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AFP: Spain backtracks on nuclear power phase-out
Spain's government said Thursday it would allow the country's oldest nuclear reactor to operate beyond its intended 40-year lifespan, reversing a policy of gradually phasing out nuclear power.
Industry Minister Miguel Sebastian said the Garona plant in northern Spain, which had been designed to function only until 2011 and whose operating permit expires on Sunday, would now be allowed to operate until July 2013.
"This was not an easy decision but it is a thought-out decision," he told a news conference, adding the decision would allow for the preservation of jobs in the region at a time of high unemployment.
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Legislation supporting nuclear energy advances in Italy
The reintroduction of nuclear power in Italy moved closer July 1 when proposed legislation successfully went through the lower house, the Chamber of Deputies. The deputies' approval of the bill after some modifications follows its passage through the upper house. The bill includes a package of measures on fiscal consolidation and energy matters, specifically nuclear energy. The bill will now go back to the Senate for final revisions. The government has said it is working toward a target of 25% of energy to be provided by nuclear power by 2030. Italy closed all its nuclear power plants after the 1986 Chernobyl accident.
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France's nuclear solution - THE WEEK
America gets one-fifth of its power from nuclear power plants. Nuclear is far and away the cheapest and most reliable alternative to carbon-emitting coal. Yet we all know that nuclear energy carries one great big negative: the problem of nuclear waste, the radioactive residue from enriched uranium.
Now, suppose there were a solution to this problem? A solution that reduced the amount and the toxicity of nuclear waste by 80 percent or more? That would be useful, right?
Well guess what—it’s doable. Better yet—it’s done.
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France imports UK electricity as plants shut - Times Online
France is being forced to import electricity from Britain to cope with a summer heatwave that has helped to put a third of its nuclear power stations out of action.
With temperatures across much of France surging above 30C this week, EDF’s reactors are generating the lowest level of electricity in six years, forcing the state-owned utility to turn to Britain for additional capacity.
Fourteen of France’s 19 nuclear power stations are located inland and use river water rather than seawater for cooling. When water temperatures rise, EDF is forced to shut down the reactors to prevent their casings from exceeding 50C.
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UK atomic agency sale expected by October, Dounreay bid planned
The UK Atomic Energy Authority expects the sale of its commercial arm to be completed by the end of September, chief executive officer Norman Harrison said. Harrison also told delegates at a decommissioning conference July 1 that the UKAEA, a state-owned company that pioneers the development of nuclear energy within the UK, plans to bid for decommissioning work at the Dounreay nuclear plant in Scotland once the government tender is launched later this year. UKAEA Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary that provides nuclear decommissioning, waste management and site environmental remediation services, was put up for sale in late March after the government said the business could operate independently and concentrate on growing its operations overseas.
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Pyongyang fires four missiles into East Sea - INSIDE JoongAng Daily
In an apparent protest against recent sanctions, North Korea fired four short-range missiles yesterday, the Ministry of National Defense in Seoul said.
The ministry said the first missile was fired at 5:20 p.m. The second followed at 6:00 p.m., the third at 7:50 p.m. and the fourth at 9:20 p.m.
All missiles were launched from a missile base in Sinsang-ri, South Hamgyong, on the northeast coast of the Korean Peninsula.
The launches followed a U.S. decision on Wednesday to freeze assets of two companies - one North Korean, the other Iranian - for alleged links to the North Korean nuclear and missile development programs. Then yesterday, the U.S. State Department said it would not provide further food aid to North Korea unless it was assured the food reached starving North Koreans.
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The Associated Press: IAEA chooses Japanese as new head
The world's top nuclear watchdog chose Japan's Yukiya Amano as its next head on Thursday — and he touched on the devastation U.S. atom bombs wreaked on his country in pledging to do his utmost to prevent the spread of nuclear arms.
The decision by the 35-nation International Atomic Energy Agency board ended a tug of war on who should succeed Nobel Peace laureate Mohamed ElBaradei, who saw his agency vaulted into prominence during a high-profile 12-year tenure.
North Korea left the nonproliferation fold to develop a nuclear weapons program on ElBaradei's watch and his agency later launched inconclusive probes on suspicions that those to nations were interested in developing nuclear weapons
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Hopes for nuclear breakthrough on Obama Moscow trip | Politics | Reuters
Hopes are rising on both sides that President Barack Obama's visit to Moscow next week will produce a breakthrough in talks on cutting U.S. and Russian nuclear weapons and on helping Washington in Afghanistan.
Officially, neither side has made an announcement but diplomats believe Obama will agree with President Dmitry Medvedev on the outline of a deal to reduce the stocks of deployed nuclear warheads to below 1,700 on each side.
"We are confident that we will secure an agreement committing both sides to cutting warheads to fewer than 1,700," one person close to the talks said.
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AFP: Poor plans halted Finnish nuke reactor: officials
Poor planning has led to rising costs and huge delays for a nuclear reactor going up in Finland, the country's biggest-ever construction project, officials have said.
The plant on the island of Olkiluoto in western Finland, to be run by Finnish nuclear power company TVO, was meant to start production this summer.
But it is now not expected to open for another three years and Finnish authorities cannot hide their disappointment with Areva-Siemens, the Franco-German contractor running the building operations.
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WRS | Sensitive nuclear documents safe
Plans to destroy sensitive documents relating to an international nuclear smuggling ring mustn’t go ahead. That’s the decision of a parliamentary control delegation. It says that the government is capable of safely storing files which contain evidence linked to an investigation of three Swiss engineers – the Tinner brothers and their father – suspected of smuggling nuclear weapons technology. The documents are copies of files destroyed two years ago on the say-so of the government. This prompted criticism from parliament and legal experts who accused the government of undermining the prosecution in the smuggling case.
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Whitehaven News | Sellafield ‘blackmail’ case goes to tribunal Add your comments
ALLEGATIONS that “bribery and blackmail” were used to coerce Sellafield workers into accepting a pay deal are to be heard at an industrial tribunal.
Two unions – GMB and Unite – are bringing the case against Sellafield Ltd aimed at winning financial compensation for thousands of members on the site.
This is believed to be the first hearing of its kind in British industry.
“It is going to tribunal and we are just waiting for a date,” said Whitehaven-based GMB regional organiser Steve Gibbons.
more fromwww.whitehaven-news.co.uk
Nuclear Engineering International: Westinghouse forms new Japanese organization
Westinghouse Electric Company has formed a new organization to deal with Japanese produces and services, which it hopes will help to increase business in Asia.
The new organization will work closely with Toshiba Corporation’s nuclear energy systems & services division to maximise its support for the Japanese utilities
“Establishment of Westinghouse Electric Japan is part of our long-term growth strategy to enhance businesses in the Asian region,” says Westinghouse president and CEO Aris Candris.
more fromwww.neimagazine.com
French Polynesia French nuke vets unhappy with compensation
The French National Assembly has approved a bill to compensate the victims of the nuclear tests it carried out in French Polynesia and Algeria for more than three decades. It's the first time the French government has acknowledged it has a legal obligation to compensate the 150,000 military personnel and local staff who may have suffered serious health problems due to exposure to radiation.
But the workers aren't happy, saying the new bill falls short of what they need.
more fromwww.radioaustralia.net.au
PR-USA.net - Potential Uranium Enrichment in Canada Faces Barriers
A study released today by The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) concludes that uranium enrichment in Canada is likely to be more profitable for the Canadian nuclear industry than exporting natural uranium and buying it back in enriched form.
Uranium Enrichment in Canada provides a detailed analysis of the Canadian mining of uranium, its subsequent processing, current enrichment technologies and the capital and operating costs of a modern centrifuge enrichment plant. It explains Canada's position as the world's largest producer and exporter of uranium, with an active nuclear power sector, but without the capability to enrich uranium.
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FR: DOE: Disposition of excess DU FONSI
Finding of No Significant Impact: Disposition of DOE Excess Depleted Uranium, Natural Uranium, and Low-Enriched Uranium AGENCY: Department of Energy. ACTION: Finding of No Significant Impact. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE, the Department) has completed an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Disposition of DOE Excess Depleted Uranium (DU), Natural Uranium (NU), and Low-Enriched Uranium (LEU) (DOE/EA-1607). Based on the analysis in the EA, the Department has determined that the proposed action, DOE dispositioning its excess uranium inventory using one or a combination of two methods--(1) enrichment to either NU or LEU product and subsequent storage or sale of the resultant NU or LEU product (Enrichment Alternative), and (2) direct sale to appropriately licensed entities (Direct Sale Alternative)--does not constitute a major Federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment within the context of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). Therefore, the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is not required and the Department is issuing this Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI).
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NRC - NRC Commission Split 2-2 on Expansion of National Radioactive Source Tracking System
On a 2-2 vote, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission was unable to reach a decision on the staff’s recommendation to issue a final rule expanding the number and type of radioactive sources covered under the National Source Tracking System (NSTS).
“I appreciate the effort Commissioner Lyons has dedicated to the successful implementation of the current National Source Tracking System and the diligent work the NRC staff did to prepare a draft final rule to further expand it,” Chairman Gregory B. Jaczko said. “Although the Commission did not approve the expansion of this system today, I look forward to working with my fellow Commissioners to continue to improve on this important piece of our radioactive source security efforts.”
The final rule would have expanded the NSTS to include Category 3 sources, requiring additional licensees to report information on the manufacture, transfer, receipt, disassembly and disposal of these radioactive sources to the NSTS. These sources include fixed industrial gauges (level gauges, conveyor gauges, thickness gauges, blast furnace gauges, dredger gauges, and pipe gauges); well-logging devices; medium and low-dose-range brachytherapy; and certain radiography devices. Additional details on the proposal can be found on NRC’s Web site at: http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/commission/secys/2009/.
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GE’s uranium enrichment venture still on track | StarNewsOnline.com | Star News | Wilmington, NC
GE’s uranium enrichment venture has completed its license application to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, staying on schedule with its efforts which are expected to bring more than 500 construction jobs to Castle Hayne as early as 2012.
Global Laser Enrichment – a business venture of nuclear power plant builders GE and Hitachi, and uranium miner Cameco – announced Tuesday completion of the venture’s license application seeking the NRC’s approval to build the world’s first commercial uranium enrichment facility to use laser technology.
more fromwww.starnewsonline.com
The Associated Press: Exelon delays plan for Texas nuclear plant
Power generator Exelon Corp. said Tuesday it has called off plans for now to build a new nuclear plant in Texas because of worries over the economy and the limited availability of federal loan guarantees.
The Chicago-based company, the largest nuclear power generator in the U.S., is the second company in the past two months to postpone work for a new nuclear plant. St. Louis-based AmerenUE said in April that it was suspending work on a reactor in Missouri.
"We just aren't in a place to pursue the nuclear project," John Rowe, Exelon's chairman and CEO, told The Associated Press in an interview regarding the company's plans to add two nuclear reactors in Victoria, Texas.
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Electric Light & Power - Montenegro moves towards ban on nuclear power plants
The parliament's committee for constitutional matters and legislation has concluded that there are no legal obstacles to the adoption of a law banning the building of nuclear power stations in Montenegro. The committee has backed the amendments to the law on the budget, a package of laws on agriculture and the draft law on national parks. Milutin Tomasevic has the report:
[Reporter Tomasevic] If at its next session the parliament votes the same as the committee for constitutional matters and legislation, no nuclear plants will be built in Montenegro, and this will be Montenegro's official position in relation to its environment.
Deputy of New Serb Democracy Emilo Labudovic defended an opposing view during the debate, declaring himself against such a ban. He maintains that nuclear energy is clean and safe.
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Associated Press: Romanian uranium taken to secure site
The last remaining bomb-grade uranium has been shipped out of Romania as part of a U.S.-Russian nuclear nonproliferation program, the Energy Department reported Tuesday.
Officials at the department's National Nuclear Security Administration said the highly enriched uranium was taken from two research reactors in Romania and flown to Russia for secure storage. The shipment weighed 118 pounds.
Russia had provided the uranium years ago. The NNSA, working with Romanian officials, moved all the highly enriched uranium, or HEU, of U.S. origin, out of Romania in 2008.
The effort in Romania is part of a broader program to return all of the HEU that had been provided to various countries by either the former Soviet Union or by the United States for civilian nuclear research back to the originating countries where the material can be kept in more secure locations.
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