Nuclear Consultation
The UK government’s determination to rekindle investment and support for nuclear power has drawn fire from Greenpeace, which accuses the government and its market research agency of ‘fixing’ public opinion in favour of the controversial policy.
World Advertising Research Center 25th Sept 2007 more >>
New nukes
Gordon Brown has called on the UK to be a leader on energy and the environment from nuclear to renewables – speaking at the Labour Party Conference.
World Nuclear News 24th Sept 2007 more >>
Daily Mirror 25th Sept 2007 more >>
Mr Brown’s throwaway reference to his vision of the UK as a “world leader in energy and the environment, from nuclear to renewables.” Mr Juniper, whose organisation is implacably opposed to Britain building new nuclear power stations, highlighted the fact the government was still consulting on the issue. “I hope the prime minister has not jumped the gun,” he said.
FT 25th Sept 2007 more >>
Europe
The European Commission has launched a new forum on nuclear energy research.
World Nuclear News 24th Sept 2007 more >>
The European Commission said the deadline for its inquiry into Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd and Areva’s nuclear reactor joint venture is set for October 29.
Forbes 24th Sept 2007 more >>
Iran
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has denied in a US television interview that his country is seeking to develop nuclear weapons.
Belfast Telegraph 24th Sept 2007 more >>
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran’s president, told Americans yesterday his country had no nuclear weapons programme, but then called his own credibility into question by insisting it had no gay people either.
Guardian 25th Sept 2007 more >>
International Atomic Energy Agency technical officials began talks Monday with Iran to resolve remaining issues surrounding the country’s controversial nuclear program, the website of the state broadcasting company reported.
Guardian website 25th Sept 2007 more >>
Reprocessing
France’s Areva and Japan’s JNFL have signed an agreement to extend the scope of their partnership on spent nuclear fuel recycling. The agreement entails boosting the industrial effectiveness of their sister plants – Areva La Hague and JNFL Rokkasho, and creating a joint team to tackle common technical issues. The two companies ‘will make efforts jointly to promote recycling activities on the international scene such as Global Nuclear Energy Partnership’, they said in a statement.
Forbes 24th Sept 2007 more >>
Bangladesh
Bangladesh wants a nuclear plant by 2015.
Mathaba 25th Sept 2007 more >>
Companies
Westinghouse Electric Co, part of Toshiba Corp, said it has acquired French nuclear engineering company Astare for an undisclosed sum. The US-based nuclear power group said the deal, following its acquisition of IST Nuclear in South Africa two months ago, will further strengthen its global presence in the nuclear sector.
Forbes 25th Sept 2007 more >>
US
NRG Energy, the US power generator, said yesterday it was filing the first application to build a new nuclear plant in the US in 29 years. In seeking to build two nuclear power stations in Texas, NRG said it was taking a leading role in moving US electrical generation to cost-effective power that does not contribute to global climate change.
FT 25th Sept 2007 more >>
Washington Post 25th Sept 2007 more >>
US Nuclear weapons
The owner of a US intercontinental ballistic missile base has put it up for sale on ebay.
Telegraph 25th Sept 2007 more >>
France
French President Nicolas Sarkozy told the United Nations that France was ready to help any country which wants to have civilian nuclear power.
Interactive Investor 24th Sept 2007 more >>
Syria
Syria on Monday denied a British newspaper report that Israel had seized North Korean nuclear material in a commando raid on a secret military site in Syria earlier this month.
Interactive Investor 24th Sept 2007 more >>
Slovakia
Slovakia may build one or two new nuclear power plants to help cut reliance on electricity imports, the government said in an energy-security plan through 2030. The country’s Economy Ministry wants construction to begin on a 1,200-megawatt reactor at Jaslovske Bohunice, where two aging reactors were previously closed down to meet European Union regulations, according to an e-mailed copy of the plan. The plant would cost an estimated 3 billion euros ($4.2 billion) and start operations by 2025. The energy proposals also call for a second 1,200-megawatt reactor, near the eastern town of Kecerovice, at a cost of 3.5 billion euros.
Bloomberg 24th Sept 2007 more >>
India
Elections are due to be held in 2009, but there is a growing expectation that polls may come early if the communist parties withdraw their support of the United Progressive Alliance coalition government. The left has threatened “serious consequences” if the government moves ahead with a nuclear co-operation deal with the US.
FT 25th Sept 2007 more >>
Guardian 25th Sept 2007 more >>
Trident
QUAKERS from Bradford on Avon are planning their next anti-nuclear protest. Eight members will be heading to the Aldermaston Weapons Establishment near Newbury on Monday October 1, where nuclear warheads are due to be made to replace the current Trident system.
Wiltshire Times 24th Sept 2007 more >>
Terror
Britain’s plutonium stocks are kept in “unacceptable” conditions and pose a severe security risk, experts said. The Royal Society has cautioned that the rise of international terrorism means the Government must urgently review the way it keeps more than 100 tonnes of the radioactive element at its Sellafield site in Cumbria.
Times 25th Sept 2007 more >>
