New Nukes
At present, three consortia are involved in the development of new nuclear power stations. The first plants are due to start operating in late 2017 or early 2018, with a new station then coming online every 18-24 months for many years after that. Preparation work is already underway, with EDF Energy having submitted a planning application to begin preliminary work at Hinkley Point.
Construction Bytes 17th Jan 2011 more >>
Oldbury
Charles Hendry visit.
You Tube13th Jan 2011 more >>
Sellafield
Sellafield workers have achieved another significant milestone in the clean-up of the site. A four-year programme to decommission the high active south outer cell in the Primary Separation Plant has been finished. The Primary Separation Plant was constructed in the early 1950s and is one of the many historic nuclear plants undergoing decommissioning at Sellafield. The plant originally carried out the first stage of reprocessing fuel from the Windscale pile reactors, which were developed to produce materials for the UK’s defence programme.
Cumberland News 17th January 2011 more >>
Planning
Today is a momentous day in the life of the Planning Act regime – the first ever public meeting held for an application took place. This morning I attended the first ‘preliminary meeting’ to be held under the regime, for the Covanta energy from waste plant in Bedfordshire. There were about 100 people present for what the lead commissioner, Paul Hudson, described as ‘an unusual and significant event in planning history’.
Bircham Dyson Bell 17th Jan 2011 more >>
Companies
Toshiba Corp and heavy machinery maker IHI Corp said that they have formed a joint venture (JV) to build steam turbine parts for nuclear power plants for the domestic and overseas markets. The JV will enable Toshiba to enhance its turbine manufacturing capacity and strengthen its nuclear power plant business supply chain while it will help IHI in extending its operations to major components of turbines, alongside the manufacture of nuclear reactor pressure vessels and containment vessels.
Energy Business Review 18th Jan 2010 more >>
World Nuclear News 17th Jan 2010 more >>
GE-Hitachi Joint Venture hope to lead nuclear revival.
Reuters TV 17th Jan 2011 more >>
Egypt
As the expected launch of a tender for the construction of Egypt’s first nuclear power plant approaches, two of the country’s largest contractors have announced a joint venture to bid on nuclear power projects in Egypt and the Middle East.
World Nuclear News 17th Jan 2011 more >>
Iran
The Dimona complex in the Negev desert is famous as the heavily guarded heart of Israel’s never-acknowledged nuclear arms program, where neat rows of factories make atomic fuel for the arsenal. Over the past two years, according to intelligence and military experts familiar with its operations, Dimona has taken on a new, equally secret role as a critical testing ground in a joint American and Israeli effort to undermine Iran’s efforts to make a bomb of its own.
New York Times 15th Jan 2011 more >>
Russian scientists have warned that Iran faces its own Chernobyl disaster if it insists on keeping to its timetable for the Bushehr nuclear power station to produce its first electricity by this summer.
First Post 17th Jan 2011 more >>
Kazakhstan
The world’s nuclear watchdog has given its blessing to plans to restart farming on a site in Kazakhstan, where the Soviet Union detonated the nuclear equivalent of a thousand Hiroshimas.
Telegraph 18th Jan 2011 more >>
Submarines
THE Ministry of Defence has formally accepted ownership of the £1.2bn nuclear-powered HMS Astute submarine. The boat was judged fit for purpose and formally handed over to the Royal Navy – capping 15 years of work stretching back to the early concept designs.
North West Evening Mail 17th Jan 2011 more >>
Renewables
THE Scottish Government has approved a new hydro electric scheme that can power 2,500 homes in Sutherland. The 4.5 Megawatt scheme on the Maldie Burn, near Kylestrome on the Reay Forest Estate, will create about 25 jobs during construction. Developer RWE Npower Renewables, submitted an application in 2009.
Scotsman 18th Jan 2011 more >>
