nuclear « nuclear-news

Ralph Nader spells out the case against nuclear power

Nader shares locals concerns about uranium, GoDanRiver.com, 19 Sept 10, “…… Nader pushed for more energy efficiency and conservation and clean energy, which he said didn’t include more nuclear reactors or uranium mining.

“We don’t believe the country needs nuclear power,” Nader said in a Thursday interview. “It’s too costly. The opportunities for energy efficiency and electric generation to the consumer are far greater.”…

Nader said money should be invested in solar, wind and other forms of renewable energy rather than nuclear power, which he called a “gigantic technological lemon.” Nuclear plant projects can’t go forward without federal loan guarantees, he said, because Wall Street won’t invest in them without that backing.

Additionally, nuclear plants have the problem of radioactive waste, he said. The enrichment of uranium to concentrate it for use in fuel rods for nuclear reactors also takes coal-fired power, Nader said.

“Why do we need uranium mines?” Nader said. “They are extremely dirty.”….

Nader shares locals concerns about uranium | GoDanRiver.com

September 20, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear renaissance, nuclear spin, nuclear wastes, radioactive, reactors, uranium | Leave a comment

Russian nuclear powered ice-breaker in the Arctic

Russians go nuclear in bid to crack pole The Australian September 20, 2010 THE Arctic icecap faces a new threat from Russian plans to build the world’s largest icebreakerThe new ship will be capable of smashing its way across the polar region even in winter.The nuclear-powered vessel would create shipping lanes across the Arctic Ocean while helping energy companies exploit the region’s gas and oil reserves.
The proposal coincides with reports last week that the Arctic icecap had shrunk to 4.66 million sq km, the third-lowest recorded since 1979. Its average winter thickness at the North Pole has also halved, to about 2.4m, since 1976.……Russians go nuclear in bid to crack pole | The Australian

September 20, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | environment, Russia | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin | Leave a comment

World Nuclear Association admits “Nuclear Renaissance” just isn’t happening

Speaking at a meeting of the World Nuclear Association in London today, Ron Cameron head of the Nuclear Energy Association’s (NEA) nuclear development division said: “The nuclear renaissance hasn’t taken off”

Nuclear resurgence constrained Nuclear may go way of the Asian toaster, tcetoday news, 17 Sept 10, by Adam Duckett“……..PROBLEMS with finance, policy and skills have hamstrung the much-hyped resurgence of the nuclear power sector, experts have said. Continue reading →

September 18, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | 2 WORLD, business and costs | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear renaissance, reactors, renewables | Leave a comment

French nuclear giant AREVA struggles to clean up its dirty reputation in Niger

several NGOs have decried the French company’s rosy picture of its activities in northern Niger. The president of local NGO Aghir In Man, Almoustapha Alassane, has accused Areva of poisoning water and air near its mining sites, blaming uranium contamination for several “mysterious” deaths in the region.

Kidnapping comes as French nuclear giant Areva works on image, France24 , 17 Sept 10, The kidnapping of seven foreign nuclear employees in Niger comes as the French nuclear giant Areva is trying to improve its image in a region threatened by robbery, widespread resentment, and radical Islamism.”In nearly 40 years, Areva didn’t care at all for the locals. But in the last few years, Areva changed its strategy and started implementing development projects”, says Moussa Kaka, RFI’s correspondent in Niger. Continue reading →

September 18, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Niger, spinbuster, Uranium | antinuclear, AREVA, France, indigenous, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, nuclear wastes, radioactive, uranium | Leave a comment

Nuclear Regulatory Commission conning the American people on radioactive wastes

This latest decision will now block any attempt by environmental groups or concerned citizens to challenge the generation of irradiated nuclear fuel at atomic reactors, as in new reactor licensing proceedings or old reactor license extension proceedings, for NRC now considers the matter closed……concerned citizens should contact U.S. House Energy and Environment Subcommittee Chairman Ed Markey (D-MA), as well as U.S. House Domestic Affairs Subcommittee Chairman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), urging that they launch investigative oversight hearings into this latest NRC “favor” for the nuclear power industry — approving unlimited generation of forever deadly high-level radioactive waste, while blocking citizen interventions seeking to prevent it.

NRC plays “Nuclear Waste Con Game” on the American people, Beyond Nuclear, 18 Sept 10

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission yesterday updated its “Nuclear Waste Confidence Rule,” expressing “confidence” that commercial irradiated nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste (implying reprocessing) can be stored safely and securely, either on-site or off-site, for 60 years after operation licenses have expired at atomic reactors. Continue reading →

September 18, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | secrets,lies and civil liberties, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, nuclear wastes, radiation, radioactive, reactors, uranium | Leave a comment

French AREVA nuclear workers evacuating from Niger kidnap area

The approximately 30 Areva expatriates in Arlit are all being evacuated to Niamey, the Niger capital and have the option of returning to France, an Areva press officer said Friday..

France suspects al-Qaida link in Niger kidnapping, PhillyBurbs.com:, 17 Sept 10, The Associated Press Authorities believe al-Qaida’s North Africa branch could be behind the kidnapping of five French nationals and two Africans in Niger, Continue reading →

September 17, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Niger, secrets,lies and civil liberties | antinuclear, AREVA, France, nuclear, nuclear secrecy | Leave a comment

Anti Nuclear Protest Day in Berlin

Organizers say they expect 10,000 people to protest Merkel’s plans to extend the lifespan of Germany’s 17 nuclear power plants.

Merkel Chainsaw Protests Planned by Anti-Nuclear Demonstrators in Berlin. Bloomberg, By Patrick Donahue – Sep 17, 2010 Anti-nuclear demonstrators wielding pictures of Chancellor Angela Merkel taking a chainsaw to wind- power turbines are set to march on Berlin tomorrow, as public anger at her coalition’s policies escalates. Continue reading →

September 17, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, reactors | Leave a comment

Atomic secrets sold by U.S. nuclear scientist?

Mascheroni in March 2008 allegedly told an undercover FBI agent posing as a Venezuelan government official that he could help Venezuela develop a nuclear bomb within 10 years, according to the indictment.

U.S. scientist charged with peddling nuclear secrets Reuters, By Tabassum Zakaria, WASHINGTON 17 Sept 10, – A former Los Alamos National Laboratory scientist and his wife were charged with trying to sell nuclear weapons secrets to a person they believed was a Venezuelan government official, the Justice Department said on Friday.They were also charged with conspiring to participate in the development of an atomic weapon for Venezuela, the Justice Department said. Continue reading →

September 17, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | secrets,lies and civil liberties, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, nuclear technology | Leave a comment

Hurricane forces shutdown of Mexican nuclear plant

Nuclear Shutdown The storm also forced Mexico to suspend operations at its Laguna Verde nuclear power plant in eastern Veracruz State, according to the national electricity commission.

Hurricane Karl Nears Mexican Coast, Closes Oil Wells – Bloomberg, By Brian K. Sullivan – Sep 18, 2010, “………Karl was the strongest storm ever to form in the Gulf of Mexico’s Bay of Campeche, Continue reading →

September 17, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | safety, SOUTH AMERICA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, reactor | 1 Comment

Drug against ionising radiation- a lucrative business?

appears to strengthen the body’s ability to recover from radiation exposure.

U.S. invests in drug to protect against radiation | Reuters, By Julie Steenhuysen, CHICAGO | Fri Sep 17, 2010 CHICAGO – Tiny biotech Cleveland BioLabs Inc has won a $45 million contract from the Department of Defense to conduct clinical trials of a drug to prevent cell damage in the event of nuclear attack…… Continue reading →

September 17, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear spin, radiation, radioactive | Leave a comment

In Niger, AREVA’s nuclear workers kidnapped

Seven nuclear workers kidnapped as they slept, The Guardian, 16 Sept 10, French people working in Niger have been kidnapped along with one from Togo and one from Madagascar Associated Press in Paris
Five French people working in Niger have been kidnapped along with one from Togo and one from Madagascar, France’s foreign ministry said today.

The seven, who were employees of the French nuclear reactor builder Areva and a subcontractor, were seized near the uranium-mining town of Arlit as they slept.

Seven nuclear workers kidnapped as they slept | World news | The Guardian

September 17, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Niger, safety | antinuclear, AREVA, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, uranium | Leave a comment

The end for South Africa’s failed Pebble Bed Nuclear Reactor

Hopes that a successful bid by a US consortium — which included Westinghouse, one of the PBMR’s partners — for the US’s next-generation nuclear plant programme would give the PBMR a new lease of life were dashed when Westinghouse withdrew in May.

Hogan ends pebble bed reactor project, BusinessDay The government’s decision to stop investing in the project supersedes its previous decision to downsize the PBMR company by 75%. LINDA ENSOR 2010/09/17 Public Enterprises Minister Barbara Hogan drew the final curtain yesterday on SA’s bid to be a leader in nuclear technology when she announced the closure of the pebble bed modular reactor (PBMR), which has cost R7,4bn of taxpayers’ money……… Continue reading →

September 17, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | South Africa, technology | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear spin, nuclear technology | Leave a comment

Very high radiation releases from Japanese nuclear reactor

Radiation rose to 2,100 times the normal level at Niigata plant. Japan Today: 17th September, NIIGATA —Radiation at about 2,100 times the normal level was detected in gaseous waste at a nuclear reactor at Tokyo Electric Power Co’s Kashiwazaki-Kariwa power plant in Niigata Prefecture on Thursday but no harm was done to the surrounding environment, according to the company…..

.The power company said Sept 10 that it detected radiation at 27 times the normal level in gaseous waste at the reactor and was closely monitoring the situation.

In July last year, the company halted operation of the No.7 reactor after radioactive gas leaked from the capsular vessel in the fuel pin. The company replaced the fuel after the incident. Radiation rose to 2,100 times the normal level at Niigata plant › Japan Today: Japan News and Discussion

September 17, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | environment, Japan | AUSTRALIA, nuclear, nuclear wastes, radiation, reactor | Leave a comment

Staggering cost and slowness of cleaning up radioactive wastes

GAO: Nuclear Waste Mitigation Too Slow and Costly HStoday, by Phil Leggiere Friday, 17 September 2010 Report cites extensive cost overruns and construction delays in mitigating radioactive waste at Savannah River site. Emptying, cleaning, and permanently closing the 22 underground liquid radioactive waste tanks at the Savannah River Site is likely to cost significantly more and take longer than estimated by the Department of Energy (DOE), according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO).The report,titled NUCLEAR WASTE: Actions Needed to Address Persistent Concerns with Efforts to Close Underground Radioactive Waste Tanks at DOE’s Savannah River Site , found that the original cost estimate of $3.2 billion contained in the December 2008 contract between DOE and Savannah River Remediation, LLC (SRR), had increased by more than $1.4 billion or 44 percent by June 2010……..Homeland Security Today – preparedness and security news – GAO: Nuclear Waste Mitigation Too Slow and Costly

September 17, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | USA, wastes | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear wastes, radioactive | Leave a comment

Nuclear power a goer only in new nuclear weapons states

…….. the nuclear industry, at heart, is a military industry holding up a battered commercial facade.

Nowhere is this more true than in the new markets of China, Russia and India – nuclear weapons states -.

Old-tech nuclear power is not the answer * Scott Ludlam The Australian * September 17, 2010 LET’S not expect a volatile, antiquated technology to solve any problems “…… All nuclear power stations are based on 1940s-era technology to build nuclear weapons. They are essentially plutonium factories, producing small quantities of plutonium while shedding vast amounts of heat.

In the 50s, Soviet and US engineers realised they could adapt these plants for power generation, hooking them up to steam turbines and promising electricity that was “too cheap to meter”. Now we have more than 400 of these hybridised weapons plants generating a shrinking fraction of electricity across the world. Continue reading →

September 17, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | 2 WORLD, business and costs | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear spin, nuclear weapons | Leave a comment