antinuclear « nuclear-news

Indonesia: no plans for nuclear power

President says nuclear power plant not a priority Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Bogor, West Java | 21 June 2010,
“………… the administration of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is in no hurry to construct a nuclear power generator.Yudhoyono said Friday there was no definitive plan to set up such a power plant under his administration although there was a discussion for setting one up on the coast of Jepara in Central Java.”

Maybe the next administration will consider such a plan should there be an urgent need for an alternative energy source,” he said.Yudhoyono reiterated that construction of a nuclear power plant would require meticulous planning as any mistake would have devastating consequences.”Looking at alternatives to fossil fuels, the administration would focus more on developing power plants fueled by geothermal energy, wind, solar and biofuels,” he said. President says nuclear power plant not a priority | The Jakarta Post

June 21, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Indonesia, politics | antinuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear technology, uranium | Leave a comment

Global Nuclear Energy Partnership revived under a new name

Global Nuclear Energy Partnership Steering Group Members Approve Transformation to the International Framework for Nuclear Energy Cooperation Department of Energy – U.S. Department of Energy , 18 June 2010,
The Global Nuclear Energy Partnership Steering Group met in Accra, Ghana on June 16-17, 2010 and approved unanimously several transformative changes to reflect global developments that have occurred since the Partnership was established in 2007. The transformation includes a new name – the International Framework for Nuclear Energy Cooperation — and the establishment of a new Statement of Mission. Continue reading →

June 19, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics international, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear renaissance, nuclear spin, nuclear technology, nuclear wastes, radioactive, reactors, uranium | Leave a comment

Many a slip between Sweden’s nuclear cup and the lip

The Riksdag voted in favor of renewing nuclear power—…..by the near-divided vote of 174-172. The left-leaning opposition party has vowed to reverse the legislation if it gains power in September’s general election….Even if the overturn of the ban stands, political will alone does not new nuclear power plants make–as neighboring Finland can attest.

Sweden Goes Nuclear (maybe) TIME, by Eben Harrell , June 18, 2010, The Riksdag, Sweden’s parliament, voted on June 17 to overturn a three-decades old ban on new nuclear reactors in what many see as a test-case for the long-predicted “nuclear renaissance ” in Europe.The legislation annuls a a referendum in 1980 in which Sweden’s population voted against renewing or replacing the country’s fleet of 12 power plants…….

But yesterday’s vote is no simple victory for nuclear supporters. Continue reading →

June 19, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, Sweden | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear renaissance, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, nuclear wastes, uranium | Leave a comment

Tax-payers liable if nuclear reactor plan goes belly up

It’s Official – Taxpayers Take On Nuclear Risk, CleanEnergy Footprints, 18 June 2010, Today the utility giant Southern Company agreed to the terms of its portion of the $8.3 billion conditional loan guarantee awarded by the Obama Administration back in February for the proposed two new reactors it wants to build along with its utility partners at Plant Vogtle in Georgia. So now U.S. taxpayers are officially on the hook if the project goes belly up. Continue reading →

June 19, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, USA | antinuclear, energy efficiency, nuclear costs, nuclear renaissance, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, reactors, uranium | Leave a comment

Is Obama’s call for “clean” energy in fact a push for nuclear power?

Obama’s Gulf oil catastrophe Oval Office call for “clean energy” tacit push for taxpayer-backed atomic power expansion, Beyond Nuclear, 18 June 2010, ?Although President Barack Obama did not say the words “nuclear power” in his first ever Oval Office address to the nation on June 15th, his call for an accelerated “transition to clean energy” in response to the worst environmental catastrophe in U.S. history — the worsening oil catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico — represents a tacit push for the expansion of atomic energy.

Such a nuclear relapse would only take place by transferring the financial risks and even direct costs (not to mention the radiological risks) squarely on the backs of taxpayers. Obama’s speech only adds to concerns this his choice of pro-nuclear co-chairs to head his oil catastrophe investigative panel could serve as a cynical pretext for advancing the dirty, dangerous, and expensive atomic reactors and associated facilities. Continue reading →

June 18, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, nuclear wastes, nuclear weapons, radioactive, reactors, uranium | Leave a comment

Spain planning huge leap forward in renewable energy

Despite cuts, Spain’s subsidy structure still enables renewable power producers to earn up to 10 times more than fossil fuel producers for their energy. However, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luiz Rodriguez Zapatero plans to continue incremental cuts in those subsidies. He believes that his country’s goals will be obtained through increased private investment.

Spain Shoots for 67 Percent More Renewable Energy, CALFINDER , 18 June 2010, In a draft proposal on its way to the European Commission, Spain proposes that renewable generation capacity increase to 70 gigawatts by 2020, up from 42 gigawatts currently. Continue reading →

June 18, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | renewable, Spain | antinuclear, climate change, energy efficiency, renewable energy, renewables, solar | Leave a comment

British govt axes nuclear industry loan – a blow to the industry

The announcement is a blow both to the company and the nuclear sector

UK Axes GBP80 Mln Sheffield Nuclear Industry Loan – WSJ.comBy Selina Williams Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES LONDON (Dow Jones) 17 June 2010, –The U.K. government Thursday axed an GBP80 million loan to Sheffield Forgemasters International Ltd. for equipment to make the large forgings for nuclear power stations as part of broader spending cuts. Continue reading →

June 18, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, UK | antinuclear, EDF, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear spin, nuclear technology, reactors | Leave a comment

India’s Chambers of Commerce call for Nuclear Suppliers to be liable for accidents and delays

The Chamber is also of the view that that there should be a provision in the Bill which allows and entitles victims for higher compensation from Higher Courts. It also proposes that the Government may consider provision for cost over runs due to regulatory delays.

ASSOCHAM seeks clause in civil nuclear liability for precaution against tragedy India Infoline News Service, Jun 17, 2010 Nuclear Supplier may include anybody and everybody who supplies equipments, instruments, spare parts, contractual labor accounting for 5% or above of the total project cost.The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) has proposed that all nuclear supplier(s) as well operators subjected to a clause as per which compensation is ensured in an equitable manner Continue reading →

June 18, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | India, Legal | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear renaissance, nuclear wastes, radioactive, reactors, uranium, Westinghouse | Leave a comment

American city mayors call for a stop to nuclear weapons modernisation

“The U.S. Conference of Mayors calls on the U.S. Congress to terminate funding for modernization of the nuclear weapons complex and nuclear weapons systems, to reduce spending on nuclear weapons programs well below Cold War levels, and to redirect funds to meet the urgent needs of cities.”

U.S. Conference of Mayors Calls on Congress to Slash Nuclear Weapons | WarIsACrime.org, 18 June 2010, Spending and Redirect Funds to Meet the Needs of Cities Mayors for Peace congratulates the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) for unanimously adopting a groundbreaking resolution, Supporting U.S. Participation in Global Elimination of Nuclear Weapons and Redirection of Nuclear Weapons Spending to Meet the Needs of Cities, at the conclusion of its 78th annual meeting in Oklahoma City on June 14, 2010. Continue reading →

June 18, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | USA, weapons and war | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear spin, nuclear weapons | Leave a comment

Just like oil, nuclear ‘safety reviews’ rubber-stamped industry analyses

the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Office of Inspector General reported in 2006 that NRC staff “safety reviews” of atomic reactor 20 year license extension applications were regularly “cut and pasted” directly from nuclear utility analyses, sometimes verbatim. NRC has thus far rubberstamped approval for every single one of the over 50 license extension requests it has recieved, with many more awaiting approval.

House hearing ion Gulf catastrophe should serve as a warning on reactor risks, Beyond Nuclear 18 June 2010, The grilling of BP and other oil company executives at a June 15, 2010 U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Environment Subcommittee hearing on the BP Gulf of Mexico oil catastrophe should serve as a warning that very similar risks exist in the nuclear power industry, albeit radiological rather than petrol. Continue reading →

June 18, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | safety, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, nuclear wastes, radioactive, reactors, uranium | Leave a comment

Taxpayer would cop major cost of UK nuclear wastes

The real costs of nuclear power ,The Guardian, Darren Johnson , 17 June 2010, Paul Spence says the nuclear industry expects to pay the full cost of decommissioning a new generation of nuclear power stations (Response, 15 June). But his words about “our full share of waste management and disposal costs” were carefully chosen. The consultation document reveals that EDF considers their full share of these costs to be around 20% of the total. As our report Nuclear Power? No Point! highlighted last year, nuclear is only responsible for 4% of the energy consumed in the UK. More energy can be saved by energy conservation measures in homes and businesses. Focusing on the nuclear industry takes resources away from building new renewable capacity, which, given sufficient political will, could provide more than enough electricity for the UK.

Letters: The real costs of nuclear power | Environment | The Guardian

June 18, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, UK | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, nuclear wastes, radiation, radioactive, uranium | Leave a comment

Australian union’s stand on danger of nuclear industry is echoed in UK

“We will be urging unions in the UK to join in the stand opposing nuclear- rather than joining the industry’s Compensation Scheme for Radiation Linked Diseases which has thousands of applicants and has paid out millions of pounds – with the caveat that you don’t talk about it,”

Radiation Free Lakeland backs Aussie unions’ nuclear stance , GETNOTICEDONLINE Uk 14 June 2010 Radiation Free Lakeland is supporting Australian unions who have banned members from working in the nuclear industry.Largely unreported in the British press, the Victorian branch of the ETU has given its full support to the Queensland and the Northern Territories branches’ decision to ban members from working in uranium mines, nuclear power plants or any part of the nuclear fuel cycle. Continue reading →

June 18, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | health, UK | antinuclear, AUSTRALIA, cancer, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, radiation, radioactive, reactors, uranium | Leave a comment

No sign of any improvement in price of uranium

Uranium oxide price shows no sign of moving | Industrial Fuels and Power News . Trading June 17th, 2010 by IFandP NewsroomThe uranium spot market remains in the doldrums. The weekly spot price for uranium oxide hovered at US$40.75 in the week ended June 14 with no change from the previous week, according to Ux Consulting Co, a view echoed by TradeTech. ….

Uranium oxide price shows no sign of moving | Industrial Fuels and Power

June 18, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | 2 WORLD, business and costs | antinuclear, nuclear costs, uranium | Leave a comment

Namibian people will not benefit fron uranium mining

What does all this uranium rush mean to the average Namibian?
If the overall socio-economic impact of the Namibian diamond industry is anything to go by, the upsurge in activity in the local uranium industry is likely to be an economic non-event for the majority of the citizens as no significant economic gains and individual development is to be expected..

Uranium: the future of Namibia mining, but who is benefiting? Informante, by Mathew Nyaungwa , 17 June 2010 “….it is not surprising at all that there has been a strong appetite for uranium… Continue reading →

June 18, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Namibia, politics | antinuclear, indigenous, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear wastes, uranium | Leave a comment

Bill Gates’ pie in the sky idea for prolonging the agony of declining nuclear industry

TerraPower’s Multibillion-Dollar Nuclear Reactor Plan – Venture Capital Dispatch – WSJ, 16 June 2010, By Yuliya ChernovaIf your first product is due on the market in nine years, at a cost of between $3 billion and $4 billion, can you raise venture money now? In the case of TerraPower LLC, the answer is yes. The Bellevue, Wash.-based nuclear technology developer announced this week it raised $35 million in its Series B round from new investor Khosla Ventures and returning backers Charles River Ventures and Bill Gates.
…………. there are still years of engineering and development work ahead for the team………
Besides having to overcome technological and financial challenges, TerraPower would also have to deal with a difficult regulatory framework. In the U.S., the Nuclear Regulatory Commission issues licenses for new nuclear power plant designs; it typically takes years to secure one.

June 17, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear renaissance, nuclear spin, nuclear technology, reactors | Leave a comment