G8
Today’s publication of the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) latest energy forecast, to coincide with the start of the G8 Energy Ministers meeting, should be welcomed for its recognition that half the world’s energy could be supplied by renewable sources by 2050 said Greenpeace. However, the IEA’s vision of increasing nuclear power by a factor of four and relying on carbon capture and storage to meet greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets should be rejected as an expensive and dangerous distraction.
Greenpeace International 6th June 2008 more >>
New Nukes
A government move to increase the UK’s nuclear energy capacity has been welcomed by Atkins and the SMC group as a “major” business opportunity which could herald a new era of “colourful” power stations.
Building Design 6th June 2008 more >>
Video clip of Amory Lovins talking about nuclear power.
Climate Change Action 5th June 2008 more >>
Ministers are being urged to build a new generation of nuclear power stations in an effort to put the brake on spiralling fuel bills. Derek Simpson, leader of the Unite union, said yesterday it is the best way to cut the UK’s dependence on foreign oil and gas, and could create up to 10,000 jobs.
Mirror 5th June 2008 more >>
A rebellion by Labour backbenchers has forced Gordon Brown’s Government into a fresh retreat with a last-minute re-write of vital planning legislation. More than 60 Labour MPs have threatened to oppose a proposal to create an Infrastructure Planning Commission that would have the final say on major projects including nuclear power stations and airport runways. Ministers say the measures are will speed up the planning process, something especially important for the construction of the new wave of nuclear reactors that Mr Brown has said he wants to see built to help wean Britain off imported oil. But many MPs fear that the proposed commission would put “inordinate and unprecedented” powers to push through developments against public opposition in the hands of unelected officials. Under current laws, the final say on major projects rests with elected ministers.
Telegraph 6th June 2008 more >>
Eon says it wants to build two nuclear stations in the UK.
Independent 6th June 2008 (not on web)
Waste
Letter: For decades it has been possible to glassify waste and deep bury it, or deposit it in subduction trenches. But its energy content is too valuable. Sir David King, until recently Government Chief Scientist, is reported as saying: “We can bury nuclear waste, or use it as free fuel for life. We have six tonnes of plutonium and 60 tonnes of uranium stockpiled from the Fifties. Using fast-breeder reactors we would be near self-sufficient in nuclear fuel until 2100.”
Independent 6th June 2008 more >>
Iran
The UN’s atomic watchdog made little progress on Iran’s nuclear drive at a four-day meeting that ended here Thursday and Syria emerged as a new proliferation problem for the West. Iran insisted after the International Atomic Energy Agency’s 35-member board meeting that it had answered all questions on its alleged nuclear weapons work and that it considered the controversy closed.
Africasia 5th June 2008 more >>
Iran’s foreign ministry on Thursday slammed US Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama’s pledge to work to “eliminate” the threat posed by Tehran as “unacceptable” and biased.
Africasia 5th June 2008 more >>
Slovenia
Slovenia was caught in a nuclear controversy Thursday after admitting that it wrongly told other countries that a water leak that forced it to shut down a nuclear reactor was only an exercise. The shutdown on Wednesday led to the EU raising a Europe-wide radiation alert for the first time since the system was put in place in the aftermath of the Chernobyl disaster 22 years ago. After detecting a loss in the reactor’s cooling system mid-afternoon Wednesday, Slovenian authorities decided to manually shut the plant down, and correctly alerted the European Commission — but erroneously told neighbouring countries the incident was an exercise. The Slovenian government apologised Thursday but insisted there was no safety threat from the water coolant problem, and that the reactor at Krsko, 120 miles (75 kilometres) east of the capital, Ljubljana, would be fixed within days.
AFP 5th June 2008 more >>
The European Commission defended issuing a nuclear alert on Wednesday.
EU Business 5th June 2008 more >>
Slovenia’s only nuclear plant, which was shut down on Wednesday because of a water leak, is expected to start operating again next week, the plant’s chief executive told Reuters on Thursday.
Reuters 5th June 2008 more >>
Italy
Italy’s minister for economic development Claudio Scajola confirmed the government’s intentions to lay the foundations to start building nuclear power plants in Italy in 2013, Italian newswire Radiocor reported, citing the minister.
AFX 5th June 2008 more >>
US
The two top leaders of the American Air Force were fired by US defence secretary Robert Gates yesterday after a series of embarrassing errors including a mistaken shipment of nuclear weapons fuses to Taiwan, officials said.
Telegraph 6th June 2008 more >>
Guardian 6th June 2008 more >>
The US navy is pinning its hopes of winning support for the forthcoming deployment in Japan of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington on the fictional Japanese-American hero of a new comic about life as a US serviceman.
Guardian 6th June 2008 more >>
Submarines
Two nuclear submarines are due to visit Portsmouth Harbour this month, according to a Local Notice to Mariners. The first of the visits will take place before 9 June, and the second between 9 and 12 June.
Motor Boats Monthly 5th June 2008 more >>
