nuclear-news

The News That Matters about the Nuclear Industry Fukushima Chernobyl Mayak Three Mile Island Atomic Testing Radiation Isotope

Coastal nuclear plants endangered by sea level rise, and oil spills

the NUCLEAR INDUSTRY and CLIMATE CHANGE  – our focus for July 2010

NUCLEAR POWER and SEA LEVEL RISE – All reactors on sea coasts endangered by sea level rise

They are also endangered by accidents  such as OIL SPILLS,  which can affect their cooling safety sytems

July 3, 2010 Posted by | Christina's notes | , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Russia’s Rosatom nuclear corporation now in control of Uranium One

Uranium One gives up control, FINANCIAL POST, June 2010, The company has negotiated a complex deal in which it will hand over a controlling stake of at least 51% in itself to the state-owned Russian uranium companyJSCAtomredmetzoloto (ARMZ). It is a subsidiary of Rosatom, the world’s biggest integrated nuclear firm… Continue reading

July 3, 2010 Posted by | politics, Russia | , , , | Leave a comment

Renewable Energy can overcome its hurdles

The Four Hurdles of Renewable Energy. CALFINDER , 2 July 2010, American Electric Power CEO Michael Morris is all too familiar with the challenges of incorporating renewable energy into the existing industrial framework. But he believes that the largest of these hurdles can be overcome with sound planning for the future. Here’s what he has to say Continue reading

July 3, 2010 Posted by | 2 WORLD, renewable | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Uranium market stays down, USA govt sells old weapons fuel

Scope for medium term gains in uranium prices, July 02, 2010, by Dorothy Kosich (Mineweb) “……..spot uranium prices continue to trade at low ebb, …”Prices continue to be dampened by a low level of ‘uncovered utility requirements in the West, concern over further production gains in Kazakhstan and the barter of U.S. Department of Energy UF6 inventory to pay for an environmental cleanup at a closed Ohio uranium enrichment plant,” Mohr advised.The announcement of a DOE barter sale to USEC Inc., a leading supplier of enriched uranium fuel for commercial nuclear power plants, was blamed for the beginning of a uranium price decline a year ago. The sale will end in the third quarter of this year. However, Mohr said U.S. Energy Secretary Chu intends to sell additional federal uranium inventory under another program.

Proactive Investors (AU) – Scope for medium term gains in uranium prices

July 3, 2010 Posted by | 2 WORLD, business and costs | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The world’s most dangerous project – Russia’s floating nukes

their flexibility also brings a phalanx of new risk considerations to the nuclear bargain — particularly one like this that’s designed to change locales. No surprise then that Greenpeace Russia has dubbed the Akademik Lomonosov the world’s most dangerous nuclear project in a decade…

Russia Launches Floating Nuclear Power Plant, EEE Spectrum, 2 July 2010, Russian nuclear engineering group Rosatom launched the world’s first floating nuclear power plant Wednesday, Continue reading

July 3, 2010 Posted by | Russia, safety | , , , , | Leave a comment

USA soldiers and depleted uranium – the problem continues

VIDEO
The Stark Raving Viking: Using Depleted Uranium Munitions, a War Crime? July 02, 2010 Radioactive, fragmenting, incendiary, radioactive munitions have been used by the US since the first Gulf War. There seems to be no official US regard for the health of US Troops and citizens of the world. Continue reading

July 3, 2010 Posted by | health, USA | , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Time to stop U.S. Congress from ’emergency’ payout to nuclear industry

Wall Street investment firms are still too burned by atomic defaults from the 1970s and 1980s — the largest managerial disaster in business history according to Forbes magazine — to risk their own funds on new reactors, despite the federal loan guarantees!

As Taxpayers for Common Sense argues, such an emergency supplemental war funding and disaster relief bill is no place for energy loan guarantees to be attached in the first place

“Declare your independence” from risky nuclear loan guarantees before the 4th of July!, Beyond Nuclear, 2 July 2010, -There is still time to act against expanded nuclear power loan guarantees before the U.S. House finalizes its supplemental war funding and disaster relief bill by its Independence Day recess.

The U.S. House Appropriations Committee, chaired by Dave Obey (Democrat-Wisconsin), is considering an emergency supplemental war funding and disaster relief bill. The Obama administration has pushed for $9 billion in additional nuclear power loan guarantees to be attached as a rider onto this bill, thus attempting to rush part of a $36 billion expansion request to the nuclear power loan guarantee program, originally requested for next year’s Fiscal Year 2011 budget, onto this fiscal year’s budget. Continue reading

July 2, 2010 Posted by | general | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Medical radiation in India, 1 in 5 devices not certified safe

X-ray, CT scan, MRI units: only 1 in 5 certified radiation-safe – Express India Pritha Chatterjee : Jul 01, 2010 Only 21 per cent of the radiological diagnostic machines in Maharashtra are registered with the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) for following radiation safety norms, as per the institution’s estimates.“We have 655 registrations in Maharashtra so far. A survey we conducted two years back indicated that there are 3000 X-ray units, including CT scanners, operating in the state,” said Dr S A Hussain, Head, Radiological Safety Department at AERB.The countrywide figures are more alarming: only 4,000 machines have so far been registered with the organisation, when the same survey found 60,000 machines operating surreptitiously.X-ray, CT scan, MRI units: only 1 in 5 certified radiation-safe – Express India

July 2, 2010 Posted by | India, safety | , , , | Leave a comment

$9 billion ’emergency war” money to go to nuclear industry

Because independent investors won’t fund them, the reactor industry has spent some $645 million in the last decade lobbying Congress and the White House for taxpayer money.

(USA) Can “Emergency” New Nuke Loans Be Stopped Despite Cover of War?, THE HUFFINGTON POST, Harvey Wasserman, 2 July 2010, Amidst a grassroots uproar over funding for the military, the nuclear power industry has again forced $9 billion in loan guarantees onto an “emergency” war appropriations bill for Afghanistan and Iraq. Continue reading

July 2, 2010 Posted by | politics, USA | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

New Australian govt tax panders to uranium miner BHP Billiton

Most importantly, the new tax will not affect BHP Billiton’s $23 billion plan to expand the massive Olympic Dam mine, the world’s biggest uranium deposit

A dog’s breakfast * Robin Bromby  The Australian * July 02, So let’s get this right about the new mining resources rent tax. BHP Billiton will pay the new tax on the coal …….. but not on what it rips out of the ground at Olympic Dam in South Australia (the world’s largest uranium deposit, and another non-replaceable asset) …. Continue reading

July 2, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA, politics | , , , | Leave a comment

Sweden’s nuclear future is very uncertain indeed

the people of Sweden voted to decommission all nuclear power plants by 2010. However, only two nuclear blocks (Barsebaeck 1+2) were actually decommissioned. The decommissioning cost three times more than it did to build the reactors in the first place. That is why it is so important for the external costs of nuclear power to be included when doing a cost analysis.

NUCLEAR: Is the battle lost?, PROJECT 90, 30 June 2010, On the 17th June 2010 Sweden’s parliament passed a Bill to overturn a 30-year-old ban on new nuclear reactors.  174 parliamentarians voted yes and 172 voted no. The Swedish Parliament attached some conditions to the building of new nuclear reactors:

  • Only existing plants would be replaced
  • No government subsidies would be granted to the nuclear developments
  • The owner and operator would be held financially responsible in the case of any accidents. Continue reading

July 2, 2010 Posted by | politics, Sweden | , , , , | 1 Comment

Scientists warn on huge taxpayer bill for USA’s nuclear subsidies

If the industry is able to secure federal approval to build the 31 new reactors it is expected to request, UCS found that total proposed subsidies could be worth from $65 billion to as much as $147 billion.

Senate Currently Proposing $40 Billion to More Than $140 Billion in Subsidies for Nuclear Industry, New Analysis FindsNew Subsidies for Constructing Reactors Would Shift Financial Risks to Taxpayers Union of Concerned Scientists WASHINGTON (July 1, 2010) – Massive government subsidies proposed in two pending Senate climate and energy bills would shift the risk of financing and constructing new nuclear reactors from the industry to U.S. taxpayers, according to an analysis released today by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS). Continue reading

July 2, 2010 Posted by | politics, USA | , , , | Leave a comment

USA Congress to fund nuclear industry, cut education funding

Congress brazenly puts the interests of corporations above the needs of regular Americans, including teachers and children. This is further proof our political system has been corrupted by corporate influence and special interests.

Nuke Industry Bullies Students, Demands Lunch Money. House Democrats choose pre-emptive bailout for nuclear industry over preventing teacher layoffs. Common Dreams WASHINGTON – July 1
This week, the House of Representatives is expected to vote on supplemental appropriations for the war in Afghanistan and several domestic programs. The domestic program funding preserves $9 billion in loan guarantees for nuclear reactors, while cutting $13 billion in funds to prevent teacher layoffs. Continue reading

July 2, 2010 Posted by | general | , , , | Leave a comment

Malaysian MPs not impressed by nuclear hype

“The experience in Europe actually shows that there’s a major [cost] overrun. For example, they say it’s €2 billion [but] by the time it’s all done, €4 billion total,”

The talk, featured nuclear industry speakers from Korea, France and the US……

Government nuclear pitch fails to impress PR MPs « Charles Santiago The Malaysian Insider By Yow Hong Chieh July 01, 2010 KUALA LUMPUR,   — A government-organised talk on the nuclear industry last night failed to convince Pakatan Rakyat (PR) MPs that nuclear power is the energy source most suited to meet Malaysia’s increasing energy demands. Continue reading

July 2, 2010 Posted by | ASIA, spinbuster | , , , | Leave a comment

Renewable energy a profitable move for UK farmers

Agricultural and horticultural buildings present ideal platforms for solar panels and small-to-medium-sized roof-mounted systems are likely to be an attractive investment

Conference told about a raft of low carbon energy opportunities Salisbury Journal  1st July 2010 By Anne Connon » EVERY farmer and grower in Britain should have the opportunity to provide low-carbon energy services alongside their traditional roles, a major conference heard last week. Dr Jonathan Scurlock, National Farmers’ Union chief renewable energy adviser, was speaking at the On-Farm Energy Generation Conference addressing vital issues surrounding land-based energy. Continue reading

July 2, 2010 Posted by | decentralised, UK | , , , , , , | Leave a comment