British Energy
The prospect of a British company emerging as a key player in the future of British Energy has strengthened after it emerged that the nuclear generator’s leading suitor, France’s state-owned EDF, has held talks with Centrica.
Guardian 7th April 2008 more >>
FT 8th April 2008 more >>
City AM 7th April 2008 more >>
It is no wonder that EDF, RWE and other foreign power companies interested in bidding for British Energy are so keen to partner with Centrica. British Energy operates virtually all the UK’s remaining civil nuclear power stations, and because in practice any new ones will have to be built on the site of, or immediately adjacent to, the old ones, it also in effect controls the future of nuclear power in this country.
Independent 8th April 2008 more >>
Can it really be true that Centrica is the kingmaker to the British nuclear power industry? It’s starting to look that way. RWE of Germany and EDF of France are banging on Centrica’s door to suggest joint bids for British Energy, whose sites will almost certainly house the next generation of nuclear plants in the UK.
Guardian 8th April 2008 more >>
British Energy shares jumped again yesterday, thanks to fresh takeover speculation surrounding Britain’s nuclear operator. The company’s shares rose sharply after weekend reports that European utilities EDF and RWE had approached British Gas owner Centrica about a possible joint bid for British Energy.
Guardian 8th April 2008 more >>
New Nukes
Federally owned Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. is no longer pursuing the sale of its next-generation nuclear reactor in the United Kingdom, announcing yesterday it will focus its energy on capturing business at home. Some industry critics said AECL, which says it has spent “less than $10 million” trying to snag a purchase from the U.K., is trying to soften the blow of a certain loss and how it might be perceived as it bids for contracts in Canada.
Toronto Star 5th April 2008 more >>
Platts 4th April 2008 more >>
Greenpeace Canada’s response 4th April 2008 more >>
Reuters 7th April 2008 more >>
MPs today cast a cloud over the Government’s headlong rush into the building of new nuclear power stations, warning that ministers have little idea of what the true clean-up bill is and how it is going to be paid.
Croydon Advertiser 7th April 2008 more >>
NDA
Funding for the NDA will almost certainly have to increase.
North West Evening Mail 7th April 2008 more >>
The money spent on decommissiong nuclear power stations needs to be managed much better – and there needs to be more of it. There also needs to be better communications between the government and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), according to the Commons business and enterprise committee which has looked into how the NDA is funded (40 per cent of the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform’s budget goes to the NDA).
Public Servant Daily 7th April 2008 more >>
Yorkshire Post 7th April 2008 more >>
Germany
German environment minister Sigmar Gabriel has rejected calls from RWE AG. to prolong the operating life of its Biblis A nuclear reactor, which is due to be brought offline this year.
Interactive Investor 7th April 2008 more >>
Turkey
French groups Suez and Vinci are two companies bidding to be in the running to construct the first nuclear power plant in Turkey.
AFX 8th April 2008 more >>
Potential bidders including France’s Vinci SA, the world’s biggest construction company, Belgium’s Suez-Tractabel SA and Canada’s AECL have sought the specifications, an Energy Ministry official said on condition of anonymity. The fourth company to express interest is Japanese, the official said.
Bloomberg 7th April 2008 more >>
North Korea
Top officials from the US and North Korea are meeting in Singapore in a bid to break deadlock on the stalled nuclear disarmament deal.
BBC 8th April 2008 more >>
Efforts to resolve the North Korean nuclear disarmament impasse are running out of time.
AFX 8th April 2008 more >>
Nuclear War
Apart from the human devastation, a small-scale nuclear war between India and Pakistan would destroy much of the ozone layer, leaving the DNA of humans and other organisms at risk of damage from the Sun’s rays, say researchers.
New Scientist 7th April 2008 more >>
Renewables
The North East is set to become key to Britain’s hopes of boosting its production of renewable energy after E.On submitted plans to build one of the largest ever wind farms in the country and the Government gave the go-ahead to a pilot tidal project in the Humber estuary. But E.On’s plans must first overcome objections from the Ministry of Defence who fear that the 83 turbines to be situated five miles off the coast of East Yorkshire will interfere with radar defences.
Telegraph 8th April 2008 more >>
