Iran
Iran is due to respond to the nuclear package today.
Sky News 22nd August 2006
BBC 22nd August 2006
Tehran yesterday gave the strongest indication yet that it would reject international calls to scale back its nuclear programme, intensifying the long-running controversy over its ambitions and nudging world oil prices higher.
FT 22nd August 2006
Times 22nd August 2006
Middle East Online 21st August 2006
IRAN has turned away United Nations’ inspectors wanting to examine its underground nuclear site, in an unprecedented refusal that will heighten suspicions about its atomic agenda, diplomats and UN officials said yesterday.
Scotsman 22nd August 2006
Telegraph 22nd August 2006
BNFL
The board of British Nuclear Fuels will meet today to discuss the 500 mln stg sale of its subsidiary British Nuclear Group
Interactive Investor 22nd August 2006
Times 22nd August 2006
The government plans to fast-track its sale of a multibillion-pound stake in British Energy, with a road show for potential investors ready to start next month. But hopes for an early sell-off of British Nuclear Group are likely to be dashed today when the board of its parent group agrees to delay privatisation by up to a year.
Guardian 22nd August 2006
France
French anti-nuclear association, Sortir du Nucleaire, said on Monday it will bring a court action against the building of French power giant EDF’s third reactor at a power station in northwest France.
Reuters 21st August 2006
Waste Transport
THE Ministry of Defence has defended its decision to transport nuclear material through Essex villages without informing local councils about the timing or their content. Last week, after enquiries made by Sible Hedingham Parish Council, it was revealed that nuclear material had been moved through the village on more than one occasion, without prior notice to the authority.
East Anglian Daily Times 21st August 2006
British Energy
BRITISH Energy pulled off the unlikely trick last week of announcing a barnstorming 145% rise in profits and ending up the biggest loser in the FTSE 100. Britain’s biggest nuclear generator said on Wednesday it might miss its output target for the year – the third year in a row that BE has cut its output goal – and the City was not at all happy about it. Shares closed down more than 4.5% on the day and investors’ concerns about the money BE is losing in lost electricity production will be ringing in the ears of group chief executive, Bill Coley, for some time. BE, which generates one-fifth of the UK’s electricity, is also expected to have a major role to play in the process of building the next generation of nuclear stations – assuming management can demonstrate that they are up to the task. Analysts believe BE would have few problems raising finances to pay for the next generation of nuclear plants if, as is likely, it is involved. The government’s decision to give the green light to new build nuclear is likely to lead to increased interest in Britain’s nuclear energy market from BE’s rivals, including France’s EDF and Germany’s E.On.
Scotland on Sunday 20th August 2006
Letter from Stephen Salter: Thomas Docherty implies that the profitability of British Energy can extend to future nuclear installations. But BE is not paying for the £70 to £90 billion that will be needed to clean up past nuclear waste. This would add £40 per MWh. BE acquired all its present stations for the cost of a single new one. As we have to use lower grades of uranium ore, the cost of nuclear fuel will rapidly follow the cost of fossil fuel.
Scotsman 19th August 2006