Inside UK Labour’s plans for a new nuclear age
Before the end of the year, Ed Miliband is expected to announce the next
phase of Britain’s nuclear power revival. The energy secretary has
inherited decisions on two major programmes that could help bring forward a
new nuclear age in the UK — Sizewell C in Suffolk and a fleet of mini
nuclear plants around Britain.
In its election manifesto, Labour lent its
support to nuclear as playing an important role in the shift towards clean [?]
power and improving energy security.
Sceptics of ambitions to build out
Britain’s nuclear industry point towards the delays and budgeting
difficulties that have beset Hinkley Point C as a bad omen for expanding
the UK industry.
The developers have called out the 7,000 design changes it
was forced to make to its reactors by the Office for Nuclear Regulation to
adapt the reactors to UK safety standards, increasing the amount of
concrete and steel needed and pushing up costs.
The project has also been
caught up in wrangling with the Environment Agency and it is still in
dispute over how to best deter fish from swimming near the site and getting
sucked up into its cooling systems.
There is believed to be a £5 billion
funding gap, but CGN’s liability for the project is capped at £6
billion, which leaves the French state on the hook. A fixed, albeit
inflation-linked, subsidy of £92.50 per megawatt-hour (in 2012 prices) was
agreed when Hinkley was signed off, so any increase in costs falls on
shareholders, rather than directly on bill payers.
A final investment decision on [Sizewell C] had been expected by the summer. The hope now is that the project might get the green light before the end of the year, but
there is speculation that it may slip into next year. The government is
expected to launch a new generation of mini nuclear power plants across the
country.
The selection process is being run by Great British Nuclear, an
arm’s-length body set up under the previous government to drive nuclear
deployment. Five ventures, including Rolls-Royce and GE-Hitachi, a joint
venture between GE Vernova, the American energy equipment manufacturer, and
Hitachi, the Japanese conglomerate, have submitted bids for £20 billion in
taxpayer funding.
The plan is to whittle down the list to three or four
designs by the end of this month, with the winning bids chosen before the
end of the year. It is hoped that the chosen technology providers will take
a final investment decision by 2029.
The first small modular reactor is not
expected to be generating electricity before 2035, not in time to
contribute towards Labour’s 2030 net zero goals. Miliband has said the
new government will “strive” to keep to the timetable previously set
out.
When the winning mini nuclear plant designs are chosen, they will be
assigned an operating site by Great British Nuclear. There are eight sites
currently approved for nuclear development in the UK, including Wylfa in
Anglesey, the Sellafield site in Cumbria and Heysham in Lancashire. A deal
in March with Hitachi brought two sites — Wylfa and Oldbury-on-Severn in
Gloucestershire — back under government ownership.
Moorside, which is adjacent to the Sellafield facility is also state-owned, which makes all
three likely potential sites for the first small modular reactors (SMRs).
Rolls-Royce, which is considered a frontrunner in the selection process,
has previously said it has identified four potential parcels of land,
including Oldbury and Moorside, as its preferred locations. However, it is
envisioned that for small modular reactors to fully realise the benefits of
scale, development on more new sites will be needed.
Looser planning rules
are expected to allow these reactors almost anywhere outside built-up
areas.
Times 4th Sept 2024
UK suspends 30 arms exports to Israel over Gaza war crimes concerns
Arms campaigners and human rights groups welcome ban, but say move does not go far enough
MIDDLE EAST EYE, By Dania Akkad and Imran Mulla, 2 September 2024
The UK has suspended 30 arms export licences to Israel following a review under the new Labour government which found that British-made weapons may have been used in the violation of international humanitarian law in Gaza.
Arms campaigners and rights advocates who have pressed for a full suspension of arms sales to Israel for months welcomed the decision, but criticised the continued export of F-35 fighter jet components which one called “a workhorse of Israel’s brutal bombing campaign”.
The suspension, announced by Foreign Secretary David Lammy in parliament on Monday, covers components for other types of military aircraft, including fighter planes, helicopters and drones. Around 320 other licences, including for items for civilian use, remain in place.
Under its arms exporting criteria, the government is obligated to suspend licences for arms exports if it determines that there is a clear risk that British weapons might be used in serious violations of international humanitarian law.
“Facing a conflict such as this, it is this government’s legal duty to review export licences,” Lammy told MPs. ………………………………….
Lammy also said the government was “deeply concerned” about reports of mistreatment of Palestinian detainees, which the International Committee of the Red Cross has not been able to investigate after being denied access.
“My predecessor and major allies have raised these concerns,” he said of the detainees. “Regrettably, these have not been addressed satisfactorily.”
He added that Britain would continue to support Israel if it was under attack, particularly from Iran, announcing fresh sanctions against three members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. …………
‘Took too long, not far enough’
The announcement cames hours before two organisations which have challenged the UK government in the High Court over the continued exports were set to pursue fresh legal action in an attempt to force the exports to stop immediately.
Lawyers with the UK-based Global Legan Action Network (Glan) and the Palestinian human rights group Al-Haq said they told the government last week of their intent to request an emergency order and had planned to do this at a Tuesday morning hearing.
But late on Monday, the organisations said they would now consider whether the announced ban was “extensive enough to meet the gravity of the situation and assess whether further litigation remains necessary”………………………………………
Without F-35 components included in the ban list, campaigners and human rights groups which have called for a blanket end of UK arms exports to Israel sales for months said the announcement fell short…………………………………………………………………. more https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/uk-suspends-30-arms-exports-israel-over-gaza-war-crimes-concerns
Complex compensation scheme represents tacit admission that nuke dump causes blight.
Viewers familiar with the advice of TV house-hunters, Kirsty and Phil will
know that the ‘Location, Location, Location’ of a property relative to
local amenities and beauty spots is often a major determinant of price.
Imagine then how crestfallen an eager would-be purchaser on the show would
be to discover that the seaside home of their dreams they had just viewed
might in the future be blighted by a massive mining project akin to
building the Channel Tunnel, into which the UK’s most deadly stockpile of
radioactive waste would be deposited for eternity?
The UK/Ireland Nuclear Free Local Authorities would be completely unsurprised that such news might cause prospective buyers to back out or make an offer for the property
which is substantially below the asking price.
This has been the fear of
some prospective property owners wishing to sell their homes in the three
Search Areas in West Cumbria and East Lincolnshire where investigations by
Nuclear Waste Services are currently underway to determine if these might
be the ‘location, location, location’ for their Geological Disposal
Facility.
NFLA 2nd Sept 2024
A staggering £5.5bn more of our taxpayers’ money to be thrown at this white elephant, Sizewell C nuclear
A Stop Sizewell C spokesperson said: “At a time when the overarching
message from the Labour government is that there is no money, this is an
extraordinary statement. Sizewell C has already chewed through £2.5bn, and
now we learn that there is the potential for a staggering £5.5bn more of
our taxpayers’ money to be thrown at this white elephant. “Labour
complained about a black hole in the country’s finances yet now they are
proposing to dig still further. Where would this cash come from?”
New Civil Engineer 2nd Sept 2024, https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/sizewell-c-to-receive-up-to-a-further-5-5bn-of-taxpayer-cash-02-09-2024/
Nuclear power scheme given £5.5bn of funding
Neve Gordon-Farleigh & PA, BBC News, Suffolk 30 Aug 24, https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp358ywx7e7o—
Up to £5.5bn of government money has been unlocked as part of a new nuclear power station subsidy scheme.
The money will be used for “development expenditure” including enabling works at Sizewell C in Suffolk, before a final investment decision is made.
The government has already spent £2.5bn on the project and while a final investment decision is yet to be made, the government says it is “committed” to carrying out the project.
However, campaign group Stop Sizewell C, said the money would dig further into a financial “black hole”.
While building permission for the project has been granted for the 3.2 gigawatt site, it could take 12 years to construct if funding is secured.
Land between Aldeburgh and Southwold has been earmarked for the site……………………………………………
‘White elephant’
The new Labour government vowed to back this project and other nuclear developments earlier this year.
However, the scheme’s opponents Stop Sizewell C claimed the project will be “slow” to build, harm nearby habitats and damage the tourism economy along the Suffolk Coast.
A spokesperson from the group, said the money was an “extraordinary statement”.
“Sizewell C has already chewed through £2.5 billion, and now we learn that there is the potential for a staggering £5.5 billion more of our taxpayers’ money to be thrown at this white elephant.
“Labour complained about a black hole in the country’s finances yet now they are proposing to dig still further.”
SNP activists whoop as leader John Swinney tells party conference an independent Scotland will give up nuclear deterrent and rejoin the EU
SNP activists cheered today as John Swinney told party conference an independent Scotland will give up the nuclear deterrent and rejoin the EU.
The First Minister tried to be upbeat in his keynote speech in Edinburgh – despite the separatists suffering a meltdown at the general election…………………………….
………….there was rapturous applause as Mr Swinney delivered a series of jibes at UK policies.
‘Labour’s Foreign Secretary thinks Labour should be as proud of creating the UK’s weapons of mass destruction as they are of creating the NHS,’ he said.
‘The SNP wants to see the end of nuclear weapons. With independence, Trident will be removed from Scotland once and for all. …………………………………………………………………….. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13802185/SNP-leader-John-Swinney-conference-independent-Scotland-nuclear-deterrent-EU-Brexit-election.html
Campaigners against government scheme boost for Sizewell C
“Funds wasted on Sizewell C would be better spent on measures such as insulation and energy efficiency that could reduce bills now.”
By Oli Picton, 31st August, https://www.lowestoftjournal.co.uk/news/24554123.campaigners-government-scheme-boost-sizewell-c/
The government has announced billions of pounds in funding is available to Sizewell C in a proposal that has been branded “appalling” by campaigners.
Together Against Sizewell C (TASC) responded to the government’s announcement that up to £5.5 billion has been unlocked for a new nuclear power station subsidy scheme – with Sizewell C Limited set to be the main beneficiary.
Approval for the building of a third site at the coastal town was granted in 2020 under the previous Conservative government.
………………….A department spokesperson said: “Subject to all the relevant approvals we aim to reach a final investment decision before the end of the year, and we have established a new subsidy scheme of up to £5.5 billion to provide certainty and ensure the project has access to the necessary financial support to remain on track………
However, TASC argue that the project will be “slow to build”, harm nearby habitats and damage the tourism around Suffolk’s coastline.
Jenny Kirtley, chairperson for TASC, said: “We find this announcement appalling – Labour promised ‘change’ but there is no change here.
“Funds wasted on Sizewell C would be better spent on measures such as insulation and energy efficiency that could reduce bills now.”
“Labour complained about a black hole in the country’s finances yet now they are proposing to dig still further.”
In July, Chancellor Rachel Reeves warned that there was a £22 billion “black hole” left by the previous government, encouraging Labour to reduce the winter fuel allowance for millions of pensioners across the country.
UK arrests TWO prominent anti-genocide journalists under ‘anti-terrorism’ laws, as West ramps up attacks on dissenters
Human rights activist Sarah Wilkinson arrested by UK police
Her arrest follows the detention of Syrian-British journalist Richard Medhurst in London and Telegram founder Pavel Durov in Paris
News Desk, AUG 29, 2024, https://thecradle.co/articles-id/26634
British human rights activist and social media influencer Sarah Wilkinson was arrested by UK police on 29 August, reportedly over “content she posted online.”
“The police came to her house just before 7.30am. [Twelve] of them in total, some of them in plain clothes from the counter-terrorism police. They said she was under arrest for ‘content that she has posted online.’ Her house is being raided, and they have seized all her electronic devices,” Jack Wilkinson is quoted as saying by the social media account Suppressed News.
“The pro-genocide UK regime has arrested [MENAUncensored’s] roving reporter and Human Rights Activist Sarah Wilkinson for supporting the Palestinian resistance and relaying what is really happening in Gaza and the West Bank to the world,” MENA Uncensored announced via social media, alleging Wilkinson was accused of supporting “terrorism.”
UK police did not issue a statement about Wilkinson’s arrest at the time of publication.
The British activist and reporter has been an outspoken critic of the Israeli genocide of Palestinians in Gaza. Earlier this year, she took part in the “Freedom Flotilla Coalition,” an international initiative that tried to deliver humanitarian aid directly into Gaza.
Wilkinson’s arrest comes two weeks after Syrian-British journalist Richard Medhurst was detained and questioned by UK police upon his arrival at Heathrow Airport under the Terrorism Act, Section 12.
“I believe I’m the first journalist to be arrested under this provision of the Terrorism Act. I feel that this is a political persecution and hampers my ability to work as a journalist,” Medhurst explained.
Other British journalists who have reported critically on Israeli, UK, and US foreign policy have also been detained and harassed upon returning to their home country, including The Cradle contributor Kit Klarenberg and Vanessa Beeley.
Last week, Telegram founder Pavel Durov was arrested in Paris and faces being indicted on 12 different charges, including refusing to “share information or documents with investigators when required by law” and “complicity in managing an online platform to allow illicit transactions by an organized group.”
Durov’s messaging app has played a significant role in the ongoing information war surrounding the genocide in Gaza. Supporters of the Palestinians have been able to use the app to freely share information exposing ongoing Israeli war crimes while highlighting the efforts of Hamas, Hezbollah, Yemen, and Iran to resist Israel.
It just seems crazy what is happening. It reminds me of the Birmingham six. The fact that traditional UK media is ignoring both Medhurst and Wilkinson is shocking.
UK unveils GBP 5.5bn subsidy plan for 3.2 GW nuclear plant
The UK government has approved a GBP 5.5bn subsidy scheme aimed at getting the planned 3.2 GW Sizewell C nuclear power plant in southeast England to a final investment decision (FID) later this year.
Reporting by: Kelly Paul, 30 Aug 2024 ,
https://montelnews.com/news/4f3631b9-b370-4dda-a878-61850539b094/uk-unveils-gbp-55bn-subsidy-plan-for-32-gw-nuclear-plant
The so-called Sizewell C Development Expenditure (Devex) Scheme will enable the government to increase equity injections into the project, giving it greater flexibility to cover development costs up to and including an FID, it said in a statement on Friday.
Funding for the Devex scheme will be subject to the Labour government’s forthcoming spending review.
The UK is targeting 50 GW of nuclear capacity by 2050 as part of its plans for energy security. Currently, the country’s eight nuclear power sites have a total combined capacity of about 6.5 GW.
The government is seeking private investors for Sizewell C via a regulated asset base (RAB) financing mechanism.
Sizewell C received a nuclear site licence from the country’s Office for Nuclear Regulation in May.
White elephant?
However, in the wake of today’s announcement, campaign group Stop Sizewell C questioned where the money was going to come from.
“Sizewell C has already chewed through GBP 2.5bn and now we learn that there is the potential for a staggering GBP 5.5bn more of our taxpayers’ money to be thrown at this white elephant,” it said in a statement.
“Labour complained about a black hole in the country’s finances, yet now they are proposing to dig still further. Where would this cash come from?”
Acid discharge and risk assessment shortfall at Cheshire nuclear-site
Companies on a nuclear site were served improvement notices following an
acid leak and a risk assessment shortfall. Watchdog, the Office for Nuclear
Regulation (ONR), told a tenant and contractor on the Urenco UK site they
must improve the safety of its operations.
It follows two separate and
unconnected issues on the site in Capenhurst, near Ellesmere Port, in May
and July which were investigated by ONR inspectors. The first improvement
notice was issued to Urenco ChemPlants, a tenant organisation on the site,
after acid was discharged from a pipework leak at the Tails Management
Facility in May.
Liverpool Echo 30th Aug 2024
https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/toxic-acid-leak-nuclear-site-29831937
UK government’s new scheme to subsidise Sizewell nuclear project with support up to £5.5 billion !
On 30 August 2024, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ)
published details of a new subsidy scheme – the Sizewell C Devex Scheme –
to enable continued support to the development of the proposed new nuclear
power plant Sizewell C (SZC) to the point of a Final Investment Decision
(FID) and thereby ultimately reach operation.
This follows the Competition
and Markets Authority’s consideration of DESNZ’s assessment of the Devex
Scheme’s compliance with the requirements under the Subsidy Control Act
2022 earlier this year. More specifically, this Devex Scheme will provide
the government with greater flexibility to cover development expenditure
costs up to and including FID, subject to appropriate Value for Money (VfM)
assessments and approvals at the relevant time.
The total value of support
allowed by the scheme is £5.5 billion. Further details of the Devex Scheme,
and of investments made under the scheme, will be reported on the relevant
page of the subsidies database.
DESNZ 30th Aug 2024
Labour Government must give ‘absolute commitment’ to nuclear test veterans
The Nuclear Free Local Authorities have called on the new Labour
Government to give an ‘absolute commitment’ to righting the injustice
and recompensing the suffering of British nuclear test veteran community
which has lasted for over seventy years.
NFLA 29th Aug 2024
Lakenheath Alliance for Peace (LAP) will have an ongoing presence at American air force base.
Lakenheath Alliance for Peace / NFLAs Joint Media Release – Watching
Lakenheath. Following the successful two-week peace walk and camp in July,
Lakenheath Alliance for Peace (LAP) will have an ongoing presence at USAF
Lakenheath.
The base, the largest American air force base in the UK, is
preparing to accept weapons of mass destruction once more. LAP will hold a
further 10-day peace camp next Easter, from 14th-25th April 2025, and
monthly vigils in the meantime, from 12-2 on the last Saturday each month
(except December). The first of these will be on Saturday August 31st, noon
till 2 pm outside the Main Gate to RAF Lakenheath on the A1065. The
location is Brandon Rd, Lakenheath IP27 9PS.
NFLA 28th Aug 2024
Sellafield Ltd told to improve after hazardous substance breaches
Sellafield Ltd has been handed two improvement notices after hazardous
substance control breaches. The Office for Nuclear Regulation has served
the notices after breaches of The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health
Regulations 2002.
Enforcement action was taken after Sellafield Ltd failed
to manage the risks of working with nickel nitrate and to prevent or
adequately control exposure of workers to this hazardous substance in one
of its effluent facilities. These shortfalls did not compromise either
nuclear or radiological safety. Used in the treatment of effluent, nickel
nitrate is not radioactive, but is a hazardous substance and could cause
harm to the health of a worker exposed to it.
To mitigate these risks,
operations involving the chemical should be conducted in a glovebox to
protect workers from any harmful health effects. In one facility on site,
contamination was found outside the glovebox area, which resulted in
workers potentially being exposed to the chemical. A poorly designed and
maintained glovebox appeared to have contributed to the contamination.
Cumbria Crack 27th Aug 2024
Britain’s Dirtiest Beaches – Don’t Mention the Pu!
The cocktail of radioactive wastes on our beaches is a direct result of the uranium fuel industry whose product is actually nuclear wastes rather than the ephemeral here today gone tomorrow electricity.
On By mariannewildart, https://mariannewildart.wordpress.com/2024/08/23/britains-dirtiest-beaches-dont-mention-the-pu/
Seascale and Haverigg are in the top 10 dirtiest beaches for poo – they also contain Pu (Plutonium) but no-one is looking at the health impacts of long lived radio-toxic pollution on our beaches.
The West Cumbrian coastline cradling the World Heritage Site of the Lake District has two entries in the top 10 dirtiest beaches featured in yesterday’s Express. While much is made quite rightly of the health impacts of sewage pollution no-one is willing to talk about the Pu (Plutonium) on West Cumbrian beaches and in harbours near the worlds riskiest nuclear waste site. Sellafield has a larger workforce 11,000+ than all the surrounding towns and villages put together. According to the Environment Agency “We are working with Sellafield Limited to investigate the potential impact of non-radioactive discharges from the Sellafield site. The primary focus is on sewage originating from the toilet facilities provided on site for the Sellafield workforce. The work is considering whether the level of sewage treatment needs to be enhanced to improve and protect the bathing water quality at Seascale thus protecting public health”. 2024 Bathing Water Profile for Seascale.
The West Cumbrian coastline cradling the World Heritage Site of the Lake District has two entries in the top 10 dirtiest beaches featured in yesterday’s Express. While much is made quite rightly of the health impacts of sewage pollution no-one is willing to talk about the Pu (Plutonium) on West Cumbrian beaches and in harbours near the worlds riskiest nuclear waste site. Sellafield has a larger workforce 11,000+ than all the surrounding towns and villages put together. According to the Environment Agency “We are working with Sellafield Limited to investigate the potential impact of non-radioactive discharges from the Sellafield site. The primary focus is on sewage originating from the toilet facilities provided on site for the Sellafield workforce. The work is considering whether the level of sewage treatment needs to be enhanced to improve and protect the bathing water quality at Seascale thus protecting public health”. 2024 Bathing Water Profile for Seascale.
Nuclear wastes continue to arrive daily and a vicious cocktail of nuclear wastes continues to pour into the Irish Sea daily. Enough was enough decades ago. But this gargantuan radio-toxic turd on the Lake District coastline continues to accept nuclear wastes from existing reactors in the UK while MPs, government and the nuclear industry agitate for ever more nuclear waste from new build next to Sellafeld and elsewhere.
The cocktail of radioactive wastes on our beaches is a direct result of the uranium fuel industry whose product is actually nuclear wastes rather than the ephemeral here today gone tomorrow electricity.
So the nuclear waste industry’s message is ‘Don’t mention the Pu.’ In fact the nuclear industry has a vested interest in encouraging youngsters to dig for hours on the beaches – its great PR for the nuclear waste industry and says “look we are great neighbours and we are giving you (tax payers) money for your beach events because the beaches are soooo safe.”
1 This Month
Chernobyl: The Lost Tapes – A good documentary on Chernobyl on SBS available On Demand for the next 3 weeks– https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/tv-program/chernobyl-the-lost-tapes/2352741955560
of the week–London Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
Tell the Ukrainian Government to Drop Prosecution of Peace Activist Yurii Sheliazhenko
To see nuclear-related stories in greater depth and intensity – go to https://nuclearinformation.wordpress.com
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