2014 March 13 « nuclear-news

Plutonium rush in Japan, as ‘Nuclear Village’ still in control

Plutonium fever blossoms in Japan Cronyism, influence-buying and a stifling of dissenting voices have kept the Japanese nuclear industry going strong after the Fukushima disaster, critics say Center for Public Integrity By Douglas Birch R. Jeffrey Smith Jake Adelstein 12 Mar TOKYO — When Taro Kono was growing up as the son of a major Japanese political party leader, he had what he calls a “fever for the atom.” Like many of his countrymen, he regarded nuclear power plants as his country’s ticket to postwar prosperity, a modern, economical way to meet huge energy needs on an island with few natural resources. pro-nuclear sentiment led Japan to build the world’s third largest fleet of nuclear reactors. Its officials spent more than two decades and $22 billion building a factory to create plutonium-based nuclear reactor fuel, the largest ever to be subject to international monitoring. The facility is slated for completion in October at Rokkasho on Japan’s northeast coast, kicking off a new phase in the country’s long-term plan to increase energy independence.

By the time Kono was elected to the parliament, known as the Diet, at the age of 33 in 1996, however, he had become a skeptic about the Rokkasho plant. After interrogating scientists and meeting with critics, he concluded that a vast array of new reactors fueled by its plutonium faced huge technical challenges, posed a major proliferation risk, and probably would not reap the financial benefits claimed by its backers. He told the American ambassador at an embassy dinner in 2008 that its high costs were improperly kept hidden from the public.

But Kono’s campaign in Japan against the plant has now been systematically squashed, in what he and his allies depict as a telling illustration of the powerful political forces — cronyism, influence-buying, and a stifling of dissenting voices — that have kept the nuclear industry and its backers in the utilities here going strong.

By all accounts, the Japanese nuclear industry’s sway and its governmental support remain high, even in the face of technical glitches, huge cost overruns, and accidents like the meltdowns of three reactors at Fukushima three years ago this week — which led to the abrupt closure of all its remaining reactors.

The government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who leads Kono’s party, announced in February its support for restarting some reactors and possibly building new ones, designed specifically to burn plutonium-based fuel.

Abe did so with apparent confidence that he has the enduring support — if not of the public — of the so-called “nuclear power village,” a tightly-woven network of regulators, utility industry executives, engineers, labor leaders and local politicians who have become dependent on nuclear power for jobs, income, and prestige.

Kono, a fluent English-speaker who received his undergraduate degree from Georgetown University, said in an interview that he has been talking about nuclear power “for the last 16 to 17 years,” but “no one really paid attention, right?”

Kono was unable to defeat the plutonium fuel program, he said, because its powerful constituency includes not only members of the ruling party, but bureaucrats, media leaders, bankers and academics. They were, he wrote in a 2011 book, “all scrambling for a place at the table” where nuclear-related funds are distributed. The louder he complained, the more these elites turned their backs on him. Just 60 legislators out of 722 in the parliament’s lower and upper chambers have joined the anti-nuclear caucus he helped organize………http://www.publicintegrity.org/2014/03/12/14394/plutonium-fever-blossoms-japan

March 13, 2014 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Japan, politics | Leave a comment

Like Japan, UK seems to be developing an academic ‘Nuclear Village’

The nuclear industry has control of policy in Japan. That’s for sure. I’m just wondering how many other countries are falling under the spell of nuclear industry’s money and influence. Looks as if Britain is well on the way

Closer collaboration announced between the University of Bristol and the National Nuclear Laboratory , University of Bristol 12 Mar 14 The University of Bristol and the UK’s National Nuclear Laboratory have signed a statement of intent to work more closely to explore opportunities in joint research, R&D and training, which will provide support to industry aligned with the Government’s Nuclear Industrial Strategy……..

The Nuclear Research Centre (NRC), formed by the University in partnership with Oxford University in 2011, aims to strengthen nuclear energy related research and teaching in the region to support the delivery of the Government’s strategy on low-carbon, secure energy.

Recently the University has been re-establishing its existing relationships with a number of strategic industrial partners, and this includes the recent signing of a ‘Statement of Intent’ with NNL to support the growing need for a physical research hub in the South West…….http://www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2014/march/national-nuclear-laboratory.html

March 13, 2014 Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, secrets,lies and civil liberties, UK | 3 Comments

Bad timing to let Russia be in control of Britain’s nuclear reactors

Russian nuclear power in the UK? We might want to think about that Terry Macalister theguardian.com, 13 Mar 14,

We should beware Russia’s politicisation of gas supplies to Ukraine as we contemplate a deal with it to build an atomic plant in Britain

Clearly there is something jarring about the Department of Energy and Climate Change (Decc) boasting about its positive negotiations with the Russians over building a nuclear power station in Britain just as a summit is due to begin in London about what sanctions can be taken against Moscow over its involvement in the Crimea.

If Vladimir Putin is threatening to once again use energy as a political weapon in the Ukraine by cutting off the country’s gas exports, then this is a bad moment to talk about state-owned Rosatom taking a critical stake in UK power infrastructure through the construction of an atomic plant.

Western Europe is already 30% (and in past years 50%) dependent on Russian gas, while London now hosts the headquarters of Gazprom’s global gas trading operation. But surely Britain does not want to open itself up to further dependence on Moscow by allowing its electricity to be generated by Rosatom? Well, few people five years back would have believed state-ownedChinese firms would form key partners in the project to commission the UK’s first new nuclear plant in 27 years at Hinkley Point in Somerset, and yet that is now settled.

So why not the Russians too, the little question of sanctions aside? After all, Rosatom has already signed a memorandum of understanding with the Decc and with nuclear and aerospace-contractor Rolls Royce……..

But the current biggest roadblock to any new nuclear facilities is financial. China and perhaps Russia may be willing to sink billions of pounds into Britain’s nuclear industry as a showcase for exports to the rest of the world, but even they will need help from the UK state like that being offered at Hinkley. The European commission may yet rule that the Decc “strike price” of £89.50 per megawatt hour is an illegal subsidy, which would leave any wider new nuclear programme by the Russians or anyone else dead in the water. http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/mar/12/russian-nuclear-power-uk-gas-ukraine-britain

March 13, 2014 Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics international, Russia, UK | Leave a comment

No future for most of Japan’s nuclear reactors

THREE YEARS AFTER: Majority of Japan’s nuclear reactors face bleak future THE ASAHI SHIMBUN 12 Mar 13 Due to stricter government safety regulations, 30 of Japan’s idled 48 nuclear reactors have no immediate prospects of restarting operations, at least in the near future, according to an Asahi Shimbun survey of utilities.Thirteen of those, mainly due to their age, are having particular difficulty in complying with the new standards, according to the survey, and are likely to be decommissioned……..

The new restrictions ban electric power companies from locating reactor facilities directly on top of active fault lines. The state also revised the Law on the Regulation of Nuclear Source Material, Nuclear Fuel Material and Reactors to limit, in principle, the operational life of reactors to 40 years.

“No matter how much money and time we spend, it would be impossible (for some reactors to clear certain hurdles),” said an official with an electric power company, referring to the two requirements.

The two restrictions are the main obstacles the utilities face in their efforts to restart idle reactors. The 13 likely to be decommissioned are the Tokai No. 2 plant in Ibaraki Prefecture; the three reactors at the Mihama plant in Fukui Prefecture; the two reactors each at the Oi, Takahama and Tsuruga plants, all in Fukui Prefecture; the No. 1 reactor at the Shimane plant; the No. 1 reactor at the Ikata plant in Ehime Prefecture; and the No. 1 reactor of the Genkai plant in Saga Prefecture.

Of these reactors, the Tsuruga plant’s No. 1 reactor and the Mihama plant’s No. 1 and No. 2 reactors have exceeded the 40-year limit.

The Shimane plant’s No. 1 reactor will mark its 40th anniversary of operation at the end of this month, while the Takahama plant’s No. 1 reactor will pass the four decade mark in November. Furthermore, an investigation by the Nuclear Regulation Authority has concluded that there is an active fault line beneath the Tsuruga plant’s No. 2 reactor building. A slip of an active fault directly under a reactor is highly likely to lead to its destruction.

The NRA is also studying the geological structure of the ground beneath the Shika nuclear plant in Ishikawa Prefecture, the Higashidori plant in Aomori Prefecture and the Mihama plant.

The new government standards also require nuclear plant operators to bolster fire prevention measures…….http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311disaster/fukushima/AJ201403120057

March 13, 2014 Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, Japan | Leave a comment

Tokyo anti nuclear groups organise to promote renewable energy

Nuclear foes rally in U.S. cities on 3/11 anniversary Japan Times KYODO NEW YORK 12 Mar 14,“…..Green association forged KYODO A group of 38 local green power advocacy groups plan to set up a national association by June in an effort to break away from nuclear power generation.

The association will provide a forum for sharing information about members’ experiences in setting up community-based renewable power plants, the founders said Tuesday in Tokyo.

Members also plan to create a system for issuing certificates indicating the origin of electricity ahead of the 2016 liberalization of the retail electricity market, which will allow households to choose suppliers. Noting their wish not to have another nuclear disaster, the founders said they hope to assist companies and individuals to overcome challenges in developing locally driven power plants. http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/03/12/national/nuclear-foes-rally-in-u-s-cities-on-311-anniversary/#.UyII_j9dV9U

March 13, 2014 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Japan, opposition to nuclear | Leave a comment

USA not happy about Japan’s plutonium plan

Key findings: http://www.publicintegrity.org/2014/03/12/14406/key-findings
Japan’s nuclear industry has taken a beating in public opinion due to cost overruns, technical glitches and accidents like the Fukushima disaster two years ago next week.
Despite this, support for the Rokkasho plant among the country’s leaders remains high because of a tightly-woven network of regulators, utilities, labor leaders and local politicians who are dependent on a continuing stream of funding for nuclear power.
Japan’s enthusiasm for nuclear power has been nurtured by the utilities, which spent $27 billion on advertising over the past four decades and lavished contributions on members of the leading Japanese political party.
Although the government’s policy has long ruled out the production or possession of nuclear arms, some Japanese politicians have supported the production of additional plutonium on grounds that it sends a useful signal to potential aggressors about Japan’s capability to make such weapons.
Eager to block that development, the U.S. has brought a stream of Japanese diplomats and military officers into highly restricted nuclear weapons centers to remind them of the robustness of the U.S. nuclear deterrent. They also have gently urged Japan not to take steps that would add to its existing plutonium stocks. But neither of these steps amounts to firm advice that Rokkasho should not be opened.

March 13, 2014 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Japan, politics | Leave a comment

Revolutionary new system for solar power in remote parts of Africa

Renewable energy: Samsung introduces digital village concept Ghana Web 12 Mar 14, Samsung Electronics is developing a concept that will make use of sunshine, which is an abundant natural resource in Africa, to change and improve the lives of inhabitants of rural communities in Africa.

The leading provider of digital solutions will use sunshine as a renewable source of energy in Africa to establish various facilities that can be operated through transportable solar-powered generators.

Officials of Samsung therefore seek to introduce what is called the digital village with solar integrated solutions, a unique concept that harnesses technology in a way that breaks through traditional, social and economic barriers and takes real support and opportunities to people where they live.

Facilities under the digital village concept include solar-powered Internet school (SPIS), solar-powered tele-medical centre, solar-powered health centre and solar-powered generator and lantern.

Mr Thierry Boulanger, Director of Information Technology (IT) and Business to Business (B2B) Solutions of Samsung Electronics in charge of Africa, said the solar-powered generators constituted the heart of the digital village that could be erected in 60 minutes of arrival.

He told the Daily Graphic that following the launch of Samsung’s new portfolios in Malaga, Spain, just recently the whole concept had come under the Built For Africa (BFA) programme, where solutions are offered for specific situations.

He said the solar-powered generators could be used to power classrooms, small businesses, government offices, health facilities and remote -controlled gates…….

The health centre is designed for treatment in remote areas and it eliminates economic and geographic barriers, while the lantern, which is capable of providing light for families in remote areas, is rechargeable daily through a solar panel. http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=303140

March 13, 2014 Posted by Christina Macpherson | AFRICA, decentralised | Leave a comment

Virtually no cost for Michigan to triple its renewable energy use

Michigan Can Triple Its Use of Renewable Energy at Virtually No Additional Cost UCS , Sam Gomberg, March 12, 2014 With Governor Snyder’s recent announcement of clean energy goals for Michigan, the conversation is quickly developing around the future role of renewable energy in the state. To help inform that conversation, a newly released analysis by my UCS colleagues and me found that Michigan can triple its use of renewable energy — from 10 percent in 2015 to 33 percent in 2030 — at virtually no cost to consumers. Here’s how…….http://blog.ucsusa.org/michigan-can-triple-its-use-of-renewable-energy-at-virtually-no-additional-cost-446

March 13, 2014 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | Leave a comment

Anti nuclear protests in American cities, on Fukushima anniversary

Nuclear foes rally in U.S. cities on 3/11 anniversary Japan Times KYODO NEW YORK 12 Mar 14,– Roughly 50 protesters rallied Tuesday in front of the Consulate General of Japan in New York to oppose the government’s embrace of nuclear power, as people around the world marked the third anniversary of the Fukushima nuclear disaster.

“We have a responsibility to speak up. This is not just about Japanese, this is a global issue,” said organizer Ritsuko Higashi. The demonstrators handed a letter to a consulate representative before marching to Times Square, chanting “no nukes, protect the children,” in Japanese.

The letter demanded the closure of Japanese nuclear plants, independent oversight of containment measures at the crippled Fukushima No. 1 plant, an end to Japan’s export of nuclear technology, transparency around decontamination, and compensation for the victims of the disaster. Similar protests were planned for several other U.S. cities, including Portland, Oregon, Seattle and San Francisco. Consulate general representatives in San Francisco told organizers ahead of the protest that they would not be able to receive any letter delivered in person, requesting that protesters send it by mail instead.

Similar protests were planned for several other U.S. cities, including Portland, Oregon, Seattle and San Francisco. Consulate general representatives in San Francisco told organizers ahead of the protest that they would not be able to receive any letter delivered in person, requesting that protesters send it by mail instead.http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/03/12/national/nuclear-foes-rally-in-u-s-cities-on-311-anniversary/#.UyII_j9dV9U

March 13, 2014 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

NATO to spend up big on nuclear weapons security

Analyst: NATO Poised to Ramp Up Nuclear-Arms Security Spending National Journal By Diane Barnes 12 Mar 14, An issue expert says NATO is preparing a major increase in spending to protect U.S. nuclear arms fielded in allied European states.

The U.S. Defense Department’s fiscal 2015 budget proposal calls for $154 million to bolster defenses at military installations spread across Belgium, Germany, Italy, Turkey and the Netherlands. That amount would come in addition to $80 million the alliance has spent in the last 14 years to protect nuclear arms in the six European nations, says a Tuesday report by Hans Kristensen, who heads the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists.

Kristensen said more than three-fourths of the security spending to date took place in 2011 and 2012, after an Air Force panel determined that defenses at most U.S. nuclear-arms facilities in Europe did not meet Pentagon standards.

Expenditures in those two years appears to have been partly in response to findings by the Air Force Blue Ribbon Review, Kristensen said…….http://www.nationaljournal.com/global-security-newswire/analyst-nato-poised-to-ramp-up-nuclear-arms-security-spending-20140312

March 13, 2014 Posted by Christina Macpherson | EUROPE, weapons and war | Leave a comment

Unlikely that Ukraine will get nuclear weapons

Don’t Worry, Ukraine Won’t Go Nuclear Michael Crowley @Crowley TIME 12 Mar 14 Ukraine once had a massive nuclear arsenal. But despite calls in Kiev to develop a nuclear deterrent against Vladimir Putin’s Russia, the idea is far-fetched. Building a bomb would be incredibly difficult and contradicts the country’s long nonproliferation record…….http://time.com/22125/ukraine-crimea-cossacks-russia/

March 13, 2014 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | Leave a comment

Geo-engineering no Cure-all for Global Climate Change Sourceable 12 Mar 14 A new study by scientists in Germany has concluded that geo-engineering is unlikely to have anything more than a minor impact on global climate change. Research conducted by scientists from the Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research in Kiel, Germany, has concluded that even the most ambitious and large-scale forms of geo-engineering are unlikely to have much of a diminishing impact on global warming.

The study was led by oceanographer Dr. David Keller and published in the scientific journal Nature Communications. It looked at five forms of geo-engineering which have the potential to reduce the effects of global climate change, modelling the outcome of their deployment.

According to Keller, the study is one of the most thorough and comprehensive ever undertaken with respect to the real world impact of climate engineering……..The methods examined included the mass forestation of arid desert areas in North Africa and Australia, and the reduction of solar radiation levels via measures such as the sowing of aerosols in the atmosphere to produce artificial cloud cover.

Three of the methods entail tinkering with the earth’s seas to raise their carbon dioxide uptake by means including the pumping of cold water rich in nutrients from the lower strata of the ocean; the sowing of iron to raise the fecundity of phytoplankton and thus foster the proliferation of plant life; and the dissemination of lime to increase CO2 absorption.

Despite the imaginative and ambitious nature of these geo-engineering methods, the study concluded that none of them are potent enough to significantly reduce levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Even if they were deployed as early as the end of this decade, they would fail to make much of a difference given projected increases in the volume of greenhouse gases entering the atmosphere.

Modelling performed by the scientists concluded that the outcome for the earth’s atmosphere remains the same irrespective of whether or not geo-engineering measures are implemented…..

The methods would also have extreme ramifications for local ecosystems, given the radical nature and immense scale of any measures intended to influence the climate of the planet as a whole…….http://sourceable.net/geo-engineering-no-cure-all-for-global-climate-change/

March 13, 2014 Posted by Christina Macpherson | climate change | 3 Comments