Nuclear Consultation
Greenpeace has accused research firm Opinion Leader of “misleading” poll respondents in consultation meetings on the Government’s plans to build new nuclear power stations. The environmental group has lodged a complaint with the Market Research Standards Board, accusing Opinion Leader of numerous breaches of the body’s code of conduct.
Research 21st Sept 2007 more >>
Greenpeace has turned to environmental boutique Harrison Grant as it considers legal action to overturn the Government’’s consultation on nuclear power. The firm, on behalf of Greenpeace, has written to the Government, calling its consultation techniques “a complete charade”. The current consultation, which was launched after an earlier High Court victory by Greenpeace, ruled that the Government’s first consultation on nuclear power was “seriously flawed” and “procedurally unfair” (thelawyer.com, 15 February).
The Lawyer 21st Sept 2007 more >>
Glasgow played host on Friday to one of a series of stakeholder events being held to capture the views of green groups, energy companies, businesses, consumer groups, unions, faith groups and academics on the future of nuclear energy.
GNN 21st Sept 2007 more >>
British Energy
British Energy led the gainers yesterday as soaring crude prices drove the cost of electricity to its highest level this year. In a bullish note on the stock, Cazenove contrasted the muted performance of British Energy shares with the 10 per cent jump in the UK forward electricity price in the past three weeks. British Energy’s output is also likely to be “considerably above consensus” next year as it puts recent problems behind it, Cazenove wrote, adding that theprospect of a fresh wave of nuclear power station construction should also underpin sentiment.
FT 22nd Sept 2007 more >>
Times 22nd Sept 2007 more >>
Plutonium
Britain has stockpiled 100 tonnes of plutonium – enough to make 17,000 nuclear bombs, according to a report by the Royal Society.
Belfast Telegraph 21st Sept 2007 more >>
Nuclear Skills
Britain’s largest nuclear union, Prospect, fear that plans for new reactors and Trident replacement are threatened by a recruitment crisis facing nuclear inspectors.
North West Evening Mail 21st Sept 2007
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Stuart Crooks, station director of Hartlepool Power Station, said more investment in training was vital to underpin the new build programme in the UK nuclear sector.
Newcastle Evening Gazette 21st Sept 2007 more >>
BUSINESS leaders from the region’s oil and gas supply chain companies heard yesterday how their technological expertise could win business in the nuclear industry.
Northern Echo 21st Sept 2007 more >>
Sellafield
Nuclear unions say they fear for Sellafield workers’ job security if BNFL’s decommissioning division is sold to a private equity firm.
Carlisle News and Star 21st Sept 2007 more >>
Israel
Iran called for UN inspectors to be dispatched to verify whether Israel has nuclear weapons, in a heated showdown with the Jewish state at a meeting of the UN atomic agency Friday. The face-off between the two nations came as Arab states condemned Israel for hiding an atomic arsenal, at a general conference of the 144-nation International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna.
AFP 21st Sept 2007 more >>
The UN atomic agency adopted a non-binding resolution on a nuclear weapons-free-zone in the Middle East with Israel and the US voting against and EU states except Ireland abstaining.
Middle East Online 21st Sept 2007 more >>
Iran
The French President has directly accused Iran of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons.
Mathaba 22nd Sept 2007 more >>
Telegraph 22nd Sept 2007 more >>
The French and US presidents stepped up demands for tough action over the Iran nuclear standoff ahead of a meeting of the major powers in Washington today to discuss the dispute.
Interactive Investor 21st Sept 2007 more >>
Korea
South Korea Friday played down concerns about North Korea’s suspected nuclear proliferation, saying six-party disarmament talks were already addressing the issue.
Interactive Investor 21st Sept 2007 more >>
The next round of six party talks on disarming North Korea’s nuclear programs will be held next week, China’s foreign ministry said.
Interactive Investor 21st Sept 2007 more >>
Dounreay
DOUNREAY’S operators are facing flak on two fronts over their receipt of a batch of nuclear fuel which was used in an English reactor. The UKAEA site managers have come under fire from a Far North anti-dumping group and Highlands and Islands MSP Rob Gibson for importing radioactive material that has no connection with the Caithness site. Meanwhile, the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate has taken them to task for not following the proper procedures before making the shipment from France. The uranium oxide was manufactured at Aldermaston before being used to fuel an experimental reactor at the UKAEA’s Winfrith site in Dorset. It ended up being sent to a plant in France in 1989 as part of the since-disbanded European fast-reactor programme. The UKAEA recently arranged to transport the six-and-a-half-tonne consignment to Dounreay, where it has been put into storage.
John O Groat Journal 21st Sept 2007 more >>
Energy Efficiency
The cost of “green” regulations and subsidies can vastly outweigh their economic benefit, Lehman Brothers will claim today in a report on the financial impact of climate change. The US investment bank’s research shows that the humble low-energy lightbulb is a much more cost-effective way of reducing carbon in the atmosphere than expensive wind and solar power projects or bureaucratic diktats on car emissions.
Telegraph 22nd Sept 2007 more >>
