Work starts on new national nuclear college , News and Star UK New National College for Nuclear Northern Hub breaking ground at Lakes College. 18 October 2016
Work on the new £15 million National College for Nuclear, at Lillyhall, started this week.
Set to open next September, the hi-tech facility will become one of two centres. The second will be built at Bridgewater in Somerset.
The Northern Hub, built at the Lakes College site, will feature virtual reality suites allowing learners to experience nuclear installations in a virtual environment, science and radiation laboratories and specialised design and modelling suites.
To mark the occasion, the first sod for the nuclear college was cut at a ground breaking ceremony at the site on Monday.
The region’s industry chiefs turned up to witness the event along with students who will use the college.
The National College for Nuclear will train the next generation of nuclear workers in a range of specialised careers, and aims to train over 7,000 learners across both facilities by 2020………
Chris Nattress, principal of Lakes College, said……
October 19, 2016
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Russia to Continue Assisting India in Developing Nuclear Energy Industry (Sputnik) – Russia will go on providing assistance to India in developing nuclear energy industry, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Saturday after signing a set of documents on cooperation with India as he met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. https://sputniknews.com/news/201610151046360579-russia-india-nuclear-energy/
October 18, 2016
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NUCLEAR WARNING: Cyber risk for power plants over revelation attacks happen ‘all the time’ Express UK , By MONIKA PALLENBERG AND ZOIE O’BRIEN, 14 Oct 16, NUCLEAR power plants across the globe are being hit by cyber attacks “all the time”, Express.co.uk can reveal, after a warning from the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Yukiya Amano revealed hack attempts are becoming “a serious threat” to the plants.
During a trip to Berlin he said a successful hack had the capability to disturb procedures and facilities, which could lead to serious consequences. Attacks on nuclear bases have a long history since many reactors, although built before computers, have been retrofitted.
The IAEA boss said attacks on security are “no imaginary danger” anymore. Mr Amano spoke about “disturbing, but not destructive” attacks, although admitted they had caused “considerable problems”.
Precautionary measures are in place at 23 Korean reactors, who have already fallen victims to data theft.
Although data was not critical, as the company Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power assured, but the security systems had to be strengthened.
However, those familiar with nuclear plants said attacks are frequent………http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/721341/Cyber-risk-nuclear-power-plants-attacks-frequent
October 15, 2016
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THE REAL NUCLEAR THREAT By Lawrence M. Krauss, New Yorker, 13 Oct 16 Donald Trump’s candidacy has been a source of anxiety for many reasons, but one stands out: the ability of the President to launch nuclear weapons. When it comes to starting a nuclear war, the President has more freedom than he or she does in, say, ordering the use of torture. In fact, the President has unilateral power to direct the use of nuclear weapons under any circumstances. Cabinet members may disagree and even resign in protest, but, ultimately, they must obey the order of the Commander-in-Chief. It’s all too easy to imagine Trump issuing an ultimate, thermonuclear “You’re fired!” to China, Iran, or another nation—and perhaps to the whole human race.*……….
Trump….. genuinely seems to be a man who speaks and acts without significant forethought. He’s also someone who—as his debate performances have shown—responds to slights by lashing out against adversaries irrationally and without thinking about the consequences. And Trump has done little to reassure us about nuclear weapons specifically. He has expressed an affinity for massive bombing, proposing to “bomb the shit” out of oil fields in Iraq to counter isis. During a March interview with MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough, he said that he would consider using nuclear weapons in Europe, of all places. More generally, he’s disengaged from the realities of international affairs……
there’s no such thing as limited use of nuclear weapons. Retaliation and escalation are extremely likely. Even the use of nuclear weapons in a “local” conflict—say, between India and Pakistan—would have disastrous consequences. Millions would die in the initial nuclear exchange, of course. But the
residue from the nuclear blasts would also produce long-term climate changes that would affect global agriculture for perhaps a decade, killing as many as a billion people through starvation. If he acted on his statements, Trump would usher in a chaotic, unpredictable, and dangerous nuclear future.
The fact that Trump has so cavalierly raised concerns about nuclear weapons may have a silver lining. It underscores how dangerous and irrational our nuclear policies already are………
the Non-Proliferation Treaty didn’t just restrict non-nuclear nations from obtaining nuclear weapons but also required nations possessing them to disarm. For as long as we continue to ignore this fundamental reality, we will continue to hover at the brink of Armageddon. It should be impossible for Trump, or any President, to push us over it. http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/the-real-nuclear-threat
October 14, 2016
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Watchdogs concerned about readiness of New Mexico nuke dump, WP By Susan Montoya Bryan | AP October 13 ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A series of recent ceiling collapses at the federal government’s only underground nuclear waste repository has watchdogs calling on officials to ensure safety before moving ahead with a planned reopening later this year.
U.S. Energy Department officials and the contractor that manages the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in southern New Mexico will update the public on the collapses during a meeting Thursday evening.
A radiation release forced the closure of the repository in February 2014. Since then, thousands of tons of waste left over from decades of nuclear weapon research and development have been stacking up at sites around the country, hampering the government’s multibillion-dollar cleanup program.
The waste is meant to be entombed in storage rooms carved out of a salt formation deep underground…….
There have been at least three collapses in recent weeks. In one case, chunks of salt dislodged from the ceiling and tore through chain link fencing that was meant to help stabilize the corridors. There were no injuries.
Don Hancock with the Albuquerque-based watchdog group Southwest Research and Information Center said the collapses are no surprise but they raise questions about whether the repository will be ready to reopen in December.
He suggested more collapses could stir up contamination and threaten workers…….https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/energy-environment/watchdogs-concerned-about-readiness-of-new-mexico-nuke-dump/2016/10/13/5f7038d6-9175-11e6-bc00-1a9756d4111b_story.html?tid=twisira
October 14, 2016
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World on dangerous threshold’: Gorbachev warns of nuclear threat amid intl tensions https://www.rt.com/politics/362253-world-is-on-verge-gorbachev/ 10 Oct, 2016 Mikhail Gorbachev has called the current state of relations between Russia and US the “collapse of mutual trust” and urged the sides to resume dialogue and push towards demilitarization and complete nuclear disarmament.
“I think the world has approached a dangerous threshold. I would prefer not to suggest any particular schemes, but I want to say: we need to stop. Dialogue should be resumed. Stopping the dialogue has been the biggest mistake. Now we must return to the main priorities, such as nuclear disarmament, fighting terrorism and prevention of global environmental disasters. Compared to these challenges everything else is a second priority,” Gorbachev said in an interview with RIA Novosti.
“Of course, at this moment it is difficult to talk about moving towards a nuclear-free world, we must honestly admit it. But we should not forget: as long as there are nuclear weapons there is the threat of their use. It could be an accident, a technical malfunction of someone’s evil will – a madman or a terrorist,” the former Soviet leader said.
Gorbachev also reminded that in line with the nuclear non-proliferation agreement all of its signatories must hold talks on nuclear disarmament uniting the eventual full destruction of nuclear weapons.
“The nuclear-free world is not a utopia, but rather an imperative necessity. But we can achieve it only through demilitarization of politics and international relations.”
He said that veterans of international politics, such as the “council of sages” chaired by former UN leader Kofi Annan, understood these problems and he expressed hope that their voices would be heard by modern leaders. At the same time he emphasized that the main responsibility for global security lied on these modern leaders who would make the greatest mistake if they do not use the last chance to return international politics to a peaceful course.
The interview was published on Monday and timed with the 30th anniversary of the USSR-US summit in Reykjavik, which eventually allowed the nuclear arms race to slow down and greatly contributed to the end of the Cold War.
Gorbachev reiterated his position that the Reykjavik summit was a major breakthrough.
“First, we agreed on many issues and second, we managed to look over the horizon, see the perspective of a nuclear-free world,” he said.
“It was very appealing that in the course of our negotiations President Ronald Reagan sincerely spoke about the necessity to rid the world of the weapons of mass destruction. We shared a common position on this issue.”
October 12, 2016
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DA SLAMS MINISTER’S PLAN FOR ESKOM TO TAKE CHARGE OF NUCLEAR BUILD http://ewn.co.za/2016/10/11/DA-slams-Joemat-Petterssons-recommendation-of-Eskom-nuclear-procurement-deal
Tina Joemat-Pettersson said that Eskom is best placed to take over the procurement of the nuclear build.Gaye Davis | about 13 hours ago
CAPE TOWN – The Democratic Alliance (DA) has slammed Energy Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson’s plan to recommend to Cabinet that Eskom take over the procurement for the country’s proposed mega billion rand nuclear build.
Joemat-Pettersson told Parliament’s energy oversight committee that the power utility is best placed to do it.
“I do believe that on the nuclear programme, Eskom has the experience and has operated a world class nuclear power plant in Africa. The only power plant in Africa which is operated by South Africans for South Africans.”
But the DA’s Gordon Mackay has condemned the move, arguing that it’s aimed at giving Eskom free rein and preventing proper parliamentary oversight over the deal.
“Essentially what we’ve done is, we’ve created serious sleight of hand where we’re actually removing oversight of South Africans and of Parliament off the nuclear by making it subject to internal Eskom processes.”
October 12, 2016
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Fiscus will not fund nuclear build programme, Tina Joemat-Pettersson says, BD Live BY LINDA ENSOR, 11 OCTOBER 2016 Energy Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson assured MPs on Tuesday that the fiscus would not fund the nuclear build programme, saying it would be transparent, above board and free of corruption
The minister said the Department of Energy was to propose to the Cabinet that Eskom be the designated procurer for the new nuclear build programme and that the utility’s balance sheet be used to raise funds for the programme.
She said SA’s sovereignty would not be compromised and that the integrity of the programme would be protected against risk. Addressing Parliament’s energy portfolio committee, Joemat-Pettersson stressed that Eskom had the necessary expertise — having operated the existing nuclear plant Koeberg successfully for more than 30 years — to play a central role in the new nuclear build programme.
Eskom would be the owner and operator of the planned new nuclear plants.
In terms of the proposals to be submitted to the Cabinet, the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation would be the procurer for the fuel cycle and multipurpose reactor for the programme. The Cabinet will be asked to designate the department as the programme co-ordinator, Department of Energy officials told MPs.
All three entities would jointly develop a governance framework for the procurement and implementation of the programme.
The committee was told that Joemat-Pettersson would amend the determination under the Electricity Regulation Act to seek concurrence with the National Energy Regulator of SA……..
October 12, 2016
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Mount Aso erupts in a fiery plume rising 11,000 meters THE ASAHI SHIMBUN October 8, 2016 Mount Aso erupted in a towering plume of smoke and ash of around 11,000 meters on Oct. 8, sparking fears that big rocks could land more than 1 kilometer from the crater in Kumamoto Prefecture, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.
“It is extremely rare for an eruption column to exceed 10,000 meters,” said Makoto Saito, director of the agency’s Volcanology Division.
As a precaution, the agency immediately raised its alert level from 2, which means entry to areas around the crater is restricted, to 3, meaning access to the entire 1,592-meter-high mountain is restricted.
It was the first time since Sept. 14, 2015, that the precaution level was raised to 3…….http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201610080025.html
October 10, 2016
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What About the Planet?,NYT Paul Krugman OCT. 7, 2016 Our two major political parties are at odds on many issues, but nowhere is the gap bigger or more consequential than on climate.
October 8, 2016
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World War Three will be ‘extremely lethal and fast’: US Army bosses reveal what could happen if the US took on Russia or China http://www.inkl.com/news/world-war-three-will-be-extremely-lethal-and-fast-us-army-bosses-reveal-what-could-happen-if-the-us-took-on-russia-or-chinaOct 6, 2016 t is a chilling vision of war – and one unlike any other ever fought.
US military bosses have revealed their predictions for a major conflict, and say war between nation states at some point in the future “is almost guaranteed”.
Artificial intelligence and smart weapons would be at the fore – with a “modern nation-states acting aggressively” the likely enemy
“A conventional conflict in the near future will be extremely lethal and fast, and we will not own the stopwatch,’ said Major General William Hix on a future-of-the-Army panel at the annual meeting of the Association of the U.S. Army in Washington, according to Defence One.
“The speed of events are likely to strain our human abilities,’ Hix said.
“The speed at which machines can make decisions in the far future is likely to challenge our ability to cope, demanding a new relationship between man and machine.”
China and Russia are both mustering conventionally massive militaries that are increasingly technological – and forcing the Pentagon to contemplate and prepare for “violence on the scale that the U.S. Army has not seen since Korea,” said Hix .
Lt. Gen. Joseph Anderson, Army deputy chief of staff for operations, plans, and training said the US faces threats from “modern nation-states acting aggressively in militarised competition.”
“Who does that sound like? Russia?” he said.
War between nation states at some point in the future ‘is almost guaranteed,’ said Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley at the same event.
Future adversaries could end the air superiority the U.S. Air Force has provided since the Korean War, Milley said, and anti-access, area-denial capabilities could prevent the Navy from getting to the fight, he warned.
So “land forces will have to enable sea forces,” and the Army ‘is definitely going to have to dominate the air above our battle space,’ he said.
Milley said the Army also must be prepared to engage in cyber warfare, operate without the space-based communications and precision navigation it has taken for granted, and fight in a complex urban setting.
Milley cited a long list of ‘fundamental changes’ confronting the nation and the Army, including the renewed threat from Russia, the growing economic power and military strength of China, an expanding number of fragile nation states, and climate change that could lead to more instability.
“While we’re ready now, we are being challenged,” he said.
If the aim is to deter war, “our Army and our nation must be ready.”
The Army’s future weapons will also need to be better designed, Katharina McFarland, acting assistant Army secretary for acquisition, logistics, and technology said.
“You travel all over the world, don’t you?’ McFarland asked the gathered audience of soldiers, Army civilians, and industry reps.
“You can pretty much get in a car anywhere and drive it.”
“As an engineer, I think in terms of a simple interface – no matter what helicopter, you can get in and operate it.”
October 8, 2016
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St. Lucie Power Plant shut down because of Hurricane Matthew, TC Palm Isadora Rangel , isadora.rangel@tcpalm.com, October 6, 2016 RIVIERA BEACH — The Florida Power & Light Co. shut down its St. Lucie County Nuclear Power Plant in preparation for Hurricane Matthew, but no customers are expected to lose power because of it, a company spokesman said.
Federal rules require nuclear plants to be shut down at least one hour before hurricane winds hit the site, spokesman Peter Robbins said. FPL closed the Hutchinson Island plant at 11:15 a.m. and will reopen it after the category 4 storm is over. Its reopening might be delayed if access roads are blocked because rules require an evacuation route for a power plant to remain open, he said.
FPL is using electricity from other plants to serve the 2 million customers who get their power from the St. Lucie plant and, if needed, the company could buy power from other utilities, Robbins said………http://www.tcpalm.com/story/weather/hurricanes/2016/10/06/st-lucie-power-plant-hurricane-matthew/91698020/
October 8, 2016
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Nuclear power not a viable option for now http://news.asiaone.com/news/mailbox/nuclear-power-not-viable-option-now 6 Oct 16 Mr Lim Soon Heng has proposed the building of small modular nuclear reactors out at sea, given our limited size (“A floating nuclear power plant – off Singapore?”; Tuesday). However, the territorial sea under the jurisdiction of Singapore is also not very large, given the size of our country. Singapore has a claim of about three nautical miles of territorial sea.
Building floating small modular nuclear reactors out at sea is innovative. But it is unfortunate that Singapore will always be hampered by its size, resulting in it not having a vast maritime space within its jurisdiction to manage. There are also other considerations, such as underwater earthquakes posing a safety concern, as we are not that far from Indonesia’s earthquake fault lines. ……
http://news.asiaone.com/news/mailbox/nuclear-power-not-viable-option-now#sthash.DkvKNr41.dpuf
October 6, 2016
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Kenya not ready to generate nuclear energy http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/ureport/story/2000218411/kenya-not-ready-to-generate-nuclear-energy Erick Kizito 04th Oct 2016 Six years ago, Kenya announced it was going to build a nuclear power plant, which would generate 1,000MW (1GW) of electricity.
By 2030, the country hopes to produce 4GW from nuclear sources. This implies that nuclear will at that time account for 19 per cent of Kenya’s total energy output, second to hydroelectric power.
I am highly pessimistic about Africa’s largest geothermal energy producer’s capacity to harness and safely utilize nuclear energy.
It is only KenGen that is showing seriousness in geothermal energy production and putting in place safety measures to curb accidents and damages. The overriding concern about any nuclear project is safety. There is the potential damage in terms of costs and casualties in the event of a nuclear accident.
Although advancements in nuclear science have led to improved reactor designs with the ability to shut down automatically during an emergency, scientists say the probability of a nuclear accident will never be zero.
In the event of a reactor meltdown or terrorist attack on the plant, which would release dangerous radioactive particles into the atmosphere, Kenya’s disaster preparedness and response will ultimately make the difference between minimal and widespread damage.
The second concern is disposal of radioactive waste from the plant, which is hazardous to human health and the environment. The third worry is that much of the knowledge and materials employed in a civilian nuclear programme can be used to develop nuclear weapons.
Kenya is a signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, which aims to promote safe use of nuclear energy by preventing the spread of nuclear weapons or their technology.
Kenya’s installed electricity generation capacity is much smaller than the expected nuclear output.
October 4, 2016
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Cherie Shore, LA Times, 25 July 16 Southern California Edison caused the radiation leak at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station by misusing the reactor, resulting in the power plant’s shutdown in 2013, according to a former Edison engineer. (“San Onofre reactor leaked radiation after being misused, report says,” July 20)
Or, according to Edison, the leak was the result of faulty generators, which Edison commissioned and accepted from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
Either way, the cost of shutting down San Onofre should be borne by Edison and its shareholders, not the ratepayers. Edison either used bad judgment in selecting Mitsubishi or operated the reactor outside allowable limits. Regardless, Edison customers shouldn’t be stuck with any part of the bill. http://www.latimes.com/opinion/readersreact/la-ol-le-edison-nuclear-plant-shutdown-20160725-snap-story.html
October 3, 2016
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nuclear-news 