nuclear-news

Golly, nukes for everybody! High Country News 13 April 09 The “innovative” proposal for many small “pocket” nuclear reactors sounds like the gee-whiz propaganda from the 1950s that every modern family would own a personal atomic car and reactors would produce power “too cheap to meter” (HCN, 3/16 & 3/30/09). In reality, it is an attempt to greenwash a failed technology……………………………

Building these pocket reactors would multiply our safety problems. The federal government can barely provide for adequate oversight of the few reactors we have now — where will the new resources and inspectors come from? An on-site waste repository will still have to be created for each reactor, with high-level waste stored in tanks and pools. Fuel and waste will be transported on public highways, increasing the chances for accidents. Terrorists will have lots of new targets to choose from. We’ll have to mine and refine lots more uranium, a polluting industry that generates large amounts of greenhouse gases. Hard evidence shows that radiation leaks, demonstrably causing harm, are happening all the time at nuclear power plants and cannot be completely prevented.

Sounds like an innovation we can do without.

Reprocessed nuclear waste shipment to pass by Philippine waters next month, Greenpeace warns InfoShop News 14 April 09 Manila, PHILIPPINES — The largest ever transport of dangerous reprocessed nuclear waste may put Philippine waters at risk if the government does not pro-actively prevent its passage in the vicinity of the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) early next month, Greenpeace warned.About 1.8 tons of radiotoxic plutonium in Mixed-Oxide (MOX) fuel intended for nuclear power plants is traveling to Japan via the Cape of Good Hope and the south-west Pacific Ocean. The shipment left France for Japan last March 5 and is expected to pass by the waters between the Philippines and Palau before it reaches Japan by mid May. The shipment potentially violates Republic Act No. 6969 which prohibits the “entry, even in transit, of hazardous and nuclear wastes and their disposal into the Philippine territorial limits for whatever purpose.”

The said MOX transport contains highly radioactive plutonium enough to make 225 nuclear weapons, representing an immediate risk of contamination to coastal communities along the route should anything go wrong. MOX is more dangerous and radioactive than normal uranium fuel because of the presence of plutonium in the mix. The last such shipment to Japan occurred eight years ago. The current transport has forgone passing by South America due to a ban on nuclear transports in the area.

“Greenpeace believes that the MOX shipment is completely unacceptable and unjustifiable, exposing en-route nations such as the Philippines to the risk of accident and resultant radiological contamination. The Philippine government should immediately act to prevent the country from being exposed to such risks, especially since we are not capable of dealing with any related accident that can occur,” said Greenpeace Southeast Asia Campaign Manager Beau Baconguis.

Uranium industry woos Asia Northern Territory News NIGEL ADLAM April 15th, 2009 “……………

The AusIMM International Uranium Conference will look at potential mining operations in the Territory and possible export markets.

There is only one uranium mine in the NT – Ranger, near Jabiru.

There are also several prospects, including Angela and Pamela near Alice Springs and Nabarlek in west Arnhem Land.

The conference will be held at the Darwin Convention Centre on June 10-11……………….

Waste disposal is a big issue in the Territory.

The Federal Government is likely to repeal the law forcing the NT to accept a nuclear waste dump – but still wants the storage complex built here.

There are reports that Canberra will offer the Territory “compensation” for accepting the waste dump.

Miners and pastoralists are suggesting the NT Government ask for the sealing of the Tanami Rd.

But political sources have told Business Week that the “bribe” is more likely to be spending on Aboriginal education or health.

The two-day uranium conference will include a public information evening “to address public myths and misgivings” and a radiation safety workshop.

Prioritize ‘green energy’: lawmaker Taipei Times 15 April 09 The government should work to attract “green energy” businesses to Taiwan and retain those already operating on the local market, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Tien Chiu-chin (田秋堇) said yesterday, adding that the nation should not depend on nuclear energy……………………Tien cited Berlin as a model supporter of green energy. Since passing a law to cut costs of renewable energy in the national power grid, Germany has not only created the world’s largest solar power company and many wind power firms, it has also created 250,000 jobs, she said.

“Where is our nation’s green policy? Without passing laws, we are driving away green energy firms,” she said.

Tien said the government should not place all its hope on nuclear power, as the global supply of uranium ore was estimated to last only four to five decades.

“Considering the safety risks posed by nuclear plants — Taiwan is very earthquake prone — the government should weigh this matter carefully at tomorrow’s National Energy Conference,” she said.

‘BNPP revival notsolution to debt The Visayan Daily Star 15 April 09 There is no way that operating the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant would enhance the government’s ability to pay its enormous debt, operating it would lead to more debts”, Freedom from Debt Coalition-Negros president Rudy Yanson, said in a press release yesterday…………….“To revive it is to create greater social deficits and push Filipino people deeper into the vicious debt and underdevelopment trap. FDC raises serious questions about the immediate rehabilitation, commission and commercial operation of BNPP

Market starts by following Wall St down Herald Sun 15 April 09 – “…………….Making news, Uranium miner Energy Resources of Australia (ERA) has posted a drop in production for the March quarter due to lower head grade and mill recovery.

Its shares were down 42 cents, or 1.84 per cent, at $22.39……………..”

IDC has released a new report titled, Australia Utilities Information and Communications Technology Market 2008-2012 Forecast and Analysis that focuses on the utilities sector in Australia, providing a map of where short- and longer-term opportunities can be found and highlights purchasing patterns for products and services by market…………………
………………….The Utilities market is a small and conservative spender on ICT and constitutes 2.8% of the total enterprise market in Australia. IT services spending makes up the lion’s share of utility industry spending – at 57%.·

The tight credit markets have already slowed capital spending in this industry and this is likely to continue through 2009. Fossil-fuelled and nuclear generation projects will suffer the worst due to high-risk profiles.