>
STV 12th Oct 2009 more >>
“It is only the recyclable uranium which is transported to Russia to be enriched,” EDF said in its emailed comment. “To be used in EDF’s reactors, this uranium is enriched… in several countries such as Russia and The Netherlands, in the framework of commercial agreements, in accordance with international rules, and approved by Euratom, the European atomic energy Community,” EDF added.
Interactive Investor 12th Oct 2009 more >>
Wylfa
UK-based Anglesey Aluminium Metals has submitted an application for approval of a 299-MW biomass power plant to be located near the company’s aluminium smelter and possibly power it. If approved, the plant would consume about 2.4 million tons of woody biomass, such as wood chips, pellets or agricultural residues, a year. Anglesey Aluminium hopes to commence basic construction in early 2011 with a three-year construction period. Currently, the company is going through the appropriate planning applications and engineering feasibilities.
Biofuels International 12th Oct 2009 more >>
Hinkley
The National Grid plans to build a series of electricity pylons from the new Hinkley Point nuclear plant to Seabank at Avonmouth. It is considering two possible routes for the new lines, and has also announced a consultation to assess public opinion about the options.
Original Bristol 13th Oct 2009 more >>
Climate
The UK will need to push homes to be more energy efficient, set up an electric car infrastructure and build three nuclear power stations by 2022 to meet carbon reduction targets. So says the Climate Change Committee (CCC) in its first annual progress report.
Ecologist 12th Oct 2009 more >>
The Committee on Climate Change made it clear that without intervention in the market place to change pricing rules and provide other incentives to accelerate development of low cost, low carbon generation, the Government risks missing one of its key ‘green’ targets. It wants the Government to consider a range of options for intervention in the power market. The report says support for selected technologies should be extended to cover the full range of renewable and low carbon power systems to cut costs and ease worries about supply security. The committee questions whether the market will deliver the forecast 30,000 megawatts of onshore and offshore wind power, two or three new nuclear power plants and four pilot clean coal stations needed to replace dirty energy with clean energy by 2020 to meet emission targets without a policy rethink. Suggestions include strengthening carbon price signals and extending the exemption from the climate change levy to all new low carbon energy sources.
Telegraph 13th Oct 2009 more >>
Telegraph 13th Oct 2009 more >>
Terror
A French physicist with the European atomic research centre near Geneva was charged with terrorism offences by a Paris judge last night after investigators said that he offered to work with the North African branch of al-Qaeda.
Times 13th Oct 2009 more >>
Belgium
The Belgian government on Monday decided to delay the start of a progressive phasing out of nuclear power by 10 years until 2025, Energy and Climate Minister Paul Magnette said in a statement.
Yahoo 13th Oct 2009 more >>
Germany
Following the German general election of 27 September 2009, the new German government will be formed from the Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union of Bavaria parties (CDU/CSU) and the Free Democrats (FDP). NEI correspondent Carsten Salander outlines the new prospects for nuclear power in Germany.
Nuclear Engineering International 12th Oct 2009 more >>
Russia
The crisis and the global recession have hit demand for electricity in Russia and around the world, and led to several proposed nuclear power plants being delayed.
FT 13th Oct 2009 more >>
Iran
Britain froze business ties with an Iranian bank and state-run shipping firm yesterday, citing fears they were involved in helping the Islamic Republic to develop nuclear weapons.
Herald 13th Oct 2009 more >>
Daily Mail 13th Oct 2009 more >>
North Korea
North Korea may be preparing to launch more short-range missiles, one day after it fired five off its east coast, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency has said.
Telegraph 13th Oct 2009 more >>
Trident
Letter: The SNP has never made any secret of its uncompromising opposition to the existence of the Trident missile base in the Firth of Clyde.
This is claimed by the unionist parties to be a “nuclear deterrent”, although it is manifestly, a “first-strike” system directed against an unidentified enemy. Which enemy of Scotland is it supposed to deter?
Scotsman 13th Oct 2009 more >>
The Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, is reported to be considering a proposal to scrap a quarter of the nuclear warheads owned by the British government.
Ekklesia 12th Oct 2009 more >>
