Terror
An international organisation aimed at preventing the theft of nuclear material from reactors around the world that could be used in a catastrophic terrorist attack was launched yesterday in Vienna. The independent World Institute for Nuclear Security (Wins) is initially funded by the US energy department; an American businessman, Peter Peterson, and the Norwegian government. It will seek to bring nuclear experts, governments and private companies together to improve security at nuclear facilities. Roger Howsley, the former head of security for British Nuclear Fuels, will serve as its first executive director.
Guardian 30th Sept 2008 more >>
Telegraph 30th Sept 2008 more >>
Updated reports on illicit trafficking of nuclear materials from 1995 to 2007 show that the recovery of such materials is becoming rarer. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says that on average between those years 34% of materials reported lost or stolen were later recovered. This proportion fell to 25% in 2004-2007. These unrecovered materials include “high-risk ‘dangerous’ radioactive sources.”
Nuclear Engineering International 29th Sept 2008 more >>
A pilot project using satellites to monitor the movement of sensitive nuclear materials and make sure they are not diverted to military or terrorist uses has been launched. It involves the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) working with the European Space Agency (ESA) to use satellite capacity leased from Paris-based commercial operator Eutelsat.
Nuclear Engineering International 29th Sept 2008 more >>
The U.S. clashed with the United Nations nuclear agency over the seriousness of the threat posed by nuclear terrorism. U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman and International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Mohamed ElBaradei sparred in speeches at the Vienna-based agency’s annual meeting of 145 member countries. Bodman said nuclear terrorism threats were receding thanks to U.S. programs while ElBaradei asked countries to help the UN organization prepare for a worst-case scenario.
Bloomberg 29th Sept 2008 more >>
Public Opinion
More than half of the people living near nuclear plants still have concerns about the risk of cancer and terrorist attack, according to a study. Researchers from Cardiff University and the University of East Anglia found 54 per cent of those questioned worried about the risks of living within 10 miles of a power station. However, only 16 per cent of local residents were opposed outright to it with two-fifths (38 per cent) prepared to accept the risk “reluctantly”.
Telegraph 30th Sept 2008 more >>
People who live close to nuclear power stations are more supportive of building new plants than the UK population in general, according to independent researchers who have conducted the most detailed survey of attitudes to the nuclear industry since the mid-1980s. Their findings suggest that the government’s proposed expansion of nuclear energy would encounter least opposition if new nuclear plants were sited near to existing facilities. However, the researchers said government and the industry should end uncertainty about which existing sites they intended to use.
Guardian 30th Sept 2008 more >>
New Nukes
Letter: Some years ago I led the only firm in the UK capable of making some large components for nuclear power stations and submarines. At an international conference my French competitor bought me dinner. “I can afford it,” he said. “Your Government will pay for it. They are the best friends we have. You taught us how to make these things, your costs are lower, your quality the same. We quote a bit less than you and get the work. Our Government makes up the difference, you go bust.”
Times 30th Sept 2008 more >>
The UK government has published its response to the Consultation on Funded Decommissioning Programme Guidance for New Nuclear Power Stations. As stated in the January 2008 White Paper on Nuclear Power, nuclear operators – not taxpayers – will have to meet the full costs of decommissioning and their share of waste management costs. The government anticipates that funding will be based on unit volume of waste rather than, for example, setting a cost per kWh of electricity generated. This was the general the view of the respondents, a number of whom felt that waste minimisation should be incentivised.
Nuclear Engineering International 25th Sept 2008 more >>
British Energy
MINISTERS will have the power to block the sale of British Energy’s nuclear plants following its £12.5bn takeover by France’s EDF, according to reports yesterday.
Western Mail 29th Sept 2008 more >>
Russia
Alstom Atomenergomash has signed an agreement with Atomenergoproekt for the engineering of the turbine generator package and turbine hall equipment, based on Alstom’s Arabelle technology, for the Seversk nuclear power plant in the Tomsk region of Siberia, Russia.
Datamonitor 29th Sept 2008 more >>
Interactive Investor 29th Sept 2008 more >>
India
The European Union and India are to co-operate more closely on civil nuclear research and development as a way of strengthening a partnership that has often been seen as falling short of its potential. Nicolas Sarkozy, France’s president, and Manmohan Singh, India’s prime minister, announced the agreement on Monday at an EU -India summit that also produced promises of closer co-ordination of climate change and energy security policies.
FT 30th Sept 2008 more >>
BBC 29th Sept 2008 more >>
Israel
THE US has deployed an advanced anti-missile radar system to defend an Israeli nuclear weapons plant against possible Iranian attack, according to military sources. The still unproven system was delivered by air over the past week.
Herald 30th Sept 2008 more >>
Venezuala
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has announced he wants the country to develop a nuclear programme with the help of Russia. He insists, as do the Iranians, that it would be for purely peaceful purposes.
Telegraph 30th Sept 2008 more >>
Germany
Like other industrial nations, Germany faces a formidable challenge in covering its future energy needs amid rising raw material prices, the threat of climate change and worries about the reliability of oil and gas supplies. A decision eight years ago to phase out nuclear energy, which provides a quarter of Germany’s electricity consumption, is making it especially hard on Europe’s largest economy to meet its three goals: lowering its dependence on imported fuel, cutting harmful carbon gas emissions, and maintaining a plentiful power supply at prices industry and households can afford.
FT 29th Sept 2008 more >>
Iran
A six-year probe has not ruled out the possibility that Iran may be running clandestine nuclear programmes, the chief UN nuclear inspector said, urging the country to reassure the world by ending its secretive ways.
Express 29th Sept 2008 more >>
Ukraine
A detailed report on European Union (EU)-Ukraine energy programmes has been released by the European Commission (EC), which details how Ukraine should continue cooperation regarding nuclear energy with the EU. The report was discussed at the recent summit between the EU and Ukraine, which proved somewhat disappointing to Kiev’s pro-western government which wanted to secure guarantees about future EU and Euratom membership. However, detailed cooperation work will continue.
Nuclear Engineering International 29th Sept 2008 more >>
Trident
SCOTLAND’S nuclear submarine base had 100 safety blunders last year – a 40 per cent rise. Incidents, including power failures, spilled radioactive material and dropped reactor control rods, were branded a “disgrace”. A Ministry of Defence report highlighted the shocking record at Faslane, Dunbartonshire, between June 2006 and May 2007.
Daily Record 29th Sept 2008 more >>
Renewables
The government’s renewable power strategy is “ineffective and very expensive”, according to a damning review by the International Energy Agency. A study of 35 countries, including all the major industrial nations such as the US, Germany and China, puts the UK near the bottom of the class on green energy. Our renewables industry has been left to wither on the vine while our European neighbours have raced ahead, creating new jobs as well as fighting climate change and securing their energy supplies,” said Jim Footner, senior climate campaigner at Greenpeace. “The Department for Business must urgently ditch its obsession with coal and nuclear, and focus properly on the true technologies of the 21st century.”
Guardian 30th Sept 2008 more >>