Security
The Russian nuclear agency asked experts at the Swedish Nuclear Power Inspectorate (SKI) for their insight and experience in assessing the scale of serious security risks in the Kola peninsula, arguably the world’s most radioactive region. The resulting investigation was completed earlier this year, but in keeping with its cloak-and-dagger origin, the Russian authorities are keeping the details secret. However, New Scientist has learned that the report exposes gaping holes in the arrangements meant to prevent the theft of plutonium and highly enriched uranium.
New Scientist 01 December 2007 (subscription required) more >>
Alarms over international nuclear smuggling were raised last night when Slovak police announced that three men had been arrested in Slovakia and Hungary after allegedly trying to sell a kilogram of radioactive material.
Guardian 29th Nov 2007 more >>
BBC 28th Nov 2007 more >>
Channel 4 News 28th Nov 2007 more >>
British Energy
British Energy is looking at building four nuclear power plants at its sites in the south of England. But it admitted flood defences would be needed to protect them from rising sea levels. Sizewell in Suffolk, Dungeness in Kent, Hinkley Point in Somerset and Bradwell in Essex are the preferred sites for the new reactors. British Energy said it had already reached agreement with the National Grid to create extra capacity for up to 10 gigawatts generated at the sites from 2016. Gordon Brown gave broad hints at the CBI conference that new plants were likely. Yesterday the chancellor, Alistair Darling, used the same forum to say: “Our preliminary view is that, subject to the outcome of our consultation, it should be part of future energy mix options.”
Guardian 28th November 2007 more >>
British Energy, the UK’s biggest nuclear operator, has just published a report (pdf) they claim shows that new nuclear reactors in the UK could be protected from flooding and sea-level rise caused by climate change. They concluded “that all our sites can be sustained over the next 100 years.” But their report doesn’t cut the mustard. British Energy themselves admit that “much work remains to be done to confirm the suitability of these sites against modern standards”. All they can suggest that might work is “engineering measures” to protect coast lines and “setting back” new reactors a bit further away from the sea, which is to say the least a bit vague.
Greenpeace website 28th Nov 2007 more >>
British Energy is considering eight of its sites as possible locations for next generation nuclear plants but said flood defences would be needed to protect them.
Building 28th Nov 2007 more >>
British Energy has halved the time required to complete some of its basic training programmes amid an acute shortage of experienced nuclear staff.
Times 29th Nov 2007 more >>
Hartlepool
PLANS to build a second nuclear power plant in the North-East have met opposition from environmentalists. Hartlepool has been chosen as a likely location for a new plant in British Energy’s long-term plans for sustainable fuel. However, both the Lib Dems and environmentalists said the town already had one nuclear power plant and should not have to accept another.
Northern Echo 29th Nov 2007 more >>
THE prospect of a new nuclear power station for Hartlepool moved a step closer yesterday, as British Energy revealed it had commissioned a range of studies at the site. The company was pressing ahead with environmental and technical reports in advance of the government’s anticipated backing for a new generation of generators next year.
Newcastle Evening Gazette 28th Nov 2007 more >>
Sellafield
Three independent non-executive directors have been appointed to the board of Sellafield, Britain’s biggest nuclear site, to help to steer the business through a change of ownership that is due to conclude next summer. Lord Clark of Windermere, Sir Paul Lever and Rear-Admiral Tim Chittenden have been recruited to the company, which employs 2,000 people, The Times has learnt. Sellafield is the subject of a competition, being run by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, in which private sector consortiums are bidding to win a five-year, £5 billion clean-up contract for the business. The new owner, or Parent Body Organisation, will own the shares in Sellafield for the period of the contract, which is expected to be awarded next summer.
Times 29th Nov 2007 more >>
Radiation Monitoring
Recently Corus Northern England adapted its rdiation monitoring equipment so that the FSA could monitor sheep still affected by Chernobyl.
The Engineer 27th Nov 2007 more >>
Nuclear Waste
Nuclear Waste policy incoherent and opaque – guest blog by Pete Roche.
Eco Street 27th November 2007 more >>
Iran
Inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) are set on Thursday to finish sealing uranium fuel that Russia intends to send to Iran’s first atomic power station, a Russian nuclear official said.
Reuters 29th Nov 2007 more >>
Italy
An Italian cross-party parliamentary group has been set up to promote the development of nuclear power and energy independence, opposition members of parliament Marcello De Angelis and Giuseppe Menardi said in a statement.
Interactive Investor 28th Nov 2007 more >>
Europe
The newly created European Nuclear Energy Forum held its first meeting in Bratislava on 26th & 27th Nov.
World Nuclear News 28th Nov 2007 more >>
Turkey
Turkish authorities are expected to invite bids for the construction of the country’s first nuclear power plant in February, Energy Minister Hilmi Guler said.
Interactive Investor 28th Nov 2007 more >>
