Scotland
LABOUR leaders were warned yesterday that they would not be able to form a “rainbow alliance” with the Greens unless they give a cast-iron guarantee not to build any new nuclear power stations.
Scotsman 6th Nov 2006
ANY doubt over the determination of the Scottish Greens to put Labour on the spot over the issue of nuclear power were dispelled when the party ruled at its annual conference to make it a “red line”, non-negotiable issue.
Scotsman 6th Nov 2006
Japan
Japanese ruling party lawmakers sparred on Sunday over whether the country should hold a debate on acquiring nuclear weapons in a row triggered by North Korea’s test of a nuclear device last month.
Reuters 5th Nov 2006
N. Korea
Japan is pressing fellow participants in six-party talks on North Korea’s nuclear programme not to allow Pyongyang back into negotiations unless it reiterates last year’s commitment to remain a non-nuclear state.
FT 6th Nov 2006
Climate
Letters: Since the Stern report, there has been much in the press and on the BBC about cars and air travel but hardly a word on how nuclear power could provide the one sure route to clean power. Our three political leaders have also avoided the dread word “nuclear”.
Telegraph 6th Nov 2006
China
US nuclear engineering company Westinghouse is expected to edge out France’s Areva in China’s global tender for third-generation nuclear reactors, the Economic Observer reported, citing unnamed sources.
Interactive Investor 5th Nov 2006
Uranium
Investment banks are predicting that uranium prices will hit record highs over the next two years, having raised their forecasts after the flooding of the Cigar Lake uranium project in Canada two weeks ago.
FT 6th Nov 2006
Nuclear Transport
James Fisher, the marine services group, has swooped to take advantage of the departure of staff from British Nuclear Group to set up a subsidiary company that bolsters its ability to compete for contracts in the nuclear industry. The formation of James Fisher Inspection and Management Services comes on the heels of several acquisitions that have broadened the scope of the Barrow-based group.
FT 6th Nov 2006
Spain
THE Spanish Government bowed to pressure from the European Commission yesterday and relaxed key break-up criteria on which it had insisted for the sale of Endesa, the Spanish energy company, to E.ON, the German owner of PowerGen, to go ahead. E.ON now will not have to sell Endesa’s nuclear and coal power plants, a statement from the Spanish Industry Ministry indicated. The German group is also allowed to keep Endesa’s electricity supply business in the Balearic and Canary Islands. The European Commission had ruled that Spain’s demands for asset sales were illegal.
Times 6th Nov 2006
