New nukes
Westinghouse Electric Company has today signed pioneering agreements with BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce and Doosan Babcock to collaborate on work associated with bringing the AP1000 nuclear power plant to the UK. The agreements are part of the Westinghouse strategy to “buy where we build” and are key milestones in the process which may lead to between 70 and 80 percent of the work and services required to construct the AP1000 being provided by the UK supply chain, securing valuable jobs in Britain. The three separate Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) put in place arrangements for Westinghouse to work on an individual basis with BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce and Doosan Babcock.
PR Newswire 4th Sept 2008 more >>
BAE Systems has signed an “exploratory” deal with the Westinghouse Electric Company, a nuclear reactor designer and builder, which could see Barrow’s nuclear submarine builders construct parts for new nuclear power stations.
NW Evening Mail 4th Sept 2008 more >>
David Lowry: Tristram Denton of the Nuclear Industry Association (in a letter to the Guardian on August 19), was right in stating that “government has made it clear that the private sector will have to pay the full costs of any new nuclear power generation in the UK,” but the government is not telling the full story. In two key nuclear expenditure areas, official, if obscure, statements have indicated that subsidies will continue.
Guardian 5th Sept 2008 more >>
The British government could risk the revival of the country’s nuclear power industry if it allows delays in the construction of new plants to deter investors, the head of the UK’s Nuclear Industry Association said on Thursday. Ministers need to ensure they keep up momentum in introducing changes to planning laws designed to cut the time needed to approve new power stations, Keith Parker, the association’s chief executive, said.
Reuters 4th Sept 2008 more >>
British Energy
The lights seem to be flickering again in the on/off negotiations between EDF and British Energy. Indeed, the French state-controlled electricity group may well be at last inching towards a deal to buy the UK nuclear operator – although anything could still happen. The two companies were only hours away from announcing a deal this summer when the whole thing fell apart on the opposition of two of British Energy’s big shareholders – investment funds Invesco and M&G.
FT 5th Sept 2008 more >>
Electricit de France is moving closer to a deal to buy British Energy, the nuclear generator, after talks with some of the UK company’s biggest investors have begun to bear fruit. The French utility, whose £12bn ( 14.8bn) bid was rebuffed by British Energy’s shareholders in July, has offered to boost the potential pay-out under its alternative cash-and-paper bid depending on the future performance of the UK group.
FT 5th Sept 2008 more >>
Dounreay
THE Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) is denying that it is unfairly concentrating its resources on Sellafield at the expense of Dounreay and the other UK nuclear clean-up sites it bankrolls.
John O Groat Journal 3rd Sept 2008 more >>
Sellafield
A man who sparked a major alert in west Cumbria after bailiffs found a homemade nail bomb at his house has admitted making the device.
Whitehaven News 4th Sep 2008 more >>
CRAFT workers at Sellafield have voted to take industrial action which they say could be effective enough to shut down the site.
Whitehaven News 4th Sept 2008 more >>
Nuclear Weapons
The UK and US signed the Mutual Defence Agreement 50 years ago, ensuring a flow of information on nuclear issues. In 2008 the agreement continues to support the special relationship.
MOD Oracle 4th Sept 2008 more >>
India
The group of nations that regulate the global nuclear trade is meeting in Vienna to consider lifting restrictions on selling nuclear technology to India. It is part of a controversial Indian-US deal that needs the approval of the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) before the US Congress can ratify it. The group did not endorse the plan in a meeting last month, forcing the US to come back with a revised proposal.
BBC 4th Sept 2008 more >>
Korea
South Korea’s chief nuclear envoy on Friday pressed North Korea to halt plans to rebuild a mothballed nuclear plant that makes arms-grade plutonium and instead return to the bargaining table to discuss disarmament.
Reuters 5th Sept 2008 more >>
US
Exelon Generation, a power generation company, has submitted a combined construction and operating license application to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, seeking authorization to build and operate a new dual-unit nuclear generating facility in Victoria County, Texas.
Datamonitor 4th Sept 2008 more >>
Germany
Responsibility for a leaking radioactive waste site in the mountains of Lower Saxony has been shifted from one office to another in the German government. The scandal has political fallout, but whether — and how — the leaking waste can be cleaned up is still not clear.
Der Spiegel 4th Sept 2008 more >>
Fuel Poverty
Ministers had considered a direct payment to ease the impact of rising fuel costs. But the package will instead centre on extra financial help from electricity producers to pay for home efficiency measures, targeted at low-income households.
Guardian 5th Sept 2008 more >>
Telegraph 5th Sept 2008 more >>
