Scotland
Jack McConnell faces defeat at his party’s conference next month, as supporters of new nuclear power stations in Scotland press for a firm commitment to build them.
Both sides of the debate within Labour say the pro-nuclear lobby has the votes to demand a shift to clear backing for replacement atomic plants.
Herald 27th Oct 2006
Jack’s bet is that Scottish councils will spurn the chance to “voluntarily” store Britain’s nuclear waste under the bed. Therefore we had better stick with the Union if we want to tip our garbage in next door’s garden.
Herald 27th Oct 2006
FIRST MINISTER Jack McConnell again found himself on the rack over nuclear policy when he went head-to-head with the SNP deputy leader Nicola Sturgeon at Holyrood yesterday. Once more he refused to say whether or not he supports building new nuclear power stations and he floundered over his stance on nuclear waste. Earlier this week, Mr McConnell said Scotland’s nuclear waste was “most likely” to be disposed of in the north-west of England. Ms Sturgeon seized on the comments to accuse the First Minister of scaremongering and “crude anti-English posturing.”
Dundee Courier 27th Oct 2006
NDA
THE bill for cleaning up atomic waste has soared by £2 billion to £65 billion, with the watchdog set up to deal with Britain’s nuclear legacy warning that costs could rise further. Estimates of the long-term costs of radioactive waste disposal were unveiled by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), set up in April 2005 to oversee the dismantling of Britain’s ageing nuclear power stations.
Scotsman 27th Oct 2006
FT 27th Oct 2006
The agency overseeing the dismantling of old nuclear power stations raised the estimated cost of operations, closure and clean-up to 72.3 billion pounds on Thursday.
Reuters 26th Oct 2006
US
The FBI is investigating whether information from a US nuclear weapons laboratory was found in a police drugs search of a New Mexico trailer park.
BBC 27th Oct 2006
Nuclear research
West Cumbria is to become a centre for nuclear excellence with the construction of a national nuclear laboratory.
West Cumbria Times and Star 27th Oct 2006
Nuclear Waste
The Environment Secretary insists there are no plans to dump nuclear waste in former Notts collieries. David Miliband was answering a question in Parliament by Sherwood MP Paddy Tipping yesterday. Mr Miliband has invited councils to take part in talks on the long-term disposal of higher activity radioactive waste.
Nottingham Evening Post 26th Oct 2006
Q&A on Nuclear Waste:- David Miliband, the Environment Secretary, announced this week that the country’s most dangerous radioactive waste, accumulated over the past half century, will be buried in deep underground facilities. He said these repositories will be built in “geologically suitable” areas and with the support of local authorities.
Independent 27th Oct 2006
Councils across the UK are to be asked if they have any suitable sites for a deep underground bunker to store Britain’s nuclear waste.
Western Daily Press 26th Oct 2006
Lithuania
A steering committee consisting of representatives from power firms Lietuvos Energija, Latvenergo and Eesti Energia has concluded that the construction of a new nuclear power plant in Lithuania is feasible. The committee’s decision came during a meeting in Vilnius to review the results of a feasibility study for construction of the new power plant.
Energy Business Review 27th Oct 2006
Italy & Slovakia
Enel has rejoined the World Association of Nuclear Operators, allowing the Italian company access to information and services to help ensure the safe running of its Slovenske Elektrarne subsidiary. Enel was previously a member of the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) until 1999, when the operation of Italy’s nuclear power plants was transferred to Sogin, the public entity responsible for handling their decommissioning. Now, however, following its acquisition of Slovenske Elektrarne, Enel has rejoined the association.
Energy Business Review 27th Oct 2006
Hunterston
IMMINENT cracking in the Hunterston nuclear station will affect its ability to operate safely, the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate has warned. Its assessment of the Ayrshire plant and its twin, the Hinkley Point station, raised concerns about the safe running of Britain’s ageing nuclear reactors.
Scotsman 27th Oct 2006
Iran
The Russian government is responsible for approving the delivery of nuclear fuel to Iran’s planned Bushehr power station, said AtomStroyExport, the Russian constructor in charge of the project.
Interactive Investor 26th Oct 2006
Nuclear Waste Transport
TRANSPORT bosses demanded answers after a train carrying nuclear waste broke down in Sunderland city centre. The city’s central station was evacuated after the train, carrying two nuclear flasks from Hartlepool to Sellafield reprocessing plant, ground to a halt when an axle overheated.
Sunderland Echo 26th Oct 2006
Carlisle News and Star 26th Oct 2006
Korea
With the world teetering on the brink of a nuclear showdown with North Korea, there is a widespread belief that the situation calls for a delicate, diplomatic touch. There was therefore a raised eyebrow or two at Westminster yesterday when it emerged that the government had sent John Prescott, the gaffe-prone deputy prime minister, to marshal the international response to the impending crisis.
Guardian 27th Oct 2006
Nuclear Security
Enough uranium for thousands of bombs, in decaying facilities, amid doubtful security – and this is in the US.
New Scientist 28th Oct 2006
