New nukes
New objectives for energy efficiency and renewables are expected to be set out in the energy white paper next month, as the government launches its next package of measures to cut carbon di-oxide emissions from businesses and consumers. But the government will be unable to make a clear commitment to what was to have been the heart of the policy: the framework for new nuclear power stations to encourage the private sector to invest.
FT 16th April 2007
Iran
IRAN said yesterday it would seek bids in the next few days for two new nuclear power plants and will partly run them on fuel produced at home, a process the West fears could lead to material for building atomic bombs.
Scotsman 16th April 2007
British Energy
BRITISH Energy (BE) has received expressions of interest from companies looking to share in projects to build new nuclear power stations. The disclosure was made at a Royal Society of Edinburgh meeting to discuss the future of the energy industry in Scotland. Last year, the society issued a report warning that, unless decisions were taken now to build new power stations, Scotland could face electricity black-outs by 2015.
Scotsman 16th April 2007
North Korea
The US yesterday called on North Korea to act within days on its pledge to halt its nuclear weapons programme. North Korea failed to meet a Saturday deadline to shut down and seal its bomb-making nuclear reactor. US Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill said Washington was prepared “to hold on for a few more days” after his Chinese counterpart, Wu Dawei, asked the US for patience during Beijing talks.
Herald 16th April 2007
Submarines
Russia launched its first new generation nuclear submarine since the fall of the Soviet Union on Sunday, as the Kremlin seeks to upgrade its undersea nuclear strike force.
Reuters 15th April 2007
