New Nukes
Letter: Nuclear is not the answer. Sadly, new Labour ministers and the leadership of trade unions such as Prospect have fallen for the propaganda from the nuclear fission industry, which is better at peddling half-truths than safely operating nuclear facilities. However, we disagree both with your suggestion that nuclear fusion may provide a future answer and the inaccurate assertion that fusion “would produce no radioactive waste.” Fusion power does produce radioactive waste, but a different sort from fission.
Morning Star 19th Apr 2009 more >>
Editorial: Nuclear’s low-carbon nature has been overstated, concentrating largely on power stations’ operation and taking no account of the mining and transport of uranium to Britain and the construction of the new facilities. And its advocates ignore the real dangers related to waste and terrorist threats. The process of nuclear fission leaves radioactive waste that poses a threat to humans and their environment for hundreds of years. It also produces plutonium, which is used to build nuclear warheads.
Morning Star 15th Apr 2009 more >>
Letters: Global new nuclear build cannot contribute to reducing global greenhouse gas emissions. High-grade uranium reserves are finite and will become severely depleted early within the lifetime of a global nuclear build programme. The use of lower-grade uranium will increase nuclear greenhouse gas emissions to the level of gas-fired power generation within the lifetime of the plants.
Scotsman 21st Apr 2009 more >>
Wiltshire’s Euro MP Dr Caroline Jackson has welcomed the Government’s announcement of potential sites for new nuclear power stations. Two of them are in her South West constituency. Dr Jackson, who will be standing down as an MEP at the elections in June, said: “I am absolutely delighted that Oldbury in Gloucestershire and Hinkley Point in Somerset have been chosen and I very much hope that new power stations are built there with the minimum of delay.
Wiltshire Gazette and Herald 20th Apr 2009 more >>
WEALTH created by the nuclear sector in the north west could double over the next decade, with Manchester at the heart of the prosperity, according to a senior industry figure. The government is considering 11 potential sites for new nuclear reactors – three near Sellafield in Cumbria and one at Heysham in Lancashire. The plans could deliver a benefit to the entire north west, with Manchester at the centre of expertise.
Manchester Evening News 20th Apr 2009 more >>
Heysham
HEYSHAM has now been confirmed by the Government as being on a list of 11 sites where a new nuclear power station could be built.
Morecambe Visitior 20th Apr 2009 more >>
Hartlepool
Environmental campaigners have vowed to fight plans for a new reactor at Hartlepool.
Evening Gazette 20th Apr 2009 more >>
EDF
EDF paid investigators to infiltrate the anti-nuclear movement around Europe, according to testimony given in a French judicial investigation. The investigation is looking into whether the state-controlled group condoned illegal practices as part of a surveillance operation
FT 21st Apr 2009 more >>
Renewables
Britain could save up to £12.6bn a year in imports of fossil fuels such as oil, gas and coal by 2020 if it embarks on a large- scale programme of energy efficiency and renewable technologies including wind power and biomass, a study showed yesterday. The report, carried out by Edinburgh-based consultants Delta EE for the Renewable Energy Association (REA), is the first attempt to quantify the economic benefits to Britain of a move to energy efficiency and sustainability, rather than just the costs. The figure for savings is close to 1% of GDP at current levels.
Guardian 21st Apr 2009 more >>
Green New Deal?
The most eye-opening study, by independent consultants Ecofys, looks at the UK’s first fiscal stimulus, revealed in November in the pre-budget report. The study argued that the emissions reductions delivered by the investments in energy efficiency and public transport were more than outweighed by the simultaneous investment in 520 lane miles of new roads. In other words, the package was on balance damaging to the environment.
Guardian 22nd Apr 2009 more >>
France
Workers at France’s nuclear power plants of Dampierre in central France and Chinon in southwestern France extended on Monday a strike which began on April 16, the CGT union said.
Interactive Investor 20th Apr 2009 more >>
Yahoo 20th Apr 2009 more >>
China
China will commence construction of five nuclear plants in 2009, which includes two technologies based on from Westinghouse Electric Company, LLC (Westinghouse) and one technology based on Areva S.A., said Sun Qin, deputy chief of China’s National Energy Agency. The five of them are, Sanmen in Zhejiang province and Haiyang in Shandong, both based on Westinghouse’s AP1000; Taishan in Guangdong province, using Areva technology; Changjiang in Hainan province and Rongcheng in Shandong.
Energy Business Review 20th Apr 2009 more >>
Westinghouse Electric Company, LLC (Westinghouse), its consortium partner The Shaw Group Inc. (Shaw Group), State Nuclear Power Technology Corporation (SNPTC) and Sanmen Nuclear Power Company of China National Nuclear Corporation have completed the first pour of basemat structural concrete for the nuclear island at Sanmen. The Sanmen site is the first of four Westinghouse AP1000 nuclear power plants to be built under a contract signed in 2007.
Energy Business Review 19th Apr 2009 more >>
Korea
A South Korean delegation arrived in North Korea on Tuesday for rare talks between the political rivals that come as regional powers are trying to prevent reclusive Pyongyang from restarting its nuclear arms plant.
Interactive Investor 21st Apr 2009 more >>
Seoul’s huge financial stimulus package pledges 81% for a swath of environmental projects. But activists fear a wave of construction may increase the country’s carbon footprint.
Guardian 21st Apr 2009 more >>
Japan
A senior Japanese politician has called for Japan to discuss allowing nuclear weapons within its pacifist constitution. Shoichi Nakagawa, former finance minister, suggested that Japan should examine the possibility of defending itself from potential attacks from North Korea by obtaining nuclear weapons.
Telegraph 20th Apr 2009 more >>
Iran
Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant has commenced testing stage by dummy fuel, an official said. The loading stage of dummy fuel has been completed and the plant has entered cold test stage. In February 2008, Iran has loaded Bushehr nuclear power plant by dummy fuel rods loaded with lead instead of low-enriched uranium.
Energy Business Review 19th Apr 2009 more >>
Croatia
Croatia’s Ministry of Economy has denied reports which the country would join with Albania to construct a nuclear power plant, media sources reported. According to media sources, a contract on the deal would be signed by the end of April 2009. Mazal said that at the end of March 2009, Deputy Croatian Prime Minister Damir Polancec was on an official visit to Albania when possible cooperation on constructing a nuclear plant in the country was discussed.
Energy Business Review 19th Apr 2009 more >>
Submarines
A fire broke out on board a nuclear-powered submarine as 20 people were working on it, the Ministry of Defence said.
Telegraph 20th Apr 2009 more >>
NW Evening Mail 20th Apr 2009 more >>
Plymouth’s naval base could become a “nuclear dustbin” for decommissioned nuclear-powered submarines.
BBC 20th Apr 2009 more >>
Trident
Campaigners will present Chancellor Alistair Darling with an alternative Budget today which does not include spending on nuclear weapons. Members of the group Scotland’s for Peace will take their case to Mr Darling’s office in Edinburgh this morning. The group, who include various public sector workers, will be holding red boxes, similar to the one Mr Darling will use for Wednesday’s Budget.
Herald 20th Apr 2009 more >>
