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Anxiety as the Western world losing dominance of the nuclear industry

Christina Macpherson's websites & blogs

First and Second World countries are starting to look better, when compared with what is coming.

With very dubious safety and occupational health regulations, and with a big lack of transparency, South Korea embarks on a nuclear sales program to the Middle East.

China and India enthusiastically aim for nuclear power – also both with dubious safety, and secrecy.

Nuclear opponents have become accustomed to criticising France, UK, USA, Russia, Japan, Israel.  But these First and Second World countries are starting to look better, when compared with what is coming.

For the U.S.A. and U.K. we have a chance of learning through free media about nuclear incidents. And possibly even for France.  Not so sure about Russia. But at least they’ve all had experience of this so very dangerous industry. But for China, and the Asian and Middle East nations there’s likely to be an unhealthy combination of inexperience and news censorship.

Now we have countries with little experience or expertise and with dubious or no oversight of plants and of waste dumps, or uranium mines. And – countries that purport to want only ‘peaceful’ nuke power,  Yet with obvious other power resources – e.g. Saudi Arabia,  why would they want nukes?  The answer that springs to mind is – for nuclear weapons.

And nuke weapons are not the only worry. How vulnerable are these “non-Western” nukes to accident, theft of plutonium, terrorism, and response to mistaken attack?

January 20, 2010 Posted by | Christina's notes, politics international | , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Abu Dhabi has a bet each way: nuclear and renewables

Nuclear, Thermonuclear Sins, and Infrastructure: A Day at the World Future Energy Summit Nuclear, Greentech Media Michael Kanellos 18 Jan 2010 A Day at the World Future Energy SummitIt’s like Spring Break for Big Wigs -“………….The United Arab Emirates likes nuclear. “Hydrocarbons will play a role. Renewables will play a critical role and nuclear energy for some time until renewable energy is able to get to the point where it is economical and can scale will play a role,” said Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, CEO of Masdar, the sprawling alternative energy/education/urban planning project launched by Abu Dhabi said during a presentation yesterday evening. Continue reading

January 20, 2010 Posted by | ENERGY, MIDDLE EAST | , | Leave a comment

Middle East countries join IRENA, plan to lead in renewables

the energy of the future is not the energy of the past: the sun and wind, hydro and geothermal sources know no geographical boundaries and are within reach of us all.

Middle East Plan to be Leader in Renewable Energy The Energy Collective 20 Jan 2010 Away from international headlines, Saudi Arabia, the world’s leading oil producer and exporter, took a significant step towards cleaner and greenery energy this week with the announcement that it would join IRENA, the International Renewable Energy Agency. Continue reading

January 20, 2010 Posted by | climate change, MIDDLE EAST, renewable | , , , | Leave a comment

South Korea’s push to lead in nuclear reactor sales

South Korea Making Major Nuclear Power Plant Push in Middle East ONLINE BUSINESS NEWSPAPER January 20, 2010 EIN PRESSWIRE/ South Korea and its corporations are making major inroads in the Middle East to build nuclear power plants in the region. Continue reading

January 20, 2010 Posted by | business and costs, South Korea | , , | Leave a comment

South Korea’s nuclear industry plagued by problems and secrecy

FDI is South Korea’s weakness FDI.com By Christian Oliver in Seoul January 19 2010 “…..Foreign investors are very clear why South Korea is punching beneath its weight. Union reform risks are being fudged, regulations are woefully unclear and business is dominated by opaque clans.

FT.com / Columnists / World View – FDI is South Korea’s weakness

January 20, 2010 Posted by | secrets,lies and civil liberties, South Korea | , , , | Leave a comment

Sarkozy focused on promoting France’s nuclear sales

President Nicolas Sarkozy is hoping to use France’s nuclear expertise as a platform to project the country’s political and economic influence around the world

Areva and EDF spat shows nuclear tensions FT.com By Peggy Hollinger: January 19 2010 There has always been some sniping between EDF and Areva, France’s two state-owned nuclear champions…..

Yet there was a degree of hostility in the latest round of guerrilla warfare that was surprising even to the most hardened observers of the two companies. Continue reading

January 20, 2010 Posted by | business and costs, France | , , , , , | Leave a comment

France using OECD in promotion for their troubled nuclear industry

many countries are clearly unhappy to see the international organisation linked to what could clearly be interpreted as a public relations exercise on the part of the French to promote their energy and nuclear champions.

French PR vexes OECD  FD is South Korea’s weakness FDI.com  By Christian Oliver in Seoul January 19 2010 “…..Foreign investors are very clear why South Korea is punching beneath its weight. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and FDI is South Korea’s weakness  “…. Continue reading

January 20, 2010 Posted by | France, politics international | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Doubts on future for Taiwan nuclear plant

Doubt cast on new nuclear plant Taiwan News Central News Agency By Chou Pin-chun and Elizabeth Hsu Taipei, Jan. 19 (CNA) The Automatic Energy Council (AEC) , the highest authority of nuclear power management in Taiwan, has expressed doubt that the newly built Fourth Nuclear Power Plant can start full operations in late 2011 as scheduled, a spokesman for the council said Tuesday…………… Hsu, however, also pointed out that the planned schedule for full operations could be delayed by many factors, including possible glitches in the digital control equipment and generators.

Doubt cast on new nuclear plant – Taiwan News Online

January 20, 2010 Posted by | business and costs, Taiwan | Leave a comment

France has always been secretive about nuclear power costs

it is hard to say how successful the French were. The French national utility, Électricité de France, has never been open about what the plants cost to build.

A Nuclear Critic Draws a Lesson from France’s Success The New York Times January 19, 2010 By MATTHEW L. WALD

A new statistical analysis of an almost-secret topic — what it costs to build nuclear reactors in France — may have some lessons for a “nuclear renaissance” in the United States. Continue reading

January 20, 2010 Posted by | business and costs, France | , , | Leave a comment

Misinformation and spin about nuclear power

Speaking truth to (nuclear) power | Uppity Wisconsin 19 Jan 2010 As the state’s Clean Energy Jobs Act starts working its way through the legislature, coverage of the nuclear power issue — one of the more contentious piece of the huge bill — is increasing. That’s a positive;; public education and debate is good. But there’s a big helping of misinformation and spin being served up as part of the menu. Continue reading

January 20, 2010 Posted by | media, USA | , , , | Leave a comment

Risks of nuclear radiation are indeed real

The risks of nuclear energy are not exaggerated Most scientists in this field agree that there is danger even in small doses of radiation The Guardian, Ian Fairlie20 January 2010 You [The Guardian] reported the view that radiation risks are exaggerated, but left out vital information on radiation protection (Radiation health threat overstated – Oxford professor, 11 January). The article relied upon and extensively cited a retired ­professor of particle physics, Wade ­Allison, who is neither a radiation ­biologist nor an epidemiologist, and is not in my view an expert in radiation risks. Continue reading

January 20, 2010 Posted by | media, UK | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Turkey planning nuclear weapons

Turkey Plans to Produce Nuclear Weapons. – The Orange Room – forum.tayyar.org  20 Jan 2010 OTTAWA, According to a piece published in the July 26 edition of theOttawa Citizen, the Turkish government has ordered the Turkish NuclearEnergy Commission to prepare a report detailing prospects of making Turkeya stronger nation due to its nuclear capabilities, by producing nuclearweapons……. Continue reading

January 20, 2010 Posted by | Turkey, weapons and war | , , , , | Leave a comment

Pakistan’s Abdul Khan leaking nuclear info again?

Leaking secret information: LHC seeks reply from Dr AQ Khan by 25th Daily Times –  Pakistan  January 20, 2010 LAHORE: Justice Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhry of the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday sought a reply from nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadir Khan by January 25 on allegations that he disclosed sensitive information regarding Pakistan’s nuclear programme to foreign media. Continue reading

January 20, 2010 Posted by | Pakistan, secrets,lies and civil liberties | , , , , | Leave a comment

Florida nuclear project slowing down

Progress: Expects Slower Schedule For Florida Nuclear Project – WSJ.comNEW YORK (Dow Jones) 19 Jan 2010 -Progress Energy Inc. (PGN) said it expects to slow down the schedule of a nuclear power plant it is planning in Florida, following a recent decision by state regulators not to increase electricity rates.Executives from the company said they are looking to slow down and spread out spending on a dual-reactor nuclear power plant in northern Florida’s Levy County. Continue reading

January 20, 2010 Posted by | business and costs, USA | , , , | Leave a comment