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Uranium term prices going down
show details 5:57 PM (23 hours ago)

Uranium Term Prices Slip

‎FN Arena News – 6 Dec 11

Industry consultant TradeTech closed out its spot price indicator for November month-end at US$51.50/lb, down US25c from end-October. … 

http://www.fnarena.com/index2.cfm?type=dsp_newsitem&n=0AEAA152-E77F-D8D8-A68F8FD0269D888A

December 6, 2011 Posted by | business and costs, Uranium | Leave a comment

Japan’s second rate contract workers cop the brunt of nuclear radiation

contractors last year accounted for 96% of the harmful radiation absorbed by workers at the nation’s nuclear power plants. Temporary workers at the Fukushima plant in 2010 also faced radiation levels 16 times higher than did employees of the plant’s owner-operator, Tokyo Electric Power Co., because contractors are called in for the most dangerous work, 

Japan’s ‘nuclear gypsies’ face radioactive peril at power plants Unskilled contractors make up most of the workforce and face higher doses of radiation than utility employees at Fukushima and other nuclear power plants in Japan. By John M. Glionna, Los Angeles Times December 4, 2011

 Reporting from Namie, Japan “….. Such unskilled contractors exist at the bottom rung of the nation’s employment ladder, subjecting themselves to perilous doses of radioactivity. Solicited from day labor sites across the country, many contractors are told little of the task ahead. Continue reading →

December 5, 2011 Posted by | employment, Japan | Leave a comment

Japan’s provinces lose international students, with radiation fears

Trainees steer clear of Tohoku / Radiation fears apparently behind sharp drop in foreign interns, The Yomiuri Shimbun, 5 Dec 11 The number of foreign trainees in the disaster-affected prefectures of Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima has nearly halved since the March 11 disaster, with many apparently afraid to return to the Tohoku region due to radiation fears. Continue reading →

December 5, 2011 Posted by | business and costs, Japan | Leave a comment

Britain’s nuclear power program delayed even further

The Coalition’s plans for building eight to 10 nuclear plants over the next decade were described last week as “simply lacking credibility” by peers in the House of Lords.  

EDF Energy, the company building the first plant, has refused to give a “firm and final completion date” for nuclear power. 

Setback to nuclear power plans Britain’s plans for a new generation of nuclear power stations have suffered another setback after being delayed by at least a year. By Rowena Mason, Political Correspondent TELEGRAPH 02 Dec 2011 The first of the new plants will not be built until 2019 because of extra safety checks following Japan’s atomic disaster.

Ministers originally hoped to get the first nuclear power station built by 2017, before revising this to 2018. Now there has been a further slippage, after an updated timetable showed the first station in Somerset is not expected until nearer the end of the decade.. Continue reading →

December 3, 2011 Posted by | business and costs, UK | Leave a comment

For USA’s nuclear industry – could things get any worse?

Nuclear’s Annus Horribilis, AOL, Margaret Ryan, November 30, 2011 For the nuclear industry, 2011 was Biblical. Earthquakes. Tsunamis. Tornadoes. Floods. Fires. 2011 had everything but plagues of locusts.

Since 2001, nuclear critics had been worried about airplanes smashing into plants or dirty bombs. This year nature reminded everyone it can still throw a haymaker, and the reverberations from 2011’s onslaught appear set to dominate US nuclear power in 2011

March 2011 brought the 9.0 magnitude earthquake off northeastern Japan that sparked a tsunami whose waves may have exceeded 45 feet. Tokyo Electric Power Company’s oldest nuclear station, Fukushima Daiichi, apparently survived the earthquake, but its four oldest reactors didn’t survive that wall of water. Nuclear experts are still figuring out what all went wrong, and tens of thousands still haven’t returned home as Japanese authorities try to decontaminate radioactive hot spots.

In April, massive tornadoes that devastated the southeast swept near the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Browns Ferry plant.

In June, droughts sparked wildfires across the Southwest, including one that threatened the Los Alamos National Laboratory, where nuclear weapons materials are stored.

June also brought record floods across the upper Midwest. For weeks Omaha Public Power District’s Fort Calhoun nuclear plant was essentially an island.

August saw the 5.8 magnitude Virginia earthquake just 11 miles from Dominion Energy’s North Anna plant. The plant shut safely, and returned to service mid-November after extensive checks found no damage even though ground motion briefly exceeded the plant’s design.

Aging Generation Giants All these challenges resurrected questions about the robustness of America’s nuclear fleet as reactors begin to pass the 40-year mark. That was once considered the operating limit, but with safety backfits, regular material checks and planned component replacements, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission says reactors can operate for 60 years. More than half of the 104 reactors in the US have been licensed to do so…..

“most” people in the industry recognize the need to take 2011’s warnings seriously. “They don’t want to be the next Fukushima,”….. “No one wants to lose a billion dollar asset.”….

December 1, 2011 Posted by | business and costs, USA | Leave a comment

As nuclear industry dries up in the Western world – the push to sell to dodgy regimes

So what’s driving the world’s nuclear suppliers to service such nuclear pariahs?

 First and foremost: cash. As the prospects for reactor sales in the world’s advanced economies have dried up, most nuclear vendors have been forced to go after less developed—and potentially quite lucrative—markets in the Middle and Far East. In fact, vendors are falling all over themselves to do this, particularly South Korea, which made its debut as a nuclear exporter with a $20 billion deal to build four reactors in the United Arab Emirates.

Nuclear Power Goes Rogue, The Daily Beast, Henry Sokolski, Nov 28, 2011  “………What, then, is the good news for nuclear power? A handful of new reactors may be built in Eastern Europe and the U.K., and several more in South Korea, but in the North that’s pretty much it. If you head south, though, nuclear power’s prospects look much brighter. Continue reading →

December 1, 2011 Posted by | 2 WORLD, marketing | Leave a comment

A warning from credit rating agency on doubtful future for France’s nuclear industry

In our view, the pact could have significant adverse credit implications for both EDF and AREVA over the longer term.

TEXT-S&P comments on French Green-Socialist Electoral Pact, Reuters Nov 28- The French Green and Socialist parties’ announced an electoral pact to reduce France’s dependence on nuclear power on Nov. 15, 2011.

Based on its reading of the pact, Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services understands that:– 24 out the 58 nuclear reactors operated by Electricite de France S.A. (EDF; AA-/Stable/A-1+) in France would close by 2025, of which two reactors in Fessenheim would be immediately shut down. The pact aims to reduce France’s dependence on nuclear power to 50% from 75% currently.

– No new nuclear projects would be initiated. Continue reading →

November 30, 2011 Posted by | business and costs, France, politics | Leave a comment

$trillions at stake, as nuclear ‘renaissance’ falters

With nuclear plants costing several billion dollars apiece, the answer to those questions may be worth a trillion dollars to the nuclear industry. Little wonder that the main players have rushed to reassure their clients that all is well. 

The American nuclear industry has also gone on a public relations drive.

Greenpeace EU Policy Campaigner Jan Haverkamp. “Fukushima will end all this talk about a nuclear renaissance. The industry says nothing will change. Forget it,”

The Nuclear Industry’s Trillion Dollar Question, 28-Nov-11, FRANCE, Muriel Boselli and Geert De Clercq “……Before Fukushima, more than 300 nuclear reactors were planned or proposed worldwide, the vast majority of them in fast-growing developing economies. While parts of the developed world might now freeze or even reduce their reliance on nuclear, emerging markets such as China, India, the Middle East and Eastern Europe will continue their nuclear drive.

But with fewer plants to bid on, the competition for new projects is likely to grow even fiercer — and more complicated. Will concern about safety benefit Western reactor builders, or will cheaper suppliers in Russia and South Korea hold their own? And what if the crisis at Fukushima drags on as appears likely? Could it still trigger the start of another ice age for nuclear power, like Chernobyl did in 1986? Or will it be a bump, a temporary dip in an upward growth curve? Continue reading →

November 29, 2011 Posted by | 2 WORLD, marketing | Leave a comment

French company AREVA finding wind energy a better bet than nuclear?

Areva has looked to diversify away from nuclear energy and build up solar, wind and biomassbusinesses. …..Areva has teamed up with energy group GDF Suez SA and concessions company Vinci SA to bid for a part of the French government’s wind turbine project…The French government aims for a total of 1,200 wind turbines to be eventually built, costing a total of €10 billion.

In mid-December Areva is set to detail the financial impact of the nuclear disaster at Fukushima this March.

Areva Diversifies Further Into Wind, WSJ, 28 Nov, By MAX COLCHESTER And NOÉMIE BISSERBE, PARIS—Areva SA said Monday it is in advanced talks to build about 120 wind turbines at two offshore wind farms in Germany, as theengineering group continues to diversify away from nuclear energy…. Continue reading →

November 29, 2011 Posted by | business and costs, France, renewable | Leave a comment

Failure of nuclear “renaissance” makes loans to uranium company unwise

Henry D. Sokolski, the executive director of the Nonproliferation Policy Education Center, said Piketon was not a good bargain for taxpayers. “This thing has got more than nine lives, and none of them are worth living,” he said. “It will not do to whine about Solyndra
and wink at this.”……

John R. Longenecker, a consultant in the nuclear fuel business, said…. the industry had hoped for a renaissance that would result in many more reactors, he said, but “if that happened, I blinked and missed it.”

Loan Request by Uranium-Enrichment Company Scrambles Politics as Usual, NYT By MATTHEW L. WALD, November 24, 2011 WASHINGTON — The only American-owned company capable of enriching uranium is asking for government help to modernize its plant and remain in business. Continue reading →

November 25, 2011 Posted by | business and costs, Uranium, USA | Leave a comment

Solar energy partnership – European Union and Desertec

EU welcomes Desertec and Medgrid cooperation on solar energy in North Africa and the Middle East ENPI  info centre 24-11-2011 EU Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger today welcomed the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Desertec Industry Initiative (Dii) and Medgrid, establishing closer cooperation between the two private industry initiatives, which are key to the promotion of a renewable energy partnership between the EU and countries in the Southern Mediterranean.

 According to a press release from the European Commission, areas of cooperation will include exchange of information, update on progress, joint evaluation of potential synergies, and joint efforts on the EU and Middle East and North Africa level to obtain a more favourable regulatory framework for renewable energy markets.
Speaking today, in the margins of the Energy Council, Energy Commissioner Oettinger stated that: “By joining efforts and coordinating their approaches, the two initiatives take a truly European dimension. There is now a concrete perspective of solar and wind energy being produced for the joint benefit of European and Northern African and Middle Eastern citizens, as well for the benefit of both markets.”…..

November 25, 2011 Posted by | business and costs, EUROPE | Leave a comment

More uranium produced, but prices continue downward

Uranium Stocks Build Momentum but Prices Remain Weak,  Equity Research on Cameco Corp & Denison Mines NEW YORK, NY, Nov 24, 2011 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) — “………While uranium stocks are on the upswing on long term optimism and takeover speculation, the spot price for uranium remains low. The spot uranium price dropped to slightly below $53 a pound U3O8, according to price publishers TradeTech and Ux Consulting, as little new buying interest emerged over the past week in the spot uranium market. Ux noted in its Monday report that a number of buyers and sellers already have met their volume expectations for the year — not surprising given volume levels posted since July…..

Cameco Corp reported…net profit fell 60 percent ….. Denison Mines  As a result of the events in Japan in March 2011, the uranium spot market demand has declined and the price has been trading in a range of $50.00 to $55.00 per pound. In response to these weaker market conditions, Denison has deferred uranium sales to later in the year.

November 25, 2011 Posted by | business and costs, Canada, Uranium | Leave a comment

Uncertainty on Japan’s nuclear power plants

Japan nuclear plant ops (Takahama No.2 to go offline) Nov 24, 2011 (Refiles to add year in table for Kyuchu Genkai No.4 reactor) Reuters – Kansai Electric Power Co said on Thursday it would start four months of regular maintenance on the 826 megawatt No.2 reactor at itTakahama nuclear plant in northwest Japan on Friday as planned.

    When the facility is shut, only 10 reactors will be online in Japan with a
capacity of 9,038 MW, leaving just 18 percent of the nation's total nuclear power
capacity in use. 	
    Public fears about nuclear safety sparked by the Fukushima radiation crisis have
prompted the nation's nuclear watchdog to require utilities to conduct stress tests as a precondition for restarting reactors stopped for routine maintenance.	
    But it is unclear when the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency or the government will approve the stress test reports or when approval will be given by local
authorities for reactor restarts. 	
    Japan, the world's third-biggest nuclear power user, has 54 reactors for
commercial use, with a total generating capacity of 48,960 MW.	
    In the table below, capacities are shown in megawatts. "P" represents a planned regular inspection shutdown and "U" an unplanned shutdown..... http://af.reuters.com/article/commoditiesNews/idAFL3E7L708120111124

November 25, 2011 Posted by | business and costs, Japan | Leave a comment

United Arab Emirates’ $30 billion nuclear- power program,

U.A.E.’s Nuclear Power Program Said to Cost $30 Billion, November 24, 2011, By Ayesha Daya and Stefania Bianchi   (Bloomberg) — The United Arab Emirates’ nuclear- power program, a joint venture between state-owned Emirates Nuclear Energy
Corp. and Korea Electric Power Corp., will cost about $30 billion,
according to two people with knowledge of the project. Continue reading →

November 25, 2011 Posted by | business and costs, MIDDLE EAST, politics | Leave a comment

South Africa’s huge nuclear power tender, but will there be graft?

R1tn nuclear tender raises graft fears, Times Live  South Africa, ANNA MAJAVU | 24 November, 2011  Concern is mounting about the government’s planned R1-trillion nuclear power station tender, with opposition parties demanding reassurances from Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe that the tender will not be “mired in corruption” like the R70-billion arms deal.

It will be the biggest tender ever issued in South Africa . “The multibillion-rand arms deal, which was just a fraction of this cost, was mired in corruption,” said DA parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko. “There are reports that the government is being strongly lobbied about this tender by companies such as Areva and Westinghouse who are desperate to get in on the action.”….

African Christian Democratic Party MP Cheryllyn Dudley asked if the government had budgeted money for handling nuclear waste, which remains hazardous for more than 200000 years…. The cabinet approved a 20-year energy plan for South Africa in March. It stipulates that 23% of the energy supply be derived from nuclear power.

Parliament’s portfolio committee on energy visited France last year and met representatives of nuclear energy corporation Areva. They told the MPs that their company was ready to build six nuclear power plants in South Africa. http://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2011/11/24/r1tn-nuclear-tender-raises-graft-fears

November 24, 2011 Posted by | business and costs, politics, South Africa | Leave a comment

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