Wrap up of week’s nuclear news to Feb 8th
Christina Macpherson's websites & blogs
In the USA – where the greatest number of nuclear reactors are sited, nuclear secrecy is becoming an ever greater concern. The Department of Energy resists any disclosure of the costs to tax-payers of commitments in the loans guarantees proposed for the controversial Vogtle nuclear project, and resists any monitoring of the radiation hazard at Savannah River nuclear site. Revelations of the cosy insider arrangements between former U.S. Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham and French nuclear corporation AREVA, concerning that same failed nuclear project. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission getting more worried about earthquakes and floods.
The Iran nuclear question bubbles on. And Iran gets an earthquake rather near to its nuclear reactor.
In Asia – anti-nuclear public opinion rises. The nuclear lobby watches anxiously the Malaysian public opposition to Lynas rare earths company and its plans regarding radioactive wastes.
Russia to privatise its nuclear corporation, Rosatom. Safety anxieties in Russia, following a fire at its Moscow nuclear institute.
International conference strengthens anti-uranium resolve
• International cooperation against the uranium industry is be increased. It’s to be attempted to prevent ever more countries starting to mine. International uranium transports are to be targeted more to make them transparent and stop them.
Seven nations represented at anti-uranium conference in Germany http://indymedia.org.au/2012/02/06/seven-nations-represented-at-anti-uranium-conference-in-germany 06 Feb 2012, By SOFA Münster Two hundred anti-nuclear activists from Niger, Russia, France, Poland, Turkey, the Netherlands and Germany attended a one-day uranium conference in the German city Münster on 4 February.
The main focus of the gathering was the demand to shut down the international uranium industry and to stop the worldwide uranium mining, enrichment and processing into nuclear fuel. Supported by 35 anti-nuclear and environmental organisations this was the biggest conference of its kind in Germany for years.
There was intense discussion of the dangers of global uranium mining. Continue reading
In amongst spent nuclear fuel rods – a weirdness, perhaps a mutant spider’s web
Could Spider-Man become a reality? Bizarre white cobweb found on nuclear waste that could have come from a ‘mutant’ spider Daily Mail, By TED THORNHILL 6th February 2012 Scientists are investigating a bizarre white cobweb found on nuclear waste – amid fears it could have been made by a ‘mutant’ spider. Continue reading
Reference lists for exposing radiation hormesis and quack radiation “science”
Posts in this Blog covering Radiation Hormesis and modern papers contradicting Radiation Hormesis, Paul Langley’s Nuclear History Blog, 6 Feb 2012,
Posts which contradict the theory of Radiation Hormesis. Continue reading
Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE) ‘s legal battle for transparency on nuclear costs
Nuclear Secrecy with $8 Billion on the Line, Clean Energy, Leslie Anderson Maloy, 6 Feb 2012, As Final Arguments Are Filed, Southern Co., Obama Administration Fight FOIA Request to Figure Out Danger to Taxpayers in the Event of Default in Deal More Than 12 Times the Size of Solyndra
Atlanta, Ga. (February 6, 2012) – With the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) believed to be within days of announcing the final federal approval of the controversial Vogtle nuclear project, the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE) has asked a court to stop more than two years of stonewalling by Southern Co. and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), which are resisting any meaningful public disclosure to taxpayers of the risks to which they are exposed in the massive commitment of $8.33 billion in conditional federal loan guarantees to Southern Company and their utility partners for two proposed new nuclear reactors at Plant Vogtle in Georgia. Continue reading
Russia is privatising its State nuclear corporation Rosatom
Russia Prepares Privatization of State Nuclear Giant Rosatom, Publics BG 6 Feb 12, Russia has compiled a plan for the reorganisation of each state holding company and their subsequent entry into the market Having spent five years combining its nuclear power, engineering and research enterprises into the single entity of Rosatom, the Russian government now sees privatisation of the firm as part of a plan for industrial modernisation…
… its civil nuclear assets – for example nuclear fuel, reactor technology, supply chain, power plant operation, services and waste management – are to become a “public liability
company” with its shares “subsequently sold off….
….. Rosatom had a preliminary agreement with Siemens to partner in nuclear energy in
2009, but this faltered and in 2011 it signed with Rolls-Royce to consider possibilities “for mutually beneficial cooperation in a comprehensive series of activities in Russia, the UK and third countries.”, World Nuclear News reported. http://www.publics.bg/en/news/7037/Russia_Prepares_Privatization_of_State_Nuclear_Giant_Rosatom.html
Level 2 nuclear incidents in France
France declares level 2 nuclear event at Cattenom Feb 6, 2012
* Reactors not shut down after the fault was found
* EDF given 10 days on Jan. 24 to make repairs
* There were four level two events in 2011
PARIS, Feb 6 (Reuters) – France’s nuclear safety authority (ASN) said on Monday it had identified a problem with water pipes at one of EDF’s nuclear plants and rated it a level two event out of a maximum seven on the international nuclear event scale (INES).
Level two ratings occur relatively rarely, but the watchdog said there was no impact on plant workers or the environment from the event. In 2011, the ASN gave four incidents a level two rating. Japan’s Fukushima disaster was rated a level seven event.
Pipes used to pump water into fuel rod cooling pools at reactors 2 and 3 at EDF’s Cattenom nuclear plant were not equipped with a mechanism to prevent them from accidentally pumping water out of the basins.
In case water levels fall in rod cooling pools, the exposed fuel would heat up and release dangerous radioactive material. “Due to the potential consequences, this event was placed on a level 2 of the INES scale,” the watchdog said in a statement….. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/06/france-nuclear-ines-idUSL5E8D63C120120206
Germany moving ahead on renewable energy smart grids and storage
Germany Maps Out Financing Plan for Renewable Energies, Sacramento Bee, BERLIN and ESSEN, Germany, February6, 2012 — /PRNewswire/ –– Germany recently passed the 20 percent mark for renewable energy in the electricity mix. And the federal KfW bank group has introduced a new plan to further accelerate this shift to renewables, with increases in multimillion euro business loans now available.
As more renewable energy is generated, energy management and storage are also receiving increased focus. Germany Trade & Invest, together with representatives of Germany’s six E-energy model regions, will be at this year’s E-world from February 7-9 in Essen to highlight
opportunities for international companies in these growing market segments. Continue reading
Lynas rare earths company and Malaysia’s general election
Rare earth plant and general election 2012-02-03 , By LIM SUE GOAN Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE Sin Chew Daily, 6 Feb 2012, “……….Since the AELB has granted the Lynas a temporary operating licence (TOL), Lynas should have complied with the 11 recommendations made by the IAEA. The authority has also listed another five extra conditions under the TOL, including a detailed plan for a permanent disposal facility (PDF), to avoid repeating a similar waste disposal issue of the Bukit Merah rare earth plant.
However, why is Lynas given 10 months after the TOL’s issuance date to submit the plans and location of the PDF? In addition, the authority also has the right to appoint independent consultants to evaluate Lynas’ adherence to the set standards and regulations. Does it mean that the government may suspend the plant’s operation, if the conditions are found broken?
Also, Lynas must comply with the financial assurance condition by paying the government a US$50 million security bond in installments. However, it is not the main concern as the people’s health is priceless. With Lynas’ financial strength, US$50 million is nothing.
Would the anti-Lynas protest groups compromise after so much have been done by the government? Would the MCA and Chinese community groups change their stand? From the attitude of the Anti-Lynas groups and the public response, the Bukit Merah rare earth plant tragedy seems to be still clear in their minds. Under the international trend of concern over environmental issues, it is quite impossible to eliminate the opposition voices from the public.
The people resist even high-tension cables, telecommunication towers and garbage incinerator, how would they tolerate a rare earth plant that could bring radiation problems?
In addition, the authorities have left some doubts in dealing with the issue. For example, why the construction work of the plant was not suspended during the period when Lynas is required to fully comply with the 11 recommendations put forward by the IAEA? The progress of the construction work of the Mount Weld plant in Western Australia has even gone beyond expectation. Lynas had also constantly announced the date of operation, seemed like it was very sure of being granted an operation licence.
The uproar might be avoidable if the government has high credibility and supervision efficiency, which are also the key of the issue. http://www.mysinchew.com/node/69705
Although the Lynas rare earth plant is the world’s largest rare earth plant with the capacity to meet a fifth of the world’s demand, the people’s health is still the most important issue. The rare earth plant issue will be a thorny issue for the election.
Nuclear reactors and childhood leukaemia
French researchers have confirmed that childhood leukaemia rates are shockingly elevated among children living near nuclear power reactors.Independent Australiahttp://www.independentaustralia.net/2012/health/study-shows-childhood-leukemia-spikes-around-french-nuclear-reactors/ John LaForge from Truthout reports. The ‘International Journal of Cancer’ has published in January a scientific study establishing a clear correlation between the frequency of acute childhood leukaemia and proximity to nuclear power stations. Continue reading
TEPCO and Japan’s nuclear lobby under siege from Tokyo’s mayor
Anti-Nuclear Tokyo Mayor Challenges Big Utilities, WSJ, By George Nishiyama, 6 Feb 12, Tokyo’s Setagaya ward is over 260 km away from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, a long way from the evacuation area imposed bythe Japanese government after last year’s March 11 disasters….
But Setagaya’s mayor is determined to turn this city ward of 840,000 people, the largest in Tokyo, into the front-runner of a movement that will put an end to Japan’s reliance on atomic power and accelerate the use of renewable energy. Continue reading
Close to Iran’s nuclear reactor – an earthquake strikes
Earthquake strikes near Iranian nuclear power plant, February 5, 2012. PennEnergy, By Brien Southward An earthquake, measured at 5 on the Richter scale by the US Geological Survey, was felt only 70km from Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant, which is expected to go online on March 20. As of 9:46am CST on February 5, 2012, there has been no report yet of casualties or damage at the reactor facility. If damage did occur, it could have consequences for the future of Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
The quake strikes as Iran is mired in a diplomatic crisis with the West overthe ambitions of its nuclear energy program. Iran claims that their research is only for the sake of producing nuclear power to meet the growing energy needs of the developing country of some 74 million people, but numerous world leaders and global organizations such as theUN-affiliated International Atomic Energy Agency are concerned that they could be secretly using nuclear enrichment technology to develop nuclear weapons….. The most recent earthquake, measured at 5.5 on the Richter scale, was felt on January 19 near the city of Neyshabour in northeast Iran, injuring 100 people and causing some structural damage. Iran’s deadliest earthquake struck the northern provinces of Gilan and Zanjan, killing around 37,000 people and injuring more than 100,000. http://www.pennenergy.com/index/power/display/8633237470/articles/pennenergy/power/nuclear/2012/february/quake-strikes_near.html
Spain wants USA to clean up plutonium pollution B-52 bomber accident
two of the bombs that hit the ground detonated, spreading seven pounds of plutonium over a 200 hectares (490 acres).
US and Spain discuss cleanup of nuclear radiation, PhysOrg.com, February 5, 2012 The United States is offering technical assistance to Spain to clean up land contaminated by radiation from undetonated nuclear bombs that accidentally fell on the area in 1966, Continue reading
Iran says enriching uranium under IAEA supervision
Iran Starts Uranium Enrichment at Underground Complex, VOA, January 9th, 2012 Iran on Monday confirmed it has started uranium enrichment at a second facility where the material can be upgraded quickly for potential use in a nuclear bomb.
Iran’s envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Ali Asghar Soltanieh, said Tehran is refining uranium at the newly-launched Fordo complex and an older facility in the city of Natanz. He told Iran’s Arabic language al Alam TV network the work was taking place under thesupervision of the United Nations atomic agency.
Diplomats with ties to the IAEA confirmed that Iranian centrifuges have begun refining uranium to a purity of 20 percent at Fordo, an underground complex near the Shi’ite holy city of Qom.
The United States and France condemned the move…… Most of the work at the Natanz facility has involved refining uranium to a relatively low purity of 3.5 percent. Enrichment to the 20 percent level at the Fordo complex could reduce the time needed for Iran to further refine the material to the 90 percent purity required for nuclear weapons.
Iran says its nuclear program is designed only to generate electricity and material for medical research.
The United States and its ally Israel have not ruled out military action to stop the program. Israel sees a nuclear-armed Iran as a threat to its existence.
http://blogs.voanews.com/breaking-news/2012/01/09/iran-starts-uranium-enrichment-at-underground-complex-3/
Botswana workers concerned over radiation from full body X-ray scanning
Debswana workers fear radiation exposure, MMegi online, ISAIAH MOREWAGAE, STAFF WRITER, 5 Feb 12, Debswana and its employees might be headed for a showdown after it emerged that the diamond mining company is pressing ahead with plans to introduce Scannex X-ray body search machines at its diamond mines.
Mmegi has learnt that the company’s employees are unhappy with the X-ray full body search machines, as this has not been preceded by relevant research on the impact of radiation exposure on the health of workers and by close consultation with them.The employees, through the Botswana Mine Workers Union (BMWU), expressed concern that they were
not involved in the decision to roll out the project. They insist that the company has reneged on its previous promises to engage in further joint research and close worker consultation.
BMWU deputy secretary-general and spokesperson, Sebataladi Ramoitoi confirmed in an interview with Mmegi that no thorough research related to the possible effects of the machine on people has yet been done.”We met the director of radiation on October 12, because we have learnt that Debswana is going ahead with its decision to apply for licenses from the radiation board. We have been holding meetings with Debswana and they told us that there is no turning back as they are going ahead with their application,” Ramoitoi said…..
http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?sid=1&aid=298&dir=2012/February/Friday3
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