Anti nuclear allies: the terrorist victims cartoonists of Charlie Hebdo
Slain cartoonists at Charlie Hebdo were allies of anti-nuclear movement http://www.beyondnuclear.org/home/2015/1/8/slain-cartoonists-at-charlie-hebdo-were-allies-of-anti-nucle.html We pause today to remember those slain at the French satirical news magazine Charlie Hebdo. Several of the cartoonists at Charlie Hebdowere close allies of the French anti-nuclear movement, even providing cartoons to the French anti-nuclear network, “Sortir du nucléaire.”
Stéphane Charbonnier, its editor in chief, drew many cartoons lampooning the nuclear industry. (One 
example is pictured at right. It reads: “What could one do without nuclear? Live.”) Charb, as he was known by his pen name, participated in opposition to both nuclear power and nuclear weapons. He was among the 12 killed.
Another Hebdostaffer, Fabrice Nicolino, who was wounded but we are told will survive, was the author of the brilliant special edition of Charlie Hebdo focusing on nuclear power and called The Nuclear Swindle (cover pictured left). In it, Nicolino, an author and environmental journalist, pointed out that nuclear power is a hold-up, with democracy as the spoils. The assassination of the 12 people atCharlie Hebdo, and the injuring of others, was also an assault on democracy. Tens of thousands rallied the same night in Paris and elsewhere, holding vigil for the victims and for freedom
Call for new nuclear reactors, from France’s Energy Minister
French energy minister wants new nuclear reactors http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/13/france-nuclear-idUSL6N0US1P320150113
First time minister clearly approved new nuclear plants
* Says some of EDF’s plants can operate more than 40 years
* EDF shares climb more than 5 percent (Adds shares, trader comment)
By Michel Rose PARIS, Jan 13 (Reuters) – France should build a new generation of nuclear reactors to replace the country’s ageing plants, Energy Minister Segolene Royal said on Tuesday, the first time a government member has clearly approved this option.
France, the country most reliant on nuclear power, must decide in the next few years whether to continue down the nuclear route as about half of its 58 reactors will reach their designed 40-year age limit in the 2020s.
Royal’s so-called energy transition bill, which is being reviewed by the Senate after parliament’s lower house passed a first version last year, aims to cut the share of nuclear energy in France’s electricity mix to 50 percent from 75 percent.
But that does not mean France wants to exit atomic energy, as it is part of the country’s history and expertise, Royal told L’Usine Nouvelle magazine in an interview, in contrast with Germany’s decision to phase out nuclear power.
“EDF’s board has adopted part of its big maintenance plan with my agreement,” Royal said.
“We must now also programme the construction of a new generation of reactors, which will replace old plants when these cannot be renovated anymore.”
Shares in EDF rose as much as 5.6 percent, the biggest gainer on France’s CAC 40 index of blue chip stocks. Clarinvest fund manager Ion-Marc Valahu, who owns EDF shares, said Royal’s comments had given the stock a boost.
Traders also mentioned that European utilities had been buoyed by a Morgan Stanleyupgrade to British energy company
Centrica, as well as positive comments about the sector from Citigroup.
Mark Lewis, a senior analyst at Kepler Cheuvreux in Paris, said it was a big shift in Royal’s stance.
“The problem in my view is that new nuclear build is just not economic at prices below 100 euros per megawatt-hour, just look at the guarantee the UK government had to give EDF for Hinkley C,” he said.
Britain has guaranteed the price of power from the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station that is to be operated by French utility EDF.
State-owned EDF, which operates all of France’s nuclear reactors, faces a 55 billion euro ($65 billion) upgrade of its existing plants by 2025, including work decided in the light of the Fukushima nuclear meltdown in Japan.
To finance this investment, EDF has advocated an extension of reactor lifespan to 50 or 60 years, arguing that the power stations were modelled on similar reactors in the United States which have been granted 60-year licences.
“I didn’t include a 40-year age limit in the energy transition bill like ecologists wanted. Some nuclear plants can live longer,” Royal said in the interview.
This was also the first time the former partner of President Francois Hollande, and apowerful
voice in the cabinet, had approved an extension beyond 40 years.
However, the ultimate decision for a lifespan extension will be for the country’s independent nuclear watchdog, the ASN, which is set to give a preliminary opinion on the question this year and make a final decision in 2018-2019.
($1 = 0.8473 euros) (Additional reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta in London and Raoul Sachs; editing by Sybille de La Hamaide and David Clarke)
Nuclear Free by 2045? – pays tribute to Charlie Hebdo’s anti nuclear stand
http://nf2045.blogspot.jp/2015/01/charlie-hebdo-special-nuclear-swindle.html 12 Jan 15 As the French nation prepares for a massive rally in support of liberty and free speech in the wake of the January 7th murders, certain ironies cannot escape attention.
The entire political establishment will be out for this rally, yet they were all targets in the past of Charlie Hebdo’s pointed satire. Some of them voiced disgust and disdain when they were the targets, or they showed no interest in fixing the problems exposed in the journal. Good for them, I suppose, if they are now ready take criticism more seriously and pay free speech and democracy more regard.
Just in case anyone gets the impression that Charlie Hebdo did only crude satirical cartoons about religion, let’s remember that these jokers had the courage to take on all sacred cows, even the ones with Iodine 131 and Strontium 90 in their milk.
Below is the cover page of Charlie Hebdo’s special nuclear issue from 2012. The French original of the cover page and accompanying text is here. –(pictures are at sidebar on right of this Antinuclear page)
The full issue does not appear to be available in digital format.
The Nuclear Swindle: 70 Years of French Atomic Radiation
Charlie Hebdo Responds to Montebourg* Special Edition of Charlie Hebdo, September 2012
At least AREVA is selling some wind turbines, though not nuclear reactors
Iberdrola awards AREVA its largest renewable energy business to date January 6, 2015
Source: Iberdrola Iberdrola has signed with Areva its largest renewable energy contract to date, valued at approximately €620 million, for the supply of wind turbines to its Wikinger offshore project.
The French company will supply 70 M5000-135 5MW wind turbines, worth €550 million. For the first time, Iberdrola will be installing 5-MW turbines in a wind facility.
Under the terms of the contract, AREVA will also provide maintenance services, valued at €70 million, for a 5-year period which may be extended for another five years…..http://www.pennenergy.com/articles/pennenergy/2015/01/iberdrola-awards-areva-its-largest-renewable-energy-business-to-date.html
Nuclear company AREVA really in a state of bankruptcy, but tax-payers will bail it out
AREVA goes from bad to worse, nuclear giant headed for bankruptcy http://sansdrapeauxnibanderoles.wordpress.com/ Sortir du Nulcleaire , France January 4 15 , Translation by Noel Wauchope The French group AREVA, world No. 1 nuclear power is bankrupt. Its shares collapsed: they have lost 55% since the beginning of the year. Already over-indebted, AREVA’s losses for 2014 would exceed € 1 billion- Nuclear power has become too risky and too expensive, civil nuclear is no longer sold on the world market: AREVA has not delivered a reactor for 7 years.
- The sites of two EPR reactors in Finland and France drag on, their cost has tripled, now reaching 9 billion euro.But the Finns will not pay the additional costs and now require penalties. It’s a total financial fiasco.
- The delivery of nuclear fuel in Japan remains suspended because the reactors have remained closed there since the accident in Fukushima. This fuel export shortfall adds to the worsening finances of AREVA.
- After Fukushima, Siemens left AREVA to convert to renewable energy. They held a 20% stake in the group.
- The Uramin case in 2007: the acquisition of uranium mining in Niger, Central African Republic and Namibia, which soon proved unworkable. Between the purchase, retro-commissions and the unsuccessful operation, AREVA has accumulated € 3bn loss. The proposed remedies: the taxpayer on the front line
More worrying flights by drones, near France’s nuclear plant
Catch me if you can: More drones break into France’s nuclear air space Rt January 04, 2015 Two aircraft – presumably drones – were spotted flying over a French nuclear power plant on Saturday. The incident happened amid the country’s efforts aimed at detecting and intercepting such flying objects above nuclear facilities.
Enormous risk in France’s plan for nuclear garbage tip near the town Bure.
Nuclear Waste on the Aquifer Nuclear free by 2045? http://nf2045.blogspot.com.au/2015/01/the-inconvenience-of-geothermic-energy.html by Professor Canardeau translation of Des déchets (nucléaires) sur la nappe Le Canard enchaîné December 2014
A huge pocket of warm water exists beneath what is supposed to be France’s largest nuclear garbage pit, located near the town Bure. This site is destined to store, for at least 100,000 years, the most dangerous high-level waste that has accumulated since France built its first reactor. 125 meters tall, 30 kilometers wide and dozens of kilometers long, this reserve of warm water could sooner or later be used to produce heat or energy. The water is a comfortable 66 degrees, but it is found at a depth of 1,800 meters, while the nuclear waste is to be buried above it at a depth of 500 meters.
On January 5, 2015, the agency for the management of radioactive waste (ANDRA) will find itself on trial in high court in Nanterre for having divulged false information concerning the supposed absence of concern about significant underground water tables at the site in Bure. The citizen groups Sortir du nucléaireand Stop Bure 55, and Mirabel Lorraine Nature Environnement have brought the charges.
Some background: The fundamental rules related to deep geological disposal of nuclear waste, established in 1991 and still in force, clearly state that sites should not involve significant concerns about geothermal sources or build-up of heat. But in 2002, the geophysicist André Mourot (now deceased) was going through the archives at the Bureau of Geological and Mining Research in Nancy, Reims, and he discovered the existence of this aquifer, and he realized its significance as a source of energy. The geologist Antoine Godinot remembers that André Mourot wrote a report and distributed it to all interested groups. Next, they demanded that ANDRA conduct testing to learn fully about the aquifer.
ANDRA made no response until 2008. “What a disaster, this drilling and testing,” laughed the nuclear physicist Monique Sené. “The probe got stuck. They couldn’t even reach the aquifer.”
This fiasco didn’t stop ANDRA from declaring in 2009 that the geothermic source is negligible. Since then it has stuck to this position. To the malcontents it accuses of spreading this information about a geothermic potential, it responds, “The studies done by ANDRA concern whether there is an exceptional geothermic resource.” For ANDRA, as far as Bure is concerned, there is “no geothermic resource of exceptional interest.” Everything hinges on what is understood by “exceptional.”
Tada! At the end of 2013, at the request of the local information committee tracking the Bure laboratory (composed of representatives of the State, local collectives, and civil society groups), a Swiss group called Geowatt, specializing in geothermic energy resources, produced a report that stated, “We are of the opinion that the geothermic resources of the Bure region could at present be developed at an economical cost with the use of appropriate technology. The nail in the coffin was the additional comment stating, “The burial of nuclear waste prevents access to the geothermic resource.”
The physicist Bernard Laponche points out, “If we build this project at this site, we are going to impose enormous risks on future generations, and for sure one day people will want to exploit this geothermic energy, but they will stumble upon the nuclear waste that is blocking access to it. ”
Perhaps ANDRA will be able to leave their contact information for future generations to get in touch.
France’s nuclear maintenance inadequate, costly: EDF shares slump
France failing to keep up with nuclear reactor maintenance http://enformable.com/2014/09/france-failing-keep-nuclear-reactor-maintenance/ Lucas W Hixson Website According to the head of the French Nuclear Safety Authority, Electricite de France SA (EDF) – the largest generator of nuclear power in the world, is unable to keep up with maintenance needs at aging nuclear reactors in its fleet. The state-controlled EDF operates 58 nuclear reactors at 20 nuclear facilities and nearly 85% of its electrical production comes from nuclear energy.
After the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, EDF was forced to conduct repairs and safety improvements at its nuclear power stations, but according to Pierre-Franck Chevet, head of the Nuclear Safety Authority in France, “There are delays and complications and some could affect safety.”
EDF has estimated that it will need to spend at least $71 billion to improve safety at its nuclear power plants before 2025.
EDF shares have fallen as much as 4.2% since June 19th.
Potential for drones to carry explosive devices over nuclear reactors
With concerns about terrorism ever-present, the fear that drones carrying explosive devices could potentially fly over such sites looms large.
Drones Flying Over Nuclear Power Stations in France Raise Concerns Global Voices, byAbdoulaye Bah Translated byDanielle Martineau 9 December 2014
With 58 nuclear reactors spread out over 19 plants, France is the highest user of nuclear energy in Europe, and the second highest in the world, after the United States.
In a blog post published on the website Géneration NT, Jérôme G. gives some insight into the matter:…….
Drones have successfully evaded all the power stations’ defenses. EDF also reports a number of drone overflights that differs from Greenpeace’s count. Pascal Riché, co-founder of rue89.nouvelobs.com, notes: Continue reading
France’s nuclear security problem: no way to detect small drones at low altitudes
France Backs Anti-Drone Research After Mystery Nuclear Flights, Bloomberg, By Tara Patel tpatel2@bloomberg.net Dec 9, 2014, Paris France is backing research on how to track and destroy drones as the mystery of who is behind a series of illegal flights over atomic sites remains unsolved.
The French National Research Agency will start a tender later this month for systems to “detect and even neutralize” drones, according to a statement from the Secretariat for Defense and National Security, which advises the president and prime minister.
Areva SA (AREVA), Electricite de France SA and Commissariat a l’Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives confirmed some 20 incidents since the middle of September of remote-controlled drone-like objects violating protected zones around their nuclear installations. The government vowed to put an end to the flights, which haven’t inflicted damage. No one has publicly claimed responsibility.
“The use of drones is bringing progress but with it new risks,” the national security committee said in yesterday’s statement.
The flights exposed a security weakness described by speakers at a parliamentary hearing last month in Paris. Top military and police officials joined experts from the nuclear industry and research organizations to testify before lawmakers on the kinds of drone technology that may be at work and the risks they pose. French radar systems aren’t adapted to detect so-called mini-drones weighing a few kilograms and flying at low altitudes, Denis Mercier, Chief of Staff of the French Air Force, told the hearing.
Drone industry representatives gave evidence on the sector’s exponential growth and lack of adequate supervision……http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-12-09/france-backs-anti-drone-research-after-mystery-nuclear-flights.html
France keen to sell nuclear reactors to Czech Republic (or indeed, anybody)
French Companies Interestedin Expanding Czech Nuclear Program Sputnik News 9 Dec 14 During his visit to Prague, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said French state-controlled companies such as Electricite de France and Areva are interested in expdanding the Czech Republic’s nuclear program.MOSCOW, December 9 (Sputnik) — French energy companies are interested in developing the Czech’s nuclear program, according to country’s Prime Minister Manuel Valls.
Dyring his visit to Prague on Tuesday, Valls told a Czech-French business forum that state-controlled companies such as utility Electricite de France and nuclear engineering giant Areva “are ready to react to the decision” to expand the country’s nuclear energy output, according to Associated Press……..http://sputniknews.com/business/20141209/1015660406.html
IAEA tells France to smarten up on nuclear power safety
IAEA recommends France raises funds, workforce for nuclear safety, Reuters, PARIS Fri Nov 28, 2014 “……..As the reactors age, approaching 40-years old in the next decade, French nuclear watchdog ASN will need more frequent safety checks requiring more staff and funds, both hard to obtain given government budget constraints……..The head of ASN, Pierre-Frank Chevet, has regularly warned officials of the need to increase the authority’s budget and workforce, but has so far obtained only a fraction of its estimates…….
Chevet also called for a new tax on nuclear operators that would be ringfenced for nuclear safety.
The IAEA mission, which did not disclose the draft report to reporters, also identified issues in need for improvement in the regulatory framework for the control of medical exposure to radiation and in “processes needed to deliver ASN’s mandate.”………
The final report will be given to the French government and made public in about three months. (Reporting by Michel Rose Editing by Jeremy Gaunt) http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/11/28/us-france-nuclear-safety-idUSKCN0JC1LF20141128
Security problems surround mysterious drone flights over France’s nuclear power plants
Drone flights were first reported over at least 13 nuclear facilities in October. The flights have taken place mostly at night, involving drones of different sizes and capability, from smaller models that would need to be operated within the immediate vicinity to larger ones around two meters in size, which could be controlled from kilometres away. Flights have been carried out both in isolation and concurrently, with drones flown simultaneously over nuclear facilities hundreds of miles apart.
Risk assessment
It is difficult to assess the risk posed by the recent drone flights as at this point it is unclear who is behind them and crucially what their intentions and capabilities are…….
worryingly, drones could be used to carry explosives for detonation close to the reactor or other sensitive parts of a nuclear site, although there have been no reports to date that these drones have been carrying a malicious cargo…….
Drones could also have other malicious uses. When mounted with small cameras, they could be used to conduct reconnaissance or to test security provisions before carrying out a follow-up attack by other means. Or they could be potentially used to drop equipment onsite to help out a malicious insider. A recent case in Belgium involving the sabotage of non-nuclear systems of a power station by an employee highlights that insiders can pose a real threat……..http://theconversation.com/mystery-drones-are-buzzing-around-french-nuclear-plants-should-we-be-worried-34447
In gloomy economic situation nuclear giant AREVA “suspends” its financial outlook for 2015 and 2016.
French Nuclear Giant Areva Says Future Is Uncertain, Prompting a Sell-Off NYT, By DAVID JOLLY and STANLEY REEDNOV. 19, 2014 PARIS — Areva, the French nuclear technology giant, has warned of an uncertain outlook for its business amid delays to important projects and sluggishness in the global atomic energy sector, sending its stock tumbling on Wednesday.
The company, which is about 87 percent state-owned, said late Tuesday that it was “suspending” its financial outlook for 2015 and 2016.
Areva cited cash flow problems related to its long-delayed nuclear plant project in Finland, on Olkiluoto Island, as well as Japan’s reluctance to restart reactors after the 2011 Fukushima disaster. The company noted “the still lackluster market” for providing services to existing nuclear plants, including in its crucial home market, which draws about three-quarters of its electricity from atomic power, the highest in the world………..
The company will burn through more than 400 million euros, or about $500 million, of cash this year, he said, and might need to raise as much as €2 billion in new capital to shore up its finances. Its share price fell about 16 percent on Wednesday. Compounding the shock was the fact that the company had reaffirmed its full-year profit and sales outlook on Oct. 31, even as it said revenue for the first nine months of 2014 fell more than 14 percent from a year earlier, to €5.6 billion………http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/20/business/international/french-nuclear-giant-areva-says-future-is-uncertain-prompting-a-sell-off.html?_r=0
2015 the deadline for EDF to start closing nuclear reactors in France
EDF must start French nuclear closure in 2015 despite delay on replacement http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/11/19/france-nuclear-idUSL6N0T93HX20141119 PARIS Wed Nov 19, 2014 Nov 19 (Reuters) – EDF will still need to start shutting down some nuclear capacity in 2015 despite a new delay in finishing a replacement in northern France, the official in charge of the closure of France’s oldest plant said on Wednesday.
The French utility announced on Tuesday that it expects 1,600-megawatt Areva-designed EPR nuclear reactor in Flamanville,France, to be connected to the grid in 2017, instead of 2016.
That pushed back the production of the first megawatt of electricity to the last year of President Francois Hollande’s mandate, which terminates in May 2017. Closing the Fessenheim plant on the German border was a campaign pledge of Hollande’s.
The delay gave rise to talk that EDF could avoid closing the Fessenheim nuclear plant altogether if anew centre-right government came to power in May 2017 and repealed the energy transition law that caps nuclear capacity at 63.2 gigawatts.
But Jean-Michel Malerba, who is in charge of closing the 1,600-MW reactor, told Reuters that EDF will still have to request a production permit for Flamanville some 18 months before start-up and will also have to request a production withdrawal permit for the equivalent capacity in 2015.
“EDF will have to ask for a production authorisation for Flamanville in 2015, even if the start-up date is a bit delayed, and on that occasion they will have to declare which reactors they want to shut to obtain that authorisation,” he said.
The official said Article 55 of the energy transition bill, which won approval from the lower house of parliament last month, requires EDF to request a production authorisation no later than 18 months before April 2017.
Energy Minister Segolene Royal suggested in September that keeping Fessenheim open, where half a billion euros ($630 million) of maintenance investment has been made in recent years, was a possibility. (Reporting by Michel Rose)
1 This Month
Shut down the radiation-damaged Heysham nuclear reactors now
To see nuclear-related stories in greater depth and intensity – go to https://nuclearinformation.wordpress.com
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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