nuclear-news

The News That Matters about the Nuclear Industry Fukushima Chernobyl Mayak Three Mile Island Atomic Testing Radiation Isotope

Sarkozy selling France’s nuclear rechnology to China

a slew of business deals including a $3.5 billion contract with energy firm Areva

France, China to form nuclear power partnership | Reuters   -Areva signs three deals with China, eyes EPR sale   China signs $20 bln of business contracts in France PARIS, Nov 4 (Reuters) – France and China have agreed to form a strategic partnership in civilian nuclear power that ranges from building reactors in common to exploiting uranium mines, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Thursday. Continue reading →

November 6, 2010 Posted by | China, France, politics international | , , , , , | 1 Comment

Trouble in selling a troubled nuclear reactor

Anyone Want to Help Build a Reactor?, NYTimes.com, By MATTHEW L. WALD, November 1, 2010, A partnership between Constellation Energy and Electricité de France to build a new reactor in Maryland has broken up, with Constellation concluding that the economics are unfavorable because of electricity market conditions and the terms demanded by the Energy Department for a loan guarantee.
But Electricité de France wants to go forward and has bought out Constellation’s share of the joint venture, Unistar Nuclear. The problem is that American law requires that the plant have an American partner as a majority owner. Whom could the company recruit?….

Another possiblity for EDF would be to seek a change in the law, to allow foreign ownership of a nuclear reactor. (That rule dates from the cold war days.) But on Friday, the chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Gregory Jaczko, was noncommittal when asked what he thought of this idea.

The commission’s job, he said, is to enforce the law, and “I’m not aware of any proposals in Congress” for changes…….. Anyone Want to Help Build a Reactor? – NYTimes.com

November 6, 2010 Posted by | business and costs, USA | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Irresponsible to continue with nuclear power without solution to nuclear waste

“Nobody should be taken in by this spin. These proposals fail to address the core issues and citizens’ concerns on dealing with dangerous nuclear waste….
“Clearly, the absence of any solution on how to deal with dangerous nuclear waste makes current calls for a ‘nuclear renaissance’ in Europe all the more irresponsible.”…..

Mixed response to EU nuclear waste plan THE PARLIAMENT, By Martin Banks – 3rd November 2010 Today’s proposals on new EU rules for nuclear waste seem to be little more than a cheap PR exercise – Rebecca Harms EU energy commissioner Günther Oettinger has urged member states to bury radioactive nuclear waste, saying burial is the safest form of disposal. Continue reading →

November 4, 2010 Posted by | EUROPE, wastes | , , , , | Leave a comment

EU struggles with nuclear waste problem, plans to ban exports of waste

no final repositories exist for the roughly 7,000 cubic meters of high-level waste produced each year….the majority of the toxic substance is kept in interim storages..

EU nuclear waste proposals include export ban    EUobserver, ANDREW WILLIS 03.11.2010 BRUSSELS – New European Commission proposals will require EU member states to bury their radioactive waste deep underground, with overseas exports of the toxic byproduct also set to be banned. Continue reading →

November 4, 2010 Posted by | EUROPE, wastes | , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Despite Republican win, USA’s nuclear industry is stalled

A renaissance in nuclear power may be stalled regardless of action by Congress, said Chris Gadomski, the lead analyst for nuclear power with Bloomberg New Energy Finance.

Nuclear Power Gains in Republican House Victory; `Cap and Trade’ Suffers – Bloomberg, By Jim Efstathiou Jr. and Jim Snyder – Nov 4, 2010 “…………Nuclear power remains a tough sell …. The U.S. has no long-term plan to dispose of spent reactor fuel, and building nuclear plants remains prohibitively expensive without government subsidies, said John Walke, clean- air director for the New York-based Natural Resources Defense Council. Continue reading →

November 4, 2010 Posted by | politics, USA | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Nuclear power plants just not getting built in USA, despite govt loans

President Obama even proposed another $36 billion in federal loan guarantees for the industry in February of this year.

Yet last year, only one application was filed. And none at all this year…

Obstacles to Nuclear Construction in the United States, by Tony D’Altorio, Investment U Research  November 2, 2010 Electricite de France or EDF ADR (PINK: ECIFY) just got dumped by Constellation Energy (NYSE: CEG). And that could spell some big changes to its plans. Continue reading →

November 3, 2010 Posted by | business and costs, USA | , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

No money for nuclear!

If the nuclear industry is not covering its costs then the government will be left with a shortfall which they will have no choice either to write off the debt or to pass that cost onto the consumer.

Nuclear Power : Not cheap, Not safe, Not Wanted No Money for Nuclear, Nov 2010, Welcome to No Money for Nuclear The No Money for Nuclear movement was formed to concentrate on one issue. Whether the level of support that the nuclear industry will receive for building new nuclear power stations is justified, especially when contrasted with the severity of public expenditure cuts already announced. Continue reading →

November 3, 2010 Posted by | politics, UK | , , , , | Leave a comment

Singapore delaying nuclear power indefinitely, as solar gets cheaper

you won’t see a nuclear power plant in or around Singapore for at least something in the order of 10 to 20 years or even longer than that…Another option being explored by Singapore is solar power, which has become more cost effective over the years.

Nuclear power plant in S’pore not likely for next 10-20 years expert – Channel NewsAsia, By Joanne Chan  : 02 November 2010 , SINGAPORE : Singapore is unlikely to have a nuclear power plant for at least the next 10 to 20 years, said one advisor to the local energy sector. Continue reading →

November 3, 2010 Posted by | ASIA, business and costs | , , , , , , | 1 Comment

India cracks down hard on anti-nuclear protestors

Several prominent figures, including a former Supreme Court judge, Justice P B Sawant, former Magsaysay award winner Admiral Ramdas were intending to join the protests, but are reported to have been arrested on the highway, about 20km from the site.

600 people arrested in India for opposing nuclear plant, hundreds more voluntarily risk jail | Greenpeace International, by Justin – November 1, 2010, World’s largest nuclear park is planned in Jaitapur, in Ratnagiri district on the coast of southern Maharashtra. The park would comprise up to six large nuclear reactors bought from the French nuclear giant- Areva. In addition to the inherent hazards of nuclear power, the project threatens the livelihoods of about 10 000 farmers and fishermen and their families. Continue reading →

November 2, 2010 Posted by | civil liberties, India, opposition to nuclear | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Nuclear industry stalled as now uneconomic

Seven reactor projects around the country have been deferred in the last few months…..Other companies have looked at the economics of building nuclear reactors and decided to wait. In September, Exelon, the largest nuclear operator in the United States, stepped back from a plan to build a twin-unit reactor plant in Texas…..

Economy puts brakes on nuclear reactor plans The Blade ~ Toledo Ohio October 31, 2010 A third reactor for this Maryland site is stalled by an impasse over funding.  — Just a few years ago, the economic prognosis for new nuclear reactors looked bright. The prospect of growing electricity demand…..and government loan guarantees prompted companies to tell the Nuclear Regulatory Commission that they wanted to build 28 reactors. Continue reading →

November 1, 2010 Posted by | business and costs, USA | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Hong Kong – anti-nuclear protest and petition

A study by the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department shows that wind and solar energy can meet 21 percent of electricity demand if these alternative power sources are fully developed in the region.

Greens dead set against nuclear plan, The Standard, Natalie Wong, November 01, 2010About 30 Greenpeace activists staged a “die-in” protest on a Mong Kok street yesterday to dramatize their opposition to a government plan to tap mainland nuclear plants for more electricity. Continue reading →

November 1, 2010 Posted by | China, opposition to nuclear | , , , , | Leave a comment

USA pushing India hard on behalf of nuclear power companies

the US continues to push hard to get India to dilute the liability legislation to spare the US companies.

PM, Hillary discuss Obama visit – The Times of India, 31 Oct 10, NEW DELHI: Ahead of US President Barack Obama’s visit, PM Manmohan Singh held a 45-minute meeting with US secretary of state Hillary Clinton in Hanoi to discuss the keenly-awaited trip. Clinton will not be accompanying the president.At the heart of the discussions was the US’s continuing difficulties with the Indian nuclear liability law…… That is one of the issues which I think is being discussed by the Department of Atomic Energy with the US firms concerned.”  But sources said the US continues to push hard to get India to dilute the liability legislation to spare the US companies. ….. PM, Hillary discuss Obama visit – The Times of India

November 1, 2010 Posted by | India, politics international | , , , , | Leave a comment

India’s anti-nuclear protesters ignored by govt

Protest against Jaitapur nuclear power project, The Hindu, 31 Oct 10, Hundreds of villagers on Friday staged a silent protest against the Jaitapur nuclear power project in Ratnagiri district and courted arrest at Madban near the project site.According to local activists, nearly 3,000 people staged protests and were picked up by police.The police also prevented activists from entering the project area, with Admiral (retired) L. Ramdas and Justice (retired) P.B. Samant being prevented from going to Madban…..
On Thursday, a 14-member expert appraisal committee for nuclear projects visited Madban. The committee, which was under heavy police escort, did not meet any of the local villagers. The Hindu : States / Other States : Protest against Jaitapur nuclear power project

October 31, 2010 Posted by | India, opposition to nuclear | , , , | Leave a comment

Gloomy political future for Merkel’s govt on its pro nuclear decision

The opposition and some of the states are now considering appealing to the country’s constitutional court to overturn the bill, arguing that it should have been brought before the Bundesrat. And around 50 municipally-controlled energy suppliers also intend to campaign against the new law. They are concerned that the refocus on nuclear energy could endanger investment in renewable energy programs…..

The World from Berlin: Extension of Nuclear Lifespans Is ‘Pure Conservatism’ – SPIEGEL ONLINE – 29 Oct 10,  “…..lGermany may be facing into a winter of discontent following the dismantling of a plan to phase out nuclear energy in just over a decade. Continue reading →

October 29, 2010 Posted by | Germany, politics | , , , , | Leave a comment

Company’s share plunge due to ‘worthless’ nuclear power investments

its investment in UniStar Nuclear Energy was worthless, given the deteriorating nuclear energy market……….

Constellation Energy swings to 3rd-qtr loss as nuclear investments’ value plunges,  Canadian Business Online, October 29, 2010, BALTIMORE (AP) – Constellation Energy Group Inc. said Friday it swung to a third-quarter loss as it absorbed more than $1 billion in charges related to the drop in value of its nuclear joint ventures Continue reading →

October 29, 2010 Posted by | business and costs, USA | , , , , | Leave a comment

« Previous Entries     Next Entries »