Hinkley
THE clearance of wood and grassland at the site of the proposed new Hinkley C nuclear power station could start as early as this autumn. EDF Energy’s decision to apply to West Somerset Council and the Marine Management Organisation to begin site preparation work before the new build is approved has angered campaigners.
Somerset County Gazette 19th Aug 2010 more >>
Dungeness
UK prompt power shrugged off the higher UK gas prices Thursday and eased following the return to full operations of the 550 MW Dungeness B-21 nuclear reactor and the 490 MW Fiddler’s Ferry-2 coal plant, traders said.
Platts 19th Aug 2010 more >>
One of the two nuclear reactors at Dungeness B power station is finally up and running again, after more than 300,000 hours of repairs. Unit 21, which has been generating power since 1983, provides enough electricity for roughly 750,000 homes. It had been offline for maintenance since November while engineers carried out detailed inspections on the boilers.
Kent Online 19th Aug 2010 more >>
Scotland
DUMFRIES MSP Elaine Murray has welcomed the remarks by Chris Huhne, secretary of state for energy and climate change in the UK government, in which he made clear his support for new nuclear power stations. This is an opportunity for Mr Huhne’s Liberal Democrat colleagues in Scotland to rethink their opposition to new nuclear build. Mr Huhne is reported to have said that his previous position of hostility to new nuclear power stations has been “much misunderstood”, despite saying three years ago that nuclear power is a “tried, tested and failed technology”.
Whitehaven News 19th Aug 2010 more >>
Submarines
PLANS to cut up and scrap nuclear submarines in Devonport are to be scrutinised by the public next autumn. The Herald has learnt that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) is looking to stage its public consultation next year over the controversial proposals. The MoD is considering 12 sites for the storage of redundant submarines and just two, including Plymouth, for the more controversial dismantling work. Plymouth already refits, de-fuels and refuels submarines at Devonport Naval Base. The Submarine Dismantling Project could see 27 de-fuelled nuclear submarines being stored and cut up at Devonport over the next 60 years. City council leaders and anti-nuclear groups have already registered their opposition to Plymouth becoming a “nuclear scrapyard”.
Plymouth Herald 20th Aug 2010 more >>
Nuclear Research
Bam Construction has won a £17.5 million contract to build the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre for the University of Sheffield.
Construction News 19th Aug 2010 more >>
Iran
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, said Wednesday that talks about his country’s nuclear programme will not take place “under the shadow” of threats. The United States and other countries should grasp this opportunity, rein in the rhetoric of military action and return to talks with Iran without delay. The time is ripe to take steps towards a negotiated solution to the Iranian nuclear conundrum.
Guardian 20th Aug 2010 more >>
Many breathless pundits have argued in recent days that the world faces a now-or-never window of opportunity to bomb Iran’s new Bushehr nuclear reactor to neutralize any potential nuclear threat from Tehran.
Christian Science Monitor 19th Aug 2010 more >>
The US government has assured Israel that Iran’s process of converting nuclear material into a working weapon would take at least a year, according to The New York Times.
Telegraph 20th Aug 2010 more >>
Korea
North Korea said it has reached a consensus with China concerning the resumption of international talks on ending its nuclear arms programme, the North’s official news agency reported.
STV 20th Aug 2010 more >>
China’s foreign ministry has said the resumption of six-party talks about North Korea’s nuclear programmes was discussed in Pyongyang this week.
BBC 20th Aug 2010 more >>
India
The Indian announcement last week of the development of a new Agni-II intermediate-range nuclear missile illustrates a growing flexibility in New Delhi’s nuclear force posture. India is entering a new stage of technical sophistication in its nuclear force development as it moves beyond its reliance on air-delivered nuclear gravity bombs to make the short-range Prithvi missile model the core of its operational nuclear arsenal.
Oil Price 19th Aug 2010 more >>
Bulgaria
The Bulgarian government has moved forward the deadline for appointing a new financial consultant for the Belene nuclear project to the end of this month, following a decision to expand nuclear capacity whether a majority investor for the plant will be found or not.
World Nuclear News 19th Aug 2010 more >>
Cambodia
Cambodia is looking into nuclear power as a future energy source to meet rising domestic demand, although construction of a plant is still years away, a top government official said on Friday.
Reuters 20th Aug 2010 more >>
Trident
Former Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell has called for Trident nuclear weapons to be included in the review of Britain’s defence capabilities.
Belfast Telegraph 20th Aug 2010 more >>
Renewsables
The tough environment being faced by many companies in the green energy field was highlighted again today when a British solar power company reported a huge downturn in profits for the first half of the year. A 40% slump in the global price of silicon wafers sent Oxford-based PV Crystalox Solar earnings spinning downwards to €12.4m (£10.2m) compared to €35.2m in the opening six months of 2009. Shares in the company plunged 10% and spread further gloom in a renewable power sector still digesting a €270m first half loss from Vestas, the world’s biggest wind turbine manufacturer, announced on Wednesday.
Guardian 20th Aug 2010 more >>
Climate
Hundreds of climate activists have occupied land at the Royal Bank of Scotland’s headquarters in protest at its multi-billion pound loans to the oil and mining industries, including firms involved in exploiting Canadian tar sands. The protesters cut through a perimeter fence on Wednesday night, erecting scores of tents and marquees on landscaped meadows a few hundred metres from the headquarters building.
Guardian 20th Aug 2010 more >>
Independent 20th Aug 2010 more >>
