2014 September 24 « nuclear-news

USA and Russia co-operate in removing Polish high-enriched uranium

US says cooperates with Russia in removing Polish high-enriched uranium, Thomson Reuters Foundation Source: Reuters – By Fredrik Dahl VIENNA, Sept 22 (Reuters) – The United States said on Monday it had worked with Russia to help remove 50 kg of highly-enriched uranium from Poland as part of a global campaign to reduce the use of nuclear fuel that could also serve as material for bombs.

Washington and Moscow continue to cooperate on a case-by-case basis in areas of mutual nuclear security concern despite a current “substantial strain” in their relations, U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz said………

The U.S.-based Arms Control Association, a research and advocacy group, last year said that HEU spent fuel from converted research reactors in Poland would be returned to Russia by the end of 2016.

In mid-2013, the United States and Russia used another IAEA meeting in Vienna to announce that they had helped ship out nearly 16 kg of HEU from Vietnam.

There are about 1,440 tonnes of HEU and 500 tonnes of plutonium stockpiled and in nuclear arms globally, the Nuclear Security Governance Experts Group (NSGEG), which lobbies for action to ensure that such material does not fall into the wrong hands, said last year.

Most of these stockpiles are under military guard but some for civilian uses is less stringently secured.

Analysts say that radical groups could theoretically build a crude but deadly nuclear weapon if they had the money, technical knowledge and materials needed but that merely obtaining sufficient material for an attack poses a formidable challenge.

A fairly simple-to-design bomb would require about 50-60 kg of HEU, the NSGEG said. More sophisticated devices would requires less material.

A message from U.S. President Barack Obama read by Moniz to the IAEA meeting in Vienna said the United States continued to work successfully with Russia to implement the new START treaty, “decreasing our deployed strategic warheads to the lowest levels in nearly 60 years”.

The pact that was agreed in 2010 caps deployed strategic nuclear warheads, those meant to travel long including intercontinental distances, in Russia and the United States at 1,550 each by 2018, down from the previous ceiling of 2,200. http://www.trust.org/item/20140922165343-gvnzt

September 24, 2014 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Russia, safety, USA | Leave a comment

Confusing hype about South Africa’s planned nuclear deal with Russia

More questions than answers on SA’s nuclear deal, Business Day, BY EVAN PICKWORTH, 23 SEPTEMBER 2014 ANALYSTS WERE ON TUESDAY LEFT WITH MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS ABOUT SA’S MUCH-HYPED NUCLEAR PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT WITH RUSSIA, NOTABLY HOW MUCH IT WILL COST.

Russia has always been seen as the front-runner to win the tender and an announcement on Monday evening from Russia confirmed Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation had won the bid. But little detail about how it will be funded was forthcoming……..

Teneo Africa risk analyst Anne Fruhauf said. – “I am concerned that the deal seems to be going ahead without real discussion of the arguments made in the National Development Plan, which advocated for alternative energy sources such as natural gas before committing SA to a potentially very expensive nuclear build on the scale of 9,600MW.”

Ms Fruhauf said the “million dollar question” would be the financing details and equity ownership. The statement from Rosatom was unclear on financing details, and the Department of Energy had not returned calls asking for more clarity.

“How much of a financial liability will the nuclear deal become for SA? There are no details yet but it could be SA’s biggest public procurement programme to date. If finalised, the deal (is) likely (to) imply significant financial risks and implications for the electricity price path. The deal will almost certainly be scrutinised for irregularities and potential flouting of procurement processes,” said Ms Fruhauf……..

The agreement with Rosatom refers to up to eight units using Russian VVER reactors. A VVER reactor is Russia’s version of a pressurised water reactor. These will be the first nuclear power plants based on the Russian technology to be built on the African continent.

Estimates for the capital cost of 9.6GW of nuclear energy range from R400bn to R1-trillion‚ raising concern taxpayers will have to foot the bill‚ as government cannot afford it……… http://www.bdlive.co.za/business/2014/09/23/more-questions-than-answers-on-sas-nuclear-deal

September 24, 2014 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | Leave a comment

Waste of time and money pursuing the false climate solution of nuclear power

Nuclear solutions to climate change are anything but, Aljazeera Americaby Gregg Levine @GreggJLevine 23 Sept 14 “……….Yes, nuclear plants generate waste. Highly radioactive waste. Mountains of it. The U.S. already has over 70,000 tons of spent nuclear fuel with no viable plan for permanent storage. Nevada’s Yucca Mountain was once supposed to take that payload, but after 20 years of trying to make it work, it was deemed unviable for a host of reasons. There is no permanent plan B.

The 1,500 new reactors would generate a Yucca Mountain-sized amount of waste every three to four years.

There is actually more, like the dangers of proliferation and the toxic pollution caused by related industries, and the increased chance or major accidents that come with such a vast increase in the number of reactors, but the bottom line is that nuclear power is neither greenhouse neutral nor quickly scalable; it is an edgy proposition in a warming environment, produces prodigious amounts of waste and, from start to finish, is actually now more expensive than a host of other options.

And therein lies the real rub. The time and money spent on nuclear could be much better spent on conservation programs, boosts in energy efficiency and the construction and development of truly renewable, genuinely low-carbon alternatives.

Those options would provide more jobs for less money and realize real energy production and greenhouse gas reductions far better and far faster than any kind of nuclear pipe dream.

And that presents a smarter, more sustainable and more attainable way toward the Paris 2015 goals and toward a better climate future. http://america.aljazeera.com/blogs/scrutineer/2014/9/23/nuclear-solutionstoclimatechangeareanythingbut.html

September 24, 2014 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | Leave a comment

Poor outlook again for uranium market, with renewed glut

Uranium Rally Threatened by Surplus as Mine Strike Eases Bloomberg, By Ben Sharples September 23, 2014 The rally in uranium spurred by speculation of further sanctions against Russia is poised to unravel as a supply surplus builds with the end of a labor strike at the world’s biggest mine in Canada……

The glut is forecast to continue for a sixth year even after production shutdowns from Australia to Africa and the strike at Cameco Corp.’s McArthur River operation in Canada…..

Market Glut

Cantor estimates a uranium market surplus of 13.2 million pounds in 2014 while Raymond James Ltd., a financial adviser, on Aug. 27 forecast an overhang of about 10 million…….

Paladin Energy Ltd. said it would close its Kayelekera operation in Malawi until uranium climbs above $70 a pound, while Russia’s Atomredmetzoloto shut the Honeymoon mine in Australia last year…….http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-09-23/uranium-rally-threatened-by-surplus-as-mine-strike-eases

September 24, 2014 Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, Uranium | Leave a comment

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