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Price of uranium staying down

The term uranium market was even quieter, with no new demand or transactions reported in the term market last week.

Uranium Continues Its Retreat ninemsn Money 27/01/2010 By Andrew Nelson With only a handful of deals reported last week, the uranium spot price continued its new year retreat. Industry consultant TradeTech’s U3O8 Spot Price Indicator showed a decline of US$1.25/lb to US$42.50/lb over the course of last week…………….

It is the discretionary nature of current demand that is encouraging sellers to further discount their material in an effort to generate some turnover. However, the continuing trend of discounting is making a major contribution to the downward pressure on the consultant’s Spot Price Indicator…………

without any real demand currently present in the market, the consultant expects spot uranium prices will remain soft in the weeks ahead.

The term uranium market was even quieter, with no new demand or transactions reported in the term market last week…..the conversion and enrichment markets were similarly quiet last week, with no new activity reported.

Uranium Continues Its Retreat

January 27, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | 2 WORLD, business and costs | antinuclear, nuclear costs, uranium | Leave a comment

Bribery pushing along nuclear industry comeback in Illinois

Nuclear industry bribes its way to a comeback Corrente, Lambert 26 Jan 2010 * Exelon Corp. * Illinois * McClatchy * Other * player * President Sun, Hey, guess who the biggest player is and where they’re from? That’s right: More recently, the industry has been reaching out to newly empowered Democrats, among them Clyburn, whose state is among the nation’s leading nuclear-power producers. (The president’s home state of Illinois is the biggest, and Obama and some of his closest political allies have long relationships with Exelon Corp., the country’s biggest nuclear power company.)Well, heck. Corporations are people, too! If only the Republicans were no longer in power! Oh, wait…

Nuclear industry bribes its way to a comeback | Corrente

January 26, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | secrets,lies and civil liberties, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear wastes | Leave a comment

Australian scientists warns of the social, environmental, costs of mining

Call to levy mining firms for green fund KIM MACDONALD, The West Australian January 26, 2010,

Former scientist of the year Jorg Imberger has called for a five per cent levy on mining companies to pay for social and environmental programs, amid revelations only a fifth of export sales money stays in WA. Continue reading →

January 26, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | environment | antinuclear, AUSTRALIA, nuclear costs, uranium | Leave a comment

Secret nuclear agreement between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan?

DOES SAUDI ARABIA ALSO HAVE NUCLEAR WEAPONS? Prophecy Updates and Commentary Stephen Collins 26 jan 2010 “……….. reports that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have a secret agreement where Pakistan, a nuclear power, will share its nuclear technology with Saudi Arabia. Continue reading →

January 26, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Saudi Arabia, weapons and war | antinuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear weapons | Leave a comment

“Astro-turfing”: how PAID nuclear power supporters swamp the media

Left unmentioned in these settings is that the Nuclear Energy Institute paid a public relations company to create CASEnergy, an example of the so-called “Astroturfing” techniques that many industries have adopted to give the appearance of grass-roots support.

Lobbying, global warming portend nuclear comeback

McClatchy By Judy Pasternak | Investigative Reporting Workshop January 24, 2010

“….PLAYING THE INFLUENCE GAME In many ways, the nuclear power industry’s efforts to win support are a textbook case of how the influence game is played in Washington. Besides the money spent on lobbying and campaign contributions, the industry, led by the Nuclear Energy Institute, has created a network of allies who give speeches, quote one another approvingly and showcase one another on their Web sites. The effect is an echo chamber of support for nuclear power. Continue reading →

January 25, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | spinbuster, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear wastes | Leave a comment

UK’s Nuclear Policy is a farce, especially re waste disposal

The document concludes: In short, the Government’s conclusion “…that effective arrangements will exist to manage and dispose of the waste that will be produced from new nuclear power stations” is not supported by the evidence. The Nuclear National Policy Statement is, therefore, not “fit for purpose”.

Stop oldbury: Response to Consultation on Nuclear National Policy Statement, Philip Booth 23 Jan 2010 “…..Reactor designs being discussed lead to additional concerns For example the French ‘European Pressurised Reactor’ proposed will use intensive ‘high burn-up fuel’ increasing the risk of high quantities of radiation in a serious accident. This fuel is so hot and radioactive it will also need to be stored on site for 160 years, long after the power company has ceased generating electricity, creating an additional local hazard. Continue reading →

January 25, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | spinbuster, UK, wastes | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear wastes, radioactive | Leave a comment

Financial connections between U.S. politicians and the nuclear lobby

Lobbying, global warming portend nuclear comeback

McClatchy By Judy Pasternak | Investigative Reporting Workshop January 24, 2010

“………….BRIDGES TO CONGRESS, WHITE HOUSEThese constituencies are important to the party that’s in power. Disclosure records show that the industry deftly kept its traditional base among Senate Republicans — who want 100 new nuclear units even if the climate bill fails — while building bridges to Democrats in both houses.

Clyburn is one example, receiving about $195,600 from nuclear energy companies and affiliated unions since 2000, $187,000 of that in the last two election cycles. The Nuclear Energy Institute contributed at least $10,000 to Clyburn’s scholarship foundation, and nuclear interests spent more than $30,000 for two six-day trips for Clyburn and his wife. One was to inspect nuclear facilities in France, and the other in the United Kingdom. He also owns stock valued at $15,000 to $50,000 in SCANA Corp., a South Carolina company that’s applied to build two reactors. Continue reading →

January 25, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy | Leave a comment

Waste problem unsolved, but US to pour money into new nukes

Lobbying, global warming portend nuclear comeback

McClatchy By Judy Pasternak | Investigative Reporting Workshop January 24, 2010

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration soon may guarantee as much as $18.5 billion in loans to build new nuclear reactors to generate electricity, and Congress is considering whether to add billions more to support an expansion of nuclear power.

These actions come after an extensive decade-long campaign in which companies and unions related to the industry have spent more than $600 million on lobbying and nearly $63 million on campaign contributions, according to an analysis by the Investigative Reporting Workshop at American University………… Continue reading →

January 25, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, nuclear wastes, nuclear weapons | Leave a comment

Revival of the nuclear industry too costly

(USA) Fortunately, there are viable alternatives to nuclear power, including efficiency, wind, biomass and geothermal, which are not only more environmentally friendly and cheaper, but could be built much more quickly and at much lower risk to investors and taxpayers. And recent changes in the long-term outlook for U.S. natural gas supplies make nuclear power look even more uneconomical.

Nuclear Power: Too Costly to Revive Is nuclear power a solution we can afford? The short answer is no.

GreenTech Media Elliott Negin 01 21 10

“…..Even discounting nuclear power’s security and safety problems, the cost of construction could be the industry’s Achilles’ heel…….the industry has benefited from considerable federal and state government subsidies that mask the true cost of the technology, including staggering capital costs and the risk of catastrophic accidents, by shifting these burdens onto taxpayers and ratepayers. The industry is now seeking to shift even more costs and risks onto the public as part of pending climate and energy legislation. In 2005, Congress authorized $60 billion in loan guarantees for new energy technologies. Of that amount, the Department of Energy (DOE) allocated $18.5 billion for new nuclear plants. But the industry wants more — a lot more. The Nuclear Energy Institute, the industry’s lobbying arm, says it needs a “permanent financing platform” to provide the industry a minimum of $100 billion in additional loan guarantees on top of the billions it already has been allocated. Continue reading →

January 22, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear spin | 1 Comment

Anti-nuclear movement grows, with Germany’s unsolved nuclear waste problem

The decision by Britain to send waste to Germany has served as a reminder that the Germans have not solved the problem of how and where to store it. This uncertainty, and news of the mine in Saxony, is stoking the embers of the anti-nuclear movement — demonstrations are planned for this weekend — and reviving it as a political force.

German nuclear programme threatened by old mine housing waste TIMESONLINE By BEN EVANS
Associated Press Writer Roger Boyes in Berlin January 22, 2010

A leaky salt mine used as a radioactive dump is jeopardising Germany’s plans to cling on to nuclear power despite fierce political opposition. Continue reading →

January 22, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Germany, politics | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, nuclear wastes, radiation, radioactive | Leave a comment

There’s money in nuclear waste, (never mind the danger)

A French state-controlled company, Areva, is now the world’s largest processor of nuclear waste and is keen to secure a bigger share as countries such as China and India expand their nuclear activities rapidly.

Where there’s nuclear muck there’s a growing opportunity for brass TIMESONLINE Robin Pagnamenta: January 21, 2010

“…………Only a handful of countries have the expertise and technology for nuclear reprocessing, in which spent nuclear fuel rods from power stations are chopped up and boiled in acid to extract uranium and plutonium for reuse in a reactor. The by-product is a concentrated form of vitrified nuclear waste that is as nasty as it sounds. Continue reading →

January 21, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | France, wastes | antinuclear, AREVA, France, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, nuclear wastes, radioactive | Leave a comment

Lawsuit on uranium mining, and accountability for wastes

Even as the expansion of uranium mining in Colorado is being challenged, conservation and citizen groups and elected officials are working to ensure that taxpayers do not pay to clean up contamination left behind by the uranium industry in the event of a new boom cycle.

Court Decision Aids Uranium Lawsuit The WATCH by Karen James , Jan 20, 2010 Efforts Also Underway For More Industry Accountability Continue reading →

January 21, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Legal, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, nuclear wastes, radiation, uranium | Leave a comment

Italy delaying nuclear power plants

Italy won’t unveil nuke sites until 2011 Sydney Morning Herald January 21, 2010 – “………………The centre-left governments of Naples’ Campania region and that of Apulia, also in the south, have already said they would not host nuclear plants on their territory.Italy’s Greens sparked a fierce political debate in December when they released a list of sites they said the government was considering, and the issue is expected to colour regional elections in late March…………….. Continue reading →

January 21, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Italy, politics | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin | Leave a comment

South Korea’s nuclear industry plagued by problems and secrecy

FDI is South Korea’s weakness FDI.com By Christian Oliver in Seoul January 19 2010 “…..Foreign investors are very clear why South Korea is punching beneath its weight. Union reform risks are being fudged, regulations are woefully unclear and business is dominated by opaque clans.

FT.com / Columnists / World View – FDI is South Korea’s weakness

January 20, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | secrets,lies and civil liberties, South Korea | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy | Leave a comment

Sarkozy focused on promoting France’s nuclear sales

President Nicolas Sarkozy is hoping to use France’s nuclear expertise as a platform to project the country’s political and economic influence around the world

Areva and EDF spat shows nuclear tensions FT.com By Peggy Hollinger: January 19 2010 There has always been some sniping between EDF and Areva, France’s two state-owned nuclear champions…..

Yet there was a degree of hostility in the latest round of guerrilla warfare that was surprising even to the most hardened observers of the two companies. Continue reading →

January 20, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, France | antinuclear, AREVA, EDF, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear spin | Leave a comment