nuclear-news

Spain extending nuke plants, with no radioactive waste solution

The country’s nuclear power stations no longer have room to store much more than the 6,700 tonnes of spent fuel rods they have accumulated.

Spain mulls extending nuclear plant working lives Reuters 23 Dec 09 – “……………..Although the Socialist government had recently suggested it would extend the plants’ working lives, it has also repeatedly said it will not support building new ones.Neither major party proposed building new nuclear plants in elections last year, however the opposition Popular Party says it will keep Garona working past 2013 if it is returned to power.Greenpeace spokesman Carlos Bravo said the bill ran contrary to another recent bill which proposes underpinning long-term economic growth with booming renewable energy sources.”The Ministry bill contradicts the provisions of the Sustainable Economy Bill. This makes no sense, it is incoherent,” he said.Spain has become the world’s third-largest producer of wind power and the second-biggest of solar in a bid to cut its heavy dependence on imported fuels and greenhouse gas emissions.The bill also proposed a long-delayed call for bids from local authorities to house a centralised site for storing nuclear waste for up to 60 years.

The country’s nuclear power stations no longer have room to store much more than the 6,700 tonnes of spent fuel rods they have accumulated.

The government has estimated the ATC — as the project is known in Spanish — will cost 540 million euros ($773 million) and cover 20 hectares.

The United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, last year recommended Spain step up efforts to find a dedicated site for storing high-level nuclear waste. (Editing by Keiron Henderson)

Spain mulls extending nuclear plant working lives | Markets | Reuters

December 24, 2009 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, Spain | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, nuclear wastes, radiation, radioactive, wastes