nuclear-news

Nuclear news for the past week

Christina Macpherson’s websites & blogs

Uranium prices continue to plummet – with no indication of a recovery any time soon. Nuclear industry in decline, with more reactors closing than new ones starting.

Japan.  A hoax story on new Fukushima explosion was quickly exposed.  But Japan’s nuclear regulator warned that all the same, Fukushima nuclear plant remains precarious.  Ground is sinking under Fukushima reactor No 4. Nuclear regulator requires wider evacuation area plans for nuclear reactors, adding further problems to the industry. Japan going ahead with construction of some new nuclear reactors, but in a climate of political and cost uncertainty.

Information on Fukushima radiation continues to come out,  with warnings on the uptake of radiation in the ocean food chain, high radiation doses still in Fukushima areas, and Japan’s authorities fudging  monitoring, to make it look better.

UK govt now considering “underwriting” construction costs of new nuclear reactors – if they have “cost overruns.  This despite the govt’s promise not to subsidise new nuclear.

India still sort of stuck on its nuclear plans, with wrangle with Russia over nuclear liability law.  Meanwhile Asia’s largest solar power plant in Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan will be up and running in 2014

USA.  Has its almost certainly hottest year on record, Obama and Romney still not talking about nuclear issues, nor climate change. Well, what did we expect? They are still both dependent on nuclear and fossil interests for their financial support. Nuclear Regulatory Commission considers giving nuclear companies 80 year licenses!  for reactors. Radiation scanners to be phased out of USA’s major airports.

Russia: President Putin flexes his muscles as Russia  conducts  huge show of its nuclear arsenal “triad”—land and sea—launched long-range nuclear missiles and strategic bombers. Poor progress on the USA-Russia START disarmament agreement, but USA is still way ahead in nuclear weapons numbers.

October 25, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes