Horizon
RUSSIAS interest in Britains nuclear renaissance has prompted a series of high-level Downing Street meetings as concerns mount within the intelligence services about its potential involvement. As the UK prepares to build up to 12 reactors on eight sites, Rosatom, Russias state atomic energy agency, is eyeing a stake in Horizon, the joint venture put up for sale last month by German utilities RWE and E.ON. Horizon had planned to build new nuclear reactors on Anglesey and at Oldbury, Gloucestershire. Rosatom has reportedly hired KPMG to examine nuclear purchases in the UK. The move would be controversial, despite Russias insistence that it has overhauled its nuclear technologies since the Chernobyl disaster in the Ukraine in 1986.
Express 15th April 2012 more >>
Japan
Fukui Prefecture will determine whether to restart two idled reactors at Kansai Electric Power Co.’s Oi power plant after consulting the prefectural assembly and the town’s residents, Fukui Gov. Issei Nishikawa warned industry minister Yukio Edano on Saturday.
Japan Times 15th April 2012 more >>
North Korea
There is a new fear in Seoul and Tokyo that North Korea will find comfort by accelerating the development of a nuclear weapon at its facility at Punggye-ri in the north-east of the country. This was the site for two previous tests in October 2006 and May 2009, and already US satellite surveillance has picked up enhanced activity hinting at a renewal of nuclear testing. Two factors suggest a test is imminent. The North Korean regime has long been adamant they have every right to develop nuclear weapons and the fact they have tested two bombs in the past suggests they are capable of detonating a third. With last week’s missile failure they will now want to restore “face” by succeeding with a fresh technological venture.
Sunday Herald 15th April 2012 more >>
Iran
Western diplomats hope the talks, in Istanbul, the first between Iran and the six powers United States, France, Russia, China, Germany and Britain in 15 months will show a readiness from Tehran to start to discuss nuclear issues substantively. That, they say, would mark a big change in Iran’s attitude from the last meeting when it refused even to talk about its nuclear programme and could be enough for scheduling a second round of talks next month, possibly in Baghdad. Such an outcome could, at least for the time being, dampen speculation that Israel might launch military strikes on Iranian atomic sites. The morning round of talks was “completely different” from the previous meeting 15 months ago and Iranian chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili had not stated the kind of preconditions that he did in the last meeting in early 2011, a diplomat said. “He seems to have come with an objective to get into a process which is a serious process,” said the envoy, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “I would say it has been a useful morning’s work.”
Sunday Herald 15th April 2012 more >>
Iran and six world powers claimed on Saturday that they had made significant progress in talks in Istanbul on the Iranian nuclear programme and said they would start talking about concrete steps towards a negotiated solution to the crisis at the next meeting, in Baghdad on 23 May.
Observer 15th April 2012 more >>
Scotland on Sunday 15th April 2012 more >>
BBC 15th April 2012 more >>
Daily Mail 14th April 2012 more >>
Kumi Naidoo: It is hard to see how any plan to bomb Iran into submission will do anything other than protract the problem and threaten to ignite a powder keg of conflict in the Middle East. As ‘The Economist’ has noted, bombing Iran will not eliminate the nuclear threat. In truth, only a world free of all nuclear technology will help to build a workable trust on which to build a lasting peace. In Istanbul, governments should dare to disrupt the endless cycle of hypocrisy, accusation and counter-accusation and take real steps towards peace. If we are really concerned about human security, if we are really concerned about our children and grandchildren’s peace and security, then we should be mustering all investments to move us in a direction of green, clean, renewable energy options. We must recognise that our quest for nuclear energy, the attendant threat of nuclear proliferation, and our reliance on fossil fuel-based energy have been the major drivers of conflict, war and flawed foreign policies.
Greenpeace 14th April 2012 more >>
Nuclear Weapons
Letter: YOUR editorial on 8 April asks Will the SNP embrace Nato? You quote Professor Malcolm Chalmers who thinks that the existing SNP policy to withdraw from Nato with its ready-to-use nuclear weapons would be faced with hostile US opinion as though that should decide the issue. He also says that neighbouring Nato countries would not like an independent Scotland to free-ride on their security protection. However, there is mounting evidence that the possession of nuclear weapons has resulted in more global insecurity since the end of the Cold War. As a small nation we would be much more secure outside a nuclear-armed Nato that is trying to police the rest of the world.
Scotland on Sunday 15th April 2012 more >>
Green Deal
A powerful group of Conservative ministers has launched an attempt to torpedo the coalitions flagship green home improvement scheme in a move which will spark a major new rift with the Liberal Democrats. The group of ministers which sees George Osborne, the Chancellor, as its leader includes two ministers at the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG), Eric Pickles, the Communities Secretary, and Grant Shapps, the housing minister, as well as Chris Grayling, the employment minister. They want the Government to abandon not just the compulsory tax element of the scheme, but the entire Green Deal. Experts have also warned that the deal risks causing havoc in the private rented sector because landlords would be breaking the law if they rented out accommodation which did not meet strict new energy efficiency requirements.
Telegraph 14th April 2012 more >>
The DIY giant is one of a number of businesses set to reap multi-million profits from the new Green Deal, which will see homeowners borrow up to £10,000 to fit boilers, insulation, double-glazing, doors and other eco-friendly features. However, there will be fears that private sector energy assessors employed by B&Q and other firms may exaggerate the measures needed in the property to maximise their profits. These green assessors are also under no obligation to offer homeowners any products other than those sold by their company. Although the Green Deal is set to be launched in October, The Sunday Telegraph has today revealed that opposition is growing amongst Tory ministers.
Telegraph 14th April 2012 more >>
Geoffrey Lean: No one much ever gets excited about energy efficiency. Important though it undoubtedly is, it rarely hits the headlines, frightens the horses, or disturbs the slumbers of the great. And despite soaring fuel prices, it still lurks low in the priorities of most householders and industrialists. But not this week. Suddenly it was on the front pages. Homeowners stood by to repel bureaucratic invaders of their castles, brandishing a new tax. And in Downing Street, senior sources reported, a senior adviser to the Prime Minister pressed, panic-stricken, for a policy adopted by the whole Government after due process, to be jettisoned on the spot. Yet it seems it was all a tea-cup tempest, the sort of storm that arises apparently from nowhere to clatter the Cabinets crockery. For the supposed conservatory tax turned out neither to affect normal conservatories nor to be anything that could be called a tax: it should cost householders nothing and may well even make them money. But the row dragged one of the Governments least-known flagship policies into the limelight.
Telegraph 13th April 2012 more >>
Renewables
BRITAIN does not need more onshore wind farms, according to the climate change minister. In what will be seen as a shift in strategy, Greg Barker has declared there will be no significant expansion in the number of turbines on land beyond those already in the pipeline. The move comes five months after his department unveiled plans for up to 10,000 extra onshore turbines, prompting an outcry among Tory MPs. More than 100 Conservative backbenchers wrote to the prime minister labelling onshore wind inefficient and attacking the scale of government subsidies to the industry. In an interview with The Sunday Times, Barker claimed the Department of Energy and Climate Change had adopted an unbalanced approach to wind farms in the past and must now look at other options.
Sunday Times 15th April 2012 more >>
THE housing developments are on hold and the tram is no longer heading this way, but the port of Leith is picking up a head of steam as an important cog in the re-industrialisation of Scotland. Charles Hammond, the ports boss, is preparing for the arrival of the biggest catch in its recent history: a £125 million wind turbine plant to be built by Spanish firm Gamesa. It will create 800 jobs on 80 acres and, he hopes, provide a spark to build a new industry in and around Leith and its sister ports. While Leith awaits its latest makeover, Hammond says Dundee is competing with two other locations for a renewables plant to be built by an inward investor whose identity he is sworn to protect. Another project, a foundry operator, is keen on a site in Methil.
Scotland on Sunday 15th April 2012 more >>
Coal
THE public inquiry into the £3 billion coal-fired power station proposed for Hunterston in Ayrshire has been called into question after a new Scottish Government report rejected the need for additional plants anywhere in the country.Report undermines million pound inquiry into Ayrshire Powers Hunterston plans. The government’s new planning monitoring report, which gives its latest views on planning policy, appears to be at odds with its own national planning framework. While the 2009 framework lists the new Hunterston power station as one of 14 national planning priorities, the new report says it, “sees no energy need to increase the number of thermal power plants”. The station’s detractors believe this makes pointless the public inquiry, which was triggered by the conflict between the national planning framework and North Ayrshire Council’s objection. It is tipped to cost upwards of a million pounds.
Herald 15th April 2012 more >>
