Russia disappointed with India’s Nuclear Liability Law
Still comrades after all these years, The Hindu KANWAL SIBAL, 28 Dec
12, “…….Russia’s disappointment with the delay in signing the
agreement on Kudankulam 3 and 4, despite the attractive financial
terms offered, is understandable. Having agreed to set up nuclear
plants in defiance of U.S.-led international restrictions on civilian
nuclear cooperation with India and supply nuclear fuel for Tarapur,
the Russians are resentful that India wants to treat them and the
Americans and the French alike with regard to our nuclear liability
law, especially as the inter-governmental agreement pertaining to
these reactors preceded our liability legislation.
However, with
Fukushima and the public agitation against Kudankulam 1 and 2, not to
mention the Supreme Court’s involvement in the matter, the issue has
become politically difficult for the government. The answer may lie in
increased cost of Russian reactors to cater for liability exposure. Continue reading
Slowing down- China’s nuclear power programme
deciding not to build any inland nuclear power plants through 2015
Although China has not announced new nuclear power installed capacity targets for 2020, it is expected that targets will be adjusted downward from previous expectations. ….
China moves to strengthen nuclear safety standards and moderate the pace of its nuclear power development, Switchboard, Alvin Lin This post was co-written with my colleagues Jingjing Li, Jason Portner and Christine Xu, 23 Dec 12, .”……….. Before the March 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, China had been undertaking the world’s largest nuclear power plant construction program, with plans to expand its then approximately 11.5 GW of nuclear power to as much as 80 GW of nuclear capacity by 2020. (Given that current reactors are about 1 GW in size, this would be equivalent to building nearly 70 reactors over a decade.)
Following Fukushima, however, Beijing immediately suspended approval of all new nuclear power projects while it undertook a comprehensive safety review of existing and under-construction nuclear power plants, as well as research reactors and fuel cycle facilities, and developed its Twelfth Five Year Plan for Nuclear Safety……
The report concluded that operating reactors “basically fulfill” China’s nuclear safety laws and regulations and the International Atomic Energy Agency’s most recent standards, that they have the capacity to respond to design-basis accidents and severe accidents, and that safety risks are under control.
However, in spite of these conclusions, the inspection report and nuclear safety plan also identified areas for improvement. Continue reading
With Japan’s new government, nuclear energy may be back
http://www.startribune.com/business/184510891.html?refer=y
December 23, 2012
Liberal Democratic Party’s big win may give nuclear industry a
reprieve.In the two days after the election the shares of Tokyo
Electric (TEPCO), the owner of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power
plant, surged by 56 percent. Investors bet that the new government
would allow Japan’s reactors, almost all of which have been idle since
being struck by an earthquake in 2011, to restart.
That may be wishful thinking. Abe may want to steer clear of the
sensitive nuclear issue until upper-house elections in mid-2013. If
so, a time frame agreed with TEPCO’s 77 banks for restarting the first
of its seven Kashiwazaki-Kariwa reactors in Niigata prefecture may be
missed.
TEPCO says each stalled reactor costs it $1.2 billion in lost profit each year.
Furthermore, the nuclear industry now has an independent watchdog, the
Nuclear Regulation Authority, which is showing teeth. Its
investigators have so far issued seismic warnings against two nuclear
power plants, which may lead to their permanent mothballing.
By law, even an LDP government should be unable to boss the watchdog around.
Yet a share-price rally may still be warranted. TEPCO’s share price is
barely a tenth of what it was before the disaster.
That reflects a genuine fear that the company may go bust. Surely,
investors mutter, the LDP remains chummy enough with Japan’s nuclear
utilities not to let any of them collapse into bankruptcy?
Coles Hill uranium decision depends on Virginia legislature
Virginia alone can’t approve the mine. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission, a federal agency, also would have to sign off on it. The agency would do an environmental impact statement that might take more than two years.
When asked, Larry Camper, the head of environmental protection for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, said he wasn’t aware of his agency ever fully rejecting such an application. So the mine’s fate might rest entirely on whether Virginia lifts its moratorium on uranium mining.
Proposed Coles Hill uranium mine: Buried treasure or hidden threat? By Sean Cockerham and John Murawski | McClatchy Newspapers
CHATHAM, Va. 23 Dec 12NORTH CAROLINA PROTESTS
Opposition in North Carolina has spread from towns near the potentially affected areas to the state capital. Eighteen towns, counties and economic groups have passed resolutions in opposition, including Henderson, Creedmoor and the Roanoke River Mayors Association. Continue reading
Pro nuclear Mr Amari likely to be Japan’s Economic Minister
Abe to Give Posts to Stimulus, Nuclear Advocates By TAKASHI NAKAMICHI, WSJ, December 20, 2012,
TOKYO—Incoming Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will likely form an
old-boy economic team led by fiscal stimulus and nuclear energy
proponents,….. Along with Mr. Aso, the incoming prime minister will
likely tap the policy head of the Liberal Democratic Party and
longtime ally, Akira Amari, to fill in a new ministerial post
responsible for guiding overall economic policy discussions. Mr. Amari
held the trade minister’s portfolio when Mr. Abe was last prime
minister from 2006-2007.
One of the LDP’s leading energy experts, Mr. Amari has defended
Japan’s reliance on nuclear plants, even after the March 2011
earthquake triggered the nation’s worst nuclear crisis. A one-time
employee at Sony Corp., 6758.TO -1.63% Mr. Amari represents the voices
of corporate Japan……
Mr. Abe is diverging from the path trodden by the outgoing ruling
Democratic Party of Japan, which has grown more fiscally conservative
and has pledged to exit nuclear power by 2040……
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324461604578191052600447858.html
Japan’s new government, bad for the environment, and for women
activists are concerned about two areas they fear will slip beneath the radar of the incoming administration: the country’s nuclear policy in the aftermath of the disastrous accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactor following the earthquake and tsunami last March; and job stability for youth and women, both grappling with badly paid or part-time work.
Only 38 female candidates, from a total of 225, won seats in the parliament during this election, a major dip from the 54 women who won seats at the last poll in 2009.
Already, Japan has been ranked as low as 110th on the World Economic Forum’s latest gender gap survey, which rates countries based on gender equality in political representation.
Women and Activists Lament Japan’s Election Outcome By Suvendrini Kakuchi TOKYO, Dec 18 2012 (IPS) – The return to power of Japan’s conservative and hard-line Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on Sunday indicates that voters traded urgently needed social and environmental reforms for traditional male-led leadership, according to analysts here.
Youth and feminist organisations who had campaigned vigorously for better environmental protections, labour equality and the upholding of regional peace ahead of the elections, expressed frustration about Sunday’s outcome, lamenting that the victorious LDP is yet to present concrete policies to tackle Japan’s most pressing problems……
LDP leader Shinzo Abe, whose brief term as Prime Minister ended abruptly in 2007, is now set to take back the reins.
A hawkish politician, he has raised his profile by promising to usher in a militarily stronger Japan – Continue reading
Japanese voted on economic issue, but anti nuclear opinion is widespread
Exit poll: Anti-nuclear votes spread across the board http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311disaster/fukushima/AJ201212170097 Ballots cast by people who advocate scrapping nuclear power ended up being spread among the various parties, meaning that anti-nuclear entities failed to gain seats, an Asahi Shimbun exit poll shows.
The Asahi Shimbun approached voters nationwide who had cast their ballots in the Dec. 16 Lower House election to find out if they supported “scrapping nuclear power immediately, “gradually phasing out nuclear power altogether” or “not pursuing zero nuclear power.”
Fourteen percent chose scrapping nuclear power immediately, and 64 percent picked gradually phasing out nuclear power altogether.
Voters opposed to nuclear power cast ballots across a wide range of parties in the proportional representation system.
This was because parties other than the Liberal Democratic Party advocate a break with nuclear power to a certain extent. Fifteen percent of the respondents said they do not want to pursue zero nuclear power.
The LDP has been a strong supporter of nuclear power. Yet, the party was supported by 16 percent of those who said they want to scrap nuclear power immediately, and 28 percent of those who said they supported gradually phasing out nuclear power altogether. This suggests voters made choices based also on issues other than on nuclear energy.
Of those who do not want to pursue zero nuclear power, 43 percent voted for the LDP. Continue reading
Vogtle nuclear plant loan guarantee negotiations drag on slowly
Nuclear Energy Institute chief finds Vogtle loan guarantee delays troubling December 12, 2012 By Matthew Bandyk The U.S. nuclear industry is hoping the Vogtle nuclear plant project in Georgia will spur the construction of other nuclear reactors this decade.
But continued delays in negotiations between Southern Co. subsidiary Georgia Power Co., the lead developer of the Vogtle project, and the U.S. Department of Energy over the final terms of a federal loan guarantee are creating troubling implications for the program, Nuclear Energy Institute President and CEO Marvin Fertel said Dec. 12….. Continue reading
Japan: political win for the nuclear Mafia
Far Right Dinosaur Party Wins Japan Elections http://rense.com/general95/farright.html By Richard Wilcox 12-16-12 Looking over the results on the TV here in Japan, the far right CIA created and sustained “Liberal Democratic Party” (LDP) which ruled Japan since WWII is back in power, BIG TIME. They won almost all the seats. The only other parties to win numerous seats are almost or just as far right and as pathologically fueled by power.
All of these parties are captured by the Nuclear Mafia and fiercely devoted to the continuation of nuclear power, if not the development of nuclear weapons to boot. Don’t ask me why the Japanese vote for these nuts and if you ask folks, “why?” they like a certain candidate, they are at a loss to give a reason and smile with embarrassment.
I guess the LDP pay off certain voting sectors with construction projects and kickbacks since they have a pile of stolen money hiddenaway.
Of course, the system is rigged so that only big money candidates can get enough votes. Also, culturally, Japanese tend to support the utmost superficial and glib politicians in a battle of form over substance. Same as USA! Japanese have forgotten about the nuclear disaster thanks to media manipulation so there has been no referendum on nuclear policy.
There are intelligent and sincere political parties and candidates in Japan but they get no-head way, because they are too principled and lack the funds, and the system is set up to block their progress (sounds like USA again, aka Ron Paul). Only the most cheeky and shameless people ascend to power.
Any of the mildly progressive or anti-nuclear power parties took a few pitiful token seats, which are probably in the restroom of theParliament building– the toilet seats.
Look for some of Japan’s nuclear power plants to start up next year, fast and furious, devil take the hindmost. To paraphrase the punk rock band the Sex Pistols: Never Mind The Earthquakes.
Nuclear energy’s friend Liberal Democratic Party wins in Japan elections
The anti-nuclear Tomorrow Party – formed just three weeks ago _captured just nine seats, according to NHK. Party head Yukiko Kada said she was very disappointed to see LDP, the original promoter of Japan’s nuclear energy policy making a big comeback.
Japan Elections 2012: LDP Wins Majority In Parliamentary Elections HUFFINGTON POST, By MALCOLM FOSTER 12/16/12 TOKYO — Japan’s conservative Liberal Democratic Party returned to power in a landslide election victory Sunday after three years in opposition, according to unofficial results,….
The victory means that the hawkish former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will get a second chance to lead the nation
after a one-year stint in 2006-2007. He would be Japan’s seventh prime minister in six-and-a-half years.
In the first election since the March 11, 2011, earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disasters, atomic energy ended up not being a major election issue even though polls show about 80 percent of Japanese want to phase out nuclear power…….
LDP, the most pro-nuclear power party, had 118 seats before the election. A new, staunchly anti-nuclear power party won just nine seats, according to NHK.
In the end, economic concerns won out, said Kazuhisa Kawakami, a political science professor at Meiji Gakuin University.
“We need to prioritize the economy, especially since we are an island nation,” he said. “We’re not like Germany. We can’t just get energy from other countries in a pinch.”….. Continue reading
City Council wants public hearings before San Onofre nuclear power plant permitted to re-open
LA wants public hearings on nuke plant LOS ANGELES, Dec. 14 (UPI) — Los Angles says it wants the San Onofre nuclear power plant kept out of commission unless its operator agrees to public hearings before it reopens.
The City Council will consider a resolution calling for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to keep the plant closed unless Southern California Edison agrees to a license amendment process that would include a public hearing process in which groups opposed to restarting
the plant could introduce evidence, the Los Angeles Times reported
Thursday…….. http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2012/12/14/LA-wants-public-hearings-on-nuke-plant/UPI-24381355521194/#ixzz2F9JvlDuI
Democratic and Republican lawmakers seek better tax code for renewable energy
US lawmakers to push tax code change for renewable energy in 2013 Climate Spectator, 13 Dec 2012 Reuters WASHINGTON, A group of U.S. lawmakers said on Wednesday that they plan to push ahead in the new year to change the tax code so renewable energy projects could qualify for beneficial tax structures commonly used by pipelines and other energy-related companies.
Democratic and Republican sponsors of proposed legislation said they think momentum is growing for their idea to allow wind, solar, biofuel and other renewable projects to structure as “master limited partnerships” (MLPs).
The structures allow companies to raise money in the stock market, while having income taxed only at the unit holder level, thus avoiding corporate income taxes.
“Small tweaks to the tax code could attract billions of dollars in private sector investment to renewable energy deployment,” the 29 lawmakers said in a letter to President Barack Obama, asking for the administration’s support…… http://www.climatespectator.com.au/news/us-lawmakers-push-tax-code-change-renewable-energy-2013
Britain’s taxpayers up for more than 100 billion pounds in nuclear cleanup
Nuclear clean-up to cost £100bn and take 120 years. Decommissioning, no2nuclearpower, 9 December 2012 BRITAIN’S taxpayers will be landed with a bill of more than £100bn for cleaning up radioactive waste from sites such as Sellafield and Dounreay, according to the chief executive of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA).
The amount represents a near-doubling of the £56bn cleanup cost announced when the NDA began operating in 2005, and could rise still more. The warning comes as NDA 
engineers start work on some of the biggest and most expensive engineering projects seen in Britain — building giant robotic grabs to lift deadly nuclear waste from Sellafield’s decaying 1950s repositories.
The buildings being targeted include Sellafield’s B29 and B30 cooling ponds, where decaying 1950s fuel rods are stored. This weekend John Clarke, chief executive of the NDA, said he was spending £3bn a year on the cleanup, with about £1.6bn of that going on Sellafield alone. Such sums are similar to those spent on the London Olympic site at the peak of construction.
Figures released by the Department of Energy and Climate Change show that, since Britain’s first nuclear power station opened in 1956, they have generated 2.5 billion megawatt hours of electricity — worth £125 billion at today’s prices. If the cost of building Britain’s 20-odd nuclear power stations (around £10bn-£12bn each in today’s money), is included, it would far exceed the value of the power produced, say experts.
Such figures show why power companies, which would be responsible for the waste, are refusing to build new nuclear power stations without government guarantees of a consumer subsidy that will almost double the market price for their power.
Sunday Times 9th Dec 2012 more >> http://www.no2nuclearpower.org.uk/news/daily12/daily.php?dailynewsid=343
In Japan’s elections, nuclear power is THE issue
Nuclear power ‘major issue’ in Japan poll SBS World News, 11 DEC 2012, SOURCE: KATESTOWELL, SBS Opinion polls have suggested the LDP is on course to return to government as the biggest party, but not with an outright majority.(AAP)
The future of nuclear power is shaping up as the major issue on voters’ minds ahead of national elections in Japan this week. … Continue reading
Hanford radioactive cleanup money leads to growth of Tri Cities area
The New Economy: Extreme radioactive contamination responsible for US’s fastest growing metro area http://enenews.com/new-economy-extreme-radioactive-contamination-responsible-uss-fastest-growing-metro-area December 6th, 2012
Title: Tri-Cities combine for nation’s fastest-growing metro area, boosted by federal money to mop up Hanford
Source: The Oregonian
Author: Richard Cockle
Date: December 05, 2012
Tri-Cities combine for nation’s fastest-growing metro area, boosted by federal money to mop up Hanford Continue reading
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Say No to NASA’s Reckless Nuclear Reactor on the Moon
Say No to NASA’s Reckless Nuclear Reactor on the Moon
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