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Indian government’s dangerous rush to get nuclear power

the Indian government  tried to limit liability to only if it could be proved that a supplier had done an act ‘with the intent to cause nuclear damage’. This astounding insertion left a huge loophole for contractors doing shoddy work to wriggle out of paying any damages if things go wrong………Given India’s pervasive culture of poor management and corruption, Mr Singh’s government should think carefully before plunging headlong into a risky track from which there is no going back.

Dangers in India’s path to nuclear energy, THE BUSINESS TIMES, By YOGI AGGARWAL, August 31, 2010, THERE have been few acts by the Indian government in recent months that have given rise to as many misgivings as its attempt to push through the nuclear liability Bill. Continue reading →

August 31, 2010 Posted by | India, politics | , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Demands to scrap plans for nuclear plant in Jaitapur

The most important point that has come from the discussions with the NPCIL is the information that the project does not have proper disposal or storage mechanism for nuclear waste and the information in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), prepared by the NEERI about the nuclear waste storage and disposal, is completely false,”

Jaitapur nuclear plant needs thorough regulatory scrutiny’, The Hindu , 29 Aug 2010, The Konkan Bachao Samiti (KBS), which is opposing the proposed Jaitapur nuclear power plant (JNPP) in Ratnagiri, has said that several questions on the project remain unanswered. Continue reading →

August 30, 2010 Posted by | India, politics | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

USA’s grand solar opportunity depends on USA Senate

One factor could snarl that time line: the expiration of federal incentives, specifically the Treasury Dept.’s cash grant program, which currently covers 30% of a project’s costs, as long as construction has begun by the end of 2010. SEIA and other groups are pushing to have the qualifying construction start date extended by two years, to the end of 2012…….

Members of the US Senate Finance Committee didn’t return calls asking when they would vote on extending the program…….

Solar power: Brighter long-term investment outlook, The Economic Times, 29 Aug 2010, With utilities adopting standards to increase the amount of solargenerated electricity in coming years, the US could bolster its presence in the global solar-power market. The quickening growth pace could present attractive opportunities for investors, Continue reading →

August 30, 2010 Posted by | politics, USA | , , , , | Leave a comment

Nuclear industry worried as India agonises over Nuclear Liability

Industry upset with N-liability bill changes – India – The Times of IndiaTNN, Aug 25, 2010, NEW DELHI: Amid indications that the government may amend the nuclear liability bill yet again to accommodate the Opposition’s protest against dilution of the clause dealing with supplier liability, industry on Tuesday mounted a campaign warning that the toughening of the very same provisions could scare away suppliers — both Indian and foreign. Continue reading →

August 25, 2010 Posted by | India, politics | , , , | Leave a comment

Obama’s visit to India panicking Indian govt over Nuclear Liability Bill

According to the new draft, an Indian operator of a nuclear supply can sue the supplier only if the supply in question was made with the intent of causing nuclear damage.……As Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is keen on the passage of the bill before US President Barack Obama’s visit to India, the government will take a call on the issue in the next two days.

BJP to oppose diluted Nuclear liability bill – The Economic Times, 23 August 2010, NEW DELHI: With the Cabinet diluting the right to recourse of the operator to sue the supplier in the event of a nuclear accident, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) once again moved into the ‘nay-sayer’ column and vowed to defeat the civil nuclear liability bill in Parliament….. Continue reading →

August 23, 2010 Posted by | India, politics | , , , | Leave a comment

Germany to keep nuclear fuel tax, phase out nuclear power

At the weekend Peter Müller, the leader of the small state of Saarland and a member of Ms Merkel’s CDU party, said in an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine newspaper that his regional government did not support any move to extend the life of the plants and would vote against any law change [that would allow nuclear plants to continue]

Merkel stands firm on nuclear tax plan, FT.com, By James Wilson August 22 2010 Angela Merkel on Sunday stood by plans for a tax on nuclear power as debate intensified over her government’s energy policy following public criticism by leading business people. Continue reading →

August 23, 2010 Posted by | Germany, politics | , , , , | Leave a comment

USA political problem – no State wants nuclear wastes

The timeline for removing Hanford’s nuclear waste could be extended by decades if Obama’s decision to terminate the Yucca Mountain project stands

Nuke waste dump influences races outside Nevada, Google hosted news, By KEVIN FREKING (AP) – 21 Aug 2010, WASHINGTON — The Obama administration’s decision to bypass Nevada’s Yucca Mountain as a nuclear waste repository should give Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid a boost in his bid for a fifth term…….

Washington and South Carolina are plaintiffs in a lawsuit designed to keep Yucca Mountain as an option for stockpiling the nation’s nuclear waste. Continue reading →

August 21, 2010 Posted by | politics, USA | , , , , , | Leave a comment

USA Republicans preventing inspections of Russia’s nuclear arsenal

because of the Republican tactics, the old START agreement–which was endorsed by Republican and Democratic administrations in the years since the Cold War ended–has expired. So, for the first time in 15 years the Pentagon has lost its ability to inspect the Russian strategic nuclear bases.

On START Treaty, U.S. Suffering From Senate Republican Ignorance,  (usnews.com), By John Aloysius Farrell  August 19, 2010 Continue reading →

August 20, 2010 Posted by | politics, USA | , , , | Leave a comment

Germany struggles over question of its aging, dilapidated nuclear facilities

“There is no reason to negotiate with the nuclear power companies,” ….“A fuel tax is not needed to pay for extending the life of the plants but to keep the taxpayers from footing the bill of up to €10 billion for refurbishing old, dilapidated waste storage facilities.”….

analysts argue that the more Germany expands the renewable energy sector, whether for domestic consumption or exporting the equipment, the greater the potential for creating jobs.

Merkel Takes an ‘Energy Trip’, By JUDY DEMPSEY NYTimes.com, August 18, 2010 BERLIN — Chancellor Angela Merkel, facing intense pressure from nuclear power companies to extend the life of their plants, began a cross-country tour Wednesday before deciding on a long-term energy policy with far-reaching implications for Germany, which has Europe’s largest economy…… Continue reading →

August 19, 2010 Posted by | Germany, politics | , , , , | Leave a comment

Little chance of Indian govt passing Nuclear Liability Bill

Desperate govt reaches out to Left. Indian Express.com, 16 Aug 2010, Keen to push through the nuclear liability Bill in the ongoing session of Parliament, Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee Friday reached out to the Left to build a consensus on the contentious Bill.

However, given the Bill is crucial to implementing the India-US nuclear deal, which they had unsuccessfully tried to block, there is little chance of the Left parties coming on board.
At the meeting, CPM’s Sitaram Yechury and CPI’s D Raja listed the Left’s four objections to the Bill. Its primary concern is that it virtually exempts foreign suppliers from any liability in case of an accident — this, Left leaders say, was done at the instance of the US…… Desperate govt reaches out to Left

August 17, 2010 Posted by | India, politics | , , , , | Leave a comment

India’s nuclear power system to be entirely State run

No private players in nuclear power sector: Chavan,  Hindustan Times, Press Trust Of IndiaNew Delhi, August 13, 2010 Keeping in abeyance suggestions of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council, government ton Friday said it has no intention to allow private sector to set up nuclear power plants independently. “At this stage, government does not intend to change the related provision of the Atomic

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Energy Act, 1962 for private participation in setting up of nuclear power plants,” Minister of State in PMO Prithviraj Chavan told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply.

No private players in nuclear power sector: Chavan – Hindustan Times

August 14, 2010 Posted by | India, politics | Leave a comment

Delays and changes forced in India’s Nuclear Liability Bill

BJP forces Centre to defer Civil Nuclear Liability Bill,  By Anil Anand, New Delhi | Agency: DNA 11 Aug 2010, Bowing to opposition pressure, the government has decided against rushing through the controversial Civil Nuclear Liability Bill. It will, instead, hold further discussions with BJP and others. Continue reading →

August 12, 2010 Posted by | India, politics | , , , , | Leave a comment

Nuclear weapons reduction treaty needs agreement before U.S. mid-term elections

The new START, which President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed in a landmark ceremony in Prague in April, commits the two former Cold War foes to slashing their nuclear arsenals.

Clinton urges Senate to move quickly on nuclear treaty, (AFP) – Google hosted news,   12 Aug 2010, WASHINGTON — US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday urged the Senate to move quickly to pass the new US-Russian nuclear arms reduction treaty when it resumes debate next month.The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee last week delayed until mid-September its vote on approving the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), the successor to one that expired in December…. Continue reading →

August 12, 2010 Posted by | politics, USA | , , , , | Leave a comment

UK nuclear reactors require massive public subsidy

Greenpeace’s Ben Ayliffe said there was  no way facilities like the ones at Sellafield in Cumbria and Sizewell in Suffolk could be built without cash from taxpayers. He added: “Chris Huhne can do policy U-turns until he’s dizzy but he won’t be getting any new reactors without a massive public subsidy, which he has repeatedly and publicly ruled out.”

Meltdown: Anti-nuclear activist Chris Huhne forced into humiliating about-face as he promises string of power stations  Mirror UK, By Bob Roberts 10/08/2010 Energy Secretary Chris Huhne was accused last night of an astonishing U-turn after promising new nuclear power stations – despite being an anti-nuclear campaigner. Continue reading →

August 11, 2010 Posted by | politics, UK | , , | Leave a comment

How very quickly a politician can reverse his principles!

How could we possibly have thought Chris Huhne was anti-nuclear? By David Hughes  Telegraph UK, August 9th, 2010 Chris Huhne, the Energy Secretary, has been the victim of a terrible misunderstanding, he claimed on BBC’s Today programme this morning. We all believe he’s anti-nuclear power – but he’s not. Dear me, no. His previous position, he insisted, had been “misunderstood” and he is actually in favour of nuclear being part of the UK’s energy mix….

Could this post from his very own web-site on November 5, 2007, offer a clue?…………Ministers must stop the side-show of new nuclear power stations now. Nuclear is a tried, tested and failed technology and the Government must stop putting time, effort and subsidies into reviving this outdated industry. The nuclear industry’s key skill over the past half-century has not been generating electricity, but extracting lashings of taxpayers’ money……

How could we possibly have thought Chris Huhne was anti-nuclear? – Telegraph Blogs

August 10, 2010 Posted by | politics, UK | , , , , , | Leave a comment