A positive thought for Australian solar energy industry
”We have got a chance to get in at the start of a major new growth industry, and we have the smarts to make it work if the government signals that it will support local manufacturers.”
Call to foster local solar panel makers, Ben Cubby, Sydney Morning Herald, October 2, 2010 Australian solar panel makers are calling for industry protection to slow down a flood of cheap panels being manufactured in China, as the NSW government reviews its solar tariff scheme. Continue reading
New strict laws to control in-situ uranium mining
Applicants for in-situ leach uranium mines have to show the technology they want to use has been used before without harming groundwater quality, and they can’t be in violation at another operation
(USA) New rules take effect for Colorado uranium mines | San Francisco Examiner, Associated Press0, 9/30/10 DENVER — New rules for uranium mining in Colorado are now in effect.State lawmakers passed three bills in 2008 that prompted the changes, and the new rules took effect Thursday. Continue reading
Serious doubts on ANSTO and Silex Systems uranium enrichment technology
The technology in question was licensed from Silex Systems, an Australian company that’s been quietly conducting enrichment research at a small facility near Sydney for the last quarter century.But many experts are skeptical….a huge and extremely risky bet.”…..they also present a major headache for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and other nuclear watchdog groups attempting to spot clandestine enrichment plants,
Laser Uranium Enrichment Makes a Comeback The controversial technology poses proliferation risks, but nuclear firms press on, IEEE Spectrum: By Sandra Upson / October 2010 Continue reading
Unsolved problem of disposing of dead nuclear reactors
The problem of disposing of this kind of reactors is ripe everywhere, not only in Russia….Meanwhile, this branch of the nuclear industry is least developed technically, technologically and marketingwise,…
Russia to retire uranium-graphite reactors Voice of Russia, Oleg Nekhai Sep 30, 2010 Russian nuclear scientists intend to shut down uranium-graphite reactors on a mass scale……The problem of disposing of this kind of reactors is ripe everywhere, not only in Russia. Continue reading
Australian Greens support Aboriginal fight against Muckaty nuclear waste dump
He read a letter from traditional owners to Parliament – “We are the Aboriginal people who own the land and the dreamings you are talking about, we are asking that you reject this bill and scrap Muckaty as a site for the waste dump.”
Greens urge rethink of nuclear dump site – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), By Megan Lewis Sep 29, 2010 The Greens have urged the Federal Government to scrap plans to build a nuclear waste dump at Muckaty Station in the Northern Territory…… Continue reading
AREVA’s nuclear spin masks true purpose for nuclear industry
But the reality behind this romantic green image of a nuclear panacea to future energy needs is something altogether different….the obsessional ad campaign run by the French Areva state-backed nuclear monopoly, under the banner of “semi-private” as portrayed in the business press….Everyone is boogying to DJ Friendly Atom in these richly detailed TV and print media offerings…..the real business of the atom – nuclear weapons making and state security which, of course, was a State secret..
Funky Town Finance Meets The Nuclear Renaissance :: The Market Oracle by Andrew McKillop (Project Director, GSO Consulting Associates Former chief policy analyst, Division A Policy, DG XVII Energy, European Commission )30 Sept 10, . Like a Marlene Dietrich show in a remake of 1945 Berlin, surrounded by Soviet troop hordes, the nuclear sales show has to go on. Continue reading
Northern Territory govt opposes Paladin and Cameco’ s uranium mining plans
NT reversal cruels U-hopefuls’ plans TradingMarkets.com, 29 Sep 2010 —Northern Territory Chief Minister Paul Henderson has withdrawn support for Cameco Corporation’s and Paladin Energy’s proposed uranium mine near Alice Springs. The announcement came just two years after Cameco and Paladin won developmentrights for the Angela Pamela project and two weeks before a local by-election in the seat of Alice Springs. NT reversal cruels U-hopefuls’ plans | TradingMarkets.com
Australian miner Paladin backing out of deal because of share price fall
Paladin pallid at prospect of insecurity in Niger, The Age, David Symons, September 30, 2010 “…..Take a step back, and it’s tempting to surmise that Paladin’s efforts to back away from the acquisition have nothing to do with the kidnappings in Arlit……For its part, the market is overly sceptical regarding NGM’s prospects. If it goes through, the Paladin offer works out at about 15¢ for each NGM share. But NGM shares closed yesterday at 9.2¢, down 39 per cent.
Exposing the the LIES of the NUCLEAR LOBBY – October theme
An important nuclear lie is that we’ll need nuclear power to fuel electric cars, and that renewable energy can’t do it.
In fact, electric car batteries can be charged in a variety of ways.
Charging stations can get renewable power from the main grid, or directly from an array of solar panels above the charging station.
As costs come down, and batteries and car designs have improved, good serviceable cars, able to go 100 Km without recharge, are coming at a reasonable price, particularly taking into account the long-term saving in fuel costs.
Today’s batteries last for decades, in fact, for the life of the car itself, thus eliminating the cost of replacing them.
Renewable energy is ideal for electric cars. Over 70% of car travel in Australia involves shorter trips around towns. The Renewable energy car can be ‘topped up’ overnight, in the garage. Its battery stores the renewable energy, for use in daytime – there’s no “baseload power problem” – ( the nuclear lobby would claim ‘baseload” as a problem for electric cars.)
Solutions for the transition period: –
1. hybrid cars having both petrol and electric power
2. people can have solar-powered cars for normal town and city driving, with the second petrol-fuelled car for very long trips.
Nuclear issue has galvanised support for Germany’s Green Party
The nuclear issue has galvanized support for the Green party, which has grown to be a major force in national politics.
Germany: Greens See Red Over Nuclear Power Extension, TIME, By Tristana Moore / Berlin , Sep. 29, 2010 “Nuclear power harms Germany’ is the Greenpeace message projected on the cooling systems of the nuclear power plant in Grafenrheinfeld near Schweinfurt, southern Germany, Continue reading
Large and small solar projects for Victoria, Australia
The government of Victoria has also declared a Solar Hubs Program to encourage community based solar power generations to produce 8.6 MW solar power by the year 2013.
Victorian Government to Invest $100 Million on Solar Projects, CleanTech, 29 Sept 10, The Victorian Government of Australia has kept aside $100 million to develop and construct a solar power producing facility in the North West part of the state. Continue reading
Global nuclear industry takes Sovereign Debt to Global Debt
Financing the Nuclear Renaissance in 2010-2020 will almost surely shift to international and multilateral debt financing methods. The IMF will surely be there, and all creative methods will have a look-in to using nuclear power plants as the underlying security in a vast new upsurge in global debt trading.
Funky Town Finance Meets The Nuclear Renaissance :: The Market Oracle : by Andrew McKillop, 30 Sept 10, Project Director, GSO Consulting Associates Former chief policy analyst, Division A Policy, DG XVII Energy, European Commission
Sovereign Debt to Global Debt The UN’s Nuclear Suppliers Group has an impressive 45-nation list of supposed nuclear equipment and service suppliers, but these include countries like Iceland, Malta, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania, everyone short of the Vatican. Continue reading
Terrorism in Niger causes Australian uranium miner Paladin to pull out
According to Paladin, on September 16, forces associated with al-Qa’ida kidnapped the seven people employed by French uranium company Areva and its contractor, Vinci, from the town of Arlit in Niger’s uranium mining region.
Areva has subsequently evacuated expatriate personnel and France has dispatched anti-terrorism forces to the region
NGM Resources shares fall as Paladin bid is threatened * Michael Bennet * The Australian * September 29, 2010 NGM Resources shares today plunged 43 per cent on the likelihood Paladin Energy’s takeover offer will fall through….. Continue reading
AREVA involved as Chinese nuclear executive gaoled for 20 years
Jiang was charged with disclosing information to France’s Areva, the world’s largest builder of nuclear reactors, about a 2004 bid for China’s inland nuclear programme
China exec gets 20 years for leaking secrets Reuters, By Benjamin Kang Lim BEIJING, Sept 28 – The disgraced president of a Chinese state-owned enterprise has been jailed for 20 years for leaking state secrets in connection with a bid for foreign-made nuclear reactors, Continue reading
Western Australian Senator urges State to reject Plibara uranium mine
West Australian Greens Senator Scott Ludlam is calling for a public inquiry into the risks associated with the mine.
Greens urge opposition to proposed Pilbara uranium mine ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) Sep 28, 2010 The Greens have urged the West Australian and Federal governments to follow the lead of the Northern Territory government which is opposing a proposed uranium mine.he Northern Territory Continue reading
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