Hinkley
HINKLEY Point B nuclear power station is to shut down after cracks in one of the reactors were found to be worse than first thought. Jubilant anti-nuclear campaigners have claimed the move could signal the end of Hinkley Point. As reported in the County Gazette two weeks ago, bosses at the station, owned by British Energy, brought forward a three-yearly statutory inspection of one of the plant’s nuclear reactors as a prudent measure following the discovery of cracks in an identical reactor at Hunterston plant, Ayrshire. The cracks were first discovered in boiler tubes last month, but an in-depth inspection has found more serious damage. Now, British Energy has said it has begun preparations to shut down the second Hinkley B reactor after decided to bring forward an inspection.
Somerset County Gazette 19th Oct 2006
British Energy stopped a second 610-megawatt reactor at its Hinkley Point B nuclear power plant at 0900 GMT on Thursday for boiler checks, a spokesman for the company said. It also said it would have to stop a second reactor at Hunterston, but that unit was still running on THursday afternoon.
Reuters 19th Oct 2006
New Nukes
Letter from Nick Marshall: We know that nuclear power produces more greenhouse gases and is far more damaging to the environment than many types of renewable energy. We know that the government’s pro-nuclear stance is a result of corporate and trade union lobbying rather than rational analysis of the options. And we know that renewables will be able to fill the gap in electricity supply far more quickly and cheaply than nuclear. So why are we even considering resurrecting this dinosaur industry?
Scotsman 19th Oct 2006
Areva, the world’s leading maker of nuclear reactors, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries of Japan, agreed on Thursday to develop jointly a third-generation nuclear power plant and new types of reactors. The tie-up between the two companies is intended to bolster their competitiveness in the face of Toshiba’s recent $5.4bn acquisition of Westinghouse, the US nuclear reactor unit of British Nuclear Fuels.
FT 20th Oct 2006
International Herald Tribune 20th Oct 2006
North Korea
North Korea’s nuclear test was a “serious provocation” and poses a serious security threat, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said at a press conference in China.
Sky News 20th Oct 2006
Hopes are high that China could discourage the North from carrying out an apparent threat to stage a second atomic blast.
Herald 20th Oct 2006
China delivered a blunt message to North Korea yesterday when it told its leader, Kim Jong-il, that he must not proceed with a second nuclear weapons test.
Telegraph 20th Oct 2006
Dounreay
OPERATORS OF the Dounreay nuclear site in Caithness yesterday revealed that 500 jobs are likely to go in the next five years—and that decommissioning could end before the agreed date of 2033. At the same time, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) announced it is to invest an extra £12 million in Caithness and Sutherland over the next three years to help diversify the area’s economy.
Dundee Courier 20th Oct 2006
Trident
Fresh evidence that work on testing a nuclear warhead is being planned at the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston has been uncovered by anti-nuclear campaigners. The disclosure could leave the Prime Minister open to allegations of deceiving Parliament. Tony Blair promised MPs that they will have a parliamentary debate before the Government gives the go-ahead for a replacement for Britain’s Trident nuclear weapon system.
Independent 20th Oct 2006
A group of Cumbrian Peace activists are heading to Faslane for a Haloween protest.
Carlisle News and Star 19th Oct 2006
BNG
An Ulverston firm has won a £3m contract to supply engineering services to BNG at Sellafield and Chapelcross.
North West Evening Mail 19th Oct 2006
Sellafield
The operator of the Sellafield nuclear reprocessing plant was fined £500,000 yesterday following a radioactive leak.
Lakeland Today 19th Oct 2006
