New Nukes
Vincent de Rivaz, the chief executive of EDF Energy, has claimed that the UK is more likely to build new nuclear power stations under the coalition Government, despite the new energy minister’s opposition to atomic power. However, his optimistic comments come as industry experts cast serious doubt about Britain’s ability to build any nuclear power at all, as the coalition has pledged not to subsidise the construction of 10 new plants.
Telegraph 16th May 2010 more >>
Fears that the UK’s fight against climate change will be lost in the confusion of the Liberal-Conservative coalition were underlined yesterday when divisions between the two parties were exposed over nuclear power, renewable energy, airport expansion and offshore oil drilling. It emerged that the new Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne – one of the most senior Lib Dems in the Cabinet – is to cede responsibility for civil nuclear energy policy to his Tory deputy, Charles Hendry, who will steer any legislation through Parliament. Mr Huhne is opposed to nuclear power on public spending grounds. While the Lib Dems and Tories have agreed that there will be no state funding for a new generation of nuclear power stations, the industry’s powerful lobby said it expected there would be no “slowing down” in the nuclear programme under Mr Hendry. The Lib Dems agreed to abstain on any Commons votes on nuclear power – meaning any legislation is likely to be passed. Experts have expressed fears that although there would be no public funding for new power stations, there is a risk of state subsidy “by stealth” to achieve the 2017 target by which the private sector and civil servants want the stations to be operational
Independent 16th May 2010 more >>
THE government is planning to rig the carbon trading market in a move that will encourage the creation of nuclear power plants and push up energy bills. Details buried in the coalition agreement reveal the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats are to set a floor under the carbon price. The move would raise electricity bills for households and businesses, and, in effect, subsidise nuclear power. Industry analysts, however, said the commitment to fix the carbon price amounted to a subsidy by the back door, which would be paid directly by energy users. “Putting a floor under the power price would effectively transfer risk from the nuclear developer to the electricity consumer,” said Peter Atherton, head of European utilities at Citigroup.
Sunday Times 16th May 2010 more >>
Hinkley
The anticipated date for the Hinkley C planning application to the Infrastructure Planning Commission has slipped by four months from 2nd August to 1st December. This is the second delay in the application which was originally expected at the beginning of July.
IPC Projects page with new date for anticipated Hinkley C application: more >>
Bradwell
I was bought up near Bradwell nuclear power station in England. Their PR department painted a picture of clean, scientific-based efficiency that encourages us to relax and leave it all to the experts. My father served in the nearby fire station. Twice they were alerted by farmers near Bradwell power station that canisters marked as containing radioactive materials mysteriously appeared in their fields; no explanations offered. In 1966, twenty natural uranium fuel rods were stolen from Bradwell power station; no explanations offered. In February 2009 the operators of that nuclear power station were found guilty of letting radioactive materials leak for over a decade – but they never checked it.
Sun2Surf 14th May 2010 more >>
EDF
EDF, the French utilities company, is reviewing its sustainability-led marketing strategy. This has included CSR-driven campaigns such as ‘Green Britain Day’, which encouraged consumers to ‘do something green for the team’. The brand, which spends more than £14m a year on UK advertising, has issued a tender for its pan-European ad account. This has been handled by Euro RSCG since 2006, when it took over the business from Publicis following a pitch. The review covers marketing in the UK, France, Belgium, Poland and Hungary. The tender is for a four-year contract.
Marketing Magazine 11th May 2010 more >>
US
Former Saudi intelligence chief Prince Turki al-Faisal faulted on Saturday the US and European approach in trying to halt Iran’s alleged efforts to build a nuclear weapon. “The discussions on Iran’s nuclear ambitions started off on the wrong foot. The carrot and stick approach does not work,” he said. For one, he said, the US and Europe have had double-standards in dealing with Iran on the one hand, and other nuclear countries on the other.
Middle East Online 16th May 2010 more >>
Iran
Iran talked up chances of a deal on a nuclear fuel swap on Saturday, the day after U.N. Security Council power Russia said the likelihood of Brazil brokering a deal were 30 percent at best.
Yahoo 15th May 2010 more >>
Brazil’s president is in Iran to hold talks with its leaders in what is seen as a last ditch attempt to find a compromise over the nuclear issue.
BBC 16th May 2010 more >>
A BRITISH chemicals firm is involved in a secret MI5 inquiry into the illegal export to Iran of material that could make a radioactive “dirty bomb”. HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) raided the Essex home of the firm’s former sales manager after a tip that potentially lethal chemicals, including cobalt, were sold to Iran last summer. The trade went ahead despite warnings from Whitehall officials that it posed an “unacceptable risk of diversion to a weapons of mass destruction programme of concern”.
Sunday Times 16th May 2010 more >>
Faslane and Coulport
The Ministry of Defence is struggling to deal with hundreds of safety blunders, pollution leaks and environmental lapses at nuclear weapons bases on the Firth of Clyde. Official reports obtained by the Sunday Herald reveal that Faslane and Coulport have been plagued by nuclear accidents, radioactive contamination and fires over the last two years. Worryingly, there have been unspecified “shortfalls” in the safe management of nuclear bombs. And rules meant to protect people against asbestos and even Legionnaires’ disease have been frequently broken.
Sunday Herald 16th May 2010 more >>
robedwards.com (fuller report, with the released documents available to download) 16th May 2010 more >>
Climate
Declaring that his government will be the “greenest ever”, David Cameron has said Whitehall’s carbon emissions will be cut by 10 per cent in the next 12 months. It has also , cancelled Heathrow’s third runway and ruled out expansion of Gatwick and Stansted airports. All excellent news, clearly, but the Lib-Con coalition agreement has some glaring green omissions. The Tories were mealy-mouthed during the campaign about renewable energy, so how will they ensure the necessary investment? Chris Huhne is insisting on no nuclear subsidies – stealthy or otherwise – which, in effect, would end the atomic debate, but his pro-nuclear Tory deputy, Charles Hendry, and the nuclear lobby may have other views.
Independent on Sunday 16th May 2010 more >>
