reactor « nuclear-news

AREVA’s nuclear reactor safety features now too costly to compete with Korea’s nukes

It was speculated that those expensive features may have cost the company the UAE contract, and Areva has considered scaling back some of those additions for future designs.

Where Is Nuclear Power Really Heading?A Look at Obama’s Call for New Nuclear and the Reactors that Might Be Built by solveclimate Dave Levitan – Feb 5th, 2010

“…….The cost issues surrounding safety have already come up internationally. The United Arab Emirates awarded a high-profile contract for a new plant to a South Korean company late in 2009, after the French company Areva had been positioned as the front-runner.

The Areva EPR reactor has some advanced safety features including a “core catcher” room that could help prevent compromised nuclear fuel from escaping the reactor, as well as an enforced shell that could theoretically withstand an airplane impact. Continue reading →

February 6, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, France | antinuclear, AREVA, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, reactor, reactors | Leave a comment

Future for U.S. Nuclear power industry really is doubtful

Problematically, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has a policy that does not require newer designs to be substantially safer than old designs,

Where Is Nuclear Power Really Heading?A Look at Obama’s Call for New Nuclear and the Reactors that Might Be Built by solveclimate Dave Levitan – Feb 5th, 2010 “…..Energy Secretary Steven Chu and the president are making it clear that they intend to move forward. Thus, the question arises: After more than a decade without any new nuclear plants being built in the U.S., what exactly would new nuclear power look like?

Slowed Momentum, Escalating Costs…. Continue reading →

February 6, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear spin, reactor, reactors | Leave a comment

Cameco, Exelon, USEC, – Nuclear and Uranium Stocks are Losers

Top Nuclear Stocks Losers (NYSE: CCJ,EXC,USU) Trak In, Business and Finance News by EIN, 2010/02/05 Dallas, Tx – Cameco Corporation (USA) (NYSE:CCJ) went down 2.94% to $27.37 on 2.29 million shares. The stock hit an intraday high and an intraday low of $28.30 and $27.34 respectively. In the last six months the stock went down over 6%. Cameco Corporation is a Canada-based company. The Company, along with its subsidiaries, is engaged in the exploration, development, mining, refining, conversion and fabrication of uranium for sale as fuel for generating electricity in nuclear power reactors in Canada and other countries. Continue reading →

February 5, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | 2 WORLD, business and costs | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, reactor, reactors, uranium | Leave a comment

Nuclear power on the nose in Italy

‘We are against nuclear power and today in Rome most of the regions stood for this idea’.

Political risk for Italian nuclear World Nuclear News 3 Feb 2010 Italy’s inter-regional body rejected the nuclear energy policy proposed by Silvio Berlusconi’s government during a late January session. Meanwhile, regional elections are approaching, giving rise to fears for Italy’s nuclear renaissance. Continue reading →

February 4, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Italy, politics | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, radiation, radioactive, reactor, reactors | Leave a comment

Westinghouse nuclear plans delayed in Florida and in India

Westinghouse says Florida nuclear units to be delayed US nuclear regulator action delays Florida units By C.J. Kuncheria, NEW DELHI, Feb 3 (Reuters) – Nuclear energy firm Westinghouse Electric, owned by Japan’s Toshiba Corp (6502.T), said regulatory issues would delay the starting of two reactors it is building in Florida by 1-½ to 3 years. Continue reading →

February 4, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | 2 WORLD, business and costs | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear wastes, reactor, reactors, reprocessing, Westinghouse | Leave a comment

UK Property prices slump where nuclear reactors planned

Cumbrian property prices hit by nuclear power station plans News & Star By Julian Whittle Political Editor 02 February 2010 Proposals for nuclear power stations at Braystones and Kirksanton in west Cumbria are causing “property blight”, Cumbria County Council believes…….. Continue reading →

February 3, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, UK | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, reactor, reactors | Leave a comment

U.S govt in legal battle over nuclear waste

“US Justice Dept Wants More Lawyers For Nuclear-Waste Litigation” THE WALL STREET JOURNAL By Brent Kendall, (Siobhan Hughes and Ian Talley contributed to this article.) Dow Jones Newswire 2 Feb 2010 -The Obama administration wants a bigger legal team to do battle with utility companies over the federal government’s failure to collect spent nuclear waste as required by legislation from the 1980s.The president’s budget proposal, released Monday, seeks an additional $11.4 million for the Justice Department to devote to nuclear-waste litigation. Continue reading →

February 2, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Legal, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear wastes, radioactive, reactor | Leave a comment

Obama understands that nuclear power is neither safe nor clean

Indeed, Obama knows better. Candidate Obama understood that nuclear power is neither safe nor clean. Watch this video taken early in his presidential campaign,

Nuclear Information and Resource Service Michael Mariotte 28 Jan 2010 If you were watching last night’s State of the Union address, I’m sure you were as appalled as I was when President Obama suddenly spoke in support of “safe, clean nuclear power” (not to mention support for offshore oil drilling and “clean” coal).

Politically, Obama likely was simply parroting the effort being led by Sens. John Kerry, Joe Lieberman and Lindsay Graham to gain support for a climate bill by adding massive subsidies for nuclear power, offshore oil and “clean” coal. But recycling George W. Bush energy talking points is no way to solve the climate crisis or develop a sustainable energy policy.

Indeed, Obama knows better. Candidate Obama understood that nuclear power is neither safe nor clean. Watch this video taken early in his presidential campaign, in which he expresses concern for his daughters growing up in Chicago and surrounded by nuclear reactors. He says he is not a nuclear proponent and speaks out directly against taxpayer subsidies for nuclear power…www.nirs.org

January 29, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, nuclear wastes, nuclear weapons, radiation, radioactive, reactor | Leave a comment

Latest poll shows that the young, and women, oppose Obama’s nuclear power policy

A Run at the Latest Data from ABC’s Poobah of Polling. Gary Langar The Numbers The President and Nuclear Power

ABC News January 28, 2010“…………..Obama’s been most popular by far among young adults, a group critical to his election. Yet they oppose nuclear plants by significant margin. Support’s highest among seniors, long Obama’s weakest support group by age; they favor nuclear power by a vast 67-28 percent. Continue reading →

January 29, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, USA | antinuclear, energy efficiency, nuclear, nuclear spin, reactor, reactors, renewable energy, renewables, solar, uranium | Leave a comment

South Africa’s Pebble Bed Nuclear Reactor probably has no future

Times Live Zambia Jan 28, 2010 | By Sapa

Trade union Solidarity has raised the alarm about pending job losses at the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR) project in Centurion near Pretoria as funding dries up.

“Workers were informed (by PBMR chief executive Jaco Kriek) that government would not make further subsidies available for the project and that there were only sufficient operating funds left until April,” Solidarity spokesman Jaco Kleynhans said in a statement.

PBMR spokesman Tom Ferreira did concede, in a statement, that “the future of the PBMR is currently being reviewed by government, Necsa and Eskom.”…..The minerals and energy department could not be reached for comment….http://www.timeslive.co.za/news/local/article282054.ece

January 29, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | South Africa | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, nuclear technology, reactor, reactors, uranium | Leave a comment

Vermont nuclear reactor’s future? Legislators unhappy about radiation leaks

Radiation Levels Cloud Vermont reactor’s Fate The New York Times January 27, 2010 By MATTHEW L. WALD

Levels of radioactive tritium have risen rapidly in recent weeks in the groundwater surrounding Vermont’s sole nuclear power plant, leading both longtime supporters and foes of the reactor to question whether it will be allowed to keep operating…….the rising radiation levels, an indication that reactor water is leaking into the soil, have stirred deep concern about the plant’s safety and the credibility of its operators……

Dozens of reactors around the country have had their 40-year licenses extended by 20 years without much debate. Under the Atomic Energy Act, such decisions are usually the sole purview of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

But Vermont struck a deal with Entergy when it bought the plant in 2002 that gave legislators a veto role. An official with the federal nuclear commission noted that if the state blocked a license renewal, Entergy could file a court challenge.

Vermont Yankee is the largest generator of power in Vermont. But New England’s power grid has a surplus of electricity because of the recession. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/28/business/energy-environment/28nuclear.html

January 29, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear wastes, radiation, radioactive, reactor | Leave a comment

Anxiety as the Western world losing dominance of the nuclear industry

Christina Macpherson's websites & blogs

First and Second World countries are starting to look better, when compared with what is coming.

With very dubious safety and occupational health regulations, and with a big lack of transparency, South Korea embarks on a nuclear sales program to the Middle East.

China and India enthusiastically aim for nuclear power – also both with dubious safety, and secrecy.

Nuclear opponents have become accustomed to criticising France, UK, USA, Russia, Japan, Israel. But these First and Second World countries are starting to look better, when compared with what is coming.

For the U.S.A. and U.K. we have a chance of learning through free media about nuclear incidents. And possibly even for France. Not so sure about Russia. But at least they’ve all had experience of this so very dangerous industry. But for China, and the Asian and Middle East nations there’s likely to be an unhealthy combination of inexperience and news censorship.

Now we have countries with little experience or expertise and with dubious or no oversight of plants and of waste dumps, or uranium mines. And – countries that purport to want only ‘peaceful’ nuke power, Yet with obvious other power resources – e.g. Saudi Arabia, why would they want nukes? The answer that springs to mind is – for nuclear weapons.

And nuke weapons are not the only worry. How vulnerable are these “non-Western” nukes to accident, theft of plutonium, terrorism, and response to mistaken attack?

January 20, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes, politics international | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, nuclear wastes, nuclear weapons, radiation, radioactive, reactor, reactors, uranium | Leave a comment

Fire kills two at Indian nuclear centre

Two killed in fire at India nuclear research centre BBC News 30 Dec 09 A fire at an Indian nuclear research facility has killed two people….the blaze, which broke out in a laboratory, was brought under control within 45 minutes.Indian police officials told news agencies that the charred bodies of two research students were found on the third floor of the laboratory.

The centre has a number of nuclear research reactors and is one of India’s key research centres for both nuclear power and nuclear weapons.

BBC News – Two killed in fire at India nuclear research centre

December 30, 2009 Posted by Christina Macpherson | India, safety | antinuclear, nuclear, radioactive, reactor | Leave a comment

Nuclear plant needing to improve’ human performance’

Perry Nuclear Plant continuing slide in ‘human performance’ News Herald By Jacob Lammers
November 13, 2009

Nuclear Regulatory Commission officials urged the operators of the Perry Nuclear Power Plant to improve human performance Thursday night….. Continue reading →

November 14, 2009 Posted by Christina Macpherson | 1, safety, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, radioactive, reactor | Leave a comment

Nuclear fast breeder reactors – wishful thinking!

The Future of Nuclear Energy: Facts and Fiction – Part IV: Energy from Breeder Reactors and from Fusion? The Oil Drum by Francois Cellier on November 10, 2009 – “…. Continue reading →

November 11, 2009 Posted by Christina Macpherson | 1, 2 WORLD | antinuclear, fast breeder, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, nuclear technology, radiation, radioactive, reactor | 1 Comment