2013 November 30 « nuclear-news

Russia aggressively marketing nuclear power to South Africa

the draft Russian agreement, which Business Day has seen, had a veto clause, which would allow the parties to block the involvement of a third country

Russia turns up heat on ambitions for nuclear build in SA BUSINES DAY LIVE, BY CAROL PATON, 29 NOVEMBER 2013 THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT IS PUMPING UP THE PROPAGANDA SURROUNDING THE COUNTRY’S NUCLEAR AMBITIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA WITH A SERIES OF REPORTS ON THE OFFICIAL INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTER VOICE OF RUSSIA THAT A DEAL HAS BEEN STRUCK TO BUILD SOUTH AFRICA’S PLANNED NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS.

Several countries are jockeying for position in South Africa’s nuclear build programme, which envisages the construction of three nuclear power plants to supply 9,600MW at the cost of at least R1-trillion. The government has said the procurement process is close to finalised and there is high expectation among bidders that it will go ahead next year.

This week, the temperature over the nuclear build was further heightened when state-owned Russian corporation Rosatom hosted a nuclear suppliers’ forum in Johannesburg “with the aim of establishing and developing lasting partnerships in South Africa”.

At the forum on Monday, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa (Necsa) and a Rosatom subsidiary. Continue reading →

November 30, 2013 Posted by Christina Macpherson | marketing, Russia, South Africa | Leave a comment

Radioactive debris spread through Fukushima after typhoons

Typhoons spreading Fukushima fallout ABC News 29 Nov 2013, Typhoons that hit Japan each year are contributing to the spread of radioactive material from the Fukushima nuclear disaster into the country’s waterways, researchers say.

A joint study by France’s Climate and Environmental Science laboratory (LSCE) and Tsukuba University in Japan shows contaminated soil gets washed away by the high winds and rain and deposited in streams and rivers. ”There is a definite dispersal towards the ocean,” LSCE researcher Olivier Evrard said Wednesday.

The typhoons “strongly contribute” to soil dispersal, he said, though it can be months later, after the winter snow melts, that contamination actually passes into rivers……….

Studies have shown that soil erosion can move the radioactive varieties of cesium-134 and 137 from the northern mountains near Fukushima into rivers, and then out into the Pacific Ocean.

Last year, the radioactive content of Japan’s rivers dropped due to fairly moderate typhoons. However, more frequent and fierce storms in 2013 have brought a new flood of caesium particles.

This is “proof that the source of the radioactivity has not diminished upstream” said Mr Evrard. Tsukuba University has completed a number of studies on Fukushima since November 2011. Scientists “concentrated mostly on the direct fallout from Fukushima yet this is another source of radioactive deposits” that must be taken into account, he warned. Coastal areas home to fishermen or where people bathe in particular face a potential risk…….http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-29/an-typhoons-spreading-fukushima-fallout/5124084

November 30, 2013 Posted by Christina Macpherson | environment, Japan | 2 Comments

Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) oppose Karachi nuclear power projects

Keamari Town’s nuclear power projects irk fishermen http://tribune.com.pk/story/638482/energy-leap-keamari-towns-nuclear-power-projects-irk-fishermen/ By PPI November 29, 2013 KARACHI:

The Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) is unhappy with the two newly inaugurated Karachi nuclear power projects, K-1 and K-2, along the coastal area of the city in Keamari Town.

The officials are of the view that the authorities should have reviewed its environmental and social effects before their launch. In a statement issued on Thursday, the PFF said that the area community should have been taken into confidence with regards to their security to avoid any loss because of the installation of these power plants.

The statement said the projects were located close to the fault line while the people had been facing frequent warnings and threats of cyclone and tsunami. In case of this happening, it could be disastrous for not only the communities but also marine ecology. The project site has already been declared disaster prone, and there was no justification of environmental safety and community protection, it said. Continue reading →

November 30, 2013 Posted by Christina Macpherson | opposition to nuclear, Pakistan | Leave a comment

Earthquakes uncomfortably close to Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant

Quake rocks Iran near nuclear plant AFP NOVEMBER 29, 2013 http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/quake-rocks-iran-near-nuclear-plant/story-e6frg6so-1226771027078#sthash.7vnMgUMa.dpuf A 5.7 magnitude earthquake on the Gulf coast near Iran’s sole nuclear power plant has killed eight people and injured 190, emergency autorities said.

“So far, there are seven dead and 30 injured receiving hospital treatment,” the official IRNA news agency quoted emergency response chief Hassan Qadami as saying. However, an official said the temblor had “not created any problem for the activities of the power plant” at Bushehr, where Iran has its Russian-built reactor.

The quake’s epicentre was near Borazjan, around 60 kilometres from Bushehr.

The media said the quake had destroyed around 250 homes and businesses, while Dashtestan provincial Governor Alireza Khorani also spoke of damaged houses and electricity pylons.

Iran stands on several seismic fault lines. In April, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck southeastern Iran and neighbouring Pakistan, killing 40 people. A massive quake in December 2003 struck the southern city of Bam, killing 26,000 people and destroying its ancient mud-built citadel.

Iran’s Arab neighbours across the Gulf have often raised concern over the reliability of the Bushehr plant and the risks of radioactive leaks in case of a major quake. But Iran and Russia insist it respects international standards under the supervision of the UN nuclear watchdog.

November 30, 2013 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | Leave a comment

USA’s nuclear missile launch code was unsafe for 20 years!

Starting World War III with just one finger: The secret U.S. nuclear missile launch code was kept terrifyingly simple for nearly 20 years – and even printed on a checklist – (GOOD PHOTOS) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2515598/Launch-code-US-nuclear-weapons-easy-00000000.html By DAILY MAIL REPORTER 29 November 2013 For nearly 20 years, the secret code to authorize launching U.S. nuclear missiles, and starting World War III, was terrifyingly simple and even noted down on a checklist.

From 1962, when John F Kennedy instituted PAL encoding on nuclear weapons, until 1977, the combination to fire the devastating missiles at the height of the Cold War was just 00000000. Continue reading →

November 30, 2013 Posted by Christina Macpherson | history, USA, weapons and war | 2 Comments

Fierce public opposition to India’s Jaitapur nuclear plant

There is fierce opposition to Jaitapur nuclear plant: Officials Times of India Nov 29, 2013, MUMBAI: Government officials have admitted that there is “fierce opposition” to the Jaitapur nuclear power plant in Maharashtra despite the compensation package.

They spoke to this newspaper at the 5th edition of India Nuclear Energy 2013 summit which opened at the Nehru Centre on Thursday, with active participation from countries like France, Canada, United Kingdom apart from nuclear power firms from India. …

November 30, 2013 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | 2 Comments