British Energy
Centrica, the UK power company, has made a fresh approach to Germany’s RWE about mounting a joint bid for British Energy. The move, said to have been made in the past few days, follows RWE’s decision not to go it alone with an offer for British Energy (BE), which operates eight nuclear power stations. A RWE takeover of BE could have faced competition hurdles, as a combined company would have about 33pc of the UK’s power generation market. EDF is now believed to the only potential suitor willing to bid on its own, but it is still possible that Centrica could join forces with the French company instead of RWE.
Telegraph 3rd May 2008 more >>
Companies
Iberdrola SA has confirmed that it has filed a complaint with the European Commission against EDF and France over an alleged monopoly in the country’s nuclear power plants. An Iberdrola spokesman confirmed a report by Europa Press the utility is accusing France of violating Article 86 of the EC Treaty by approving measures that give EDF a “substantial competitive advantage” and reinforce its dominant position.
Interactive Investor 2nd May 2008 more >>
Iran
America was forced to make fresh concessions to Iran today as foreign ministers from six world powers finalised a secret offer of incentives for Tehran to scrap its nuclear programme.
Telegraph 3rd May 2008 more >>
Middle East Online 2nd May 2008 more >>
Disarmament
BRITAIN’S leading anti-nuclear protester is set to head this year’s Edinburgh May Day parade tomorrow. Pat Arrowsmith has been invited to Edinburgh to mark the 50th anniversary of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.
Edinburgh Evening News 2nd May 2008 more >>
The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament today welcomed the UK government’s reaffirmation, given at the ongoing NPT Conference in Geneva, that it will not use – or threaten to use – nuclear weapons against countries that don’t have them. That commitment, made in 1995, appeared to be broken by then Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon in 2002, when he indicated that Britain would be prepared to use nuclear weapons against Iraq. Opinion polls show that opposition to such a strike is overwhelming.
eGov Monitor 2nd May 2008 more >>
