New Nukes
The chief nuclear inspector Mike Weightman has urged the UK nuclear industry to improve the design at plants and implement complex safety regimes. Speaking on return to the UK from his visit to the stricken nuclear reactor at Fukushima, Japan, Weightman (pictured) insisted nuclear bosses should prioritise getting the basics right. If there is a broad-minded approach to safety assessment, it can help greatly in the event of a severe accident, he said. Much of it is about getting the simple stuff right.
Building 8th July 2011 more >>
A climate change minister has denied that his department is encouraging the nuclear industry to “lie” about the true effects of a nuclear meltdown in Japan. At DECC questions today Paul Flynn (Lab, Newport West) said leaked emails published in The Guardian show that civil servants are “collaborating with the nuclear industry to lie about the true effects of Fukushima”. “Is it true that an official in his department wrote to EDF and the other companies saying: ‘We must get in, and we must make sure that the anti-nuclear chaps and chapesses do not fill the space with the truth,'” he asked. Gregory Barker said he has “absolute trust” in his civil servants. “The suggestion that there has been some Fukushima cover-up is absurd nonsense,” he told the House.
ePolitix 7th July 2011 more >>
The heating of Earth remains the most urgent symptom of humanitys mismanagement of our technological civilization. Desperately seeking answers for a low carbon energy regime, some observers propose a nuclear renaissance to replace hydrocarbons. Nuclear companies, nations, and advocates offer nuclear as a possible low-carbon energy path. However, the evidence in hand shows that nuclear energy is not the solution to humanitys energy needs that many hope for. Here are the reasons.
Greenpeace International 7th July 2011 more >>
BRITAINS looming energy gap threatens to widen into a gaping crevasse, if the latest deliberations on nuclear new build are anything to go by. Doubts this week emerged over the commitment of two key German utility companies who are due to play a pivotal role in building the UKs fleet of new nuclear power stations. With an ageing fleet of first generation nuclear power stations coming to the end of their lives by 2023, the race should be on to build their modern replacements.
Yorkshire Post 7th July 2011 more >>
Hinkley
EDF is prepared to plunge £15 million treble its previous amount into road improvements and traffic schemes around Bridgwater as part of the proposed nuclear station, after the county council lambasted previous proposals. Residents can comment on EDF’s updated Hinkley Point C proposals for an alternative park and ride site near M5 junction 24 and highway improvements in the Bridgwater area to cope with increased traffic levels due to the proposed new site.
Bridgwater Times 7th July 2011 more >>
CONTROVERSIAL plans to place a corridor of pylons across Sedgemoor were discussed in Parliament this week. Tessa Munt, MP for Burnham and Highbridge, presented a special motion to fellow MPs on Thursday after winning a ballot to discuss the plans.
Burnham & Highbridge News 7th July 2011 more >>
Oldbury
A NUCLEAR energy company has dispelled rumours that it is pulling out of building a new plant at Oldbury. Horizon Nuclear Energy has told the Gazette that it is business as usual after reports in the national press that the company was to abandon its plans to build a new power station at Shepperdine, near Oldbury.
Gloucestershire Gazette 7th July 2011 more >>
Heysham
HEYSHAM remains low on the priority list for new nuclear sites, despite being confirmed as one of those earmarked for the UKs next generation of reactors. It was one of eight sites all next to existing plants which were initially identified last year but which have now been confirmed on a list published as part of National Policy Statements on energy which were released by the Government last week.
Lancaster Guardian 30th June 2011 more >>
Torness
A nuclear power plant on the coast of Israel was forced to shut down this week when its seawater cooling system became clogged with jellyfish. A similar incident temporarily disabled two nuclear reactors at the Torness power station on the Scottish coast last week. A week before, a reactor in Shimane, Japan was crippled by yet another jellyfish infiltration.
MSNBC 7th July 2011 more >>
Sellafield
More nuclear jobs are on the cards for west Cumbria after Sellafield dished out contracts worth more than £160 million to clean up a 60-year-old nuclear plant. Sir Robert McAlpine, Bechtel Babcock Nuclear Services and Clarke Chapman Group have all clinched deals to help retrieve radioactive waste from the Pile Fuel Cladding Silo (PFCS). On the back of the work, Bechtel has opened a new Cumbrian office and Babcock has expanded its operation in the county.
Cumberland News 7th July 2011 more >>
Sellafield is recruiting people for 230 new full-time jobs.
Cumberland News 7th July 2011 more >>
LOCAL firms are being given every chance to win contracts for building the new fleet of nuclear reactors. NuGen, prospective developers at Sellafield, pledge to use as many local suppliers and workers as possible. Now West Cumbrian companies will be told how best to position themselves to seize the opportunities presented by a £40 billion new-build investment for West Cumbria alone.
Whitehaven News 7th july 2011 more >>
PLANNING experts have been appointed to smooth the path towards Sellafields nuclear new-build. Arup will be lead planning consultant and GL Hearn strategic planning advisors. Prospective power station developers NuGen announced the appointments at a nuclear new-build conference in London on Tuesday. NuGen plans to build up to three electricity-producing nuclear reactors on nearly 500 acres of land surrounding the existing Sellafield site.
Whitehaven News 7th July 2011 more >>
Japan
Japan may have no nuclear reactors running by May next year, should the round of tests announced by the government this week cause further delays to restarting units idled for maintenance, a Bloomberg survey shows.
Bloomberg 8th July 2011 more >>
Pakistan
The godfather of Pakistan’s atomic bomb has claimed that some of the country’s top generals were complicit in transferring nuclear weapons technology to North Korea, receiving millions in kickbacks from the pariah regime.
Independent 8th July 2011 more >>
Guardian 7th July 2011 more >>
