EDF
FRENCH power company EDF is planning to sell the UK’s biggest electricity network to slash debt and concentrate on its fast-growing nuclear interests. EDF, the world’s biggest nuclear company, will hope to land £3.5billion from the possible sale of EDF Energy, which supplies eight million UK homes and businesses with power and employs nearly 12,000 people. It said it has hired Barclays Capital and Deutsche Bank to advise on the sale, which could take place next year. Rival Scottish and Southern Energy was installed as the favourite to purchase the network.
Express 3rd Oct 2009 more >>
Telegraph 3rd Oct 2009 more >>
Independent 3rd Oct 2009 more >>
FT 3rd Oct 2009 more >>
Mr Gadonneix said: “The deal will give us access to the means and the financial room to manoeuvre that will enable us to consolidate our development strategy in Britain.” He said that EDF was examining other possible disposals.
Times 3rd Oct 2009 more >>
Times 2nd Oct 2009 more >>
IPC
Sir Michael Pitt, chair of the IPC, is worried that local authorities are the missing link in the process and need a “wake-up call”. “If I have a concern, it’s that of all the statutory consultees, it’s local government which has shown the least interest so far.” He says he is trying to dispel a myth that local authorities’ input into decisions on national infrastructure, such as nuclear power stations, airports and wind farms, will decrease under the IPC regime. He fears councils have not got to grips with what he views as their hugely increased role in infrastructure planning under the IPC regime, which he says puts them in a “pivotal position”. Councils will have to get up to speed on infrastructure projects in their own or neighbouring patches quickly, ensuring that public consultations – to be led by developers – are robust and then vouching for their effectiveness or otherwise. In addition, they must draw up a local impact report, covering the social, environmental and economic impact of the proposal. This is the point at which a council can express a “clear view” about whether it supports or opposes the proposal. But the work must be delivered to a tight timetable. The Local Government Association warned the IPC could undermine local democracy, but Sir Michael is confident that leaving developers to run consultations will not undermine the process.
Local Government Chronicle 1st Oct 2009 more >>
Sellafield
Sellafield Ltd is expected to ask the Environment Agency (EA) for an almost 5-fold increase in gas discharge limit for Antimony 125 (Sb-125) so that the Magnox reprocessing plant can continue to operate. Sb-125 has a radioactive half-life of 2.75 years and emits beta radiation.
CORE Press Release 30th Sept 2009 more >>
DECADES of high-level radioactive waste will be shipped to countries around the world from Barrow port. Around 2000 containers of left over waste from Sellafield’s nuclear re-processing plants is being packed up, loaded on to trains, transported by rail through West Cumbria, and packed on to ships at the port.
NW Evening Mail 2nd Oct 2009 more >>
Hinkley
Email sent from Stop Hinkley to LibDem MP Steve Webb – about the withdrawal of an invitation to speak at party conferences.
Green Party Councillor Blog 1st Oct 2009 more >>
Dungeness
In 1965 the first nuclear power station at this site , Dungeness A, was in operation; by 1983 Dungeness B, an advanced gas cooled reactor was producing power for homes, schools and factories. On a typical day, the power stations now produce 30 million kilowatt hours of electricity – enough to power the whole of South East England.
Rye Castle Museum 1st Oct 2009 more >>
New Nukes
There is increasing evidence that the plans by foreign companies EdF and Eon to build nuclear reactors in the West Country may be on the wane. A fresh report by the Adam Smith Institute provides some doubt over the plans of the respective companies due to changes of circumstances in their own countries.
Bristol Indymedia 2nd Oct 2009 more >>
Iran
Gordon Brown and Nicolas Sarkozy had a behind-the-scenes row with Barack Obama over last week’s announcement about a secret uranium enrichment plant in Iran.
Telegraph 3rd October 2009 more >>
The head of the UN nuclear watchdog, Mohamed ElBaradei, is expected in Iran to discuss inspectors’ access to a recently revealed uranium facility.
BBC 3rd Oct 2009 more >>
Telegraph 3rd Oct 2009 more >>
France is expressing anxiety about the Obama administration’s pursuit of a potential deal on Iran’s nuclear programme, warning that the US must not allow Tehran to expand its uranium enrichment activity without facing fresh sanctions.
FT 3rd Oct 2009 more >>
No new sanctions were ever likely to be imposed on Iran at the meeting in Geneva, no matter what Iran said. None now will be imposed until next year at the earliest.
Telegraph 3rd Oct 2009 more >>
As an incentive to Iran, a solution was agreed to a problem facing the operators of a research reactor in Tehran, which will require refuelling in under 18 months. It has been agreed in principle to take Iranian stocks of uranium enriched to 3.5% uranium-235 to Russia for further enrichment to the required level of 19.75%. Next, France will organise for this material to be manufactured into fuel elements for the reactor, which is used to make medical isotopes.
World Nuclear News 2nd Oct 2009 more >>
INTERNATIONAL talks with Iran have “opened the door” to progress on clarifying the country’s nuclear ambitions, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said. After talks in Switzerland, Mrs Clinton struck a cautious tone and said it remained to be seen whether the Iranians would act decisively to address concerns about their intentions.
Glasgow Evening Times 2nd Oct 2009 more >>
George Galloway: Talk about Iran’s nuclear weapons sounds eerily familiar. It’s time to end the Bush-era bellicosity.
Guardian 3rd Oct 2009 more >>
Belgium
Politically motivated shutdowns of nuclear power plants look set to be put off for at least ten years, after an official report said the country could not manage without nuclear. Since a 2003 decision to phase out nuclear energy, the lifespans of nuclear power reactors in Belgium are limited to 40 years, with shutdown dates around 2015 pencilled in for Doel 1, Doel 2 and Tihange 1.
World Nuclear News 2nd Oct 2009 more >>
Trident
PRIME Minister Gordon Brown last night told the Evening Mail he will “guarantee a generation of high skilled jobs” in Barrow by pressing ahead with the successor submarine programme.
NW Evening Mail 1st Oct 2009 more >>
