Japan
A small fire broke out today at a partly constructed nuclear power station in northern Japan, the third blaze at the plant this month. It comes a week after an earthquake caused a radioactive spillage at another atomic plant. The operator, Hokkaido Electric Power (Hepco), said there was no danger of a radiation leak and there were no injuries during the incident at the Tomari plant.
Guardian website 24th July 2007 more >>
First, the world was told that last week’s earthquake in Japan had caused a small fire at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant. Then the Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) said no radioactivity was released. Then it admitted a leak, but said it was only 1.5 gallons of radioactive water. Later, it emerged that the water was far more radioactive than first thought and that nearly 100 nuclear waste barrels had fallen over – but only a couple of dozen lost their lids and leaked low-grade nuclear waste. This was later changed to 400 barrels and a significant release of cobalt-60, chromium-51 and radioactive iodine. Finally came confirmation that the world’s biggest nuclear power plant was built bang on top of an active fault line.
Guardian 25th July 2007 more >>
Greenpeace campaigners diary of a visit to the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant.
Greenpeace website 24th July 2007 more >>
Japan’s industry minister admitted Tuesday the government had underestimated the possible risks of building the nation’s biggest nuclear power plant near a seismic fault line.
Interactive Investor 24th July 2007 more >>
A Japanese earthquake that forced the closure of the world’s biggest nuclear plant has highlighted the energy source’s dangers, just when support had been growing.
Reuters 24th July 2007 more >>
India
India and the US edged closer to a ground-breaking agreement on civil nuclear co-operation after two Indian cabinet committees approved the terms of the deal.
Guardian website 25th July 2007 more >>
BBC 25th July 2007 more >>
Libya
Libya and France on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding for the cooperation on a nuclear energy project during a visit by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, an aide to Sarkozy said.
Reuters 25th July 2007 more >>
Faslane
Five anti-nuclear protestors have been arrested at the Faslane submarine base near Helensburgh. Those arrested include two survivors of the atomic bomb attacks on Nagasaki in Japan in 1945.
BBC 25th July 2007 more >>
Edinburgh Evening News 25th July 2007 more >>
Iran
Russia says Iran’s first nuclear plant will not be launched on schedule this year.
Channel 4 News 25th July 2007 more >>
Iran has issued its strongest signal to date that it will defy UN demands for a suspension of uranium enrichment – a possible route towards a nuclear bomb – threatening to respond to any further sanctions and accusing the Americans of “running away” from negotiations to end the crisis over the Iranian nuclear programme.
Independent 24th July 2007 more >>
Solway Firth
RADIOACTIVE particles from the Sellafield nuclear plant in Cumbria could be contaminating the Solway Firth. SEPA have stepped up inspections on the Solway Coast after particles were detected at some beaches on the north Cumbrian coast. Radioactivity expert Dr Paul Dale said: “Information provided to Scottish Environment Protection Agency by the Environment Agency indicates that there is a potential for particles released from Sellafield to move into the Solway Firth.
Dumfries & Galloway Standard 25th July 2007 more >>
New nukes
The Government’s discussion with the public about the country’s future energy needs has moved up a gear with an extensive programme of nationwide consultative events arriving in Manchester today.
GNN 25th July 2007 more >>
The department for business, enterprise and regulatory reform has launched a nuclear consultation roadshow to travel the country througout the summer.
New Civil Engineer 24th July 2007 more >>
New nuclear build will not be ready by 2018, when ageing nuclear power stations will be coming off-line, so the ‘gap’ in production will be met by gas-fired stations, according to the nuclear lobby this week. According to Keith Parker, Chief Executive of the Nuclear Industry Association, “There is a generating gap looming in 2015 / 2016. New nuclear won’t be on the bars to meet that immediate need and the investment decisions that are likely to be made in the very near future will be for gas-fired stations,” he said in a podcast made by legal firm Dundas & Wilson.
New Civil Engineer 24th July 2007 more >>
Russia
While investment opportunities still exist in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) sector of the Russian energy industry for the construction of gas liquefaction plants, the Government has turned its focus on the nuclear power generation sector. The idea is to attract significant foreign investment by diversifying and transmitting nuclear energy through the establishment of various nuclear plants and other technologies.
Engineer Live 25th July 2007 more >>
China
US-based technology and engineering firm The Shaw Group and its consortium partner Westinghouse Electric Company, a unit of Toshiba Corporation, have signed definitive contracts with a number of regional nuclear interests, to provide four AP1000 nuclear power plants in China.
Energy Business Review 24th July 2007 more >>
Manufacturing.net 24th July 2007 more >>
Reuters 24th July 2007 more >>
USA
The US program to develop a hydrogen producing reactor has sprung back to life with a call for expressions of interest.
World Nuclear News 24th July 2007 more >>
Nuclear power is gaining in popularity amongst Americans.
Mathaba 24th July 2007 more >>
