Old Reactors
Studsvik has signed a seven-year contract with EDF Energy Nuclear Generation for carrying out materials testing on irradiated fuel and fuel components from Advanced Gas cooled Reactors (AGR). The fuel and materials tests will be carried out at Studsvik’s facilities and are made in support of the safety cases and operation of EDF Energy Nuclear Generation’s UK AGR reactors. The seven-year contract is valued at SEK94.5m, and Studsvik intends to extend the contract for a further ten years.
Energy Business Review 29th Nov 2011 more >>
Hinkley
Around 100 delegates attended the latest Hinkley Supply Chain event, entitled ‘How to win business at Hinkley C, to find out more about the opportunities to get involved in the Hinkley Point C new nuclear development through smart business development and collaboration.
Process & Control Today 29th Nov 2011 more >>
Heysham
EDF Energy, Britain’s biggest nuclear power producer, disconnected its 660 megawatt Heysham 2-8 reactor on Tuesday.
Reuters 29th Nov 2011 more >>
Sizewell
SIZEWELL B nuclear power station is now back at full capacity after repairs were made to one of its two turbines.
East Anglia Daly Times 29th Nov 2011 more >>
Companies
A maintenance firm which employs hundreds of people at Sellafield has won a £300 million contract to work at 10 other nuclear sites. Hertel, the maintenance and construction services firm, has landed a five-year framework contract to work on demolition and asbestos removal across 10 Magnox power stations, including Chapelcross, near Annan.
Cumberland News 30th Nov 2011 more >>
Carbon Pricing
In a clear attempt to redirect the coalition’s green policies, the chancellor told parliament: “I am worried about the combined impact of the green policies adopted not just in Britain, but also by the European Union if we burden [British businesses] with endless social and environmental goals however worthy in their own right then not only will we not achieve those goals, but the businesses will fail, jobs will be lost, and our country will be poorer.” Osborne gave £250m worth of assistance and rebates to the most energy-intensive companies, scrapped a planned rise in fuel duty, announced a massive road-building scheme and hinted at a watering down of regulations to protect British wildlife. The campaigning organisation Sandbag said many of the companies that benefitted from the chancellor’s easing of carbon regulations were the same that had pocketed free carbon permits worth hundreds of millions of pounds in the last few years under the EU’s emissions trading scheme
Guardian 29th Nov 2011 more >>
Independent 30th Nov 2011 more >>
The government’s green ambition is dead, choked by the exhaust fumes and chimneystack smog belched out by the chancellor’s desperate and wrong-headed attempt to restart the economy’s engine. He threw yet more taxpayers’ cash at the carbon fat cats in the highly polluting steel, cement and other energy intensive industries, a sector that has perfected the dark art of special pleading.
Guardian 29th Nov 2011 more >>
George Osborne cheered energy intensive industries by confirming a £250m package of support in a bid to keep industry and jobs in Britain, but environmental groups condemned the autumn statement as a polluters charter that raised questions over the coalitions ambition to be at the forefront of fighting climate change.
FT 29th Nov 2011 more >>
Telegraph 29th Nov 2011 more >>
Wales
Environment bodies to be merged. Three environment bodies in Wales are to be merged into a single organisation, the Welsh Government has announced. Environment minister John Griffiths said the Environment Agency Wales (EAW), the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) and Forestry Commission Wales (FCW) will be brought together. Government officials estimate the transition from three bodies to just one could result in savings of up to £158 million within a 10-year period.
PA 29th Nov 2011 more >>
Europe
Following the nuclear accident in Fukushima, the EU reacted swiftly and agreed on voluntary tests for all of its 143 nuclear power plants based on a set of common criteria. In its Communication published on 24 November, the Commission looks at first findings of these stress tests and points to some policy areas where the new EU nuclear safety framework can be strengthened through common standards.
EU Business 27th Nov 2011 more >>
The European commission last month released a preliminary report on the stress tests carried out on Europe’s nuclear power plants. The document is only 15 pages plus annexes, but some countries seem to have already drawn their own conclusions. The Czech Republic affirms that its nuclear power stations are not at risk from major earthquakes or floods. Belgium considers that its seven reactors are protected against quakes, floods, terrorist attacks and falling planes. The report produced by Brussels puts the case for tighter safety rules, but with only limited scope. It notes that the regulations already in force before the Fukushima disaster in March are still not being applied throughout the European Union.
Guardian 29th Nov 2011 more >>
France
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has announced his support for a nuclear research programme and new nuclear power plants, including the proposed third reactor at the Penly European pressurised reactor (EPR) plant in Normandy. The EPR would be the second in Europe. French power utility EDF is developing the first EPR at the Flamanville plant in Normandy. That project has faced a number of challenges.
Infrastructure Journal 29th Nov 2011 more >>
Japan
The operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant ignored warnings that the complex was at risk of damage from a tsunami of the size that hit north-east Japan in March, and dismissed the need for better protection against seawater flooding, according to reports. Tokyo Electric Power (Tepco) officials rejected “unrealistic” estimates made in a 2008 internal report that the plant could be threatened by a tsunami of up to 10.2 metres, Kyodo news agency said. The tsunami that crippled backup power supplies at the plant on the afternoon of 11 March, leading to the meltdown of three reactors, was more than 14 metres high.
Guardian 29th Nov 2011 more >>
Greenpeace today renewed its demand for the Japanese government to keep its nuclear reactors offline as simulation maps of potential accidents at Japans nuclear plants – used in the development of nuclear emergency response efforts – are completely inadequate, and have not been updated since the Fukushima disaster.
Greenpeace 29th Nov 2011 more >>
Pressure from business people and different views of the crisis after the 11 March 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear power plant disaster, caused Japanese Catholic bishops to delay an anti-nuclear message for six months, according to a church official.
Ekklesia 29th Nov 2011 more >>
Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) has received approval from the Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), for the amendment to the safety regulations for nuclear reactor facilities of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station in Japan. The contents included in the application are: to set forth the plan required for the activities, to allocate the necessary personnel for the activities, to conduct training for the personnel for the Activities, to allocate the generator trucks, fire engines, fire fighting hoses and other equipments required for the activities, and to have the periodic evaluation on the above actions and take necessary measures based on the evaluation result.
Energy Business Review 28th Nov 2011 more >>
Belarus
Belarus has signed a range of energy agreements with Russia, handing over its gas supply network while cementing progress toward a nuclear power plant to offset the fuel.
World Nuclear News 29th Nov 2011 more >>
North Korea
The building of a nuclear reactor in North Korea is “progressing apace”, officials say, in a further snub to the US and South Korea. State media quoted a Foreign Ministry official as saying low-enriched uranium was being produced for the reactor.
BBC 30th Nov 2011 more >>
Guardian 30th Nov 2011 more >>
Green Deal
Changeworks and the Scottish Government recently held five events for community organisations on the UK Government’s Green Deal scheme. The presentations are available here.
Changeworks 29th Nov 2011 more >>
