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

China, Germany, now USA, put the brakes on nuclear development

corporations are bracing for a potential U.S. regulatory backlash that will elevate costs. Governments from China to Germany moved swiftly last week to brake further nuclear development,

UPDATE 3-NRG, eyeing Japan, first to slow US nuclear plant work | Reuters, 22 March 11, NRG pull-back is first sign of U.S. impact from quake * US nuclear builders face uncertainty amid NRC review, By Eileen O’Grady, HOUSTON, March 21 (Reuters) – U.S. nuclear power developer. NRG Energy Inc has all but stopped work on a majo project in Texas, the first U.S. company to slow down ambitious growth plans in the wake of the crisis in Japan.

NRG, which has worked closely with Tokyo Electric Power Co to develop the Texas reactors, said there was too much regulatory uncertainty to continue pouring cash into the project.NRG’s move is the first sign that

as regulators sought time to apply any lessons learned from the crisis on Japan’s east coast.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s order for a review of all plants raises uncertainty about potential design changes and timing of new license approvals, NRG Chief Executive David Crane said. He also noted that low natural gas prices are challenging the economics of new nuclear power plants.

“The economics related to the capital budget are right on the edge of viability,” Crane told Reuters in an interview.

NRG and its partner Toshiba Corp (6502.T) will reduce the scope of development work at Nuclear Innovation North America, which has been working to build new units at the South Texas Project nuclear station in Matagorda County, 90 miles (145 km)southwest of Houston.

UPDATE 3-NRG, eyeing Japan, first to slow US nuclear plant work | Reuters

March 22, 2011 Posted by | business and costs, USA | Leave a comment

Viability of USA’s nuclear power now called into question

“Today everybody is worried about the spent fuel pools………..New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is seeking a review of the Indian Point power plant, about 40 miles north of New York City. More than 21 million people live within 50 miles of the plant……
Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., said the crisis called into question the viability of nuclear power in the United States.

Nuclear crisis may affect placement of US reactors, Google News 21 march 11, “………The chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission said his agency will again review how U.S. nuclear plants store spent-fuel from nuclear reactors. Continue reading →

March 22, 2011 Posted by | politics, USA | Leave a comment

Britain likely to stall plans for new nuclear reactors

“Globally, this undoubtedly casts a shadow over the renaissance of the nuclear industry. That is blindingly obvious.”

Chris Huhne: Britain may scale back nuclear plans after Japan disaster. telegraph, 21 march 11 Britain may scale back its plans to build a new generation of nuclear plants in the wake of the Japanese disaster, the Energy Secretary indicated on Sunday. Continue reading →

March 22, 2011 Posted by | politics, UK | Leave a comment

As nuclear plants become more complex, human error becomes more likely

“Plants grow more complex,” said one leading nuclear engineer after Three Mile Island. “Safety hangs increasingly on the human error factor, and we can’t eliminate it. Many of our operators have seen emergencies only on a simulator. The real thing can look quite different, and they may have just 60 terrified seconds to act.”

Nuclear future – proceed with caution, Telegraph UK, 21 March, New reactors have been designed to be much safer, with the European Pressurised Reactor (EPR) – planned to be built here over the next few years – especially so. But official documents show that the EPR will produce several times more of the radioactive iodine and caesium that would be rapidly released in an accident than do present-day reactors.

The trouble is that human beings have a way of overriding safety systems. The 1957 Windscale fire occurred when a physicist threw a switch too soon when carrying out a routine operation. The Three Mile Island accident was caused by a whole series of human errors, while at Chernobyl, operators under pressure to complete a test deliberately and progressively switched off every one of its safety systems until, in the words of the chief investigator into the catastrophe, the reactor “was free to do as it wished”.”Plants grow more complex,” said one leading nuclear engineer after Three Mile Island. “Safety hangs increasingly on the human error factor, and we can’t eliminate it. Many of our operators have seen emergencies only on a simulator. The real thing can look quite different, and they may have just 60 terrified seconds to act.”

 

March 22, 2011 Posted by | 2 WORLD, safety | Leave a comment

Germany’s nuclear operators might scrap payments to renewables fund

UPDATE 1-German nuclear firms dodge green fund issue | Reuters, Mar 21, 2011 Report says they might scrap payments FRANKFURT,   – Germany’s nuclear operators dodged addressing a report that they might scrap payments of 300 million euros ($425.3 million) this year into a fund subsidising green energy after they had to close plants for safety checks.Sueddeutsche Zeitung, citing company sources, said last week’s enforced shutdown of reactors built before 1980 for security checks in light of the nuclear crisis in Japan, had prompted the four German operators to consider stopping the payments. [POWER/DE]…..UPDATE 1-German nuclear firms dodge green fund issue | Reuters

March 22, 2011 Posted by | business and costs, Germany | Leave a comment

Raised levels of radioactivity in seawater, in some foods – Japan

Radioactive food fears grow in Japan, By Hayden Cooper and wires  ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), 22 March 11, Japan is continuing to deal with a nuclear emergency as fears of food contamination grow and high levels of radioactive substances are found in seawater near the crippled Fukushima plant.The news comes amid another setback in efforts to cool the earthquake-crippled nuclear plant, with officials spotting grey smoke coming from the roof of the No. 3 reactor……. Continue reading →

March 22, 2011 Posted by | - Fukushima 2011, environment, Japan | Leave a comment

The world’s nuclear priesthood faces a crisis of faith

This week the nuclear priesthood is facing a crisis of faith, as engineers in Asia’s most advanced nuclear industry struggle to contain the overheated reactor cores at Japan’s Fukushima No. 1 power plant, run by the Tokyo Electric Power Company.

Crisis of faith for nuclear brahmins, The Age, HAMISH McDONALD. March 19, 2011
Across the countries of Asia, the leaders of their nuclear industries have moved with the remote authority and mystique of brahmin or Shinto priests, intoning ancient and arcane scriptures, conducting rites and interpreting the heavens. Continue reading →

March 22, 2011 Posted by | 2 WORLD, Religion and ethics | Leave a comment

Asia Pacific countries monitor radiation from Fukushima nuclear plant

    As winds took the contaminated clouds from the battered Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant out into the Pacific Ocean towards Hawaii and the US west coast, Japan’s nearest Asian neighbours stepped up their monitoring of potential nuclear fallout…..Taiwan-based EVA Airways said it would cancel 56 flights between Japan and Taiwan because of radiation concerns.

    Radiation fears sweep the region | The Australian, James Hookway and Michael Sainsbury March 17, 2011, FEARS of a cross-border nuclear disaster swept across the Asia Pacific region yesterday as Japan’s nuclear crisis deepened, with experts and officials trying to calm fraying nerves in countries as far away as The Philippines and Canada. Continue reading →

    March 22, 2011 Posted by | ASIA, environment | Leave a comment

    All Japan’s wind farms survived the earthquake and tsunami

    Some of Japans nuclear capacity has, in effect, phased itself out- very painfully. It will be interesting to see if a new direction is now taken in Japan, and indeed elsewhere.

    Phasing out nuclear in Japan, environmentalresearchweb, 21 march 11, All Japans wind farms evidently survived the recent disastrous quake and tsunami – even a semi-offshore one. With nuclear power’s reputation besmirched, following the spectacular failures at Fukushima, is that the way ahead for Japan? Continue reading →

    March 22, 2011 Posted by | Japan, renewable | Leave a comment

    Japan’s taxpayers will cop the bill for nuclear disaster

    Japanese Taxpayers Likely to Shoulder Nuclear Liability – Law Blog – WSJ, 21 March 11, By Ashby Jones At the end of the day, who’s going to pay to compensate the victims of the problems at Japan’s nuclear reactors?Had the earthquake and resulting issues happened in the U.S., the answer would likely be quite complicated. In Japan, it’s simpler: the Japanese taxpayer will shoulder the burden, according to this WSJ story by Andrew Dowell and Erik Holm. Continue reading →

    March 22, 2011 Posted by | business and costs | Leave a comment

    first nuclear, then uranium, shares tumble

    Nuclear sell-off sweeps to uranium mining, Financial Times, By William MacNamara in London,  March 20 2011 The sell-off slamming the nuclear power industry has swept to uranium mining, the source of nuclear fuel, with a range of miners’ shares opening this morning at least 15 per cent lower than levels preceding the earthquake in Japan.
    Shares in Cameco, the major Canadian uranium producer, have fallen 20 per cent since March 10 despite Jerry Grandey, chief executive, saying that the impact of the Japanese nuclear crisis on the company’s sales would be “minimal”….

    March 22, 2011 Posted by | business and costs, Uranium | Leave a comment

    At Fukushima, radiation leak continues, spent fuel storage pool a big problem

    A separate storage pool for spent fuel rods also is drawing the attention of some Tepco and safety officials. The area, which takes fuel rods from all six reactors, is located near the No. 4 reactor. The pool is nearly full with 6,375 units of fuel, according to Tepco.

    Japan Nuclear Dangers Linger Despite Progress, WSJ,  By PETER LANDERS And NORIHIKO SHIROUZU, MARCH 20, 2011,As of late Sunday, power was still out at reactors No. 3 and No. 4, the two most troublesome during the nine-day fight to keep the nuclear plant from spinning out of control. Until Tokyo Electric Power Co. fully restores power at the reactors and turns on cooling systems knocked out after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, it faces continued radiation leakage from spent fuel rods stored at the two reactors. Continue reading →

    March 22, 2011 Posted by | - Fukushima 2011, Japan, wastes | Leave a comment

    Serious problems continue at Fukushima nuclear plant

    Snapshot: Japan’s nuclear crisis Mar 20, 2011 TOKYO (Reuters) – Following are main developments after a massive earthquake and tsunami devastated northeast Japan and crippled a nuclear power station, raising the risk of uncontrolled radiation.
    IAEA says some positive developments but overall situation remains very serious. Continue reading →

    March 22, 2011 Posted by | - Fukushima 2011 | Leave a comment

    some headlines in a hurry

    we are short of time today – here are a few bits and pieces

    Over 21,000 dead, missing amid nuke crisis

    Workers are close to restoring power to a nuclear plant’s overheating reactors as Japan’s earthquake toll of dead or missing passes 21,000.
    http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-world/over-21000-dead-missing-amid-nuke-crisis-20110321-1c2it.html

    Fears for British nuclear plans after Japan crisis
    The crisis at the Fukushima plant in Japan could delay plans for a new generation of British nuclear power stations, dealing a blow to the atomic energy industry’s hopes for a £30-billion boost.
    http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-world/fears-for-british-nuclear-plans-after-japan-crisis-20110321-1c2io.html

    Headway as Fukushima pumps restart
    Engineers restore power to cooling pumps in two reactors at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.
    http://www.theage.com.au/world/headway-as-fukushima-pumps-restart-20110320-1c2b4.html

    Crisis of faith for nuclear brahmins
    Across the countries of Asia, the leaders of their nuclear industries have moved with the remote authority and mystique of brahmin or Shinto priests, intoning ancient and arcane scriptures, conducting rites and interpreting the heavens.
    http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/politics/crisis-of-faith-for-nuclear-brahmins-20110318-1c0fz.html

    Warwick McFadyen: Past becomes present as Fukushima fallout stirs deep memories
    Devastation and radiation resurrect postwar Japan, both there and beyond.
    http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/politics/past-becomes-present-as-fukushima-fallout-stirs-deep-memories-20110320-1c24q.html

    Reactors will never reopen, says official

    THE damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant must be scrapped, the country’s top government spokesman has said. He also revealed ”abnormal levels” of radiation had again been detected in milk and spinach taken from areas near the plant.
    http://www.smh.com.au/environment/reactors-will-never-reopen-says-official-20110320-1c297.html

    Damaged nuke plant must be scrapped: Japan
    Japan’s top government spokesman says the country’s tsunami-ravaged nuclear plant must eventually be scrapped.
    http://wwwsmh.com.au/environment/energy-smart/damaged-nuke-plant-must-be-scrapped-japan-20110320-1c2eo.html
    ‘Samurai’ praised as reactor slowly cools
    The men and women working to prevent a nuclear catastrophe at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi power plant last night appeared to be winning the battle
    http://www.theaustralian.com.au/samurai-praised-as-fukushima-reactor-slowly-cools/story-fn84naht-1226025040858

    Planned nuclear plants raise fears here
    The nuclear crisis in Japan will raise fears about the risk to Australia from nuclear power plants being considered by Australia’s Asian neighbours
    http://wwwtheaustralian.com.au/planned-nuclear-plants-in-asia-raise-fears-here/story-fn84naht-1226025038567

    Daiichi in annals of nuclear ignominy
    BEFORE the earthquake, nuclear power was one of the economic mainstays of this pretty Japanese prefecture, along with seafood and agriculture.
    http://www.theaustralian.com.au/how-inadequate-equipment-turned-a-desperate-situation-into-a-tragedy/story-fn84naht-1226025040536

    Chernobyl solution not an impossibility
    JAPAN appears to be considering a “Chernobyl solution” to end its nuclear crisis.
    http://www.theaustralian.com.au/if-cooling-fails-japan-may-bury-reactor/story-fn84naht-1226025038550

    Saving a reactor with car batteries
    THE staff risking their lives to try to save the stricken nuclear plant have become heroes, but anger is spreading.
    http://www.theaustralian.com.au/saving-a-reactor-with-car-batteries/story-fn84naht-1226025003364


    Fukushima nuclear plant shut for good

    THE quake and tsunami-hit Fukushima nuclear plant will never operate again as a power station, the Japanese government says.
    http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/fukushima-nuclear-plant-shut-for-good/story-e6frf7k6-1226025025196


    March 21, 2011 Posted by | general | Leave a comment

    Nuclear fuel pond contains entire fuel core of Fukushima Daiichi’s No 4 reactor

    Nuclear update: Entire reactor core stored in fuel pond, New Scientist, 18 March 2011“…..Reliable, validated information is still lacking on water levels and temperatures at the spent fuel ponds, but the IAEA announced on Friday that prior to the earthquake,
    The entire fuel core of reactor Unit 4 of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant had been unloaded from the reactor and placed in the spent fuel pond located in the reactor’s building. Continue reading →

    March 19, 2011 Posted by | general | Leave a comment

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