Nuclear Terror
One of the greatest threats facing the United States is the possibility that a terrorist organization could steal a nuclear warhead or other dangerous materials from poorly-secured stockpiles throughout the world and use it to build a device that could harm millions. That is the assessment of a little-noticed US Government Accountability Office (GAO) report released earlier this month.
Christian Science Monitor 28th Dec 2010 more >>
Wylfa
PLANS to help local workers claim the hundreds of nuclear sector jobs that would be created if Wylfa B is built are underway on Anglesey. Horizon Nuclear Power wants to build a two or three reactor plant at land near Wylfa, Cemaes, and the site has been selected by the Government for a new generation of nuclear stations. The challenge has now started to train up young people and re-skill older workers to ensure Anglesey and the wider North Wales population can cash in on the jobs that would be on offer. The training will also focus on decommissioning work at the existing plant, which is due to stop operating in 2012.
Daily Post 28th Dec 2010 more >>
Review of the Year: The future of Wylfa B would be put at risk in the event of a hung Parliament, we reported, with the Liberal Democrats revealing they would use power sharing as an opportunity to halt the nuclear building programme.
Daily Post 28th Dec 2010 more >>
Scotland
Letter from Energy Minister, Jim Mather: Your claims that Scotland has had to rely on energy imported from France during the recent cold snap are wrong. The reality is that Scotland is a net exporter of electricity, a position which will only be strengthened when new wind and other renewables projects come on stream.
Scotsman 28th Dec 2010 more >>
Devonport
New equipment is being introduced at Devonport Naval Base two years after a nuclear spill in which hundreds of litres of radioactive liquid escaped into the River Tamar. In November 2008, the Western Morning News revealed that 280 litres of water, contaminated with radioactive Cobalt-60 and Tritium, poured from a burst hose as it was being pumped from the nuclear-powered submarine HMS Trafalgar. It was the worst nuclear spill at the Royal Navy dockyard since 1985.
Both the Royal Navy and Environment Agency insisted that there had been “no risk to the public” and the incident was treated seriously and fully investigated.
This is Devon 28th Dec 2010 more >>
Hitachi
Hitachi Ltd and partner General Electric may struggle to hit a long-term orders target for nuclear power plants due to signs of waning demand in the United States, the president of Hitachi said. The partners have set a target of securing orders for at least 38 nuclear plants by 2030. Of that, 10 were originally expected to come from the United States, Nakanishi said.
Reuters 28th Dec 2010 more >>
India
Two years after reaching agreement with India on the supply of six European pressurised reactors (EPRs), Areva has signed a series of contracts with the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) for the construction of two 1,650-MW reactors.
“India has little experience in the field of civilian nuclear power which entails a large amount of technical preparation and lengthy negotiations,” an Areva engineer said. The power stations should be in operation by 2020, at a cost of $9.2bn.
Guartdian 29th Dec 2010 more >>
China
At Taishan, Guangdong province work on the first two European pressurised reactors (EPRs) is going well. France’s nuclear conglomerate takes pride in the progress being made on the third-generation reactors sold to China in November 2007. Things have worked out much better here than at Flamanville, in western France, and at Olkiluoto in Finland. The first reactor, currently no more than a metal cylinder 39 metres high, stands in the middle of a lunar landscape extending over 450 hectares, served by some 20 cranes. Nearby, the dome – which will cap the structure containing the 1,660-MW reactor – is waiting for its last two rings to be added.
Guardian 29th Dec 2010 more >>
Renewables
Spain has bolstered its credentials as a world leader in renewable energy by exporting electricity to France for the first time. Heavy rain and strong winds during 2010 meant that renewables – principally hydro, wind and solar power – met 35% of Spanish demand.
Guardian 29th Dec 2010 more >>
