Energy Supplies
The prospect of £150bn of private sector investment in low-carbon infrastructure is receding as the government fails to provide clarity about planning policies, according to the CBI. Uncertainty about the planning regime was “making investors wary of committing to new energy projects”, the employers’ organisation said in a report entitled No time to lose: deciding Britain’s energy future. John Cridland, deputy director-general of the CBI, said: “Uncertainty on plans for electricity market reform, slow progress on clean coal and nuclear power, as well as the cost of renewable energy are adding to the mood of caution among investors. We need investment from companies, not delays from government.” The government has said it will abolish the Infrastructure Planning Commission, replacing it with a Major Infrastructure Unit that would ensure ministers would have the final decisions on key infrastructure. But the details of how this will work are still unclear. For instance, it is not known who would have the final say on a large energy project such as a nuclear power station or wind farm.
FT 9th Aug 2010 more >>
Key energy and planning reforms must be delivered by the Government within six months or it risks missing targets for reducing carbon emissions and improving energy security, business leaders will warn today. Uncertainty about the planning regime is making investors wary of committing to new energy projects and possibly jeopardising supplies, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) says.
Independent 9th Aug 2010 more >>
Telegraph 9th Aug 2010 more >>
Chris Huhne, leading Liberal Democrat of the cabinet has delivered his first Annual Energy Statement this week. In summary, the Statement has included the following provisions: The Government will consult on a revised draft of the nuclear National Policy Statement; Decision made regarding new nuclear reactor designs; The Government will support the regulators to put in place the resources needed to deliver a meaningful end to Generic Design Assessment of new nuclear reactor designs in June 2011; Ensure arrangements so that new nuclear operators set aside money from day one to pay for waste and decommissioning.
Green Investing 9th Aug 2010 more >>
EPR
Areva has said it will submit changes to its US-EPR reactor design with the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission by mid-March to resolve some of the regulator’s concerns about safety requirements. The company described its plan in a letter sent to the NRC July 28 and posted on the commission’s website Monday. The new schedule “should not hold up design certification” by NRC, Areva spokeswoman Susan Hess said Tuesday. The NRC said in a statement last month that Areva has yet to demonstrate how some elements of the US-EPR’s computerized instruments and controls meet safety requirements.
Platts 3rd Aug 2010 more >>
Scotland
The Scottish finance secretary, John Swinney, has accused the UK government of breaching its high-profile promise to “respect” Scotland by failing to consult over the axing of public bodies. This has left Scotland with a series of tricky problems to solve in determining the fate of several crucial agencies like the Sustainable Development Commission, the Food Standards Agency and the Health Protection Agency. Moves are now underway to see if some of the vital functions performed by these bodies can be saved.
Sunday Herald 8th Aug 2010 more >>
Companies
International Power is expected to become the latest British company to be taken over by a foreign competitor this week. The French state-controlled energy firm GDF Suez has been in talks with the FTSE 100 independent power producer for months. Barring any last-minute hitches, the deal should be confirmed on Tuesday when both companies report half-year results. The deal will create one of the world’s biggest power groups. International Power’s 45 power stations, including the six it owns in Britain, will be combined with those GDF owns outside Europe.
Guardian 9th Aug 2010 more >>
Independent 9th Aug 2010 more >>
Times 9th Aug 2010 more >>
Israel
Mordechai Vanunu, the Israeli whistleblower who spent 18 years in jail for exposing Israel’s nuclear capabilities was released today after completing a further three-month sentence.
Guardian 9th Aug 2010 more >>
Belfast Telegraph 9th Aug 2010 more >>
Russia
Russian troops dug a five-mile canal to keep fires caused by a record heatwave away from a nuclear arms site yesterday as air pollution from the crisis rose to more than six times above normal. Forest and peat fires caused by the highest temperatures ever registered in Russia have killed at least 52 people, made more than 4000 homeless, diverted many flights and forced Muscovites to wear surgical masks to filter out foul air.
Herald 8th Aug 2010 more >>
Vietnam
In a move that will further raise regional tensions, the US is conducting negotiations with Vietnam over a deal to allow the purchase of nuclear fuel, as well as American nuclear technology and reactors. The talks, details of which were leaked to the US media last week, are another sign that the Obama administration is engaged in an aggressive strategy of countering Chinese influence throughout the Asian region.
World Socialist Web 9th Aug 2010 more >>
Iran
A lively and healthy-looking Fidel Castro appealed to President Barack Obama to stave off global nuclear war in an address to the Cuban parliament yesterday, his first official government appearance since emergency surgery four years ago.
Guardian 9th Aug 2010 more >>
Test Veterans
The government paid £20million to compensate Australians affected by British nuclear testing but refuses to do the same for its own people.
Metro 8th Aug 2010 more >>
Metro 8th Aug 2010 more >>
Renewables
Local councils will be allowed to sell renewable electricity to the National Grid from today, with the energy secretary, Chris Huhne, urging them to position themselves at the forefront of a power revolution. Huhne has lifted a ban on the sale of surplus electricity to the grid by councils, which say the scheme could raise £100m a year for cash-strapped local authorities in England and Wales.
At present only 0.01% of electricity in England is generated by local authority-owned renewables. In Germany the equivalent figure is 100 times higher.
Guardian 9th Aug 2010 more >>
