UK government wooing county Kent to accept nuclear waste dump
Wetlands of Romney Marsh in Kent could become new home of nuclear waste dump Mail Online, By SUZANNAH HILLS, 17 May 2012 The wildlife-rich wetlands of Romney Marsh in Kent could become the home of an underground nuclear waste dumping ground if government plans get the go ahead.
Thousands of letters have been sent by Shepway District Council to residents living in the area as part of a consultation over the proposal for a multi-million pound Nuclear Research and Disposal Facility.
Under the plans, hazardous nuclear waste would be buried between 200m to 1000m below the ground in underground vaults, while a research facility would be constructed on the surface…. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2145628/Wetlands-Romney-Marsh-Kent-new-home-nuclear-waste-dump.html#ixzz1vGB2CiZp
Kent County Council opposes nuclear waste bunker plan
Kent nuclear waste bunker proposal considered BBC News 16 May 12 A bunker used to store nuclear waste from all over the UK could be built in Kent, under a council’s plans. Shepway District Council is examining whether a nuclear disposal facility, where waste is buried underground, could be built at Romney Marsh. The authority said it could bring jobs to the area as Dungeness A and B power stations are phased out.
However, Kent County Council said it would use “every tool in the box” to oppose the scheme. The Romney Marsh Nuclear Research and Disposal Facility would be buried 200m (656ft) to 1,000m (3,280ft) below ground…..
Council leader’s ‘horror’ The leader of Kent County Council, Paul Carter, said his authority
opposed the plan and would push for a county-wide referendum if necessary. “We are totally opposed to initiating any process that even entertains the possibility of building a nuclear waste disposal site anywhere near or around Kent,” he said. “We will do everything possible to oppose this unviable proposal and will use every tool in the box to bring an end to this scheme…. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-18086988
UK govt’s problem – how to make a nuclear subsidy look like ‘not a subsidy’
The coalition government pledged ‘no public subsidy’ for nuclear in its ‘programme for government’ in May 2010.
When is support not a subsidy? UK nuclear London South East, Gerard Wynn , LONDON, May 16 – A British government argument that its planned
support for new nuclear power stops short of a subsidy, to satisfy EU regulators and a coalition pledge, only adds to the sense of a policy in trouble.
The planned UK nuclear build programme would be the biggest in the developed world, but is under threat after the exit of two backers. The economics are not helped by delays and cost over-runs at projects elsewhere in Europe and by low wholesale power prices.
The awkwardness of trying to stand by a commitment to ‘no subsidy,’ even while it accepts the technology needs support, risks boxing the government into a corner. Its predicament illustrates how the technology is struggling to maintain a toehold …
Whether the British programme proceeds will depend on cost, including the amount of price support, plus public acceptance of the technology and the government’s ‘no subsidy’ position, Continue reading
UK’s nuclear programme: election of France’s President Hollande increases uncertainty
Now doubt has been cast over the commitment of a joint EDF Energy/Centrica consortium to fulfil its commitment to build two other nuclear reactors at Hinkley Point in Somerset and Sizewell in Suffolk.
EDF is state-owned and while President Sarkozy had a warm relationship with the nuclear sector, his successor, Francois Hollande does not. During his election campaign, M Hollande pledged to close 24 of France’s 58 reactors and to reduce reliance on atomic power.
French threat to UK energy: François Hollande could close nuclear plants By Oliver Wright, 16 May 2012 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/world-news/french-threat-to-uk-energy-franois-hollande-could-close-nuclear-plants-16159391.html#ixzz1v5yddT1I Belfast Telegraph, “……Britain’s nascent new nuclear programme is in trouble, due to a combination of the economic crisis, the disaster in Fukushima and changing political winds.
Yesterday, giving evidence to Parliament, the Energy Minister Charles Hendry appeared to be unable to guarantee with certainty that any of the five agreed new nuclear power plants would go ahead…… Continue reading
Britain’s new nuclear programme in deep trouble
French threat to UK energy: François Hollande could close nuclear plants By Oliver Wright, 16 May 2012 http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/world-news/french-threat-to-uk-energy-franois-hollande-could-close-nuclear-plants-16159391.html#ixzz1v5yddT1I
Belfast Telegraph, “……Britain’s nascent new nuclear programme is in trouble, due to a combination of the economic crisis, the disaster in Fukushima and changing political winds.
Yesterday, giving evidence to Parliament, the Energy Minister Charles
Hendry appeared to be unable to guarantee with certainty that any of
the five agreed new nuclear power plants would go ahead…… The
first sign of trouble came in March when the German power companies,
RWE npower and E.ON, announced they were pulling out of their joint
venture to build two of the six planned new nuclear reactors at Wylfa
in North Wales and Oldbury-on-Severn, Gloucestershire. ….
it was not practical to go-ahead with a £15bn investment in the UK.
Now doubt has been cast over the commitment of a joint EDF
Energy/Centrica consortium to fulfil its commitment to build two other
nuclear reactors at Hinkley Point in Somerset and Sizewell in Suffolk.
EDF is state-owned and while President Sarkozy had a warm relationship
with the nuclear sector, his successor, Francois Hollande does not.
During his election campaign, M Hollande pledged to close 24 of
France’s 58 reactors and to reduce reliance on atomic power.
With EDF expected to make a final decision on whether to go ahead with
the UK projects by the end of the year the change of Government could
not have come at a worse time…..
The third nuclear consortium, Nugen, comprises Iberdrola, owner of
Scottish Power, and GDF Suez, the French state-owned gas giant.
Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) was part of the consortium, but
pulled out in September, citing huge costs. ….
Tim Yeo, Chairman of the House of Commons Energy and Climate Change
Committee puts it: “Nuclear energy is exposed to what happens around
the world.
“The industrial nuclear accident in Japan, a decision taken in
Germany, the change in Government in France – all these three things
have a direct impact on global investment in nuclear in this country.
However good the intention is, we are exposed in a particular way –
unlike with some other energy sources – to what happens in countries
quite a long way away which are outside our control.”
Mr Hendry confirmed yesterday that the British Government has no
objection to allowing the contracts for new nuclear to pass to nuclear
nations such as China, Russia and Japan to keep the programme alive.
He said: “As long as they can satisfy us on the safety and the
security then we are happy to talk to them.”
The handing over of such sensitive technology to China or Russia is
certain to re-ignite concerns.
Hinkley nuclear power plans grind to a halt
Hinkley nuclear power station delay deals blow to government hopes Earthwork preparation of Hinkley site put back as election of Francois Hollande as French president hits confidence Damian Carrington guardian.co.uk, 14 May 2012 Massive earthworks needed to prepare the ground for a new nuclear power station at Hinkley in Somerset have been delayed, dealing a further blow to the government’s energy plans.
Half of the big six energy firms have already abandoned their nuclear plans as too costly, but Hinkley is backed by the most pro-nuclear of them, EDF, which is 83% owned by the French state….. Continue reading
Recycling plutonium more dangerous and costly than burying it
Experts urge Britain to bury plutonium rather than recycling
http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20120510p2g00m0in010000c.html 10 May 12, WASHINGTON (Kyodo) — Four U.S. nuclear experts urged Britain to bury plutonium rather than recycling for fuel for nuclear reactors as it is more cost-effective, according to the British science journal Nature’s Thursday edition.
Citing an estimate in 2000 that recycling plutonium from spent fuel to make mixed oxide fuel adds $750 million each year to the cost of electric power generation in France, the four said, ”Britain should seriously evaluate the less costly and less risky method of direct
plutonium disposal, and take the opportunity to lead the world towards a better solution for reducing stockpiles.” Continue reading
Middle East joins the throng marketing nuclear reactors to Britain
Wylfa: Chinese, US and Mid East investors ‘may bid for Horizon Nuclear Power’ BBC News North West Wales, 6 May 12 Investors from Chinese, America and Middle East are the latest said to be interested in a bid to build a new nuclear reactor on Anglesey.
Last month Russian state-owned Rosatom was reported to be interested in buying Horizon Nuclear Power to build a replacement for ageing Wylfa reactors.
German owners E.ON and RWE npower have shelved the £8bn plan.
News agency Reuters has quoted industry sources saying the other investors are also interested in Horizon… “There are five groups interested overall,” said the source , who Reuters said had direct knowledge of the deals but who asked not to be identified…. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-west-wales-17977739
UK govt betrays its promises by cutting solar energy funding
Mr Cameron told a conference in London of energy ministers from 23 countries that Britain would deliver on its renewable energy commitments.
Thousands of jobs at risk after PM abandons solar subsidies Senior figures in the industry say they face a bleak future as demand for panels collapses INDEPENDENT UK NIGEL MORRIS 07 MAY 2012 NEW MOVES TO REDUCE SUBSIDIES FOR FITTING SOLAR PANELS ON HOMES ARE JEOPARDISING BRITAIN’S HOPES OF HITTING RENEWABLE ENERGY TARGETS AND THREATENING THOUSANDS OF JOBS, DAVID CAMERON WAS WARNED LAST NIGHT.
Some 400 senior figures in the solar energy industry said demand for panels has collapsed since the Government started slashing financial incentives for families that want to go green. Continue reading
UK government’s unsustainable push for nuclear power
The eye-watering expense of nuclear power, Guardian UK, by Jonathon Porritt, 4 May 12 The coalition wants us to depend more and more on nuclear power, but quite simply, it is too expensive to be able to deliver “….. It doesn’t really matter what you think: it cannot possibly deliver – primarily for economic reasons.
Nuclear reactors are massively expensive. They take a long time to build. And even when they’re up and running, they’re nothing like as reliable as the industry would have us believe. Continue reading
Secret history of UK’s Dalgety Beach radioactive pollution
Secret report warned that Dalgety Bay posed a radiation risk.. in 1958 http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2012/05/03/secret-report-warned-that-dalgety-bay-posed-a-radiation-risk-in-1958-86908-23846064/ May 3 2012 A SECRET report in 1958 warned of a radiation risk on a Scottish beach – but was ignored by the Government, it emerged yesterday. Continue reading
UK may have 1000 radioactive waste sites
Nuclear waste ‘may be blighting 1,000 UK sites‘ MoD under fire after report finds number of contaminated sites is far higher than previously estimated Rob Edwards, guardian.co.uk, 2 May 2012 Hundreds of sites across England and Wales could be contaminated with radioactive waste from old military bases and factories, according to a new government report. Continue reading
Report on financial problems in investing in new nuclear power
THE FINANCIAL RISKS OF INVESTING IN NEW NUCLEAR POWER PLANTSThere is increasing recognition in the business world that investing in new nuclear power stations is commercially risky.
This report describes five major types of risk for any investor considering putting money into new nuclear plants, with particular emphasis on the situation in the UK: Continue reading
China joins the frenzy to sell nuclear reactors to Britain
CHINA POWERS UP £6BN NUCLEAR BID , Express UK, April 29,2012 By Tracey Boles ONE of China’s state-backed nuclear companies is in talks to invest more than $10 billion (£6 billion) in Britain’s new nuclear reactors.
According to Whitehall sources, the State Nuclear Power Technology Corporation is considering funding a bid for Horizon, the nuclear venture put up for sale by German utilities RWE and Eon. It is in talks about joining forces with Japan’s Toshiba which owns
Westinghouse, the reactor designer formerly owned by the UK government. Over time, the tie-up could be worth $60 billion (£37 billion), sources said. Continue reading
French firm EDF pressurises UK government to subsidise nuclear power
EDF boss piles pressure on government over nuclear plans 5 April 2012 | By Vern Pitt Head of French energy firm wants guaranteed price for nuclear power which greens oppose as a subsidy
The head of French energy firm EDF Energy has piled pressure on the government to speed up its energy market reform plans, so the firm can build new nuclear power plants in the UK.
Although deputy prime minister Nick Clegg pledged earlier this month to push on with the reforms in the next session of Parliament the government is not due to have its electricity market reforms on the statute book until spring 2013.
Speaking at an infrastructure conference today in London, Vincent de Rivaz, chief executive of EDF Energy, said: We are getting on with the job [of building new nuclear power plants] and we are gathering pace. Our determination needs to be matched with visible momentum from government.
It s critical the government continues to make progress with electricity market reform.
Although EDF has already spent millions on developing its first nuclear project at Hinkley Point in Somerset, it will not make a decision on whether to commit to the scheme until later this year.
He said that certainty on how contracts for difference , the part of the reforms that will allow the government to set a higher energy price for low carbon technologies, would work was crucial to the firm s investment decision.
But green campaigners have described such a system as a subsidy for nuclear power.
Nick Molho, head of energy policy at WWF, said the contracts amounted to a subsidy for a 60-year old technology .
He added: This is a recognition that nuclear power plants cannot be built in a liberalised electricity market and still need government support.
De Rivaz s comments follow calls from the construction industry to speed up the reforms so that a buyer can be found for Horizon Nuclear Power, which was put up for sale by joint investors RWE N-power and E.ON last month.
Horizon Nuclear Power has licences for two sites where it expects to build nuclear power plants.
This week MPs on the energy select committee said they would investigate the future of the nuclear industry in the wake of the Horizon sale.
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