Liabilities Fund
The Department for Business and Enterprise announced the appointment of Anne Richards and James Sassoon as Trustees with responsibility for the Nuclear Liabilities Fund (NLF). The Trust was set up to oversee the management of the Fund established at the time of the privatisation of British Energy to pay for certain long-term decommissioning costs of BE’s nuclear plants.
GNN 13th Dec 2007 more >>
New nukes
Russia’s new civil nuclear energy giant, Atomenergoprom, is seeking partners so it can take part in the replacement of the UK’s ageing reactors. The company, which already supplies fuel to the UK nuclear programme, is keen to play a significant role in any moves to build and operate new plants, said Sergei Novikov, a spokesman for Russia’s Atomic Energy Agency in Moscow.
Times 14th Dec 2007 more >>
Japan
Japan’s total nuclear plant utilisation rate inched up from a four-year low in November ahead of the peak winter demand season, but the operation rate stayed low due to the extended closure of the world’s largest nuclear plant.
Reuters 14th Dec 2007 more >>
US
Illinois-based nuclear operator Exelon Nuclear has signed a major agreement with GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy for large forgings and component fabrication for two next-generation Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor nuclear reactors, should the company decide to build a new nuclear power plant in Texas.
Energy Business Review 14th Dec 2007 more >>
Duke Energy Corp said on Thursday it filed with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to build a two-unit nuclear power plant in Cherokee County, South Carolina.
Reuters 13th Dec 2007 more >>
AFX 13th Dec 2007 more >>
Iran
Letter from Iranian Ambassador: Recent reports and comment about the US national intelligence estimate on Iran’s peaceful nuclear programme seem to carry critical significance for many observers. However, the U-turn on Iran by US spy agencies – the biggest since the Iraq debacle five years ago – was not a surprise for Iranians as it was in the United States or for America’s allies. This is an important move if the Americans now adjust their official stance to concrete realities, as it will help rectify feverish speculation. It is good for the American people, for America’s allies and for the rest of the world, as it diminishes the threat to peace and security.
Guardian 14th Dec 2007 more >>
RUSSIA and Iran have settled all differences over the construction of the Bushehr nuclear power station, the Russian contractor building it said yesterday.
Scotsman 14th Dec 2007 more >>
BBC 13th Dec 2007 more >>
Gordon Brown insisted that questions remained over Iran’s intentions despite a US intelligence report suggesting Tehran had abandoned its nuclear weapons programme.
Channel 4 News 2007 more >>
Scotland
Letter from John Robertson MP: Hunterston would not get an extension if there were any danger or concern regarding safety. Nuclear power in Scotland, as in the UK, operates to the highest safety standards and has a safety record second to none, and no extension would be considered that threatened that safety record. Without nuclear power, the Scottish economy, manufacturing investment and employment opportunities will be seriously damaged. The fact is we need a core source of supply and, while there is a place for renewable technology within a balanced energy policy, it is not a core source of supply because of its intermittency.
Letter from Chris Ballance (ex-Green MSP): Worldwide supplies of high-grade uranium are forecast to run out during the lifetime of current reactors. As supplies diminish, so prices will rise and lower grades will have to be used, with consequent extra enrichment costs. Decommissioning Hunterston will take 100 years, at a cost to future generations we can only guess. The long-term storage methods for radioactive waste are unknown.
Herald 14th Dec 2007 more >>
Climate
Anti-poverty campaigner Bob Geldof joined the global warming debate on Thursday with a call for the rapid expansion of nuclear power, describing renewable energy as a “Mickey Mouse” answer to the climate crisis.
Reuters 13th Dec 2007 more >>
World climate talks edged towards a compromise agreement today, with delegates trying to agree a form of words on emission cuts that satisfies Europe and the US. Officials said good progress had been made on almost all sections of the so-called Bali roadmap, though a deadlock remained on whether industrial countries should pledge to cut carbon pollution by 25-40% up to 2020.
Guardian 14th Dec 2007 more >>
Switzerland
A consortium of three Swiss energy utilities has been formed, called Resun, with the intention of replacing Beznau and Muhleberg nuclear stations by 2020.
World Nuclear News 13th Dec 2007 more >>
Bulgaria
Bulgaria will be forced to import electricity soon as it is experiencing energy shortages after partially closing its only nuclear power plant at Kozloduy last year, the daily Trud reported.
AFX 13th Dec 2007 more >>
Middle East
The United States favours denuclearisation of the Middle East in principle, provided that a global peace has been reached there and control is imposed on Iran’s nuclear capacity, the US ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency told a debate in Dubai.
Middle East Online 13th Dec 2007 more >>
Renewables
Maria McCaffery chief executive of the British Wind Energy Association: While it’s true that the government has been talking about a significant expansion of offshore wind for a long time, this announcement is a decisive step forward. Instead of just talking about the principle of expansion they are at last now starting a real process to deliver it. The wind industry is extremely excited about the government’s announcement of the latest round of sites for the next offshore wind farms. As you report, the plans “would give Britain 33 Gigawatts of offshore wind power by 2020. Germany, by contrast, has 22GW and Spain 12GW with a target of 40GW.” Although 33GW would be an extremely ambitious target, we believe this can be reached with the 20-year pipeline of schemes that we now expect to come forward.
Guardian 14th Dec 2007 more >>
