Nuclear Subsidy
Energy and climate change secretary Chris Huhne has called for a “meaningful price” to be placed on carbon as part of the effort to stimulate low carbon investment. In an address to the UK Energy Summit, Mr Huhne said that the UK has “enormous potential” in terms of renewable energy generation, but barriers must first be removed and incentives put in place.
Low Carbon Economy 25th June 2010 more >>
Supply Chain
Sheffield Forgemasters is continuing its drive to become one of only two companies in the world capable of making the massive forgings at the heart of a modern civil nuclear reactor, despite losing £80 million in Government backing. The company revealed today it is looking for new ways to fund the development of a £140 million nuclear engineering shop on its Brightside Lane site after the new Government axed an £80 million loan offered by its predecessor.
Sheffield Star 25th June 2010 more >>
Proliferation
A meeting of countries exporting civil nuclear technology has ended with uncertainty about Chinese plans to sell two nuclear reactors to Pakistan. Such a deal would appear to be against the rules set by the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
BBC 25th June 2010 more >>
Hinkley
Festival goers are being asked to support a campaign against plans for a nuclear power station in Somerset. French energy company EDF is proposing to create an £8 billion nuclear power plant 24 miles away from the festival site at Hinkley Point. The “Hinkley C”development would be the largest site of its kind in the UK, if it gets built.
Jack FM 25th June 2010 more >>
Nuclear Submarines
The BBC has been given exclusive behind-the-scenes access as the Royal Navy built its latest nuclear-powered Astute submarines. The submarines, which cost more than £1bn, take years to design and build, with the first of class taking 14 years to complete. More than a year of the top secret process at one of the most secure places in the country – the BAE Systems shipyard in Cumbria – has been captured on camera.
BBC 26th June 2010 more >>
Sellafield
Nuclear Management Partners, the first ever private operator of the Sellafield nuclear complex, is to sponsor a category in this year’s CN Group Business Awards. NMP, a consortium involving US nuclear giant URS, British firm Amec and French outfit Areva, won the race to run the west Cumbrian site in November 2008, bringing to an end half a century of Government control. The company will sponsor the Community Involvement category of the arwads.
Cumberland News 25th June 2010 more >>
Dounreay
A FRESH trawl of waters off Dounreay will get under way next month to recover more rogue radioactive fragments. A robot mounted on a bespoke subsea assembly is being mobilised to detect and then retrieve some of the hottest of the reactor fuel particles. The operation is part of Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd’s attempt to tackle the legacy of radioactive pollution caused by sloppy historic waste practices at the site. A major part of its strategy is to target the seabed near the site’s original sea effluent plant. This area – the size of 10 football pitches – is thought to contain the 1500 to 2000 particles deemed to pose a significant health hazard. Last year, a robot recovered 64 particles, including 13 in the significant category.
John O Groat Journal 23rd June 2010 more >>
China
Dresser Masoneila has bagged $10m control valve supply contracts in China for CPR-1000 reactor plants under construction in Hongyanghe, Ningde, Yangjiang and Fangchenggang.
Energy Business Review 25th June 2010 more >>
Japan
The return to service of Kashiwazaki Kariwa units 6 and 7 helped Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) to cut its carbon emissions by 11% in 2009. The company cited a decrease in electricity consumption due to the economic slowdown, plus the restart of the two units, as enabling it to reduce its fossil fuel consumption and thereby lower its emissions.
World Nuclear News 25th June 2010 more >>