nuclear-news

Nuclear News This Week

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USA. A federal panel has ruled for  a formal license amendment proceeding with full public participation, on the restart of troubled San Onofre Nuclear power Plant in California. It is on the cards that this plant will never restart. This is a pretty important turning point for the entire USA nuclear power industry. Meanwhile Indian Point nuclear plant (near New York) is to be allowed to operate a nuclear reactor that will not be licensed – first time ever allowed.

Japan. Tepco’s radioactive water crisis continues. They can just empty the accumulating waste-water into the sea. There is no international maritime law that prevents this. Japanese Fisheries Associations are strongly opposing it. Reprocessing plants. Japan’s government wants to restart these – at Monju and Rokkasho. Japan’s Nuclear Regulator has ordered against Monju starting up. But Rokkasho, after 20 years, and $20 billion costs, now looks like going ahead.  This is causing anxiety among safety conscious Japanese, and in USA – as the plant will produce 8 tonnes of plutonium a year.

UK. Atomic test veterans. For the first time, a  judge ruled this week that men ordered into the fallout zone were injured by radiation in the 1950s and 60s. the veterans will at last  war pensions after a four-year fight with the Ministry of Defence.

France developing  a multi $billion plan for underground radioactive waste storage in North Eastern France, but already there’s not enough money for it. Costs are supposed to be paid by nuclear companies, such as AREVA and EDF.

Uranium companies continue to post losses – Uranium One and Mega Uranium join Cameco in dismal earnings reports .

May 16, 2013 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes