Nuclear News of the past week, in brief

Christina Macpherson’s websites & blogs

Fukushima is always in the news, if only in the alternative media. Tepco’s plan to empty tomnnes of radioactive water into the Pacific. Fish caught with high levels of cesium. Nuclear top officials “descended for Heaven” into high paying jobs.

Africa France is sending troops into Niger, specifically to protect AREVA’ uranium mines. Also to send 2500 troops (for a start) into mali, which has huge deposits of uranium.

Russia making efforts to get out the uranium, and do a bit of cleaning up of its radioactive waste dump in the Arctic Kara Sea – preliminary to oil drilling there. Climate Change and nuclear issues converge in the Arctic. As sea ice dwindles, oil companies move into the Arctic.

Germany shows that shutting down nuclear power is no handicap, as its power supply thrives, with renewable energy.

There’s really lots more – but I’m running out of steam. E.g USA angsting about how to relicense aging reactors. Will San Onofre nuclear plant be closed down permanently? Virginia at critical stage about whether or not to lift its ban on uranium mining.

January 25, 2013 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes

1 Comment »

For the record..
I reckon its the large band of gold bearing rocks that the western countries are going after.. This will also cause uranium contamination of local environments.. but the aim is to capture all the countries to the west and south of Mali so as to extract the gold en-mass instead of it being a local cottage industry,, The corporations will extract the gold and later the uranium, killing the local industry and small traders..

The reason for the “rush to gold” is to elevate the depleted stocks in the banks and corporations coffers.. China has by far the most Gold but doesnt have much needed uranium for its reactors.. There is a race in the west to catch up with the tonnage of gold held by China..

Added to that a difficult political situation and no real politicians/diplomats that can easily calm the situation with negotiation and countries are caught in the “posturing” mode of diplomacy, its likely that China might withdraw its nuclear program on the grounds of lack of independent fuel and safety issues with reactors in times of military unrest.

Imgine a full scale attack on Chinas reactors and spent fuel pools? even a conventional missile attack would be effective. It makes no sense china continuing with a civil nuclear programme.. especially when they are a large producer of wind and solar technologies and the terrains for a plethora of alternative and sustainable energy..

So if the closure of uranium mines around the world show us that in reality uranium use in in decline for the near future and China will have to rely on western semi militarised corporations for their fuel.. intersting times.. the future may not be so rosy for nuclear investments.. Decommissioning and decontamination should pick up though, so all is not lost for the nuclear engineers…
So, In my little world, the future looks rosy for us all!
Saikado hantai!!
Peace
Arclight

Comment by arclight | January 25, 2013 | Reply

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