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NC nuclear plant shuts down 2 units

Officials: NC nuclear plant shuts down 2 units
Rocky Mount telegram The Associated PressTuesday, September 22, 2009WILMINGTON, N.C. — Federal officials say both units at a North Carolina nuclear power plant were shut down when maintenance workers were unable to repair an emergency diesel generator.

The Star-News of Wilmington reported Monday that the units at the Brunswick Nuclear Plant in Southport were shut down Sunday.According to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, both reactors, which were operating at full power early Sunday, were completely shut down by early Monday.An NRC report showed the utility said the shutdowns were required because the emergency diesel generator was inoperative for more than seven days..

Officials: NC nuclear plant shuts down 2 units – State |

September 22, 2009 Posted by | 1, business and costs, USA | , , | Leave a comment

Nuclear Power’s biggest problem – it’s not cost competitive

nuclear-costsNuclear Power’s Cost Competitiveness Remains a Critical Question
solveclimate by Laura Shin – Sep 18th, 2009
Nuclear power has long been controversial for its radioactive waste, history of dangerous meltdowns and potential to help spread nuclear weapons.

With those arguments against it, and with a spotty record of construction and management in the 1970s and 1980s, the United States hasn’t welcomed a new nuclear power plant since 1996 – and that one had been in the works since 1973 Continue reading →

September 19, 2009 Posted by | 1, 2 WORLD, business and costs | , , , , | Leave a comment

South Africa: pebble-bed nuclear reactor a dud? Eskom in deep financial loss

South Africa’s pebble-bed demo plant postponed indefinitely, official says

NUCLEONICS WEEK SEPTEMBER 17, 2009

South Africa’s pebble-bed high-temperature reactor

demonstration plant has been indefinitely postponed due to
lack of financing, the head of the company promoting the
small modular reactor said last week…… Continue reading →

September 18, 2009 Posted by | business and costs, South Africa | , , , | Leave a comment

Nuclear power: just not economic

Meltdown: A Gloomy Look at the Economics of Nuclear Power

The WALL STREET JOURNAL

By Keith Johnson 16 Sept 09

There’s a new paper out from Spanish researchers at Universidad Pontificia Comillas exploring nuclear economics. Spain, you may recall, has its own debate about the future viability of nuclear energy.

The paper poses a simple question: Does nuclear energy add up to a rational investment in a liberalized energy market? Continue reading →

September 18, 2009 Posted by | 2 WORLD, business and costs | , , , | Leave a comment

Big push for nuclear in italy

Energy Collective by Dan Yurman on 09/16/2009″…………Italy is moving to build eight new nuclear reactors after earlier this year overturning a two-decade old ban on them……… Continue reading →

September 17, 2009 Posted by | 1, business and costs, Italy | , , , , | Leave a comment

AREVA’s flagship nuclear reactors – costs are out of control

European Expert: U.S. Policymakers Are ‘As Wrong As They Can Be’ About The French Experience With Nuclear Power Marignac Says

REUTERS WASHINGTON, Sept. 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/

………………..The French EPR Reactor is a new reactor design developed by the company Areva in cooperation with the German firm Siemens. Serious doubts have been raised about the safety and cost of the EPR. Experience in the construction at the two sites where EPRs are being built, in Finland (Olkiluoto 3) and France (Flamanville 3), has revealed serious and fundamental weaknesses in design, problems during construction phases and soaring costs. Continue reading →

September 16, 2009 Posted by | business and costs, France | , , , , | 1 Comment

Mega Uranium’s losses due to mismanagement

Mega Shareholders
Megames, African  September 15, 2009
Are the shareholders aware of the loses incurred by the public officers because of negligence :

1. US$ 35,000 (LOSS) – Legal Fees – Lost court battle in SA and Mega Uranium subsidiary was liquidated

2. US$ 54,000.00 (LOSS) – Cash in bank – Mega Uranium subsidiary was liquidated

3. US$ 246,000.00 (LOSS) – Drilling Machine – Mega Uranium subsidiary was liquidated

This equates to a loss of more than US$ 335,000.00 LOSS which is a lot less than creditors were owed in SA for which Mega Uranium refused to settle.So is this the way shareholders funds should be used?
Megamess: Mega Shareholders

September 16, 2009 Posted by | 1, business and costs, South Africa | , , , | Leave a comment

French expert debunking the myths of the nuclear “renaissance”

nuclear-elixir09Leading European Industry Expert to Debunk Myth of ‘French Nuclear Model’
REUTERS 14 Sept 09
For U.S. 50 Years of French Failings in Nuclear Power Seen As Poor Model for U.S.; Nation’s Nuclear Woes Seen Escalating in Huge Cost Overruns at Finnish, Flamanville Reactor Projects Continue reading →

September 15, 2009 Posted by | 1, 2 WORLD, business and costs | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Grim financial outlook for nuclear power

The medical and economic costs of nuclear power
OnLine opinion By  Helen Caldicott – 14 September 2009
“………………Turning from the human health costs to the monetary, another relevant study related to the nuclear power debate examined the economic feasibility of a “nuclear renaissance” at this time. The World Nuclear Industry Status Report published in August 2009 states that the nuclear industry continues to face steadily increasing construction costs and future cost estimates. Continue reading →

September 15, 2009 Posted by | 1, 2 WORLD, business and costs | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

‘Nuclear Renaissance’ dragging on slowly but not surely

A ‘Nuclear Renaissance’ Stumbles Forward
The New York Times September 9, 2009, By Matthew L. Wald
A dispatch from the uneven march toward new nuclear reactor construction:…………………..With a recession that has both reduced demand for electricity and made it difficult for utilities to borrow money, considerable uncertainty surrounds planned reactor projects — despite the expedited process.. Continue reading →

September 10, 2009 Posted by | 1, business and costs, USA | , , | Leave a comment

Oyster Creek nuclear plant aging and problematic

Nation’s oldest nuclear plant showing its age
Google News By WAYNE PARRY (AP)  10 Sept 09 LACEY TOWNSHIP, N.J. — As the nation’s oldest nuclear power plant shows its age, some call it Oyster Creak.The latest problems — a series of radioactive water leaks — were found just days after the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station got a new 20-year license that environmentalists bitterly fought for four years. Continue reading →

September 10, 2009 Posted by | 1, business and costs, USA | , , , | Leave a comment

Belarusian Nuclear Power costly and dangerous

Belarusian Nuclear Power Project: Dangerous and Expensive
BIELAR.US 8 Sept 09 “…………a nuclear plant built by Russia on a Russian loan, serviced by Russian technicians and fed with Russian fuel might be a very good deal for Russia, but will hardly make Belarus more independent. Continue reading →

September 8, 2009 Posted by | 1, Belarus, business and costs | , , , , , | Leave a comment

AREVA’s profits wiped out by new nuclear reactor troubles

areva-medusa1OL3 EPR wipes out AREVA profits
Nuclear Reaction 5 Sept 09
The OL3 nuclear European Pressurized Reactor (EPR), being built by French nuclear giant AREVA at Olkiluoto in Finland, is in such desperate financial trouble it has single-handedly wiped out the company’s half year profits. Continue reading →

September 5, 2009 Posted by | 1, business and costs, France | , , , | Leave a comment

AREVA threatening Finland’s TVO company over nuclear reactor fiasco

The Nukes of (legal) Hazard: Areva threatens work stoppage at Finnish nuke
Climate progress 1 Sept 09
Escalating a dispute between the companies as to who is to blame for the schedule slippage, Areva said Monday it will not proceed with work on the delayed Olkiluoto nuclear reactor project in Finland until Finnish utility TVO makes unspecified changes to the project.Areva, the French government-owned nuclear giant, made that disclosure in a financial statement for the first half of 2009.

Ouch.  That is from Energy Daily (subs. req’d).  The Financial Times story begins:

The financial risks of nuclear power were cast into sharp relief on Monday as Areva, the French state-owned group, revealed new provisions on its troubled Finnish reactor project that virtually wiped out interim operating profits.

Double ouch!

The ongoing saga between Areva and Finland is now more like an episode of Desperate Housewives than a sitcom,

The Nukes of (legal) Hazard, Episode 5: Areva threatens work stoppage at Finnish nuke « Climate Progress

September 5, 2009 Posted by | 1, business and costs, Finland | , , , | Leave a comment

US Dept of Energy preventing tax-payer comment about nuclear loan money?

civil-liberty-2smThe U.S. Department of Energy is attempting to fast track its nuclear loan guarantee program by drastically limiting the opportunity for the public to comment on changes to its regulations.

On August 7th, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) posted an announcement in the Federal Register in which it weakened the rules, as by moving taxpayers further back in the line of lenders who would be paid back in the event of nuclear project default. This puts taxpayers at increased risk of being left holding the bag for tens of billions of dollars in loan repayments when new nuclear projects go belly up.

Despite such astronomical financial risks, and the complex technical nature of the regulatory changes, DOE has allowed just 30 days for the submission of public comments. The month-long comment period just happened to coincide with the August Congressional recess, with watchdog groups as well as House and Senate Members and staff away on travel. Many could well remain unaware of the changes until Congress resumes the day after Labor Day – the very day comments are due – Tuesday, Sept. 8th.

Read the details on DOE’s proposed nuclear loan guarantees.

September 3, 2009 Posted by | business and costs, USA | , , , | Leave a comment

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