Nuclear Subsidy
Letter David Lowry: Nick Clegg’s justification – that there simply isn’t the money – for cancelling the £80 million soft loan to Sheffield Forgemasters to retool so it can manufacture major parts for new nuclear reactors is “pathetic.” But the decision, in my judgement, was correct. It was also consistent with both the policy of the coalition Con-Dem government and the commercial nuclear industry. A better and more accurate justification was given on June 17 by Lib Dem Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander: “As to the nuclear industry … the coalition agreement commits us to no public subsidy for nuclear power.” It was revealed on the same day as the Sheffield Forgemasters announcement that the International Atomic Energy Agency, which mainly acts as a cheerleader for the private-sector nuclear industry, received contributions from British taxpayers over the last 10 years of £97m and £57m. If Sheffield Forgemasters is so important to EDF and Eon to build new nuclear power plants in Britain, why don’t they use their massive annual profits to assist the Sheffield company and not pretend they don’t need subsidies?
Morning Star 23rd June 2010 more >>
U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron, in an effort to boost the use of nuclear power, plans to penalize polluters with a fee tied to carbon-dioxide emissions. Cameron proposes a CO2 charge triggered when the price of European Union permits falls below a set level. That would raise costs for generating electricity from coal and natural gas, which are more-immediately economical than atomic reactors. The U.K. will propose tax shifts to “support the carbon price” later in 2010, the government said in a budget presented today. “It’s a way of trying to subsidize nuclear, collecting that subsidy from all electricity consumers,” said Trevor Sikorski, director of carbon markets and environmental products research in London at Barclays Capital.
Business Week 22nd June 2010 more >>
Environmental campaigners have accused the Government of preparing to allow multi-million pound “handouts” to firms building nuclear reactors. Greenpeace yesterday said the move went against assurances given by ministers that the nuclear industry would not receive any handouts to help build new nuclear power stations. The Government has denied the accusation.
Cumberland News 22nd June 2010 more >>
Nuclear Waste
The NDA’s Radioactive Waste Management Directorate (RWMD) has been contracted by the Nuclear Industry Association (NIA) on behalf of potential new build operators to undertake some initial feasibility studies to investigate several key issues associated with spent fuel management. It is expected that this work will be completed within a short timescale of around three months.The feasibility studies will have the following four strands: consideration of alternative Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) design options for new build spent fuel; issues associated with centralised spent fuel storage; issues associated with centralised spent fuel packaging; consideration of alternative spent fuel cask designs. It is intended that the feasibility studies will provide a better understanding of the issues and provide a basis for future consideration of possible alternatives to the current baseline scenario (storage and encapsulation of spent fuel at each new build site).
NDA 15th June 2010 more >>
New Nukes
Letter: A change of attitude by future governments should see all our electricity produced by nuclear and some carbon-capture power stations. This would dispense with the need for alternative, intermittent sources.
Scotsman 23rd June 2010 more >>
Supply Chain
NAMTEC (the National Metals Technology Centre), in association with the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (NAMRC) will host the event at Oulton Hall Hotel and Golf Resort in Leeds on June 29 and 30. The Nuclear Metals and Manufacturing Conference will feature speakers from the nuclear industry and will focus on the future of nuclear power stations in the UK. The aim is to provide an insight into the opportunities for the UK’s materials and manufacturing supply base.
Rotherham Advertiser 22nd June 2010 more >>
Egypt
The International Atomic Energy Agency is ready to help Egypt in the construction of nuclear power stations, IAEA chief Yukiya Amano said on Tuesday during a visit to Cairo.
Middle East Online 22nd June 2010 more >>
Trident
FURNESS MP John Woodcock fears Barrow’s hopes of orders for a fleet of ballistic missile submarines could be heading for the rocks. The MP says he is alarmed by some of the answers he got during yesterday’s crucial House of Commons debate on the new Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition government’s Strategic Defence Review. One of his fears is that the government might opt for swapping long-range ballistic nuclear missiles, which are fired out of the atmosphere, with shorter-range, nuclear-tipped cruise missiles fired from adapted Astute-class subs.
NW Evening Mail 22nd June 2010 more >>
