Nuclear Waste Transport
A company shipping nuclear waste to Japan is on the hunt for comms assistance to appease the countries it passes en route. International Nuclear Services is seeking an agency for a three-and-a-half-year brief worth £500,000. As part of the company’s ‘global acceptance activities’, it is looking for an agency to engage with academics, politicians and journalists to reduce the amount of controversy generated by the trips. Sellafield, the nuclear reprocessing site in Cumbria, is among the sites where the company picks up waste. The news follows the return to operation last weekend of Japan’s Ohi nuclear plant. The country shut down all of its reactors for safety checks following the Fukushima disaster last year.
PR Week 5th July 2012 more >>
Radwaste
CAMPAIGNERS have launched an on-line petition against the prospect of highly radioactive nuclear waste being buried in the Lake District. Only a week after West Cumbrias Managing Radioactive Waste Safely Partnership flatly refuted claims that Eskdale, Wasdale and Ennerdale were already under consideration as potential sites, Radiation Free Lakeland has stepped up its anti-repository fight. On top of the electronic petition which now has more than 100 signatures, campaigners say they will be out and about in Lake District towns and villages drumming up support to try and head off any future disposal plans.
Whitehaven News 5th July 2012 more >>
Sellafield
SHADOW energy secretary Caroline Flint has hailed Sellafield as a national asset, with its expertise and workforce skills among the best in the world. But during her fact-finding mission the MP was unable to give any clues over whether or not Sellafield was any nearer to getting approval for any new nuclear build notably Mox 2 on the site itself. It was her first Sellafield visit since taking over office last October and came just three weeks after 800 jobs were thrown in the balance by the NDAs decision to close the Thorp reprocessing plant in six years time. Although Thorp was not on the itinerary, Ms Flint heard calls from union representatives for new commercial work to offset any future loss of jobs through decommissioning. Only last year, 600 workers were worried about their future when the Mox plutonium recycling plant was forced into shutdown because Japans nuclear reactor disaster left it with no more business. All the workers have since been found other jobs on the site but the Thorp decision has led to new concerns and the unions pressing hard for the government to give the green light for a brand new Mox plant. Asked whether she thought Mox 2 would happen this year, the shadow minister said: I wish I knew the answer to that. What I do know is that we have an Energy Bill that will be starting its journey through Parliament nuclear is very important to that.
Whitehaven News 5th July 2012 more >>
ONR
The UK Office for Nuclear Regulation has published revised site licensing guidance, which will be used to review the application by NNB Genco for a site license to build two EPR reactors at Hinkley Point. NNB Genco is the consortium of EDF and Centrica that has applied for a site license for Hinkley Point C. The Licensing Nuclear Installations document replaces The licensing of nuclear installations issued in March 2007. The revised document takes account of the governments National Policy Statement for Nuclear Power Generation (2009) and recent changes in legislation, including the Energy Act (2008) and the Planning Act (2008), ONR said. It also sets out the factors that the regulator may take into account when reviewing a license application, and refers to relevant technical assessment guidance.
i-Nuclear 5th July 2012 more >>
Hinkley
Hinkley C set to cause Bridgwater Property boom. WITH all eyes on the property scene in Bridgwater as the town faces the prospect of helping to accommodate thousands of construction workers from Hinkley Point, the Mercury has asked local estate agents for their views on the current market. Richard Curtis, director at Holland and Curtis, said: The lettings side is phenomenal and with residential sales, although people are cautious, properties are still selling.
This is the West Country 5th July 2012 more >>
Support for nuclear energy has bounced back in the South West since the Fukushima disaster in Japan last year, a new poll has revealed. The increased backing comes as EDF Energy prepares to make a final decision on whether to press ahead with a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point C in Somerset.
Western Morning News 5th July 2012 more >>
Wylfa
ANGLESEY Wylfa contractors who have lost out to a multi-national firm have blamed EU red tape. Vital maintenance contracts have been taken away from four companies who have worked at the nuclear power plant for up to 40 years, leading to scores of job losses. Company bosses now fear for their survival saying applying for the relevant EU health and safety certificate is too expensive and unfeasible for small firms.
North Wales Chronicle 5th July 2012 more >>
Sizewell
Submission of details pursuant to conditions of planning permission and variations to construction programme for Sizewell B Dry Fuel Store, Leiston, Suffolk IP16 4UR. The Council has received an application from EDF Energy Nuclear Generation Limited for subsequent consent in respect of approval required under planning conditions imposed on planning permission granted by the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (ref 12.04.09.04/37c). The application is accompanied by an environmental statement. The purpose of the dry fuel store is to extend the generating life of the power station by allowing the storage of spent fuel on site in a new building. The planning permission was subject to 32 conditions and this application seeks to discharge a number of these conditions as set out in the submitted documents.
Suffolk Coastal 30th June 2012 more >>
Dounreay
What have been described as the two biggest man-made holes in Caithness are being dug to store tonnes of low-level radioactive waste from Dounreay. The larger of the two vaults involves the excavation of about 200,000 cubic metres of rock. The stores, being constructed at a cost of £100m, are separated by a spine of rock nine metres wide at the top. The waste will include paper, rags, tools, glass, concrete and clothing contaminated by radioactivity. Once inside the store it will be monitored for 300 years. After that period of time the radioactivity will have decayed by 95%.
BBC 6th July 2012 more >>
Romney Marsh
Green MEP for Kent Keith Taylor is throwing his weight behind the campaign against a nuclear waste facility on Romney Marsh. Mr Taylor will visit New Romney on Monday to discuss the plans and will urge people to make their views heard and to oppose the scheme. He will be on New Romney High Street between midday and 2pm. People have until Friday, July 20, to make their views known to Shepway District Council about a possible nuclear research and disposal facility. Comments can be made via www.romneymarshnrdf.org.uk.
Kent News 5th July 2012 more >>
Europe
The UKs Department of Energy and Climate Change hosted an informal senior officials meeting of nuclear power-interested EU countries on 13 June. This was to follow up on the inaugural informal ministerial meeting in Paris on 10 February. The meeting was chaired by Mark Higson, Chief Executive of the Office for Nuclear Development, and was attended by representatives from 11 Member States: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Hungary, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Spain and UK (a list of delegates is attached as an annex). The theme of the meeting was Overcoming barriers to the future of nuclear in Europe, and brought together a group of EU countries who support a sustainable future for nuclear power in order to explore common goals and share experiences and ideas that will help us to take advantage of economic opportunities and overcome any unnecessary obstacles.
DECC 5th July 2012 more >>
RWE
Spare a thought for Peter Terium, who took over this week as chief executive at RWE, Germanys second-largest energy group by market capitalisation. After Berlins abrupt decision last year to phase out nuclear power, the 48-year-old Dutchman finds himself at the helm of a company upbraided as directionless and over-polluting a pachyderm of Europes power industry.
FT 5th July 2012 more >>
Japan
Malcolm Grimston: The report by the Japanese parliament into Fukushima is a refreshingly damning indictment of the relationship between the prime minister, politicians, regulators and the Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco). The report outlines a string of errors and wilful negligence that left the Fukushima plant unprepared for the events of 11 March 2011, and examines “serious deficiencies” in the response to the accident. This was a disaster “made in Japan” and the report significantly notes that “its fundamental causes are to be found in… Japanese culture: our reflexive obedience; our reluctance to question authority; our groupism; and our insularity”.
BBC 6th July 2012 more >>
After more than a thousand interviews and the questioning of over 900 witnesses The Fukushima Nuclear Accident Independent Investigation Commission has made its first report. The report concludes that the events of 11 March 2011 – when the six-reactor Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant was badly compromised first by an earthquake and then by a tsunami which damaged cooling systems which in turn lead to meltdowns and the release of radioactivity was a profoundly man-made disaster, that could and should have been foreseen and prevented.”
e-Gov Monitor 6th July 2012 more >>
Scotsman 6th July 2012 more >>
Evening Standard 5th July 2012 more >>
Daily Mail 5th July 2012 more >>
Independent 5th July 2012 more >>
Guardian 5th July 2012 more >>
Guardian 5th July 2012 more >>
Poland
Polands largest power company, the state owned Polska Grupa Energetyczna (PGE), will soon launch a tender seeking companies that are able to provide the technology to build two new nuclear plants by 2030, representing a major shift in the countrys energy base. The tender was set to be fully on offer by the end of June if PGEs timetable is met. But last week news emerged that PGEs chief executive has made the decision to delay launching the technology supplier tender for Poland’s first nuclear power plant as it works out how it will finance the multi-billion dollar project.
Nuclear Energy Insider 4th July 2012 more >>
Finland
An Areva-Siemens consortium have won a 125 million plus arbitration award in a partial judgment in a case in which 2 billion or more is in dispute. The Areva-Siemens consortium building the EPR reactor at Finlands Olkiluoto-3 have won a partial judgment for 125 million from Finnish utility Teollisuuden Voima Oyj (TVO), Areva said in a statement July 5. The judgment came from the Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce and requires TVO to release 100 million owed to the consortium, but withheld over contract disputes, Areva said. Areva said the money was withheld in contravention of contractual provisions. With accrued interest, TVO has to pay 125 million, plus unspecified legal expenses incurred by the consortium, Areva said. No further details were provided in the Areva statement and TVO could not be reached immediately for comment.
i-Nuclear 5th July 2012 more >>
Germany
Germany has set yet another impressive record for solar power consumption! As solar power usage in Germany has increased by 50% since last year, the countrys solar resources have pulled in a phenomenal 14.7 terawatt-hours in the first six months of 2012 alone, which amounts to 4.5 % of Germanys power needs.
Inhabitat 5th July 2012 more >>
US
More than seven million people live within 50 miles of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, which is about halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego. But for decades, residents here largely accepted, if not exactly embraced, the hulking nuclear plant perched on the cliffs above this popular surfing beach as a necessary part of keeping the lights on in a state that uses more electricity than all of Argentina. All that changed, however, after the Fukushima Daiichi meltdown in Japan last year, followed in January by a small leak of radioactive steam here caused by the deterioration of steam tubes that had been damaged by vibration and friction. The twin generators at the San Onofre plant have been off-line for five months, and the plant has subsequently become a point of contention in the fight over nuclear power in the United States.
New York Times 4th July 2012 more >>
Iran
The majority of Iranians want to suspend the country’s nuclear programme in return for a lifting of western sanctions according to a state television poll which runs counter to claims of universal support by Iran’s leaders.
Telegraph 5th July 2012 more >>
BBC 5th July 2012 more >>
India
Lloyds Register has acquired the business and principal assets of the Mumbai-based nuclear risk specialists, Reltech Consulting (Reltech), in a move designed to further strengthen its presence in the Indian energy sector.
Nuclear Engineering International 5th July 2012 more >>
Canada
More than 500 residents and tourists marched last weekend to protest a potential nuclear waste facility in this Lake Huron tourist town. It is the largest protest to date in any of the 19 communities across Canada that are vying to host an underground repository that will store all of the country’s high-level nuclear waste, said Mike Krizanc, spokesperson for the Nuclear Waste Management Organization, which is overseeing the selection process for the nuclear waste site. Last week, the Township of Arran-Elderslie in Bruce County became the latest community to put its name forward. Five communities in Bruce County are now interested in having this nuclear waste facility, including Saugeen Shore, which includes the towns of Port Elgin and Southampton, popular summer destinations for Waterloo Region residents. Bruce County has close ties to the Bruce Nuclear Generating Stations, the county’s largest employer. That plant produces 40 per cent of Canada’s used nuclear fuel which means Bruce County would be impacted in terms of transporting the spent fuel rods to wherever the deep geological repository is located
Waste Management World 4th July 2012 more >>
Renewables
The government is under intensifying pressure over its wind energy policy with a lobby group threatening legal action and a key investor warning that a planned £200m facility could be at risk. Renewable UK, the wind power lobby group, said it would consider a judicial challenge if ministers caved in to Tory backbenchers and implemented a major cut in onshore wind subsidies. Meanwhile, Siemens, one of the last turbine makers still wanting to construct a new blade factory and port complex for the North Sea, has warned that it cannot wait forever for longterm Whitehall plans to be “clarified”. The Department of Energy and Climate Change is putting the finishing touches to a new Renewable Obligation support system but that only runs until 2017. The announcement has been delayed by behind-the-scenes wrangling with a Treasury that allegedly wants to cut onshore wind subsidies by 25% instead of the 10% reduction originally proposed by the DECC.
Guardian 5th July 2012 more >>
The new Blackfriars station, which is being built on a bridge spanning the River Thames, is on its way to becoming the world’s largest solar bridge after Solarcentury begun the installation of over 4,400 solar photovoltaic panels.
Guardian 5th July 2012 more >>
The UK’s large and fast-growing green economy delivered a third of the nation’s growth in the last year and is set to add 0.5% to GDP if the government untangles the “gnarly mess” of its policy, the director general of the CBI said on Thursday. John Sauven, executive director of Greenpeace, said: “The chancellor and a minority of swivel-eyed Tory backbenchers are the only people left in the country who want to scupper clean British industries and green jobs. Osborne is holding Britain back and his Treasury is preventing green growth from powering us into the 21st century.”
Guardian 5th July 2012 more >>
Solar Power Portal 5th July 2012 more >>
Renewable energy’s potential for the British economy and the hurdles that companies in the sector face were made plain to Vince Cable during his visit this week to industrial sites in the north-east beside the River Tyne. The problems include inadequate grid capacity, uncertainty over Renewables Obligation Certificates – a government carbon-reduction scheme – and delays in approvals for offshore wind farm developments. Another difficulty was that offshore wind farm operators, and oil companies, were demanding performance and financial guarantees too large for UK contracting companies, including OGN, to provide
FT 6th July 2012 more >>
