New nukes
TWO new nuclear reactors are being planned for Sizewell – and each could be bigger than the existing B station, it emerged last night.
East Anglian Daily Times 12th March 2008 more >>
PLANS to built two new nuclear power stations at Sizewell, as revealed by the EADT yesterday, have been greeted positively by community leaders. The two reactors each of which could be bigger than the existing Sizewell B station, should generate 1,600 megawatts of power, compared with the 1,200 megawatts of Sizewell B, depending on the type of reactor chosen. Costing nearly £6 billion, construction could start in 2013 and be completed by 2018. It is estimated that about 5,000 workers would be on site at the peak of the construction period. The draft proposals unveiled at a community meeting on Tuesday night included twin reactors, a new access road and a beach landing stage to help minimise road deliveries.
East Anglian Daily Press 13th March 2008 more >>
Wylfa
TWO new nuclear power stations could be sited on Anglesey if the private sector and UK government give the green light to a new build programme on land at Wylfa, according to the island’s Labour MP. Albert Owen said he believed the Wylfa site was now a frontrunner for a new station to replace the existing nuclear power plant which, unless it is granted a temporary reprieve, is due to close in 2010.
Daily Post 12th March 2008 more >>
Sellafield
Four sites in and around Sellafield have been earmarked for possible new reactors.
Whitehaven News 13th March 2008 more >>
It will be ten years before the fuel around the centre of the 1957 Windscale Fire is removed.
Whitehaven News 13th March 2008 more >>
Plutonium will leave Sellafield under armed escort bound for France this week.
Whitehaven News 13th March 2008 more >>
The NDA is leaving councillors out when it comes to discussions about who is going to run Sellafield in future.
Whitehaven News 13th March 2008 more >>
Radwaste
Letters regarding Copeland Borough Council’s decision that the Council will decide about a nuclear waste repository.
Whitehaven News 13th March 2008 more >>
Proliferation
A US government-led plan to design small nuclear reactors for deployment in developing countries is continuing despite ongoing fears about security and proliferation risks. The Bush administration has ear-marked $20 million in its 2009 budget toward the US Department of Energy’s efforts to design nuclear power plants in the 250-to-500 megawatt range as part of its Global Nuclear Energy Program (GNEP).
New Scientist 13th March 2008 more >>
Netherlands
A Dutch advisory body is recommending the government keep the option of nuclear power open and review it along with all possible future sources of energy, according to a report released on Thursday. The SER socio-economic advisory body said the cabinet should consider the expansion of nuclear energy in two years when it is due to evaluate its climate policies.
Guardian website 13th March 2008 more >>
Companies
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has convinced his Spanish counterpart to allow EDF to take a 15 to 18 percent stake in Spain’s Iberdrola in exchange for control of some nuclear power plants in France, ABC newspaper reported on Friday.
Reuters 14th March 2008 more >>
North Korea
The United States said on Thursday it wanted a “complete and correct” declaration from North Korea disclosing all the elements of its nuclear activities during talks under way in Switzerland.
Reuters 13th March 2008 more >>
FT 14th March 2008 more >>
France
Electricite de France has threatened to stop delivering used fuel from its nuclear reactors for reprocessing by Areva at its recycling plant in Marcoule, weekly newsmagazine Challenges reported on its web site. The threat comes ahead of a deadline Friday for the two companies to renegotiate financial terms for the fuel recycling, Challenges reported. Talks between EDF and Areva on the terms have dragged on for months, and the negotiations have become “poisoned” in recent weeks.
AFX 13th March 2008 more >>
US
News from the Sunshine State reminds us that nuclear power is only an option for companies with very deep pockets. Or a hand in their customers’ pockets, to be precise. Progress (ha!) Energy have tripled the estimate for the new plant it’s planning to build in Florida, saying that the new price tag will be an eye-watering $17 billion, and they haven’t even got permission to start building yet. How are they going to pay for this? Why, by bumping up bills for its existing customers of course.
Greenpeace 13th March 2008 more >>
Climate
Tony Blair is to lead a new international team to tackle the intractable problem of securing a global deal on climate change which would have the backing of China and America.
Guardian 14th March 2008 more >>
Telegraph 14th March 2008 more >>
