Nuclear Waste
Campaign group Radiation Free Lakeland is backing a west Cumbrian councillor concerned at developments over nuclear waste. Joe Sandwith who represents Seaton on Allerdale Borough Council, is worried that Cumbria is being pushed into a process that is scientifically and democratically flawed. But his motion for Allerdale to withdraw “expression of interest” has come under fierce pressure from pro nuclear forces. For the first time in Allerdale Council’s history a motion has been deferred but despite this still stands and will be put forward at the full Council meeting on September 22.
Get Noticed Online 23rd Aug 2010 more >>
Nuclear Costs
Wind farm operators could see their overheads increase by millions of pounds a year as a direct result of plans to upgrade and reinforce the grid to cope with a new fleet of nuclear reactors. A number of renewable energy developers are angry at National Grid’s decision to retain the current charging regime it operates for providing backup power, despite the fact costs are expected to soar when new nuclear power plants come online towards the end of the decade. National Grid released a consultation document in June detailing how the proposed development of six nuclear power stations would require the grid operator to increase the amount of backup power, known as “spinning reserve”, that it has available to call on in the event of a large power plant failing, from 1,320MW to 1,800MW.
Business Green 24th Aug 2010 more >>
Nuclear Smuggling
A customs investigator who claimed spies interfered in efforts to halt an international nuclear smuggling ring has been sacked for gross misconduct. Atif Amin was at the centre of a political storm after he claimed officials at MI6 and the CIA ordered him to drop an investigation while working for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC). He was in charge of Operation Akin, an investigation into links between British companies and an illegal network run by Abdul Qadeer Khan, a Pakistani scientist who helped build that country’s nuclear arsenal.
Telegraph 24th Aug 2010 more >>
Scotsman 24th Aug 2010 more >>
Independent 24th Aug 2010 more >>
Dungeness
One of the two reactors at Dungeness nuclear power station is back up and running after more than 300,000 hours of repair and maintenance. Unit 21 at the B reactor came back online on Thursday last week (August 19) – at full capacity the station is able to generate enough electricity for 1.5 million homes. The unit was out of action while inspections were carried out on the boilers; it only came back online when the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate gave its consent for a restart.
Kent News 23rd Aug 2010 more >>
Germany
Germany’s Environment Minister Norbert R ttgen has announced government plans to delay its decision on the introduction of a nuclear fuel tax in Germany until the end of September, four weeks later than previously planned. German Finance Minister Wolfgang Sch uble has, nevertheless, reportedly dismissed the minister’s claims.
Low Tax 23rd Aug 2010 more >>
China & South Africa
China National Nuclear Corp. is in talks over building a nuclear power plant in South Africa, a CNNC official said Tuesday, in the latest sign that China is gearing up to export nuclear technology at the same time as it rapidly expands its domestic reactor fleet.
Automated Trader 24th Aug 2010 more >>
Submarines
The commissioning ceremony is to be performed by the submarine’s “sponsor”, the Duchess of Rothesay, in Astute’s home port of HM Naval Base Clyde at Faslane, west of Glasgow, on Friday. The Royal Navy says that the Astute class is half as big again as the the fleet’s current attack submarines and they will never require refuelling. The technology built into them is more sophisticated than that on current space shuttles and they can be used for close coastal reconnaissance. Astute’s commissioning also sees the start of a process that will see the Clyde base become the Royal Navy’s only home for nuclear submarines.
Yorkshire Post 23rd Aug 2010 more >>
