Pakistan
The United States and Pakistan have disputed a recent report by a nuclear monitoring institute which says that Pakistan is building a new reactor.
BBC 7th August 2006
Sweden
Following a dramatic safety scare on July 25 at the Forsmark 1 nuclear reactor in Sweden, which only came to public attention several days later, the country’s safety authority on August 4 decided against closing all the country’s reactors.
Energy Business Review 7th August 2006
United States
GE Energy’s nuclear business and the STP Nuclear Operating Co (STPNOC), acting as agent for NRG South Texas LP, signed a project development agreement to study the deployment and begin licensing activities for two GE Advanced Boiling Water Reactors (ABWRs) that would be located at the South Texas Project Electric Generating Station (STP).
Interactive Investor 7th August 2006
Devonport
Anti-nuclear weapon campaigners gathered outside Devonport Dockyard at the weekend in protest against Trident submarines being refitted at the base. The ‘symbolic’ blockade outside Camels Head Gate on Saturday was billed as supporting protestors at Faslane, Scotland, where the Trident submarines are deployed.
Plymouth Evening Herald 7th August 2006
Energy Efficiency
Householders are to be encouraged “to do their bit” to combat global warming but steep rises in the cost of air travel and motoring were ruled out by the Government yesterday. Tony Blair said he wanted individual homes to have carbon audits to encourage home owners to do more to reduce their own contribution to pollution. But ministers distanced the Government from proposals by MPs for steep rises in air travel and car taxes. A report from the Commons environmental audit committee recommended new Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) car tax bands, with MPs suggesting that owners of gas guzzlers should pay as much as £1,800 a year.
Telegraph 8th August 2006
Spain
Spain is coming under mounting pressure over its hostility to Eon’s €27bn ($35bn) takeover bid for Endesa, after the European Commission voiced serious concerns over the legality of the government’s stance in a letter to Madrid last week. The Commission, the European Union’s top antitrust regulator, told Spain it was worried about several conditions that the country’s national energy regulator wants to impose on the deal.
FT 8th August 2006
