New Nukes
The length of time to make a decision on approving new nuclear power stations could be cut down to just three months. Energy Minister Charles Hendry promised the coalition Government’s changes to the planning system will not mean plans for new reactors will suffer long delays. And he also said it is considering compensating communities with sites nearby, which could be worth tens of millions of pounds a year for places near Hinkley Point in Somerset, and Oldbury, South Gloucestershire.
Bristol Evening Post 14th July 2010 more >>
Nuclear Waste
Sweden plans to encapsulate depleted fuel rods – unlike France there is no reprocessing here – in copper-coated cast-iron canisters. Some 6,000 of these boxes will be required for the waste from existing power stations, but their number is due to increase following the decision by Sweden on 17 June to gradually replace its 10 reactors. After being stored for 40 years in special pools, where part of the residual heat wears off, each canister will be set into a cavity, subsequently plugged with bentonite, a rock that swells up in a moist environment and stops water from circulating. But will that be sufficient to contain the radiation for 100,000 years?
Guardian 14th July 2010 more >>
Supply Chain
THE North West Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) has been appointed to co-ordinate support to British businesses by the MAS service nationwide to help them seize commercial opportunities from the rapidly expanding civil nuclear market.
Liverpool Dail Post 14th July 2010 more >>
Tritium
The risks of tritium could be undervalued because it could be bound into the DNA of cells, according to experts who participated in a White Paper published by the French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) . Tritium may be combined with certain cellular components, even DNA, said the experts noting reports of tritium measurements made in the UK, including Sellafield. “In Cardiff Bay, the tritium concentration in marine fauna is 1,000-10,000 times that of seawater” he said. At Cardiff, “organic molecules containing tritium were released into the sea” which may explain this concentration. “In the case of Sellafield, tritium concentrations in marine fauna concentration were only increased by a factor of 10, but only tritiated water was released.” Faced with these issues, the Director-General of the Autorite de Surete Nucleaire (ASN), Jean-Christophe Niel, wants the investigation “on new approaches in relation to possible hereditary effects”. After the publication of the White Paper of tritium, the ASN intends to establish a “monitoring committee” and calls on nuclear operators to control their (tritium) emissions. ASN’s action plan also provides for the monitoring of various forms of tritium in the environment and for assessing their impact.
Le Monde 8th July 2010 more >>
White Paper published by the French ASN (Autorite de Securite Nucleaire= French Nuclear Safety Authority). This White Paper has 28 individual chapters on tritium. (3 are translated into English.)
ASN 8th July 2010 more >>
Also see the French IRSN (Instiute de Radioprotection et Surete Nucleaire) which has published at various dates in 2009 and 2010, not one but six major research reports on tritium http://www.irsn.fr/FR/Actualites_presse/Actualites/Pages/20100709_rapports_IRSN_etat_connaissances_tritium.aspx
Nuclear Research
Uranium nitride, a nuclear fuel that might one day offer a more efficient alternative to the uranium and plutonium oxides now used, has been given a boost by research that has illuminated its reactive properties. The threat of climate change and uncertain fossil fuel prices have made nuclear power a tempting option for meeting some of the world’s future energy needs. The nuclear industry today uses oxides of uranium and plutonium, but some chemists think they could one day be replaced with uranium nitrides.
New Scientist 13th July 2010 more >>
Sellafield
Letter from Marianne Birkby; Sellafield uses the equivalent of Millom, Barrow and Ulverston’s fresh water put together every day. Over four million gallons are abstracted daily from Wastwater, Britain’s favourite view, to prevent the high level liquid wastes from boiling. The industry pays exactly nothing apart from an abstraction license. While Cumbrians are urged to save water and struggling to meet higher water utility bills, Sellafield cools its high level liquid wastes with Lakeland water for free, using more water than any other industrial user in Cumbria.
Big Issue 12th July 2010 more >>
Dungeness
Dungeness could be back on the list of potential new nuclear sites after MP Damian Collins raised the issue in a debate at Westminster. The site had been ruled out by the last government due to concerns over the potential environmental impact on the unique shingle peninsula, largely based on conservation body Natural England’s recommendation.
Your Shepway News 8th July 2010 more >>
Hinkley
EDF Energy has launched a stage 2 public consultation process for its ’preferred proposals’ for the development of Hinkley Point C new nuclear power station. The discussion process will last for 12 weeks – from 9 July to 4 Oct.
The Engineer 12th July 2010 more >>
Areva
Interview with Anne Lauvergeon CEO of Areva
Charlie Rose, In Business 6th July 2010 more >>
US
Gerry Pollet, executive director of Heart of America Northwest, which describes itself as a watchdog group focused on Hanford, will be giving evidence to the Nuclear Waste Commission set up by Obama. Mr. Pollet’s prepared testimony argues that Hanford has deeper problems than the possible demise of Yucca Mountain. Even if Yucca had opened as planned 10 years ago, it would not have enough space for all of Hanford’s wastes, he argues. The Energy Department is trying to build a factory at Yucca that will take liquid wastes and mix them with molten glass to produce a solid, as a factory at another bomb plant in South Carolina is already doing. But at the moment, there is no final resting place for these “vitrified” wastes.
New York Times 12th July 2010 more >>
Iran
An Iranian nuclear scientist who appeared in the US and claimed he had been abducted by the CIA has now left the US, Iran’s foreign ministry says. Iranian officials, who claim Shahram Amiri was abducted last year, told state media he had left the US. In Washington, the US state department has insisted the scientist came to the country of his own free will.
BBC 14th July 2010 more >>
An Iranian nuclear scientist who was missing for over a year amid claims that he had been abducted by the CIA surfaced today at the Pakistani embassy in Washington, apparently asking to be returned home.
Guardian 14th July 2010 more >>
Scotsman 14th July 2010 more >>
Telegraph 14th July 2010 more >>
Daily Mail 14th May 2010 more >>
Shahram Amiri, the Iranian scientist who took refuge in the Pakistani embassy in the United States today, is a nuclear physicist in his early 30s.
Guardian 14th July 2010 more >>
Renewables
The Egyptian Electricity Ministry has unveiled plans to build a new $700m 100MW solar power plant between 2012 and 2017 that should further establish the country as one of the leading developers of utility-scale solar plants. According to reports in the local Al-Ahram newspaper, the solar power project at Kom Ombo, near the Aswan High Dam hydro-electric plant, will be financed by a number of international institutions, including the African Development Fund and the World Bank. Additional finance is also expected to be provided through the UN’s Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) carbon offsetting scheme. The project is part of a five-year plan running from 2012-2017 designed to establish the Egypt as one of the top generators of solar energy in North Africa, electricity ministry undersecretary Aktham Abou el-Ella told news agency Reuters.
Guardian 12th July 2010 more >>
Trident
BRITAIN’S fleet of nuclear submarines could be reduced to save money, but the renewal of the Trident system represented good value for money, said Defence Secretary Liam Fox. Dr Fox said the number of submarines may be cut from four to three if it could be done while maintaining the UK’s “continuous at-sea” deterrence, but any decisions on reducing the fleet would not be taken until 2014/15.
Scotsman 14th July 2010 more >>
Telegraph 14th July 2010 more >>
Nearly three-quarters of opinion formers in Britain think the government should either scrap the country’s nuclear weapons or look for a cheaper alternative, according to a poll published on Tuesday.
Reuters 13th July 2010 more >>