New nukes
The government has chosen one of the UK’s top public and private finance experts, KPMG director Dr Tim Stone, as a senior advisor to lead on a new generation of nuclear power stations. The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Alistair Darling, today announced the appointment of Stone to a role some have termed the government’s “nuclear tsar”, leading the development of arrangements for the costs associated with potential nuclear new build decommissioning and waste management.
Interactive Investor 22nd Jan 2007
New Civil Engineer 22nd Jan 2007
DTI Press Release 22nd Jan 2007
Areva
French energy group Areva, the world’s biggest builder of nuclear power stations, yesterday signalled an expansion drive in renewable energy by offering to buy German wind-turbine maker REpower in a deal valuing it at €850m (£560m).
Guardian 23rd Jan 2007
BBC 22nd Jan 2007
North Korea
Hopes were rising yesterday that North Korea would return to the negotiating table next month to discuss its nuclear programme, but the US maintained a tough line, accusing the Pyongyang government of siphoning off millions from UN development aid.
Guardian 23rd Jan 2007
Sky 22nd Jan 2007
Germany
Germany will miss its CO2 emission targets, face rising electricity prices and become “dramatically” more reliant on Russian gas if it keeps to its policy of phasing out nuclear energy, a new study warns. The 60-page paper by Deutsche Bank will add to the pressure on Angela Merkel, chancellor, to renegotiate the phase-out deal agreed by the previous government in 2000, despite her pledge not to reopen the controversial debate.
FT 23rd Jan 2007
Europe
The High Level Liaison Committee, which is designed to ensure the implementation of nuclear safeguards between the European Commission and the International Atomic Energy Agency, has been re-launched at a meeting in Vienna. The meeting reviewed principal matters in relation to the implementation of safeguards in the EU, and, according to the European Commission (EC), the involved parties agreed to strengthen their cooperation on the basis of their respective roles, reinforcing the effectiveness of mutual action.
Energy Business Review Online 22nd Jan 2007
Iran
IRAN has barred 38 inspectors from the UN nuclear watchdog from entering the country, it was announced yesterday. The move was a “first step” in limiting co-operation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in line with a demand made by Iran’s parliament after UN sanctions were imposed a month ago over its disputed nuclear programme.
Scotsman 23rd Jan 2007
Reuters 22nd Jan 2007
Sky 22nd Jan 2007
Interactive Investor 22nd Jan 2007
Terror
On a recent episode of 24 – something troubles me about the fictional deployment of nukes for the sake of mass entertainment.
Times 23rd Jan 2007
Dounreay
WORKERS at Dounreay are bracing themselves for a fresh round of job losses if feared cutbacks from the site’s paymasters are realised. Up to five hundred posts could go in the worst-case scenario which would involve the brakes being applied on a number of high-profile jobs in the decommissioning of the UKAEA site. Contractors are concerned that promised work will not come on stream if the UKAEA fails to get the funding to underwrite its planned programme for the next financial year.
John O’Groat Journal 19th Jan 2007
SCIENTISTS at Dounreay say they cannot yet tell whether the latest radioactive hot-spot to wash up on the nearby public beach at Sandside came from the site. Unlike the 74 grain-sized fragments of used fuel elements previously to come ashore, this find comprised an inch-thick piece of dark-coloured plastic tangled up in seaweed.
Caithness Courier 17th Jan 2007
United States
Buoyed by billions of dollars in subsidies pushed through Congress by the Bush administration, the U.S. nuclear power industry says 2007 is the year its plans for a “renaissance” will reach critical mass. “If this were a renaissance, you wouldn’t need to be enticing giant corporations with subsidies in order to get them to build reactors they claim are economically viable,” said Jim Riccio, nuclear policy analyst for the environmental group Greenpeace.
MSNBC 22nd Jan 2007
Trident
More than 200 people heard a powerful debate about the future of nuclear weapons in the UK.A panel of experts entertained the audience at Gambier Parry Hall in Highnam with arguments on either side of the debate on whether Britain should keep the Trident weapons system. Bruce Kent, vice-president of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) spoke against Trident, supported by former Government minister Michael Meacher. Forest of Dean MP Mark Harper, Conservative shadow Minister for defence, was the lead speaker in favour of the UK keeping its nuclear deterrent.
Gloucester Citizen 22nd Jan 2007
