New Nukes
E.ON AG, the German utility, has identified two greenfield sites in Kent, southeast England, as potential locations for nuclear power stations, the London-based Times reported, citing no one. The company is considering its oil-fired power station at the Isle of Grain, near Sheerness, and its coal-fired plant at Kingsnorth, near Ashford, for possible nuclear reactor sites, according to the Times. E.ON would prefer to develop new reactors on existing nuclear sites owned by either British Energy Group Plc or the U.K. government through the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, the Times reported.
Bloomberg 20th May 2008 more >>
E.ON, the German utility, has earmarked two greenfield sites in Kent as possible locations for new nuclear power stations. The company is considering using its existing oil-fired power station at the Isle of Grain, near Sheerness, and its coal-fired plant at Kingsnorth, near Ashford, as sites to develop nuclear reactors. The Department for Business will assess all of the proposed sites for new nuclear plants and will open a public consultation on a draft list next spring.
Times 20th May 2008 more >>
Gordon Brown yesterday signalled a new determination to defend Britain’s hard-pressed consumers and motorists when he denounced the oil cartel Opec as a scandal and called for the EU and the G8 to break down its control, saying it was holding back the development of the world economy. Brown’s tough remarks in a Q&A session did not spell out how he would like Opec reformed, but the most practical way of breaking up its control is for developed countries to increase energy efficiency and shift to nuclear or to renewables.
Guardian 20th May 2008 more >>
British Energy
The owner of two Lancashire nuclear reactors has confirmed it is in talks over a multi-billion pound takeover. British Energy, which runs Heysham One and Two reactors, near Morecambe, has confirmed it has received two proposals for its portfolio of eight nuclear power stations and one coal-fired station. French firms EDF and Electrabel-SUEZ and German-Spanish groups RWE and Iberdrola are reported to be among the “several parties” wanting to make an £11 billion offer for the firm, including the government’s 35% stake.
Lancashire Evening Post 20th May 2008 more >>
Hinkley
The Westcountry’s nuclear power station is still operating well below capacity because of cracked pipes – more than 17 months after the problem was revealed. It emerged in December 2006 that Hinkley Point B in Somerset needed urgent repairs to boiler pipes. Although the plant’s running capacity was reduced to about 60 per cent, British Energy said at the time it expected the plant to be back to 100 per cent capacity by March 2008. But confirmation that the faults will continue to drastically impinge on the output of the station until the plant is expected to close in 2016 could have implications for the promised future expansion of nuclear energy in the region, warn campaigners.
Western Morning News 19th May 2008 more >>
Proliferation
George Monbiot: Cluster bombs can be legally used because the British government helped to block an international ban in 2006: it is still holding out against an outright ban at the current talks in Dublin. The government has undermined another international peace agreement – the nuclear non-proliferation treaty – by deciding to renew the Trident missile programme.
Guardian 20th May 2008 more >>
Netherlands
The Netherlands needs to consider the option of nuclear power, in order to meet its emissions targets, according to the Financial Times, which quoted the Dutch economics minister, Maria van der Hoeven.
Energy Business Review 19th May 2008 more >>
North Korea
North Korea appears close to making a long-overdue declaration of its nuclear programs, the top U.S. negotiator with Pyongyang said on Monday in an upbeat assessment after months of difficult negotiations.
Reuters 20th May 2008 more >>
