National Policy Statements
The U.K. government is preparing to submit to parliament a final list of sites suitable for new nuclear power stations, the Energy and Climate Change Secretary said Monday, clearing the way for a new nuclear fleet to help the country meet climate change obligations and keep the lights on.
Wall Street Journal 24th Jan 2011 more >>
Radiation Free Lakeland – Response to the Re-CONsultation National Policy Statements on Energy and Nuclear Power.
Radiation Free Lakeland 24th Jan 2011 more >>
Following Chris Huhne’s visit to Hinkley Point nuclear power station in West Somerset today, campaign group Kick Nuclear has slammed the Energy Secretary’s glowing appraisal of the government’s consultation on the revised draft National Policy Statements on energy infrastructure and its plans for a new generation of nuclear power stations. “It’s ironic that Huhne should be singing the praises of the nuclear industry at Hinkley Point just days after an independent report revealed that soil around the Somerset power station is heavily contaminated with cancer-causing enriched uranium. The government’s indifference to the dangers of nuclear power and its waste products is astonishing.
Indymedia 24th Jan 2011 more >>
Planning applications for nuclear sites move a step closer as the NPS consultation ends.
Construction News 24th Jan 2011 more >>
Business Green 24th Jan 2011 more >>
Nuclear Liability
Nuclear operators will be expected to take on liability of €1.2 billion for each of their sites, an increase on the current level of £140 million, under proposals outlined by Chris Huhne today.
DECC Press Release 24th Jan 2011 more >>
Companies operating nuclear power stations in Britain could be liable for clean-up costs of up to €1.2bn (£1.01bn) in the event of an accident – a seven-fold increase on the present maximum. Chris Huhne, the energy and climate change secretary, proposed on Monday to raise the liability ceiling per nuclear site from £140m. This had been expected to increase to £588m, in line with amendments to the Paris and Brussels conventions on nuclear third-party liability.
FT 25th Jan 2011 more >>
Argus Media 24th Jan 2011 more >>
Edie 24th Jan 2011 more >>
Reuters 24th Jan 2011 more >>
Utility Week 24th Jan 2011 more >>
Business Green 24th Jan 2011 more >>
Hinkley
Chris Huhne: It is a pleasure to be invited here today to open the Energy Centre at Bridgwater college. The transition to a low carbon economy presents a tremendous opportunity. There is great potential for low carbon growth in the south west not least in the nuclear industry.
DECC 24th Jan 2011 more >>
Chris Huhne, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, visited EDF Energy’s site at Hinkley Point in Somerset today as the Government’s consultation on Energy National Policy Statements approached its end. Visiting Hinkley Point in Somerset, already the location of two earlier nuclear power stations, and top of EDF Energy’s list of proposed sites for new build, Mr Huhne said: “A new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point has the potential to make an important contribution to the UK’s future low carbon, secure energy supplies.
DECC 24th Jan 2011 more >>
Build.co.uk 24th Jan 2011 more >>
We birders get to visit some beautiful places, but Hinkley Point nuclear power station in Somerset certainly isn’t one of them. Nevertheless, on my “Big Winter’s Day” at the start of the new year, it proved surprisingly productive for birds.
Guardian 24th Jan 2011 more >>
NDA
As the public consultation on the NDA’s current Draft 3-year Business Plan (2011-2014) reaches its closure date this week, CORE raises concerns over the poor level of information provided for consultation, and questions the merits of responding to plans upon which decisions have clearly already been made.
CORE Press Release 24th Jan 2011 more >>
Sellafield
A controversial safety scheme at Sellafield, dubbed ‘grass on your mates to win a telly’ has donated £10,000 to local charities. The peer-to-peer observation scheme involves staff telling management if they see colleagues engaging in risky working practices that might result in accidents. People who report incidents that lead to safety improvements are awarded points which can be exchanged for prizes like a trip to the cinema, designer clothes or a new TV. Unions feared the scheme would be used for workers to ‘grass’ on one another. But bosses say it has been a huge success, with more than 23,000 observations submitted and genuine safety improvements achievements.
Cumberland News 24th Jan 2011 more >>
Planning
The Localism Bill, the government’s flagship planning and local government Bill that amends the regime for planning and authorising major infrastructure projects amongst many other measures, starts its committee stage in the House of Commons this evening with a private programming session. This is the stage where the Bill is considered in detail by a smaller group of MPs – 26 to be precise. Here are the MPs who will consider the Bill.
Bircham Dyson Bell 24th Jan 2011 more >>
AP1000
American regulators are happy that the impact of a large aircraft on a Westinghouse AP1000 nuclear power plant would not jeopardise nuclear safety. Essential safety functions at a nuclear power plant are to protect the highly radioactive nuclear fuel in the reactor core and maintain a cooling flow of water to avoid it overheating. The same goes for the fuel once it has been used and transferred to storage ponds within the reactor building.
World Nuclear News 24th Jan 2011 more >>
Japan
Nuke Info Tokyo No. 140 (January/February 2011) is now available on CNIC’s web site.
CNIC 25th Jan 2011 more >>
Saudi Arabia
Hashim Yamani president of the King Abdullah Atomic and Renewable Energy City,said he expected to produce solar energy in commercial quantities “sooner” than atomic power. The latter will take from 8-to-10 years, he said. The kingdom, he said, is consulting with several countries on its nuclear plans and will probably use a mix of US, French, British, Korean and Japanese experience.
FT 25th Jan 2011 more >>
India
The US has removed sanctions imposed on nine Indian space and defence organisations after India carried out nuclear tests.
BBC 25th Jan 2011 more >>
Korea
Hopes have risen for progress in dismantling North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme, after South Korea said it would propose high-level talks with its neighbour.
Guardian 25th Jan 2011 more >>
