Sellafield
An investigation has been launched by Sellafield Ltd into another incident involving the loss of coolant water to the site’s HLW tanks – the second such incident within the last ten months. The loss of coolant to the tanks’ highly radioactive inventory of liquid wastes occurred on Friday 22nd January 2010 – and follows a similar loss in April 2009. Breaking the news, this week’s Whitehaven News (26th January) says that 4 of the site’s 21 storage tanks were affected and that the loss of cooling water lasted for 30 minutes. The loss of coolant in the April ’09 accident lasted several hours (see CORE Press Release 8th April 2009).
CORE Briefing 28th Jan 2010 more >>
Whitehaven News 28th Jan 2010 more >>
TEN years ago Sellafield was sent reeling by arguably the most critical incident of its existence. Its nuclear masters, BNFL created a business hiatus and political storm in the Land of The Rising Sun – a batch of “hot” fuel pellets were found to be rogue and duly refused. It wasn’t a leak. Much more serious than that for a company that valued its reputation for trust and honesty in its dealings with international customers. The crisis was over a batch of highly radioactive Mox fuel which was delivered to Japan for re-use in its nuclear reactors.
Whitehaven News 27th Jan 2010 more >>
Companies
French nuclear reactor maker Areva announced a reorganisation of its businesses on Thursday, in a move aimed to shore up its credentials as an integrated nuclear power provider that cannot be split apart. The embattled state-owned company said it was reshuffling operations to improve synergies and customer satisfaction. Areva has recently come under fire for losing a multi-billion euro contract to build nuclear reactors in Abu Dhabi in part because it did not tailor its offer to meet local needs.
Reuters 28th Jan 2010 more >>
French Prime Minister Francois Fillon has given state-owned energy companies EDF and Areva until the end of the week to resolve a dispute over a nuclear fuel contract. He has also called on the two company heads to end public hostilities for fear that the on-going battle will harm France’s efforts to be a leader in the global nuclear renaissance.
Utility Week 28th Jan 2010 more >>
Cumbria
ANTI-NUCLEAR campaigners have compared the consultation document into new nuclear power stations to the dossier that took the country to war. Radiation Free Lakeland, Kirksanton and Braystones campaigners took their fight to keep new build out of the county to Parliament last night claiming the consultation process was flawed and decisions had already been made.
NW Evening Mail 28th Jan 2010 more >>
Carlisle News and Star 28th Jan 2010 more >>
The Lake District National Park Authority has warned that two proposed nuclear power plants would have a serious impact on the area’s tourism industry. A report setting out the authority’s response to consultation on the nuclear national policy statement argues that plans for extra stations on greenfield sites near Braystones and Kirkstanton are not acceptable.
Planning Resource 29th Jan 2010 more >>
County councillors in Cumbria have said they will oppose plans to build a nuclear power station on greenbelt land close to the existing Sellafield site. They said the site at Braystones and Kirksanton was not viable as they were not convinced the benefits of development would outweigh the costs.
New Civil Engineer 28th Jan 2010 more >>
NW Evening Mail 28th Jan 2010 more >>
Whitehaven News 27th Jan 2010 more >>
Hartlepool
AN open debate on the possibility of a new nuclear power station for Hartlepool was hailed as being “useful” and “extremely well-balanced”.
Hartlepool Mail 27th Jan 2010 more >>
Oldbury
For the first time in several years, both of Oldbury’s reactors are fully operational and generating 400MW of electricity each day. The Oldbury site, which is operated by Magnox North on behalf of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), began working with the regulators several years ago to demonstrate the structural integrity of the graphite in the longest operating irradiated graphite core in the world.
The Engineer 28th Jan 2010 more >>
Radioactive Waste
WEST Cumbrians will have the chance to say whether or not they would like to see an underground nuclear waste repository in the area. Only Copeland and Allerdale Borough Councils, along with Cumbria County Council, have so far made an “expression of interest” into the possibility. Any community that eventually takes the interest further with the government will be offered the opportunity to volunteer as a repository “host” with financial incentives on offer for community benefit. No potential geological location has yet been identified.
Whitehaven News 28th Jan 2010 more >>
Uranium
In October 2008, Greenpeace published data showing that drinking water around the Caetit uranium mine in the state of Bahia, Brazil was contaminated with uranium levels up to seven times higher than the World Health Organisation’s recommendations. The Bahia Institute of Water Management and Climate (Ing ) opened its own investigation in the matter. In November 2009 they suspended the use of water from six wells preventively, because radioactivity in the wells was found to be above allowed limits. On 21 January 2010, Ing and the Department of Health of Bahia notified local authorities in Caetit that another three wells need to be closed, and clean water should be supplied to the local community. Radioactivity was again found to be too high. Greenpeace went to the uranium mining area yesterday, and discovered that the wells had not been closed yet. The mining company INB (Industrias Nucleares Brasileiras) as well as the Brazilian nuclear regulator CNEN (note: also shareholder of the mining company (!)) shamelessly claim the Ing results to be false.
Nuclear Reaction 27th Jan 2010 more >>
US
President Barack Obama signaled his administration is ready for more cooperation with Republicans when he called for construction of a new fleet of nuclear power plants during his State of the Union speech last night. The president said no area is riper for innovation than energy, but that the country needs more production, efficiency and incentives. That means “building a new generation of safe, clean nuclear power plants,” Obama said to a strong round of applause. The Obama administration has stepped carefully around nuclear energy up to this point. The Department of Energy has moved forward with the conditional loan guarantee program initiated by the Bush administration. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has 18 construction and operating license permits currently in queue, from utilities including Duke Energy, Progress Energy, Entergy and FPL Group.
Argus Media 29th Jan 2010 more >>
Peak Oil
A 40pc increase in the demand for oil from China and other emerging economies will create the need for an extra 15m barrels per day (bpd) of production over the next two decades.
Telegraph 29th Jan 2010 more >>
