nuclear-news

The past week in nuclear news

Christina Macpherson’s websites & blogs

USA. Nuclear Regulatory Commission “streamlines” nuclear licensing procedures, eliminating public participation. Safety conscious Gregory Jaczko cleared of any wrongdoing, (but he had been  forced to resign from Nuclear Regulatory Commission).  Southern California might go permanently nuclear free, as future of closed San Onofre nuclear plant in doubt.

France. Nuclear reactors ordered to present safety plans by June 30. Serious safety problems found in 8 French nuclear reactors.  EDF must spend $10 billion on safety measures. French company GDF Suez moves out of nuclear technology export industry.

Japan: Fukushima nuclear plant directors and auditors move to lucrative jobs elsewhere. Japan’s seafood products banned in South Korea, due to radiation. Japan’s govt trying to save TEPCO from bankruptcy by a big restart of the nuclear industry. TEPCO now nationalised, plans to restart another nuclear plant. Japan’s utilities shareholders’ meetings demand an end to nuclear power. Group for Zero Nuclear Power is  a new force in Japan’s Parliament.

New nuclear reactors. Integral Fast Reactors (IFRs) – expensive and dangerous. Thorium reactors not possible for decades to come. Fast nuclear reactors not succeeding either financially, nor as a solution to plutonium wastes. Anxiety oover Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) planned for South Carolina.

Rare earths. Lynas Corporation might have to send its radioactive wastes back from Malaysia to Australia

Renewable energy.  Solar energy getting a big boost from USA govt. Scotland’s success. Huge solar centre opens in Japan.

Radioactive murder?  Was Yassa Arafat, like Litvinenko, poisoned by radioactive polonium?

July 5, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes