2009 January 24 « nuclear-news

UPDATE 3-Siemens could sell Areva nuclear stake | Reuters

UPDATE 3-Siemens to sell Areva nuclear stake?

PARIS/MUNICH, Jan 23 (Reuters) By Benjamin Mallet and Irene Preisinger – “………………….The board of German industrial group Siemens AG will meet on Monday to decide on the future of its stake in a unit of France’s Areva that it obtained in a nuclear tie-up a decade ago.

If the board decides to sell it would mark a further narrowing of the corporate focus of the once sprawling German conglomerate and could provide the starting shot for a restructuring of the French nuclear industry.

January 24, 2009 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

TCritics says Canada is enabling India’s military nuclear program

Critics says Canada is enabling India’s military nuclear program
– THE CANADIAN PRESS 24 Jan 09 OTTAWA — The Conservative government has tarnished Canada’s longstanding stature as a non-proliferation advocate in its pursuit of the rich commercial possibilities of nuclear trade, say critics.Now it must ensure it doesn’t compound the problem……………………………..activists argue that no matter what safeguards Canada puts in place, civilian nuclear aid to India, by definition, frees up domestic Indian capacity for its military program.

“That’s the battle that we lost when the (Nuclear Suppliers Group) agreed to the exemption,” said Regehr, echoing sentiments expressed by governments from New Zealand to Sweden.

“And it’s a very serious loss.”

January 24, 2009 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

3 bishops oppose revival of nuke plant

3 bishops oppose revival of nuke plant By Dona Pazzibugan, Gil C. Cabacungan Jr.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
01/24/2009

MANILA, Philippines—Three Catholic bishops are opposing the proposed revival of the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, citing safety hazards and waste of scarce government resources.

“With so much to be spent for its rehabilitation, is this the time to revive this folly of Marcos corruption?…………………………….

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz, the first of the bishops to oppose the plan, cited the danger of improper disposal of nuclear waste.

If the government wants to revive the nuclear power plant, it should first answer the “most important of all questions”—how it would dispose of the nuclear waste, he said.

Cruz said all countries that operate nuclear power plants consider the disposal of nuclear waste a “big and deep dark national secret.”

Villegas, former aide to the late Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin, a leading light of the anti-Marcos movement, recalled how the construction of the Bataan nuclear power plant was attended by many irregularities.

“It stands as a mute witness of abominable greed and corruption and as a reminder to all Filipinos that such deeds that only bring untold suffering should never again be foisted on our country,” said Villegas.