2010 September 01 « nuclear-news

‘Decommissioning’ nuclear reactors becoming unaffordable

The fund, set up to pay for the Vernon reactor’s eventual dismantlement and removal of radioactive components, has come under fire from lawmakers and nuclear watchdog groups as having less in it than will be needed…..

Vt. auditor: Raise nuke plant shutdown fund checks BusinessWeek, 31 Aug 2010, MONTPELIER, Vt.Vermont state Auditor Tom Salmon says the state should do a better job tracking the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant’s decommissioning fund. Continue reading →

September 1, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, decommission reactor, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, radiation, radioactive, reactors | Leave a comment

Moving into wind energy – away from nuclear power?

the decision left the country’s largest nuclear operator without a direct role in what the nuclear industry hopes is a renaissance…

Exelon withdrew its application for a construction and operating license for a twin-unit nuclear plant in Victoria County, Tex.,….

A Nuclear Giant Moves Into Wind, NYTimes.com, By MATTHEW L. WALD, August 31, 2010, John Rowe, chief executive of Exelon.Exelon Corporation John Rowe, chief executive of Exelon.Exelon, a nuclear giant that recently backed away from building new nuclear plants, is moving into wind. Continue reading →

September 1, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | renewable, USA | antinuclear, AREVA, France, nuclear, renewable energy, wind | Leave a comment

Spiralling costs threaten nuclear industry – France, UK, Bulgaria

A particular concern is the specter of spiraling costs at a high-profile project at Olkiluoto in Finland, where Areva, a French nuclear reactor builder, agreed in 2005 to build a next-generation plant, called E.P.R.

New Warnings About Costs of Nuclear Power in Bulgaria and Britain – NYTimes.com August 31, 2010, By JAMES KANTER As anticipation grows about a possible renaissance for the nuclear power industry — and about its potential for curbing greenhouse gas emissions — some politicians are stepping up warnings about the high cost of such projects. Continue reading →

September 1, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, EUROPE | antinuclear, AREVA, EDF, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear renaissance, nuclear spin, nuclear wastes, reactors | Leave a comment

Nuclear power plants are vulnerable to ‘cyber attacks’

A U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission spokeswoman declined to say whether there have been any cyber strikes against the nation’s nuclear power sector.

Nation’s nuclear power plants prepare for cyberattacks – Nextgov,By Martin Matishak, Global Security Newswire 08/30/2010 “………..Cyberattacks have been an increasing source of concern in recent years but the threat was highlighted in July by the first discovery of malicious code specifically formulated to target the systems that direct the inner operations of industrial plants. Continue reading →

September 1, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | 2 WORLD, safety | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, reactors | Leave a comment

India’s Nuclear Liability Bill makes it hard for nuclear reactor sellers to get insurance

Nuclear damage: Should suppliers be liable? sify finance, | 2010-09-01 Nilendra Kumar lThe nuclear damage Bill has crafted a pragmatic provision to bind operator and supplier under contractual liabilities, but suppliers may find it tough to obtain insurance to back such contracts Continue reading →

September 1, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, India | antinuclear, nuclear costs, reactors | Leave a comment

The nuclear power option favours American business, not the Indian people

Super profits for American corporations or true concern for the Indian people — this is the question today. The answer, unfortunately for our people, is in favour of the former……a tragedy exponentially worse than Bhopal is waiting to happen.

A moral meltdown – Hindustan Times, Sitaram Yechury , 1 Sept 10, “……The PM has announced the target of generating 40,000 MW of nuclear power. By using the nuclear option, India would be spending way beyond R3 lakh crore more than by using the available thermal, hydro or other options. Continue reading →

September 1, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear spin, nuclear wastes, reactors | Leave a comment

New charges and fuel tax burden on Germany’s nuclear plants

Financial demands before German nuclear operators, World Nuclear News, By Rumyana Vakarelska, 31 August 2010 In addition to the introduction of a new €2.3 billion ($2.9 billion) annual windfall tax, the German government has now demanded nuclear firms pay a contribution towards the development of renewable energy.A number of measures expected to be brought in during September are likely to see the introduction of a tax on nuclear fuel that will help shore up German finances in return for allowing nuclear operators to continue their businesses. This could come at the same time as austerity measures, when additional billions in tax from nuclear firms would be particularly welcome. Financial demands before German nuclear operators

September 1, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Germany, politics | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, reactors | Leave a comment

India’s new Nuclear Liability Bill upsetting ambitions of USA’s nuclear salesmen

Flawed’ liability bill threatens Indo-US nuclear deal: Expert, The Times of India Sep 1, 2010, WASHINGTON: Terming passing of the civil nuclear liability bill by the Parliament as “flawed”, an eminent American expert on South Asian affairs has said the US policy makers and industrial leaders have been taken off guard by this and it threatens to cast a pall over the historic Indo-US civilian nuclear deal. Continue reading →

September 1, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear technology, reactors | Leave a comment

Indian villagers resist nuclear power plant

Kovvada villagers stage protest against nuclear expert team – Hyderabad – City – The Times of India, 31 Aug 2010, RANASTALAM (SRIKAKULAM): The experts team of nuclear energy and oceanography faced the ire of the local fishermen when they visited the proposed nuclear power plant site at Kovvada Matyalesam here on Tuesday.About ten members team accompanied by plant chief engineer and liaison officer G Venkata Ramesh were asked to go back by the local fishermen.The central government proposed a 10,000 MW nuclear power plant at Kovvada Matsyalesam villa ge in the mandal with technical support from GE and Westing House companies of America.The plant is one of the six nuclear plants proposed in the country…… The district authorities had planned to organize an awareness meeting with the people, mostly fisherfolk, on Wednesday to discuss the feasibility of the nuclear plant. But it was cancelled following the revolt from the people of the area, sources said.Kovvada villagers stage protest against nuclear expert team – Hyderabad – City – The Times of India

September 1, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | India, opposition to nuclear | antinuclear, nuclear, reactor | Leave a comment

Thorium nuclear reactors can enable production of nuclear bombs

Uranium 233 is fissionable, and you can make bombs out of it. And the best part of all is that it can be purified chemically out of the spent fuel of the thorium reactor.

Nuclear Weapons for the Masses . The Greenroom August 31, 2010 by Steven Den Beste“.……Thorium reactors use natural thorium, which is isotope 232. There are a lot of neutrons running around in there; it’s how reactors work. If an atom of thorium 232 absorbs a neutron, it becomes isotope 233. Continue reading →

September 1, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | 2 WORLD, technology, Uranium | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, nuclear technology, radiation, uranium | Leave a comment

British govt gags debate: delaying tactics as nuclear veterans die

More than 1,000 former servicemen and their families are fighting to win £20million compensation from the Ministry of Defence after being made ‘guinea pigs’ for postwar nuclear tests in the South Pacific and Australia….On average, three survivors are dying each week.

MPs gagged over atom bomb test veterans: 1,000 former servicemen fighting £20m compensation battle, Daily Mail UK, By Ian Drury 31st August 2010 The Commons Speaker is under fire after MPs were barred from asking questions about the treatment of Britain’s nuclear test veterans……… MPs and veterans have accused Mr Bercow’s officials of stifling freedom of speech to avoid embarrassing the Government. Continue reading →

September 1, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | secrets,lies and civil liberties, UK | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear spin, radiation, radioactive | Leave a comment

Radioactive gas leaks from Australia’s nuclear reactor: govt cover-up

the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPNSA) has been involved in a two year cover up of intentionally released radioactive plumes

Australia’s Radiation Cover Up, The Intel Hub, August 30, 2010 By Michelle Jones On November 3, 2006, in Lucas Heights Australia, OPAL, the Open Pool Australian Light-Water Reactor was throttled to full power. There was grave opposition to this $400 million science research/nuclear facility, a facility used for the science and manufacturing of nuclear medicines. Those who opposed the facility claimed that the dangers of a nuclear fission facility were too high to allow such a facility to operate in Australia. Continue reading →

September 1, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA, secrets,lies and civil liberties | antinuclear, AUSTRALIA, nuclear secrecy, nuclear wastes, radiation, radioactive, reactor | Leave a comment