USA Nuclear lobby demands $100 billion in EXTRA funding from govt
The nuclear trade group has called for $100 billion in additional loan guarantees for low carbon energy sources to help support replacing aging reactors
U.S. Loans to Boost Nuclear Industry Seen Soon abc News By Ayesha Rascoe December 28, 2009
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Obama administration is poised to announce loan guarantees to help kick-start the country’s nuclear power industry, which hasn’t built a new plant in more than three decades. Continue reading
India’s nuclear program hampered by lack of insurance
All property insurance covers exclude losses due to nuclear reaction, nuclear radiation or radioactive contamination.
Irda sounds out insurers on nuclear accident cover The Economic Times 29 Dec 2009, Hema Ramakrishnan & Mayur Shetty, ET Bureau NEW DELHI|MUMBAI: A year after private nuclear plants became a possibility in India following the Indo-US nuclear deal, the insurance regulator is deliberating with companies to cover liabilities arising out of deliberating with companies to cover liabilities arising out of nuclear accidents, which is essential for such plants…
…Currently, nuclear risks are not covered by any policy, as insurers do not have the wherewithal to estimate liabilities. All property insurance covers exclude losses due to nuclear reaction, nuclear radiation or radioactive contamination.
In most countries, operators of nuclear plants buy insurance cover as they are liable to pay compensation for any damage. Normally, the liability is limited by both international conventions and national legislation. The state has the responsibility to accept any liability more than insured.
The absence of such covers here may make it difficult to fund relief, if an accident occurs.
The US, for instance, is not bound by any international nuclear liability convention. The liability from a nuclear accident is addressed by the Price Anderson Act of 1956, which provides $10 billion in cover without cost to the government. It covers power reactors, research reactors and all other nuclear facilities.
Irda sounds out insurers on nuclear accident cover- Insurance news-Insurance-Personal Finance-The Economic Times
“Nuclear ‘renaissance'” stalled in Europe, UK, USA
“It turns out that new plants would be not just extremely expensive but spectacularly expensive.”
Nuclear economics just don’t add up Sydney Morning Herald MICHAEL R. JAMES December 24, 2009 -……………………..Contrary to the claims of a nuclear resurgence in Europe and the world, it is far from certain how much of Europe will actually implement their plans. Continue reading
Ziggy Spinowski still spruiking “clean” “green” nuclear power
Christina Macpherson 18 Dec 09 Why does the media continue to give such a platform to the narrow views of a nuclear physicist obviously spruiking for his business? Is it because of some mindset that sees “hard” science (nuke physics, geology etc) as somewhow “real” scince, as compared to the “soft” sciences like ecology, environmental science, climatology?
It wouldn’t be so bad if Ziggy Switkowski showed that he had a clue about the ecological effects of radiation from uranium tailings, or the discharge of hot water into marine environments. He obviously doesn’t. Nor does he show any understanding even of the problems that will shut down nuclear plants as extreme weather events occur, and as sea levels rise.
But perhaps most of all, Ziggy Switkowski is right out of his depth on economics – as predictions of nuclear’s likely costs show not just the exorbitant construction costs, but also the running costs. As quoted today (by Tessa de Ryck) “a 2007 report that nuclear power will likely cost over $7,000 per kilowatt, Moody’s Investor Services is now taking an even more cautious view towards investment in nuclear power,”
A clean and green way to fuel the nation THE AUSTRALIAN , Ziggy Switkowski, 18 Dec 09 “………Cost. Nuclear energy has the highest capital cost, up to $4 billion to 6bn for our first 1000MWe reactor, but low running costs largely independent of the cost of uranium itself………………….
Nuclear “cure” for climate change – a $10 trillion useless exercise
Greenpeace debunks nuclear benefit Malaysia Business Insight BY PAUL ICAMINA 18 Dec 09 NUCLEAR’S contribution in easing climate change is “too little, too late,” the anti-nuclear group Greenpeace said.
“Most of the hypothetical new big reactors would start to generate energy well beyond 2020, probably after 2025, Continue reading
China’s nuclear program mired in corruption and dubious safety
Nuclear Power Expansion in China Stirs Concerns The New York Times By KEITH BRADSHER 15 Dec 09 “………. inside and outside the country, the speed of the construction program has raised safety concerns.
The last country to carry out such a rapid nuclear expansion was the United States in the 1970s, in a binge of reactor construction that ended with the Three Mile Island accident Continue reading
France wants investors to help its nuclear debt
France seeks foreign cash to grow nuclear sector
PARIS, Dec 14 (Reuters) By Nina Sovich – France pledged 1 billion euros ($1.5 billion) to support next generation reactor design and said it would seek foreign capital to back its move to the forefront of nuclear energy expansion.
The investment is part of a 35 billion-euro spending plan French President Nicolas Sarkozy Sarkozy unveiled on Monday aimed at improving France’s competitiveness. ………………. The French government, which owns majority stakes in both nuclear reactor maker Areva (CEPFi.PA) and utility giant EDF (EDF.PA), is trying to position France as the market leader in designing and running these power plants…………… To fund these costs, the French government recently asked Areva to sell its electricity business for some 4 billion euros. It has also invited foreign utilities to take stakes in new plants being built in France…………………..
Last month Proglio blasted French energy companies bidding on a contract to build nuclear power plants in Abu Dhabi for its lack of coherence.
Price of uranium continues to drop
Half-hearted uranium price response to Olympic Dam incident
TORONTO – The uranium spot price firmed in October, after BHP Billiton reported an accident at its Olympic Dam copper/uranium mine mine, in Australia, but has failed to find support at the higher level, Australian equity research firm Resource Capital Research (RCR) commented on Friday. Continue reading
Tim Flannery: – ‘Australia will never need nuclear power
Tim Flannery on ABC Radio National Breakfast 3 Dec 09
Fran Kelly: Does Australia need nuclear power in your view?
Flannery: No it doesn’t and it never will. There’s no way we’ll ever need nuclear power in this country. That’s just another delaying tactic I’m afraid……
Australian opposition policy on climate, nuclear, is a ‘farce’
Turnbull brands Abbott an ETS ‘weathervane’ * THE AUSTRALIAN December 08, 2009 “………former Liberal Party leader Malcolm Turnbull declares it’s time for some straight talking on climate change. …….I tell a few home truths about the farce that the Coalition’s policy, or lack of policy, on climate change has descended into. Continue reading
Religious faith: nuclear is CLEAN, CHEAP, and waste NO PROBLEM
Nuclear is CLEANEST power source – Senator ABC News 4 Dec 09 By Aislin O’Connor and Kirsty Nancarrow
The Country Liberal Party’s Nigel Scullion has praised the new federal Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott, for opening the nuclear discussion. Continue reading
Coalition ignores nuclear problems: water, cost, dangers
Thirsty energy
ABC News 4 Dec 09 Scott Ludlam says there are issues with where the nuclear power plants would be sited. Continue reading
Shareholders protesting BHP’s uranium mining
BHP chief takes on shareholder activists ABC Radio PM Annie Guest reported this story on November 26, 2009
The protestors outside and shareholder activists inside raised concerns about uranium mining and storage……..PROTESTOR: Mr Argus… that would be millions of tonnes of radioactive waste… Continue reading
“Clean” nuclear power now a bribe for weapons non proliferation?
Could it be that the nuclear powers are in so deep that they just don’t know how to get out? Despite the cost, despite the mounting unsolved waste problem, despite the countries seeking nuclear weapons, the Big Powers forge on with the myths of “clean” “cheap”, “climate friendly” nuclear power. From the statement of Gordon Brown, and the US China joint statement (both quoted below) it looks as if the myths will continue to be perpetrated, and that even the failed idea of the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership might get a re-run.
‘We can lead construction of a new global order’ Public service.co.uk November 17, 2009 The UK can shape the world of the future by leading in global co-operation, the Prime Minister said in his annual speech on foreign policy at the Lord Mayor’s banquet. Gordon Brown – “………..Britain must continue to lead the renewal of a grand global bargain between nuclear weapon and non-nuclear weapon states. A fair and balanced deal in which non nuclear weapons states must accept clear responsibilities to end proliferation by renouncing nuclear weapons in return for the right to access civil nuclear power;…..
‘We can lead construction of a new global order’ – Public Service
U.S.-China Joint Statement CBS News Political Hotsheet by Brian Montopoli November 17, 2009 Following President Obama’s meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao, the White House released a joint statement on the relationship between the two countries,
………The two sides welcomed the establishment of The U.S.-China Energy Cooperation Program (ECP), a partnership between government and industry to enhance energy security and combat climate change. The ECP will leverage private sector resources and expertise to accelerate the deployment of clean energy technology.
The two sides agreed to work together to advance global efforts to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy. They welcomed the recently-concluded Third Executive Committee Meeting of the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership, and the commitment of the partnership to explore ways to enhance the international framework for civil nuclear energy cooperation. They agreed to consult with one another in order to explore such approaches — including assurance of fuel supply and cradle-to-grave nuclear fuel management so that countries can access peaceful nuclear power while minimizing the risks of proliferation.
In Full: U.S.-China Joint Statement – Political Hotsheet – CBS News
Australian uranium company’s big revenue loss
oilweek Nov 12, 2009 Paladin Energy suffers big loss; revenue down almost US$14M (Paladin) Ca PERTH, Australia _ Continue reading
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 