EDF
EDF is looking to offload another 20% stake in British Energy, according to a report in France. It has already sold a 20% stake in the nuclear generator to Centrica but needs to raise capital to fund its nuclear programme and pay off debts. The report in La Tribune newspaper said that the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund or Morgan Stanley’s infrastructure fund could be interested but did not give any further details. More imminent is a decision from EDF on whether to proceed with its distribution business in the UK, which it put up for sale this summer and could raise 3bn (£2.7bn). EDF has debts of 25bn, thanks partly to the British Energy acquisition but also after paying £3bn for half of the US nuclear firm Constellation Energy. It also wants to build four nuclear reactors in the UK – which could cost up to 5bn each – and many more elsewhere in the world.
Guardian 22nd Sept 2009 more >>
Telegraph 21st Sept 2009 more >>
France’s EDF said on Monday there were no current plans to sell a further stake in British Energy, after a newspaper reported it could sell a 20pc stake in the UK nuclear power generator.
Telegraph 22nd Sept 2009 more >>
EDF, the heavily indebted French power group, is close to agreeing a big asset swap with E.ON, its German rival, but it played down reports yesterday that it was also considering the sale of a 20 per cent stake in British Energy, the UK’s nuclear generator. The company, which is leading the drive to build the next generation of nuclear reactors in Britain, has begun a sweeping review of its businesses as it aims to cut its 37 billion (£33.5 billion) debt pile.
Times 22nd Sept 2009 more >>
Hunterston
A SCOTTISH nuclear power station has been issued with a final warning after radio- active waste leaked into the sea, it emerged yesterday. Hundreds of gallons of low-level waste was discharged from Hunterston B into the Firth of Clyde on May 15. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency said it did not cause an environmental issue.
Press and Journal 21st Sept 2009 more >>
Dounreay
The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has announced the launch of the competition to secure a Parent Body Organisation (PBO) for the Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd (DSRL) Site Licence Company (SLC).
NDA 21st Sept 2009 more >>
Companies
Westinghouse subsidiary PaR Nuclear has formed a joint venture with Hutchinson Manufacturing (HMI) to fabricate, assemble and test specialty cranes for nuclear power plants.
World Nuclear News 21st Sept 2009 more >>
US
Design and planning work worth up to up to $40 million is being offered towards the Next Generation Nuclear Plant (NGNP), which aims to use an advanced reactor to produce heat for industry. The money is for the initial planning phase of the project, which aims to result in a high-temperature reactor producing electricity and heat for an industrial purpose like producing hydrogen. A decision to build will be made on the results of first-phase studies. The US Department of Energy (DoE) is to make two awards in February next year to support these studies on two different reactor concepts. It is hoped that the plant could be built by 2021, although the original schedule was 2010 when NGNP was first announced in 2000.
World Nuclear News 21st Sept 2009 more >>
Sweden
Sweden’s nuclear fleet suffered further problems this morning, with news of extended outages at two more units. State-owned utility Vattenfall has extended the outage at its 866MW Ringhals unit 2 until 8 December, after previously delaying the planned restart until 19 November. Vattenfall cited “prolonged testing” for the repeated delays in a statement to the Nord Pool exchange.
Argus Media 21st Sept 2009 more >>
Iran
Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has denied US and western claims about the country’s nuclear ambitions, calling them a “fabrication”.
View London 21st Sept 2009 more >>
Disarmament
Various letters including Kate Hudson: It’s good news that President Obama has kicked back the Pentagon’s “timid” proposals for a new nuclear posture review in favour of a radical rewrite . Breaking out of the “more of the same” approach is key to making progress towards abolition. It was disappointing, then, to read David Miliband’s comments, pushing attention off on to Iran and North Korea, as usual. Perhaps this isn’t surprising when you consider that the UK’s nuclear policy remains the replacement of Trident. John Sauven: A new report by the Climate Group claims 1.4% of global economic output, or an annual $1tn, is needed until 2050 to deliver the technology needed to reduce CO2. This is slightly less than the $1.46tn spent globally on the military each year. If we want a secure planet, it’s time we rebalanced where we spend our money. President Obama has called on the world to get rid of nuclear weapons. The total cost of Trident until around 2050 is at least £97.5bn.
Guardian 22nd Sept 2009 more >>
Trident
Labour may be backing away from plans to replace Trident, as senior government figures predict that the pledge will be struck from the party’s election manifesto next year. The fate of the £20 billion project now appears to be tied to the outcome of international talks in which Britain is under pressure to join President Obama in tabling proposals for significant reductions in nuclear firepower. There is little prospect, however, of Labour reneging altogether on its longstanding pledge “to maintain an independent British nuclear deterrent”.
Times 22nd Sept 2009 more >>
Two thirds of voters want the Government to scrap plans to renew the Trident nuclear deterrent. A YouGov poll for the Labour-leaning blog Left Foot Forward reveals 63% oppose its renewal and 23% say Britain should get rid of nuclear weapons altogether.
Sky News 21st Sept 2009 more >>
Nuclear Testing
For the first time in a decade, a worldwide ban on nuclear testing could be within reach. The combination of a strong commitment from US President Barack Obama, along with new data on nuclear materials and the successful completion of a global nuclear-monitoring network, means that momentum is once again swinging in favour of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) that would ban all nuclear explosions for military or civilian purposes.
Nature 21st Sept 2009 more >>
People
Former FT Journalist, David Fishlock, who championed nuclear power, had died suddenly at the age of 77.
FT 22nd Sept 2009 more >>
