British Energy
British Energy, the nuclear generator that reports full-year results on Wednesday, is at the centre of the country’s most complex takeover negotiations, but it is not expected to shed much light on the progress of those talks. Goldman Sachs has forecast a 35 per cent drop in earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation to £797m, the reduction caused by both a fall in output as a result of reactor shutdowns and weak electricity prices in 2007.
FT 26th May 2008 more >>
Low Carbon Economy
Letter from Caroline Lucas MEP: The hardship and disruption being caused by rising oil prices demonstrates just how much simpler a transition to a zero-carbon economy would be if we planned for it with foresight and determination, rather than having it thrust upon us.
Guardian 26th May 2008 more >>
Microgeneration
Gordon Brown is planning to use a massive expansion of green energy to win back voters angry at spiralling fuel prices. They will be offered guaranteed prices for generating their own power that could fund loan schemes to pay for energy-saving technology under plans being finalised by ministers. The plans are expected to be contained in a major offensive to promote domestic solar and wind power, as well as promoting energy conservation, that will be launched by the Prime Minister next month. Senior ministers believe the programme will help win over hard-pressed families by offering energy-saving and renewable power packages to cut their fuel bills for good. Under the plans, ministers will agree to a key demand of environmentalists to back so-called “fee-in-tariffs”, which offer householders guaranteed premium prices if they sell surplus renewable power back to the national grid.
Independent 26th May 2008 more >>
Israel
Israel has 150 nuclear weapons in its arsenal, former President Jimmy Carter said yesterday, while arguing that the US should talk directly to Iran to persuade it to drop its nuclear ambitions. His remark, made at the Hay-on-Wye festival which promotes current affairs books and literature, is startling because Israel has never admitted having nuclear weapons, let alone how many, although the world assumes their existence. Nor do US officials deviate in public from that Israeli line.
Times 26th May 2008 more >>
Germany
The head of RWE AG.’s Power division, which operates the utility’s electricity plants, said Germany must embrace nuclear energy again to meet carbon dioxide emission targets without massive job losses, Neuen Ruhr/Neuen Rhein Zeitung reported.
AFX 25th May 2008 more >>
Japan
Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO) said it manually shut the 784-megawatt No.5 nuclear generator at its Fukushima Daiichi plant, north of Tokyo, on Sunday due to technical trouble.
Reuters 26th May 2008 more >>
Iran
The former US president Jimmy Carter has called for his country to resume trade relations with Iran, which he described as a “rational” nation. Speaking at the Hay Festival yesterday, Mr Carter also suggested the US should provide nuclear power technology and fuel to Iran as a show of goodwill.
Independent 26th May 2008 more >>
UAE
To one senior oil industry official, “it’s a fascinating and somewhat bizarre phenomenon”. To another it simply “looks a bit weird”. But for Middle East states, the dynamic the two are describing is deadly serious – the globe’s most hydrocarbon-rich region is facing the prospect of critical shortages of gas. This is one of the reason the UAE is looking at the possibility of building nuclear stations.
FT 26th May 2008 more >>
