New nukes
The Conservatives will back Tony Blair’s drive to build new nuclear power stations provided it can be shown to be cost-effective, the shadow chancellor has signalled. The Tory stance is seen as the first big test of David Cameron’s attempt to re-brand his party as environmentally friendly. Most green lobby groups oppose any renewal of the ageing nuclear power stations. But an anti-nuclear stance from the Tories would appal many of their business backers and most of their backbench MPs.
FT 3rd June 2006
The Sunday Telegraph has learnt that the Tories are preparing to unveil a significant shift away from nuclear power.
Telegraph 21st May 2006
Iran
Comments from John Negroponte, the Bush administration’s most senior intelligence official, that Iran might have a nuclear weapon within the next 10 years, underline that the US is eager to keep up the pressure. But just how accurate are such predictions? Any assertion by an intelligence official about Iran’s nuclear programme has to pass one very fundamental test. If the combined effort of Washington’s intelligence machinery was so wrong about Iraq’s weapons programmes, then why should its assertions about Iran be seen as any more accurate?
BBC 2nd June 2006
Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said that Western pressure will not force Tehran to abandon its use of nuclear technology. Mr Ahmadinejad’s defiant stand comes a day after six of the world’s major powers agreed on a package of incentives aimed at persuading Iran to halt its nuclear programme.
Sky 3rd June 2006
View London 3rd June 2006
Scotsman 3rd June 2006
Independent 3rd June 2006
Times 3rd June 2006
IRAN could develop a nuclear bomb in as little as five years, the man in charge of American intelligence warned today.
Edinburgh Evening News 2nd June 2006
The US on Friday warned that Iran had weeks, not months, to provide a definite response to the incentives package offered by world powers in exchange for a halt in Iran’s controversial nuclear activities. As Iran maintained a defiant stance, insisting it was determined to move ahead with uranium enrichment, the White House said it wanted to give Tehran the opportunity to review carefully the proposals agreed on Thursday in Vienna. But Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of state, said an answer was expected “in a matter of weeks”.
FT 3rd June 2006
Terror
The consequences of potential terrorist attacks on nuclear power plants must be considered as part of environmental reviews of plant expansion plans, a U.S. appeals court ruled on Friday. The decision comes as California’s Diablo Canyon Power Plant seeks to add spent-fuel storage capacity, which it needs to continue operating beyond this year.
Reuters 2nd June 2006
Pakistan
A Pakistani court has asked the country’s government and military intelligence to explain the disappearance of a nuclear engineer.
BBC 2nd June 2006
Letter from Robin Harper calling on Scottish Lib Dems to say they will not join a coalition that will permit new nuclear stations.
Herald 1st June 2006
Decentralised Energy
One-quarter of the electricity output from new power generation facilities globally last year was derived from decentralized energy (DE) systems, almost double the share of 13% in 2002.
Re-focus Weekly 31st May 2006
