nuclear-news

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

Dangerous experimental process to remove fuel rods from Fukushima’s No.4 nuclear reactor

Fuel rods to be removed from No. 4 fuel pool   Ene News — Concerns about sea water damage — Special container so fuel doesn’t going critical — Test date not revealed ‘for security reasons’ July 13th, 2012  the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant will soon start test runs for removing fuel rods from a storage pool of the No. 4 reactor.

Removal Procedure A crane will be used to pull each of the 2 rods out of the pool, and then place them in a special container on the 5th floor of the reactor building.

The container will prevent the fuel from going critical.

Another crane will lower the container to the ground, where a truck will take it to a facility called a “common pool.”
Four cables will be used to prevent the container from falling.

Damage to Metal Container?   TEPCO will also check if there’s any damage to the metal container used to store the fuel rods. This is a concern because seawater was used to cool the reactor after last year’s accident.

Security Reasons TEPCO says it cannot reveal the date of the test for security reasons.
http://enenews.com/fuel-rods-to-be-removed-from-no-4-fuel-pool-concerns-about-sea-water-damage-special-container-so-fuel-doesnt-going-critical-date-not-revealed-for-security-reasons

July 13, 2012 Posted by | Fukushima 2012, Reference, safety | Leave a comment

3,400 damaged steam generator tubes in San Onofre nuclear power plant!

US nuclear plant problem worse than thought: report Google News 13 July 12 LOS ANGELES — US nuclear regulators published an update on California’s troubled San Onofre power plant Thursday, sparking an expert warning that the problem is more serious than first thought.

A reactor at the nuclear power plant near San Diego was shut down in January after a radiation leak, although the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) said there was no danger to the public.
Investigations found unexpected erosion on tubes that carry radioactive water, and the entire plant was shut down, forcing Californian authorities to fire up alternative power generation
facilities.
On Thursday, an update on the tube erosion, posted on an obscure part of the NRC’s website, showed the situation had worsened. “This reveals a far greater problem than has been previously disclosed, and raises serious questions about whether it is safe to restart either unit,” said Daniel Hirsch, a nuclear expert at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

The new data shows that more than 3,400 steam generator tubes in the new steam generators at San Onofre have been found to be damaged — about 1,800 in Unit 3 and 1,600 in Unit 2 — he said……. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hn3SqZ5jtiFKISpfeEx8GsQRTzfA?docId=CNG.f9be015e81629b87f9e150d82ec26f2f.761

July 13, 2012 Posted by | Reference, safety, USA | Leave a comment

Time that Japan’s media covered public anti nuclear movement

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda had disregarded the will of the people when he ordered the restart of reactors at the western Oi plant the day after receiving a petition of 7.5 million names.

 Japanese media in general should be more active in covering the demonstrations, including those that have taken place outside the prime minister’s office every Friday.
“Before March 11 (last year), all the media played the role of supporting the myth of nuclear safety… It is important for media to be aware of and make known what citizens want in this movement,”

Japan govt, media colluded on nuclear: Nobel winner http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hG6h3G7rcakPrCAdnw_l90r1U6DA?docId=CNG.427d33cc188c7ac8e827e556ac125a3a.891 (AFP) – 12 July 12,  TOKYO — Nobel-winning author Kenzaburo Oe said Japan’s post-war government and media colluded to give nuclear power a stranglehold, as activists readied for what they hope will be the biggest rally in decades. Continue reading →

July 13, 2012 Posted by | Japan, media | Leave a comment

Rundown on world’s nuclear energy situation, and I do mean DOWN

India’s nuclear march of folly http://wrd.mydigitalfc.com/op-ed/india%E2%80%99s-nuclear-march-folly-012 By Praful Bidwai,  Jul 11 2012 HOLLOWMEN: Blind to the perils of nuclear reactors, India continues its ‘March of Folly’, even as it seeks untested reactors, with potentially dangerous consequences, such as the disaster in Fukushima.

All those, including Indian policymakers, who nurture the illusion that nuclear power is the energy source of the future and will flourish despite the Fukushima disaster, increasingly adverse atomic economics, and widespread social and political opposition, would do
well to read the just-released World Nuclear Industry Status Report (WNISR) 2012 (http://www.­worldnuclearreport.org). Continue reading →

July 13, 2012 Posted by | 2 WORLD, business and costs, Reference | Leave a comment

Rapid growth of China’s solar sector as solar panel prices plummet

The global solar sector has witnessed some extraordinary growth in the past couple of years. According to Bloomberg New Energy Finance, the prices of solar panels have fallen by almost 42% in a single year to $0.87 per watt.

CHINA SETS 2015 SOLAR ENERGY TARGET AT 21GW Solar PV Investor,  BY SARFARAZ KHAN     |       12 JULY 2012   Although the massive target might seem overly ambitious to some, most of the industry analysts believe that it is still very modest. China’s local media has revealed that the National Energy Administration (NEA) has decided to quadruple the country’s 2015 solar energy target to 21GW. Continue reading →

July 13, 2012 Posted by | China, renewable | Leave a comment

The sickness toll of uranium for USA veteran

Uranium Illness Leaves Veteran Without A Doctor  http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2012/07/12/uranium-illness-leaves-veteran-without-a-doctor/    FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) – James Fitch of Fort Worth has spent the last five years connected to an oxygen tank. “I have to have oxygen 24 hours a day,” said Fitch.

It’s a sad irony, because after serving in the Air Force, he spent roughly the same amount of time grinding uranium for the Phillips Petroleum Mill in Ambrosia Lake, New Mexico. “You had a lot of dust from crushing it down. The dust gets airborne and you breathe it in,” explained Fitch.

It was the 1960s during the Cold War and the U.S. government had contracted with the Mill to extract uranium to build nuclear weapons. Back then, the men worked without covering their mouths and noses.

It would eventually catch up with Fitch in 2004 when he was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis from exposure to uranium. Continue reading →

July 13, 2012 Posted by | general | Leave a comment

Cyberwar developing instead of nuclear war?

Cyber war on Iran has only just begun INQUIRER, By: Dan De Luce Agence France-Presse, July 13th, 2012 WASHINGTON – A US cyber war against Iran’s nuclear program may have only just begun and could escalate with explosions triggered by digital sabotage, experts say.

Although the Iranian regime remains vulnerable to more cyber attacks in the aftermath of the “Stuxnet” worm that disrupted its uranium enrichment work, Tehran may be receiving help from Russian proxies for its digital security, some analysts say. Continue reading →

July 13, 2012 Posted by | 2 WORLD, secrets,lies and civil liberties | Leave a comment

Canada’s govt landing tax-payers with unnecessary nuclear power costs

Greens want Ontario nuclear costs reviewed  BY JONATHAN JENKINS    Toronto Sun,  JULY 12, 2012   TORONTO – Ontario’s Green Party is asking for an independent review of all nuclear costs in Ontario.

“Protecting our pocketbooks from nuclear cost overruns is clearly not a priority for the McGuinty government,” Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner said in a news release.

“Every nuclear project in Ontario’s history has gone over budget. It’s an irresponsible waste of our money to pay $26 million for the nuclear industry to study their own costs.”….

Ontario suspended plans to build the two new reactors in 2009 after costs estimate from three companies — Westinghouse, Candu and Areva — came in far above what the government had been expecting.

But now that Bentley is restarting the process by paying Westinghouse and Candu to submit estimates, New Democrat energy critic Peter Tabuns called the expense “just crazy”.

“Giving people tens of millions of dollars just to prepare a bid on a contract, I just don’t think is reasonable,” Tabuns said. “OPG is a big sophisticated organization with its own staff. They can do their own analysis.”

Ontario now has a surplus of electrical generation and running what it has is very expensive, Tabuns said. Building more nuclear now — even if it’s just to replace aging units at Pickering — risks blowing the budget.

“Why would we go back to a mid-twentieth century technology?” he said.“Whatever they put forward (on cost), double it. If they’re saying $10 to $14 billion, then it’s probably going to be $20 to $30 billion.” http://www.torontosun.com/2012/07/12/greens-want-ontario-nuclear-costs-reviewed

July 13, 2012 Posted by | Canada, politics | Leave a comment

Some Fukushima children have “lifetime” radiation dose to thyroid glands

Several children were judged to have received an equivalent lifetime dose to the thyroid.
But the government says it does not plan to notify the parents out of fear of creating anxiety.

Fukushima kids cop ‘lifetime’ radiation dose http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/2012-07-12/fukushima-kids-cop-lifetime-radiation-dose/978786   12 July 2012,  A Japanese study has found some children who live near the Fukushima nuclear plant have received “lifetime” doses of radiation to their thyroid glands. Continue reading →

July 13, 2012 Posted by | Fukushima 2012, health, Japan | Leave a comment

Japan cutting electricity consumption through summer

Japan begins power saving despite nuclear restart, Business Recorder, 02 JULY 2012   TOKYO: Electricity saving targets came into effect in Japan on Monday as the country eyes a power shortfall over the hot summer, despite the weekend re-start of a nuclear reactor.

The government has asked households and businesses served by six utilities in central and western Japan to voluntarily cut consumption of electricity by between five and 15 percent on summer 2010 levels through to September 7.

Power consumption usually rises in the summer as people turn on air conditioners to cope with the sometimes sweltering weather. A seven-percent reduction target will also come into force in Japan’s northernmost — and more temperate — island of Hokkaido on July 23….

The targets come as Japan ended almost two months without any functioning nuclear reactors, with the restart Sunday of Unit No. 3 at Oi nuclear power plant……
http://www.brecorder.com/world/south-asia/65136-japan-begins-power-saving-despite-nuclear-restart-.html

July 13, 2012 Posted by | ENERGY, Japan | Leave a comment

More cops than locals at Roxby Downs

Show of blue force at protest camp The Transcontinental, Port Augusta 13 Jul, 2012  “MORE cops than locals” is how the police presence in Roxby Downs has been described by residents ahead of a protest rally at Olympic Dam this weekend.
A blockade remains in place on the Olympic Way – the main throughfare to the BHP Olympic Dam mine – with police checking the credentials of motorists who try to gain access.

Hundreds of protestors have set up camp about four kilometres from the mine gates.

Spokeswoman for the protestors Nectaria Calan from Friends of the Earth is encouraging locals to engage with their cause. “Roxby residents are absolutely welcome to come out and have a chat,” she said. The group is opposed to uranium mining……
http://www.transcontinental.com.au/news/local/news/general/show-of-blue-force-at-protest-camp/2623692.aspx

July 13, 2012 Posted by | general | Leave a comment

Anti uranium protestors arriving at Olympic Damn

Protesters gather at Olympic Dam, Herald Sun, AAP July 13, 2012  ANTI-NUCLEAR activists are gathering at Olympic Dam in South Australia’s north to protest against the proposed $30 billion expansion of BHP Billiton’s copper, uranium and gold mine.

Organisers say the five days of action, beginning on Saturday, are planned to be peaceful, with   people expected from across Australia. “We anticipate a vibrant protest camp which combines educational workshops, entertainment and non-violent direct action,” Nectaria Calan said.

“We will converge on the site of the current mine and approved expansion as the South Australian and Australian governments have failed to put the environment and people’s health before short-term economic concerns.

“The impacts of this project will remain long after BHP Billiton packs up, repatriates its profits, and moves on to the next project.”

Police are taking no chances, setting up a major security operation, closing several roads and declaring the area a protected zone……
The protest over Olympic Dam follows court action by Aboriginal elder Kevin Buzzacott in his bid to block the mine’s expansion. Mr Buzzacott asked the Federal Court to block the project on the grounds that federal Environment Minister Tony Burke had not given enough consideration to a number of issues including the risks posed by the storage of radioactive tailings.

His case was dismissed but he has since appealed to the Full Court of the Federal Court which is yet to hand down its judgment. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/protesters-gather-at-olympic-dam/story-e6frf7kf-1226425607523

July 13, 2012 Posted by | general | Leave a comment