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Fukushima debris floating between Hawaii and California

1 million tons of Fukushima debris floating near US West Coast?    Rt.com  November 06, 2013 Over a million tons of Fukushima debris could be just 1,700 miles off the American coast, floating between Hawaii and California, according to research by a US government agency.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recently updated its report on the movement of the Japanese debris, generated by the March 2011 tsunami, which killed 16,000 people and led to the Fukushima nuclear power plant meltdown.

Seventy percent of an estimated 5 million tons of debris sank near the coast of Japan, according to the Ministry of Environment. The rest presumably floated out into the Pacific.

While there are no accurate estimates as to where the post-tsunami junk has traveled so far, the NOAA has come up with a computer model of the debris movement, which gives an idea of where its highest concentration could be found.

That area is crosshatched at the NOAA model below (graphic) and resembles an island quite near the US shore……The agency has stressed its research is just computer simulation, adding that “observations of the area with satellites have not shown any debris.”

Despite the fact the tsunami debris is scattered and does not form a solid mass, the researchers still believe it’s a serious matter to keep an eye on. …….concerns such as radiation, meanwhile, have been downplayed. ….http://rt.com/usa/fukushima-debris-island-texas-266/

November 7, 2013 Posted by | oceans, USA | 1 Comment

Uranium project in trouble – will apply for $2 billion govt loan

Uranium project faces more money quandaries Politico, By DARIUS DIXON | 11/6/13
A major project aimed at maintaining the nation’s ability to enrich its own uranium may soon find itself in another cash crunch.
USEC, the company behind the American Centrifuge Project, said Tuesday that it will enter a period of fiscal uncertainty after the end of the year, when it’s scheduled to finish a cost-share agreement with the Energy Department aimed at demonstrating the project’s technology. The company plans to reapply for a $2 billion loan guarantee from the agency as early as December, but that will leave a gap when USEC may not have the money to keep working on the Ohio project while DOE studies the application.
“In light of our liquidity, we do not have the ability to continue to fund ACP at its current levels beyond the end of 2013 without additional government support,” USEC President and CEO John Welch said Tuesday on a call with investors. “Even with their support, our ability to provide funding in 2014 will be limited.”
He said the company “could make a decision to demobilize or terminate the project in the near term.”…….

The company plans to reapply for a $2 billion loan guarantee from the agency as early as December, but that will leave a gap when USEC may not have the money to keep working on the Ohio project while DOE studies the application.

“In light of our liquidity, we do not have the ability to continue to fund ACP at its current levels beyond the end of 2013 without additional government support,” USEC President and CEO John Welch said Tuesday on a call with investors. “Even with their support, our ability to provide funding in 2014 will be limited.”
He said the company “could make a decision to demobilize or terminate the project in the near term.”
: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/11/uranium-project-faces-more-money-quandaries-99407.html#ixzz2jzXqnI26

November 7, 2013 Posted by | business and costs, Uranium | Leave a comment

Uranium miner at Grand Canyon halting, due to poor uranium market

Work for uranium mine near Grand Canyon hits pause  Arizona Daily Star, 7 Nov 13 The Associated Press FLAGSTAFF — A uranium mining company that was sinking a shaft for a mine south of Grand Canyon National Park has put the work on hold, citing market conditions and the expense of litigation. Energy Fuels Resources Inc. said the operation will be on standby until December 2014 or until a ruling is issued in a federal case challenging the U.S. Forest Service’s decision to allow development of the Canyon Mine near Tusayan. The company had planned to start extracting 83,000 tons of ore to produce 1.6 million pounds of processed uranium, or yellow cake, in 2015 but now will have to re-evaluate the timeframe….

….Prices for uranium have dropped to the mid-$30s per pound on the spot market, among the lowest in the past five years. http://azstarnet.com/ap/state/work-for-uranium-mine-near-grand-canyon-hits-pause/article_643f8e19-f2a1-565e-ad6b-7acb0ac2a625.html

November 7, 2013 Posted by | business and costs, Uranium, USA | Leave a comment

Russia wants to subsidise Armenian nuclear power plant

Russian-BearRussia Offers to Subsidize Nuclear Plant Asbarez.com, 6 Nov 13YEREVAN (Arka)—Russia is ready to finance 35 percent of the cost of construction of a new power unit for Armenia’s nuclear power plant, Vahram Petrosyan, the secretary of a presidential council on nuclear power safety, said today……On September 3, Russian president Putin said experts from Russian state nuclear company Rosatom and Armenian experts will work to extend the service life of the Armenian nuclear power plant in Metsamor for another 10 years until 2026.

Petrosyan said the extension of the service life of the facility requires at least $150 million……

he governments of the Republic of Armenia and the Russian Federation will soon sign an agreement on cooperation in the area of nuclear safety, the President said. The agreement will allow Armenia to:

– develop infrastructure for nuclear safety in preparation for the construction of new energy units based on Russian designs.

– train, re-train and upgrade specialists of nuclear safety, taking into consideration IAEA recommendations.

– expand the framework of cooperation in nuclear energy…….http://asbarez.com/115886/russia-offers-to-subsidize-nuclear-plant/

November 7, 2013 Posted by | marketing, Russia | Leave a comment

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