ASIA « nuclear-news

Kudankulam anti nuclear protestors- are their lives in danger?

Kudankulam N-plant: Protesters allege threat to lives, NDTV – ‎Nov 24, 2011‎ Kudankulam: Days after talks between government representatives and villagers protesting against the setting up of a nuclear power plant at Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu failed, protesters are alleging a threat to their lives. … http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/kudankulam-n-plant-protesters-allege-threat-to-lives-152712

November 27, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | civil liberties, India | Leave a comment

100 days of anti nuclear protest stall India’s nuclear program

The protest, which began on August 16 at Idinthakarai near Kudankulam, has been a success as it has managed to get the state government pass a resolution in the Cabinet in favour of the local community.

Anti-nuclear protest enters 100th day at Kudankulam, Economic Times 25 NOV, 2011, JOE A SCARIA ,ET BUREAU CHENNAI: The anti-nuclear protest that has stalled the commissioning of the multi-crore nuclear plant at Kudankulam entered the 100th day on Thursday. The protestors from Tamil Nadu’s southern-most districts, Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli and Tuticorin, held an inter-religious prayer meeting at the plant site. The plant staff, including the engineersfrom Russia, continued to stay at home. Continue reading →

November 27, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | India, opposition to nuclear | Leave a comment

Special radiation limit for infants food in Japan

Japan plans to set special radiation limit for infant food Mainichi Daily News, TOKYO (Kyodo) 26 Nov 11 — Japan’s health ministry on Thursday proposed categorizing food and drink products in four groups, including one for infant foods, in setting tougher radiation standard levels.

While the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has been working to lower the upper limit on radioactive cesium exposure to 1 millisievert per year from the current provisional level of 5 millisieverts, it has decided to give special consideration to infants who are more vulnerable to radiation than older people.

The other three categories are ordinary food, milk and drinking water. Most foods will be categorized as ordinary food and be put under unified supervision, while milk, drinking water and infant foods, including powdered milk and baby foods, will be examined separately…. http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20111125p2g00m0dm020000c.html

November 27, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | health, Japan | Leave a comment

Radiation lingering in homes in Fukushima district

Decontamination work at homes in Fukushima not going well as radiation lingers Mainichi Daily News, 25 Nov 11 FUKUSHIMA — Work to decontaminate homes and yards in a district here is not proceeding as hoped, as radiation levels persist and decontamination workers worried about their health stay away.

The city began decontamination work in the Onami district on Oct. 18. Located in the mountains in the eastern part of the city, it has been heavily affected by the Fukushima nuclear disaster, with radiation in rice over the nation’s provisional limit of 500 becquerels per kilogram detected, leading to a ban on rice shipments.

Although monitoring of six homes where decontamination was carried out found an average drop of 70 percent in radiation in front of entrances and on gravel parking spots, there was only a 30 percent drop for roofs and a 25 percent drop for asphalt in the yard. Furthermore, there was only a 22 percent drop for second floor interiors.

The city has suggested that the low effect on the roofs may be due to radiation from the surrounding forests, where decontamination has not been carried out. As for the asphalt, radioactive material tends to stick to it and remain even after being washed, so the city has decided to try removing the top layer of the asphalt.

Originally, there was a plan to complete decontamination work on all 367 households in the district by the end of the year, but decontamination work is now expected to take much longer. Thirty-three companies were originally planned to take part, but due to fears about worker safety, most canceled and only two companies joined the work when it started in October. Since then contracts have been planned for 19 new companies, but the number is still 12 short of the original figure….

“Estimated costs for the decontamination work per home by companies differ from 800,000 yen to 1.7 million yen, so it has taken time to sort out contracts. Some companies have also shifted to reconstruction work,” explained a city official. http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20111124p2a00m0na014000c.html

November 25, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | environment, Japan | Leave a comment

Indian political party objecting to weakening of Nuclear Liability Law

BJP objects to govt rules on nuclear commerce Times of India TNN | Nov 25, 2011, NEW DELHI: BJP plans to object to the rules of nuclear commerce announced by the government recently on the ground that limits on compensation and a cut-off for claims violated the basic provisions of the civil liability for nuclear damage act.

The rules have to be tabled in Parliament and BJP will argue that the right to recourse offered to operators of nuclear power plants under section 17 was being wrongfully circumscribed by the rules in order to provide relief to US suppliers.

The rules state that there will be a period of limitation in terms of the initial liability and a cap will be imposed on the compensation that can be sought. …….

November 25, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | India, politics | Leave a comment

Demand that nuclear power be an issue in Taiwan’s elections

Groups push for inclusion of nuclear issue in presidential debates Central News Agency Taipei, Nov. 24 (CNA) Environmentalists, regular members of the public and scholars gathered Thursday to ask presidential candidates to address the issue of a nuclear-free homeland during the upcoming televised debates ahead of the 2012 presidential election. To get a clear and open message from the candidates is important, according to Yilan Charlie Chen Foundation, the organizer of a platform that promotes discussion on nuclear issues. There has been too much flip-flopping on the commitment to scrapping construction of the country’s fourth nuclear power plant, the foundation stated.

“We want candidates representing the ruling Kuomintang and opposition Democratic Progressive Party and minor opposition People First Party to prove they are serious about our concerns,” said foundation chairman Charlie Chen. Other organizations at the event — including the Yenliao Anti-Nuclear Self-Help Association, Taiwan Environmental Protection Union, Green Citizens’ Action Alliance — proposed that the debates should be held in one of the country’s nuclear power plants, so candidates can “face the fear themselves.” The issues of whether to continue building Taiwan’s fourth nuclear power plant, how to handle nuclear waste disposal and phase out nuclear power in the future have been hotly debated in the run-up to the Jan. 14 presidential election.

Three televised debates have been scheduled for Dec. 3, Dec. 10 and Dec. 17. (By Lee Hsin-Yin) http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/etn/news_content.php?id=1768269

November 25, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, Taiwan | 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 Christina Macpherson | business and costs, Japan | Leave a comment

Earthquake risk to India’s planned huge Jaitapur nuclear plant

Jaitapur nuclear plant site not immune to earthquake: Experts Economic Times, 23 Nov 11 BANGALORE: Two leading geologists have warned that a magnitude 6-plus earthquake cannot be ruled out in Jaitapur – the proposed site of India’s largest 9,900 MW nuclear power plant on the west coast that has seen protests against it for safety reasons – and that it could occur within the lifetime of the power plant. Continue reading →

November 24, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | India, safety | Leave a comment

Fukushima area – 5.9 magnitude earthquake

Magnitude-5.9 quake hits near Japan nuclear site, USA Today 24 Nov 11TOKYO (AP) – A strong earthquake struck Thursday morning near the Japan nuclear power plant hit by a powerful tsunami earlier this year. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the magnitude-5.9 quake struck shortly before 4:30 a.m. local time. It hit 62 miles (101 kilometers) east of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant. The quake struck at a depth of 23 miles (37 kilometers).

The quake struck 151 miles (244 kilometers) northeast of Tokyo. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center did not immediately issue a tsunami alert. Similar quakes have struck in the region since a March 11 magnitude-9.0 earthquake…

The region lies on the “Ring of Fire” — an arc of earthquake and volcanic zones that stretches around thePacific Rim. About 90% of the world’s quakes occur in the region.http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/story/2011-11-23/japan-earthquake-1123/51372658/1

November 24, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Japan, safety | Leave a comment

Japanese government pays up big to keep TEPCO nuclear utility afloat

TEPCO gets 120 bil. yen as government insurance over nuclear crisis Mainichi Daily News, 23 Nov 11 TOKYO (Kyodo) — Tokyo Electric Power Co., operator of the crisis-stricken Fukushima Daiichi power plant, said Tuesday it has received 120 billion yen from the government under an existing insurance program for nuclear accidents.

The funds will be used by the company to pay massive compensation to people and companies affected by the world’s worst nuclear accident in 25 years. The utility, known as TEPCO, has separately received 558.7 billion yen from a state-backed funding entity.

TEPCO submitted a request on Oct. 24 for the payment of 120 billion yen, the maximum compensation amount set by a contract between the government and TEPCO for an accident at one nuclear power plant…. http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20111123p2g00m0bu031000c.html

November 24, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Japan, politics | Leave a comment

Radioactive caesium on nearly 10% of Japan’s land

Nearly a tenth of Japan contaminated Almost eight per cent of Japan’s land area has been covered by radioactive caesium from the disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. ABC Nes 22 Nov 2011 Mark Willacy, North Asia correspondent Japan’s Science Ministry says nearly 10 per cent of the country’s land has been contaminated by radiation from the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant.

It says more than 30,000km², or eight per cent of the country’s land area, has been blanketed by radioactive caesium.
The Ministry says most of the contamination was caused by four large plumes of radiation spewed out by the Fukushima nuclear plant in the first two weeks after meltdowns after the March earthquake and tsunami.

The Japanese Government says some of the radioactive material fell with rain and snow, leaving the affected areas with accumulations of more than 10,000 becquerels of caesium per square metre. http://abcasiapacificnews.com/stories/201111/3373127.htm

November 23, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | environment, Japan | Leave a comment

Continuing crisis of Fukushima, and of the global nuclear industry

In particular, scientists believe the accident resulted in the atmospheric release of over 35,000 terabecquerels’ worth of caesium-137 – or some 42 percent of what was released during the 1986 catastrophe at Chernobyl. Caesium-137 is a radioactive isotope that has a half-life decay period of around 30 years and is capable of causing gene damage after prolonged exposure…..

Also contrary to government claims, researchers believe that a great amount of caesium-137 was discharged from the spent nuclear fuel storage ponds, which were in significant distress during the crisis as the cooling systems failed to supply water to the ponds, leading to heat accumulation and exposure of the fuel rods.

A chronicle of nuclear decay: Over half a year later, what have we learnt from Fukushima? MOSCOW – Eight months since the fateful March of 2011, one of the world’s worst nuclear catastrophes that enflamed Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant has ceased to be the stuff of front-page frenzy. We will likely still see radioactive goods and food products popping up on the store shelves around the world, reminding us of the terrors of nuclear energy, but for many, the panic caused by the threat of contamination spreading silently in a far-off country has become yesterday’s news. But does it mean that the problems of Fukushima – and, indeed, of the global nuclear power industry – are soon to be over? Not by a long shot.
Bellona, Vladimir Slivyak, 22/11-2011 – Translated by Maria Kaminskaya
Clearly, even a cursory look at the latest developments will tell us it will be a very long time before the tragedy in Japan is safely forgotten. Continue reading →

November 23, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | environment, Japan | Leave a comment

Japanese seismologist predicted nuclear earthquake disaster

Disregard for the science extended to a government panel started in 2001 to revise seismic engineering standards for Japan’s nuclear plants, said Ishibashi. He quit the panel after five years of debate that he called rigged and unscientific…..

an article on Hamaoka published in the October 1997 issue of Japan’s Science Journal that reads like a post-mortem of the Fukushima disaster: A major quake could knock out external power to the plant’s reactors and unleash a tsunami that could overrun its 6-meter
defenses, swamping backup diesel generators and leading to loss of cooling and meltdowns.

Vindicated Seismologist Says Japan Still Underestimates Threat to Reactors, Bloomberg, By Jason Clenfield – Nov 21, 2011, Dismissed as a “nobody” by Japan’s nuclear industry, seismologist Katsuhiko Ishibashi spent two decades watching his predictions of disaster come true: First in the 1995 Kobe earthquake and then at Fukushima. He says the
government still doesn’t get it….
Haruki Madarame, now head of Japan’s Nuclear Safety Commission, from dismissing Ishibashi as an amateur when he warned of a “nuclear earthquake disaster,” a phrase the Kobe University professor coined in 1997. Ishibashi says Japan still underestimates the risk of operating reactors in a country that has about 10 percent of the world’s quakes. Continue reading →

November 23, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Japan, safety | Leave a comment

Nuclear Suppliers discriminated in favour of India, in order to sell USA nuclear reactors

India is now in the privileged position of being the only known country with nuclear weapons which is not a party to the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty but is permitted to carry on nuclear commerce with the rest of the world. The discrimination is in India’s favour, not against it..

Nuclear policy and process dumped at the drop of a hat, The Drum, Paul Barratt, 21 Nov 11 “………India is not a party to the NPT, has never been, has developed a nuclear weapons capability as a non-member of the Treaty, and accordingly, is in an entirely different position from China vis a vis Australian uranium export policy.

As part of a deal to enable India to gain access to US and other nuclear technologies, President Manmohan Singh and then President George W. Bush issued a joint statement in July 2005 to the effect that India would separate its civil and military nuclear activities and place all its civil facilities under IAEA safeguards, in return for which the United States would work toward full civil nuclear cooperation with India. An IAEA Safeguards agreement was signed in 2008, and India was granted an exemption by the Nuclear Suppliers Group, an export control group that had been established mainly inresponse to India’s first nuclear test in 1974. Continue reading →

November 23, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | India, politics international | Leave a comment

Nuclear power falling behind, as China grows its wind power

In China, and globally, wind power will stay well ahead of nuclear for decades and replace it altogether…..

China’s path to renewable superpower, Climate Spectator, Matthew Wright, 23 Nov 11 Comparing China’s wind and nuclear power sectors reveal much about the fortunes of new and old energy technologies.

Wind power in China is growing at a blinding pace. China commenced construction of its first wind turbines in 2005 and in just six years has installed 58GW worth of wind power, which now contributes 128TWh to its grid. …

What’s remarkable about China’s wind sector is the speed and scale of its expansion. Wind generators are up and operating within nine months of breaking ground. Continue reading →

November 23, 2011 Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, China | Leave a comment

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