New nukes
Tom Burke gives a provisional list of seven elements of the pro-nuclear case, which can be expected to have a full airing in the weeks ahead, along with their antidote: evidence and argument based on economic, political and environmental reality.
Open Democracy 25th May 2007
Letter from Prof Peter Smith: There are things to be welcomed in the Energy White Paper, notably the recognition that tidal energy has a serious role within the energy mix. An issue that so far seems to have been overlooked concerns the reserves of uranium. At the last count over 170 new reactors are expected by 2020. In September 2006 it was estimated that the 3.3 million tonnes of reserves of high grade uranium ore should last to 2030, provided that suppliers were given sufficient notice to mine it. Since then it is evident that the US regards nuclear power as the means of producing hydrogen to meet its road transport needs, placing even this date in doubt.
Independent 26th May 2007
Various letters including: No new nuclear power stations are likely to be built in Scotland or Wales, largely because of opposition from the devolved administrations there. In which case, shouldn’t we English disconnect them from the national grid?
Telegraph 26th May 2007
UK trade and industry secretary for the UK, Alistair Darling, has released the long-awaited energy white paper – titled Meeting the Energy Challenge – setting out government energy strategy for the coming decades. In a statement to the House of Commons, Darling said: “We face two big challenges – climate change and maintaining stable and affordable energy supply in an increasingly unstable world,” adding that the document sets out a long-term framework for action to address these challenges. The government said it had reached the “preliminary view that it is in the public interest to give private sector energy companies the option of investing in new nuclear power stations.”
Nuclear Engineering International 25th May 2007
Edie 23rd May 2007
THE PROSPECT of a new generation of nuclear power stations has been condemned by Alistair Carmichael. The isles MP was speaking ahead of the launch of the government’s energy white paper which outlines the nuclear plans. Mr Carmichael said: “Nuclear is a tried, tested and failed technology with far higher costs than the renewable alternatives or energy efficiency measures.
Shetland Times 25th May 2007
Radhealth
Letter from Roger Helmer MEP: A J Askew (Your Views, May 18) asks if we remember Chernobyl. Yes, I remember it. And I recall that according to the World Health Organisation, fewer than 100 people died.
Nottingham Evening Post 26th May 2007
Iran
With the threat of new UN sanctions looming over Iran, senior European officials met an envoy from Tehran, in what officials described as an attempt to defuse the crisis over the Islamic republic’s refusal to scrap uranium enrichment.
Channel 4 News 26th May 2007
Guardian website 25th May 2007
Iran’s president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has today warned that the world will not be able to stop Iran moving forward on its ‘glorious path’ towards nuclear technology.
Channel 4 News 25th May 2007
China
Washington is becoming increasingly concerned about China’s deployment of mobile land-and sea-based intercontinental ballistic nuclear missiles that could hit targets in the US, according to people familiar with an imminent Pentagon report.
FT 26th May 2007
China is modernising and expanding its arsenal of nuclear weapons giving it an enhanced nuclear strike capability, according to a new Pentagon report on the Chinese military.
FT 25th May 2007
An agreement has been signed which would see the first two of four nuclear power reactors built at Bamaoshan, in the Anhui province of China. The development would be the first inland nuclear power project.
World Nuclear News 25th May 2007
Europe
The European Parliament has called for a major review and overhaul of Euratom, asking for a formal role in overseeing and amending the treaty. It backed a parliamentary industry committee report that regretted “the growth in parliament’s powers”, including veto rights on most European Union legislation “has not been taken into account in…Euratom.” It also called for an extension of Euratom to cover nuclear safety research, radioactive waste management and future generations of reactors, including training programmes.
Nuclear Engineering International 25th May 2007
Belgium
Belgium will still have nuclear energy in 2015, despite legislation passed in 2003 calling for its phase-out, according to the country’s prime minister, Guy Verhofstadt. Le Soir newspaper cited Verhofstadt as saying, “To stop (nuclear power generation) from 2015 is not that easy because there is no substitute at the moment for the most powerful reactors to be closed.” He added that the oldest reactors can start to be closed, while investing in renewable energy and taking steps to create a fourth generation nuclear power source. The January 2003 Act prohibited the building of new nuclear power plants and limited the operating lives of existing ones to 40 years. However, this can be overridden by a recommendation from the electricity and gas regulator (CREG) if Belgium’s security of supply is threatened.
World Nuclear News 25th May 2007
