Hinkley
Two Somerset councils have called the latest plans for a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point “unacceptable” and “completely inadequate”. West Somerset District Council and Somerset County Council have both criticised a lack of detail in EDF Energy’s proposals. They have highlighted the “poor” worker transport and accommodation plans. EDF Energy said the criticism was “quite unfair” but accepted there was more work to do to flesh out the plans. The two councils are considering their responses to the second round of consultation which ends on 4 October.
BBC 6th Sept 2010 more >>
Sizewell
The reactor at Sizewell B has been shut down since March because higher than normal moisture levels were detected in a containment building. Last night owners EDF Energy said repairs were going well and they expected service to resume shortly. The original problem was caused by one of the heaters associated with a component known as the pressuriser. The final stage of repair work is now under way and bosses are confident the reactor will be up and running by the end of the month.
East Anglian Daily Times 7th Sept 2010 more >>
Scottish Waste Consultation
Scotland’s Higher Activity Radioactive Waste Policy – Annex to the Environmental Report: Supplementary Assessment of Policy Alternatives In January 2010, the Scottish Government published a draft Detailed Statement of Policy for Higher Activity Radioactive Waste for public consultation . A Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the draft Policy was undertaken and an Environmental Report was published for consultation in accordance with the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 (‘the 2005 Act). A supplementary assessment to the Environmental Report will be published in September 2010 for a short consultation.
Scottish Givernment 7th Sept 2010 more >>
Nuclear Waste
Campaign group Radiation Free Lakeland have written to all Allerdale Councillors urging them to support Councillor Joe Sandwith’s proposal that they should withdraw from the dodgy process designed to force Cumbria into “geological disposal” of nuclear waste. Despite enormous pressure from pro nuclear forces to prevent it, a motion is scheduled to be put forward on 22nd Sept urging Allerdale to withdraw its “expression of interest.” A spokesperson from Radiation Free Lakeland said “Councillor Sandwith’s concerns are supported by an increasing number of scientists. Up until, now much like the financial crisis, the government is not listening to those concerns. Dr Rachel Western BA(Oxon) PhD and Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry has written a summary of some of these concerns which concludes: Unfortunately, within the ‘Partnership’ approach to the plans for disposal there is no procedure for ensuring that the disposal plans are adequately scrutinised. Given the possible implications of the project for the Cumbrian economy and the well-being of Cumbrians it is imperative that Allerdale ensures that is not shepherded into a nuclear waste burial scheme that results in the area becoming permanently blighted”.
Indymedia 7th Sept 2010 more >>
Germany
RWE, Germany’s largest power company, may delay maintenance work at some of its generators to cut costs as a planned tax on the country’s nuclear stations saps cash. Germany plans to slap an annual 2.3 billion-euro ($2.9 billion) tax on nuclear power plant operators from next year through 2016 as it seeks to trim the budget deficit. That will spur Essen, Germany-based RWE to focus on investments in “growth areas” like renewable energy generation and projects outside of its home market, Schmitz said.
Bloomberg 7th Sept 2010 more >>
Egypt
An Egyptian nuclear reactor broke down in April but there was no radiation leak, the head of the country’s atomic agency said on Tuesday. “There had been a mechanical failure of the cooling pump when the reactor was switched on,” Mohammed al-Qolali told AFP, saying the reactor was quickly repaired.
Yahoo 7th Sept 2010 more >>
Russia
Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin has said that nuclear energy is the only alternative to traditional energy sources, RIA Novosti reported. Speaking at a meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, he said that while the global gas market has been recovering from the recent economic downturn, demand for energy sources will soar over the next few years. Putin noted, “You couldn’t transfer large electric power stations to wind energy, however much you wanted to. In the next few decades, it will be impossible.”
World Nuclear News 7th Sept 2010 more >>
China and Russia will expand their nuclear energy cooperation in seven areas, which include building exploring uranium mines, floating power plants, eliminating old plants and developing markets abroad.
Energy Business Review 6th Sept 2010 more >>
Iran
Iran said on Tuesday that it was within its rights to vet UN inspectors who monitor its nuclear facilities after the UN watchdog said its work was being hampered by the barring of some of its staff.
Middle East Online 7th Sept 2010 more >>
Iran is on the brink of developing an atomic missile, weapons inspectors have warned in a ‘critical’ report. The country is pushing ahead with its nuclear programme and is hampering the UN atom watchdog’s work by barring some inspectors, the confidential International Atomic Energy Agency reveals. In defiance of tougher UN sanctions, Iranian nuclear scientists have made at least 22 kilogrammes of enriched uranium at least 20 per cent purity, a technical hurdle that is the hardest to overcome on the way to weapons-grade uranium.
Daily Mail 7th sept 2010 more >>
The latest report from UN weapons inspectors has raised new fears that Iran could be building the capability to make nuclear weapons.
BBC 7th Sept 2010 more >>
Syria
The UN atomic watchdog said Monday it has been unable to make any progress in its two-year investigation into alleged illicit nuclear activities in Syria as Damascus is still refusing to cooperate.
Middle East Online 7th Sept 2010 more >>
Renewables
Letter from Gerry Wolff: Steve Connor is quite right to say that numbers, rather than vague statements, are important in considering future energy supplies (“Why achieving a cleaner energy economy involves a series of difficult choices”, 3 September). But numbers that are available from reputable sources belie his pessimistic assessment of renewable sources of power. A report by the Offshore Valuation Group estimates that the practical potential of offshore generating technologies in waters around the UK is nearly six times current UK electricity demand. In another report, the European Environment Agency estimates that the “economically competitive potential” of wind power in Europe is three times projected demand for electricity in 2020 and seven times projected demand in 2030.
Independent 7th Sept 2010 more >>
