Scotland
Alex Salmond plans to block any new nuclear power stations north of the border as his Scottish National party administration starts to flex its muscles at Holyrood. The move, to be spelt out next week, puts him starkly at odds with the Westminster government as Alistair Darling, the trade and industry secretary, prepares tomorrow to back a new fleet of nuclear plants as essential to meeting the UK’s energy requirements and reducing CO2 emissions.
FT 22nd May 2007
Guardian website 21st May 2007
Edinburgh Evening News 21st May 2007
BBC 21st May 2007
TOMORROW, the government in London will reveal its detailed strategy for building Britain’s next generation of nuclear power stations. At present, one-fifth of UK electricity comes from nuclear sources, but these plants are being phased out. Unless the energy gap is filled soon, the lights will go off – literally.
Scotsman 22nd May 2007
Submarines
Cuban leader Fidel Castro criticised Britain on Monday for building nuclear-powered attack submarines, saying the money would be better spent treating the health of millions of people.
Reuters 22nd May 2007
A dockyard in Cumbria has been awarded a £200m contract to build a further nuclear-powered attack submarine. HMS Audacious is the fourth Astute class vessel planned for construction at BAE Systems in Barrow.
BBC 21st May 2007
Times 22nd May 2007
Planning
Ambitious proposals to fast-track the construction of nuclear plants, airports and motorways and allow the spread of out-of-town shopping centres were outlined yesterday in the biggest reform of planning for 20 years. Environmental groups immediately gave warning that plans to restrict public consultation on projects would lead to civil disobedience and direct action.
Times 22nd May 2007
This is London 21st May 2007
The UK Government has published a new White Paper setting out proposals that will streamline the process for approval of major infrastructure projects including new power stations.
World Nuclear News 21st May 2007
New nukes
Tony Blair once boasted that he has “no reverse gear”. That’s because he achieves the same direction of travel by performing spectacular U-turns. Tomorrow he will accomplish perhaps the most skilful of them all, with the publication of an Energy White Paper which endorses the building of a new generation of nuclear power stations. Remarkably, it is only four years since the previous Energy White Paper, which described the idea of replacing our existing nuclear power stations as “unattractive”. In his speech launching the 2003 White Paper, Mr Blair did not make a single reference to nuclear power.
Independent 22nd May 2007
The need to make a decision over replacing Britain’s nuclear power stations is “urgent”, according to Alistair Darling. The trade and industry secretary was speaking ahead of Wednesday’s white paper, which is widely expected to back a new generation of nuclear plants alongside efforts to tackle climate change.
ePolitix 21st May 2007
France
A rapid sale of one third of the French Government’s stake in Areva, France’s nuclear power engineering and fuel company, may be imminent after Nicolas Sarkozy’s election as the country’s President.
Times 22nd May 2007
Companies
Construction group Vinci said that its Freyssinet unit has acquired Nukem Ltd, the UK’s leading specialist in the decommissioning of nuclear power facilities. The financial terms were not given. Nukem employs 1,000 people and is expecting sales of nearly 120 mln eur this year, Vinci said.
Interactive Investor 21st May 2007
Aker Kvaerner ASA said a joint venture in which it is involved has won a nuclear decomissioning deal in the UK, worth a total 21 mln stg.
Aker Kvaerner said the deal has been won through the ‘ACKtiv Nuclear Joint Venture’, which consists of Aker Kvaerner, Atkins and Carillion. As a 40 pct stakeholder in the partnership, Aker Kvaerner said it will receive 8.4 mln stg of the contract value. The deal itself is a contract to support the decommissioning of the First Generation Magnox Storage Pond, located at the Sellafield nuclear site in the UK.
ABC Money 22nd May 2007
Trident
Kate Hudson: Where will Gordon Brown go on nuclear weapons? Last June, his controversial Mansion House speech was widely interpreted as an endorsement for the replacement of Trident. But could Mr Brown’s commitment to a different type of politics: “more open and frank dialogue … never losing touch with the concerns of people” lead to a new look at Britain’s nuclear weapons?
Guardian 21st May 2007
US
The US House of Representative’s Committee on Homeland Security called this week for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to further investigate the cause of excessive data network traffic that shut down an Alabama nuclear plant.
The Register 21st May 2007
China
China has set up a nuclear power technology company tasked with introducing and developing third-generation nuclear technology, the official Xinhua news agency reported.
ABC Money 22nd May 2007
