June 2005
Nuclear Energy Update
June 3 - 10, 2005
Welcome to Nuclear Energy Update. This is a weekly update compiled by The Eisenhower Institute of the most significant news items in international, domestic, and scientific nuclear energy news.
International
Japan Pledges Unconditional Patronage to Experimental Reactor
The Japanese government announced its intention to function in a "joint host" capacity with the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), regardless of whether the project reactor is located in Japan or France. The decision on which nation will be the location of ITER, whether it be Japan, supported by the U.S. and South Korea, or France, supported by China and Russia, has, for the moment, stagnated. Accordingly, Japan, unwilling to abandon the multi-billion dollar project, will concede to any kind of involvement. The "joint host" status would render a more active role in the ITER development for Japan, making the Aomori village of Rokkashomura a research hub.
(Yahoo New, http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20050606/sc_afp/japaneufranceresearchiter_050606105515 6/06/05)
China Bumps Budget for More Nuclear Power
China's largest nuclear power plant builder, China National Nuclear Corps., announced an impending forty billion dollar investment to build new nuclear power plants so as to ease alleviate power shortages and improve the environment. China's goal is to have 4 percent of its power generated by nuclear power plants by 2020. Presently, China derives 2.3 percent of its total electricity from nuclear power. The subsequent increase by China's new nuclear plants would boost China's nuclear power capacity from 6,700 megawatts to 40,000 megawatts. To accomplish there prospective goal, China will need to build ten new reactors over the next fifteen years.
(Yahoo News, http://asia.news.yahoo.com/050606/kyodo/d8ahvpq80.html 6/7/05)
Prosecutor General Rebukes Russian Reactor Recklessness
Vladimir Kolesnikov, head of the Russian Prosecutor General's Office, after launching an investigation in the country's nuclear power plants, has reported a significant number of security violations. The prosecutor general disclosed that 19 criminal cases had been filed in regards to the wrong doings, and over 100 employees have been reprimanded with official warnings. According to the official, "the Russian federation is entering a period of man-made disasters [...] the wear and tear of the equipment is extreme and accidents at Russian enterprises are becoming more frequent." The official credits the misconduct, in part, to waning state control over security with regards to Russia's major nuclear enterprises. Accordingly, the official has called for increased state control coupled with the amendment of relevant laws.
(MosNews,http://www.mosnews.com/news/2005/06/07/nuclearcases.shtml 6/705)
Iran Prepares for P-2 Centrifuges
According to Western intelligence officials, Iran is making preparations to install tens of thousands of advanced P-2 centrifuges at its nuclear power plant around Natanz, which would facilitate the production time of enriched uranium (suitable for nuclear weapons) two-fold. An inspection team from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is scheduled to verify Iran's compliance with its enrichment suspension, agreed upon in its meeting between France, Germany, and Britain last week. If the IAEA find that Iran has been working on, rather than preparing for, P-2 centrifuges, it would constitute a breach, in both the Iranian-European agreement towards suspension, as well as with the IAEA, who was told that Iran had halted the P-2 production in 2003. An IAEA official is to report their findings to the IAEA board when it meets next week in Vienna. As for how quickly Iran will begin assembly if the P-2s, that remains yet to be determined.
(Frantz, Douglas http://news.yahoo.com/s/latimests/iranpreparingforadvancednuclearworkofficialssay 6/9/06)
Rice Ready to Recant U.S. Refusal of 3rd Term for UN Nuclear Chief
In a change of policy, US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice is ready to support Mohamed ElBaradei's uncontested bid for his third term as UN nuclear chief. In past years the, U.S. and ElBaradei have bumped heads over Iraq and Iran, but after the meeting between Rice and Elbaradei, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said that Washington was ready to join the other member nations in their support ElBaradei. The IAEA board will choose its new head Monday when it resumes its regular meetings at its headquarters in Vienna.
(AFP, http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20050609/ts_afp/iaeauselbaradei_050609073107 6/9/05)
Industrial Infiltration of Israeli Nuclear Secrets
Twenty people, among which are top business executives, have been arrested for possible involvement in an industrial infiltration of the Gal-Al water company. Gal-Al is contending that, through an international computer hacking scandal known as the Trojan Horse Affair, its competitors stole the firms drawings and formulas on how to produce and separate heavy water, which is needed to manufacture a hydrogen bomb. So far the scandal has implicated fifteen companies. Key suspect, Yitzak Rath, fell from second story police station in apparent suicide attempt after his interrogation.
(http://www.spacewar.com/news/israel-05a.html 6/10/05)
Domestic
Legislators Contend Cask Case as Interim Alternative to Yucca Mountain
A Nuclear Regulatory Commission proposal, first articulated in May, is now coming to the forefront of the nuclear waste storage discussion as plans to bury the waste in Yucca Mountain have languished awaiting site approval. The proposal would authorize a private utility consortium to store 4,000 casks of waste on an Indian reservation near Salt Lake City. Concurrently, Ohio Representative David L. Hobson, chairman of the House Energy and Water Development committee, endorses the new strategy, declaring "It is time to rethink our approach to dealing with spent fuel." Subsequently, Private Fuel Storage, a utility consortium, has applied for a storage license from the NRC for their site located in Skull valley. The site, procured by Private Fuel Storage from Goshute Indians, constitutes a 50-year lease for 840 acres and is located 50 miles outside of Salt Lake City. As to whether the site and the system will be approved, members of the NRC remained reticent, refusing to talk about Skull Valley prior to voting. Although, NRC member Jeff Merrifield did mention that the NRC has "basically said if you put fuel into an approved storage cask, and you place it on a concrete storage pad, that, as a general matter, is a safe way of storing fuel."
(Wald, Mathew, http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/05/politics/05waste.html?pagewanted=print 6/5/05)
Anticipation of Consolidation
Anticipating approval that will allow electric utilities to build new nuclear power plants, General Electric Co. is contemplating relocating its nuclear power branch to North Carolina. The decision to move, according to division spokesman Tom Rumsey, is because "Wherever we're planted, that's where the hiring will be...We're trying to set ourselves so that if and when this growth occurs and we do get orders for new plants, we'll be able to grow." With relocation costs surmounting to nearly $50 million dollars, G.E. is petitioning the Wilmington government for tax breaks, as well as other incentives. So far they have managed to procure a $5.9 million dollar pledge from the local government, so long as the jobs maintain in North Carolina for at least nine years.
(Dalesio, Emery P. http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/business/11836590.htm 6/8/05)
Science
Nuclear Resurgence Rears New Breed of Reactors
In an attempt to quell those that fear the resurgence of nuclear power, the eleven of the world's nations are making moves to refine and standardize a new generation of reactors. These fourth-generation reactors are proposed to be safer, cheaper, and simpler to operate and maintain than those of the past. The new designs, which utilize natural processes, such as convection and gravity in their cooling systems, eliminate extraneous pumps and valves that are prone to failure or operator error. Per Peterson, chair of the nuclear engineering department at the University of California at Berkeley, asserts that overall "the new, simplified designs eliminate an enormous amount of equipment inside the reactor building, [adding] that the reduction leads to plants that are much cheaper to build and maintain." Conversely, skeptics still are apprehensive of the new reactors for proliferation reasons, as some may be used as breeder reactors, which generate plutonium. In addition, Dwin Lyman, a scientist at the Union of Concerned Scientists, fears that reliance on passive systems could undermine the multiplayer, defense-in-depth approach to radiation containment.
(Spotts, Peter http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0602/p13s01-stss.htm 6/02/05)
From Fission to Fusion
The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) is a nuclear fusion reactor estimated to cost 12 billion dollars. Initiated between the United States and Russia, during 1985 summit talks, ITER has received subsequent support from countries such as Japan, China, the European Union, and South Korea. Nuclear fusion is said to be safer than currently used nuclear fission, as well as more accessible due to the abundance of hydrogen, which can be extracted from seawater. The process of nuclear fusion reaction is enacted by housing "heavy hydrogen", also know as deuterium, and tritium-which is a radioisotope of hydrogen with atoms three times the mass of hydrogen atoms-in a doughnut shaped vacuum vessel while it is heated to 100 million C or more. It is said that one gram of fusion fuel can produce enough energy equivalent to eight tons of kerosene.
(Shimbun Yomiuri, http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/newse/20050608wo71.htm 6/7/05)
Nuclear Power Plants Cleared of Causing Cancer
In what is being called the "most definitive research anywhere in the world on alleged links between nuclear plants and cancers in local children", scientists were unable to establish any link between radioactive discharges and levels of childhood cancers. Although the study did find three childhood cancer clusters around nuclear installations, it was unable to find any evidence that the radioactive discharges were the cause. During the study, scientists, utilizing five methods of statistical analysis, evaluated over 32,000 cases of childhood cancer between 1969-1993, ascertaining whether or not the frequency of these incidences were amplified within a 15.5 miles radius of the power plants. The study also appears to exonerate any link of adult cases in that, "Children are more sensitive to radiation than adults and if low-level effects of radiation cannot be detected in the childhood population then it would be difficult to find them in adults", explained Professor Bridges, chairman of Comare.
(Connor Steve, http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/health_medical/story.jsp?story=645627 6/10/05).
Op-Ed
In the UK, There are Many Obstacles to New Nuclear Power
Ragnar Lofstedt, professor and director of the King's Center for Risk Management, contends that before any new nuclear power plants are built in Britain, politicians must first overcome several issues. The first of which is "coming to grips" with where the waste should go, which will surely be a source of discontent. According to Lofstedt, the UK has not discussed the storage of nuclear waste since 1976, thus it is inevitable that this lack of preparedness in this situation will undoubtedly slow things down. Secondly, Lofstedt asserts that the nuclear industry, being "veiled in secrecy", must become more transparent so as to assuage public paranoia. Subsequently, Lofstedt recommends a three pronged strategy: "First, find out exactly what people are worried about. Second, address these issues with roadshow-style displays [and] Third, develop a transparent process that goes right the way through from the inquiry stage to licensing."
(Lofstedt, Ragnar, http://news.independent.co.uk/low_res/story.jsp?story=644145&host=3&dir=97 6/5/05)
Simpson Surveys Nuclear Power
Stephen Simpson's opinion piece, "A Healthier Glow for Nuclear Power?" attributes nuclear power as being "a viable option today for expanding electrical capacity without simultaneously increasing our national reliance on hydrocarbons." In evaluating the alternatives, Simpson, argues that fossil fuel plants are pollution hazards (global warming) and face problems with resource scarcity, Hydroelectric and wind power are also both impractical because of the massive land area required. Not to mention that according to a study done by TVO, a Finnish electric company, nuclear power is almost half as cheap as coal, and, unlike coal, uranium is not scarce and is actually abundant in friendlier and more stable countries. In addressing the critics of nuclear power's safety, pollution, and security issues, Simpson asserts the following. With regard to safety issues: newer plants are far safer than those of Three Mile Island and Chernobyl, and although nuclear incidents can be horrible, let's not pretend that the alternatives are risk-free. Hundreds of people die in coal-mining accidents around the world on an annual basis, and it's virtually impossible to quantify the health risks of burning tons of hydrocarbons each year. As for nuclear pollution, Simpson contends that, burning hydrocarbons releases more than 25 billion lbs of carbon dioxide, whereas efficient reactors only produce about 1 cubic meter of waste, which, in spite of being highly radioactive, is smaller and can be isolated. In terms of security, Simpson maintains that nuclear facilities are exceptionally secure, acknowledging that there are other targets more vulnerable than power plants. Given all the above, Simpson sees the resurgence of nuclear power as an overall benefit.
(Simpson Stephen, http://news.yahoo.com/s/fool/20050608/bs_fool_fool/111825060502 6/8/05)
Credits
Compiled by: Joe Schultheis
Edited by: Suzanne Vogel
Nuclear Energy Update
June 13 - 17, 2005
Welcome to Nuclear Energy Update. This is a weekly update compiled by The Eisenhower Institute of the most significant news items in international, domestic, and scientific nuclear energy news.
International
Reactive Residue Headed for the United States
Japan Nuclear Cycle Development Institute plans to ship radioactive soil from Japan to the United States. Approximately 377 cubic yards of the radioactive soil is to be shipped from Yuriham to a private United States firm in exchange for $5.6 million dollars. The soil is the byproduct from the test-drilling of uranium by the institute's predecessor, the Power Reactor and Nuclear Fuel Development Corporation, in the 50s and 60s. The amount headed for the United States only represents a small portion of the 3,000 cubic meters still residing in Yuriham.
(AFP, http://www.spacedaily.com/news/nuclear-civil-05za.html 6/12/05)
ELBaradei Elected to Third Term
Mohammed ElBaradei, uncontested, and after his meeting with U. S. Secretary of State, Condoleeza Rice, unimpeded, succeeded in procuring his third term as the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency. ElBaradei, the 62-year-old Egyptian diplomat, was "humbled by the unanimous support", adding special thanks to the United States who reluctantly conceded this week, in spite of a history of clashes over Iraq and Iran. ElBaradei denied allegations that he would be harder on Iran as a means to obtain American support, saying "at the end of the day I do what I need to do" regarding issues with the agency.
(Jahn, George http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050613/ap_on_re_mi_ea/un_nuclear_agency_9 6/13/05)
China Looks Within to Augment its Nuclear Capacity
In a move to more than double its nuclear output capacity, China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), China's largest reactor builder, is planning to build two 650-megawatt reactors, and two 1,000 megawatt reactors at its Qinshan plant. The cost of the prospective "Qinshan phase I project" is expected to reach $4.33 billion dollars. As for when the project will begin, it is still unclear due to the fact that the project has yet to attain central government approval: "We aren't sure when the approval will come - it may be in the next four or five years" said Ma Mingze, deputy-general-manager of the Quinshan Nuclear Power Company.
(Asia Pulse http://au.biz.yahoo.com//050614/17/4qru.html 6/14/05)
IAEA Remains Unconvinced Concerning Iranian Intentions
According to ElBaradei, reappointed head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran has yet to provide "sufficient" evidence to dispute accusations of uranium enrichment and nuclear smuggling. Also, inspectors were denied access to key military sites, Lavizan and Parchin, where weaponization work is allegedly occurring. Subsequently, it is unclear how close Iran is from being able to use the P-2 centrifuges, which enrich uranium faster and can also produce the core of an atom bomb. Likewise, the IAEA is trying to determine as to whether Highly Enriched Uranium is being derived by imported equipment or is being manufactured by Iran, which would indicate on Iran's capability to produce weapons-grade nuclear material. Thus, the IAEA is asking Iran to provide "access to dual-use equipment and other information related to the Lavizan-Shia site", as well as "additional documentation regarding offers of equipment made to Iran", in reference to Iranian supposed smuggling.
(AFP http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20050614/wl_afp/iaeanucleariran_050614120819 6/14/05)
Iran Confesses to More Recent Reprocessing When Confronted
After being confronted with laboratory test results, Iran conceded to reprocessing plutonium in 1998. Previously, Iran had told the International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA) that their reprocessing of plutonium had halted in 1993. Deputy IAEA chief, Pierre Goldschmidt, in his speech to the IAEA board of governors, revealed that Iran is still withholding key documents which are "essential for verifying the completeness of Iran's declarations concerning such (uranium enrichment) equipment." Iranian negotiator Cyrus Nasseri responded to Iranian criticism, saying "I can't understand that some want to make a big story out of this [...] What difference would it make for us to say these tests were made 13 years ago or 10 years ago?"
(Bernstein, Richard http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/16/international/europe/16nuke.html 6/16/05)
Saudi Arabia Circumvents Nuclear Scrutiny
The International Atomic Energy Agency has negotiated a deal with Saudi Arabia that would allow for the inspections of the Saudi's nuclear facility. At present, Saudi Arabia is believed to only have a nuclear research program, and as such is not perceived as a direct proliferation threat. However, it is because their nuclear program is infantile that their apparent willingness to cooperate with the IAEA may be suspect. Although the safeguard agreement authorizes the IAEA to inspect a countries nuclear facilities, its small quantities protocol allows those participating states to be exempt from notifying the IAEA of the acquisition of design information and of stocks of natural uranium up to 10 tons, which, although "small", produces enough enriched uranium to make at least one bomb. Subsequently, nations have petitioned Mohamed ElBaradei, director general of the IAEA, to rescind the small quantities protocol. Nevertheless, any action to revoke the protocol would be moot in regarding the previously petitioned Saudi agreement.
(Ap http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2005-06-16-saudis-nukes_x.htm?csp=34 6/16/05)
IAEA Condones New Committee
The International Atomic Energy Agency's board of governors unanimously approved the United States proposal to create a committee, which would examine how to improve the nuclear safeguard regime. According to the document, acquired by Reuters, "The board of governors decides to set up a committee on safeguards and verification to consider ways and means to strengthen the safeguards system." The hope is that the committee will strengthen the agencies enforcement and compliance capabilities with regard to non-proliferation obligations. The head of the U.S. delegation, Ambassador Jackie Sanders, expressed the need for refinement of the agency, saying, "the proliferation challenges of today, including non-compliance by North Korea and Iran and the revelation of (illicit) nuclear procurement networks calls for more evolution."
(Francois Murphy and Louis Charbonneau http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=nm/arms_nuclear_dc_3 6/17/05)
IAEA Goes To Gauge Georgia
According to Melissa Fleming, International Atomic Energy Agency spokeswoman, the IAEA will send a commission to Abkhazia, Georgia, to discuss nuclear nonproliferation guarantees. Although the IAEA maintains that the visit is "a routine safeguard mission", experts are speculating that the visit is a result of worry surrounding the "controversial site in breakaway Abkhazia where signs are that in the distant past they worked on enriched uranium and possibly plutonium." This commission will represent the first visit to Georgia by the IAEA during the presidency of Nikahail Saakashvili, which began in 2004.
(AFP, http://www.khaleejtimes.com/§ion=theworld&col= 6/16/05)
Report Reproaches Russian Mishandling of Atomic Subs
Mark Gerchikov, supported by the National Nuclear Corporation, and funded by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, released a report which classified Russia's abandoned atomic submarines located in the Barents Sea region, which contains 450 naval reactors constituting for 20 percent of all the world's reactors, as a serious nuclear liability, so much so that: "Certain nuclear installations are in such a state that we cannot exclude a chain reaction." The report, being written in concert with Russia's nuclear energy ministry, signifies the " the first time [the Russian government has] published secret documents." Likewise, Sergei Baranovski, president of the Russian branch of the Green Cross, recognizes the report as "the first attempt at dialogue with society on this sensitive problem."
(Nedbayeva Olga http://www.spacedaily.com/news/submarine-05h.html 6/10/05)
Domestic
Time Reports Nuclear Neglect
Sunday's Time magazine, referencing a Nuclear Regulatory Commission document, questions whether the "government has set security requirements for nuclear plants too low and allowed nuclear plant operators to provide security on the cheap." Accordingly, Time quotes guards as saying "We don't have the weapons or training to stop an attack of [September 11] magnitude [...] Everyone feels that way. It's a consensus of opinion." The guards' notions are supported by David Orrik, a retired senior Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) official, specializing in power-plant vulnerabilities, who Time quotes as saying, "[He] didn't think they (the guards) could handle a 9/11-size attack." Time further underscores power plant oversight, specifying that "Since the September 11, 2001 attacks, the government has spent one billion dollars to boost nuclear power plant security, compared to 20 billion for aviation security." While NRC-commissioned studies claim that plant designs are capable of withstanding a suicide airplane attack without risk of major contamination, Time asserts that according to the National Academy of Sciences panel: "the particular design and vulnerabilities of each plant make such a blanket statement meaningless."
(Yahoo News http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20050612/pl_afp/usattacksnuclear_050612212310 6/12/05)
Nuclear Economic Invokes Investor Apprehension
Although nuclear power is clearly back on the agenda it is unclear when, or if, any one will test the waters. According to the Associated Press "without some government help, no new reactors are likely to be built before 2025". Investors remain tepid towards nuclear power, recalling past problems with licensing, which sometimes doubled or even tripled reactor costs. Accordingly, John Rowe, chairman of Exelon utility company, which owns more plants than any other utility, 17, reports that the company will abstain from investment until problems concerning waste are resolved: "My company lost $5 billion to $10 billion on the last round of nuclear construction"
(AP http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2005-06-12-nuclear-resurgence_x.htm?csp=34 6/12/05)
Senate Hinders House's Nuclear Waste Proposal
The Senate passed a $31 billion dollar energy spending bill devoid of any funds directed towards temporary storage sites as proposed by the House. Leading Yucca Mountain supporter and chair of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee that funds energy and water projects, Senator Domenici from New Mexico called the plan "totally inadequate." The contested House plan, led by Representative David Hobson from Ohio, would temporarily approve aboveground storage of reactor fuel at federal sites in October 2006, as well as allotting $10 million dollars for the program. While Senator Domenici supports the idea of new solutions for waste problems, he stands opposed to the House proposal because "You can't start a program of that importance with $10 million and a paragraph. I'm willing to look at a whole new policy which could involve interim storage, but not this way."
(Werner, Erica http://news.yahoo.com/news?_2 6/14/05)
Wall Street Waits on Nuclear Power
This week the Senate is deliberating energy legislation regarding new reactors, which includes tax incentives, loan guarantees and federal liability protection. The subsequent debate marks the resurgence of an industry once pronounced dead, but now resurrected in an effort to protect our environment. Despite all the nuclear-hype it still remains uncertain whether or not the nuclear power agenda will come to fruition: "There's a lot of focus on Congress and what Congress wants to do and the subsidies, but it all depends on Wall Street and whether or not Wall Street wants to be involved in financing nuclear power. At this point they're not interested," said Geoff Rothwell, a Stanford University economist who has advised the Department of Energy on nuclear-power economics. Concurrently, Mike Wallace, president of Constellation Generation, which has 34 power plants, five of which are nuclear, affirmed that Wall Street is still unwilling to support nuclear projects fearing regulatory delays. Thus, in his conception it is necessary that the federal government build the first three or four plants demonstrate nuclear's new feasibility.
(JAMES KUHNHENN AND SETH BORENSTEIN http://www.kansascity.com/mld/contentModules/printstory.jsp 6/15/05)
Science
Lahey Lauded with the Von Humboldt Fellowship
The Alexander von Humboldt Senior Scientist Fellowship, on of the most prestigious honors awarded to senior researchers, is to be awarded to Richard T. Lahey Jr., a leader in nuclear reactor technology and safety. Currently Lahey, the Edward Hood Jr. Professor of Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, is researching sonofusion, a new form of nuclear fusion. The fellowship will enable Lahey to spend a year researching advanced concepts for a nuclear fission reactor at FZK, the German National Nuclear Energy Laboratory.
(Newswise http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/512500/?sc=rssn 6/12/05)
Op-Ed
Waste Woes May Weaken Nuclear Resolve
According to Ralph Vartabedian, Times staff writer, nuclear waste management may become too costly, prohibiting future facilities from properly monitoring and maintaining waste. According to Vartabedian the stagnation of the Yucca Mountain initiative has put "the dump at least 14 years behind schedule [leaving] utilities with few options short of shutting down their reactors and eliminating 20% of the U.S. electricity supply that comes from nuclear power. And without a solution to waste, the proposal by President Bush to start a new era of nuclear plant construction could go nowhere." Subsequently, according to Vartabedian, if and when Yucca mountain opens it will have to deal with a 50 year backlog, not to mention that it may be too small to handle the all the waste. At present the power industry is implementing the use of cask containers and deep storage pools. Vartabedian is weary of this type of waste management in that: "it means leaving all of the roughly 50,000 tons of civilian nuclear waste spread across the nation for the next half-century or more. And storing the waste at power plant sites is creating significant economic, environmental, legal, and security challenges - including the potential for it to become a terrorist target." And though "the nuclear industry has a good record for preventing radiation leaks during normal operations and dry casks are widely regarded as safe, many outside experts say their biggest fear is that future generations may lack the willpower and financial capability to safeguard tons of radioactive waste dispersed across the nation."
(Vartabedian Ralph http://news.yahoo.com/s/latimests/20050612/ts_latimes/nuclearwasteoutpacessolutions 6/12/05)
Credits
Compiled by: Joe Schultheis
Edited by: Suzanne Vogel
Nuclear Energy Update
June 18- 25, 2005
Welcome to Nuclear Energy Update. This is a weekly update compiled by The Eisenhower Institute of the most significant news items in international, domestic, and scientific nuclear energy news.
International
Russia and U.S. Anticipated to Reconcile Nuclear Liability Issues
Officials are anticipating the signing of an agreement between President Bush and Russian President Putin, which would initiate the disposal of 68 tons of weapons-grade plutonium. The agreement has stagnated for the past two years as United States contractors have been struggling with the Russians over liability concerns regarding the prospective disposal facilities they are to construct. But, according to Senator Domenici, Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, there has since been progress on the liability issue, which has created "headway" towards an agreement.
(Schweid, Barry http://news.yahoo._russian_nuclear_fuel_2 6/20/05)
Russia to Fuel Iran's Nuclear Power Station
Assadollah Sabouri, the deputy head of Iran's atomic energy organization, stated that Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant may be ready to accept a nuclear fuel delivery from Russia within a couple of months. Bushehr is the beneficiary of an 800 million dollar contract, which has procured Russian nuclear fuel so long as Iran returns the spent fuel, which is suitable for weapons use. Responding to those who are distrustful of Iran and its nuclear agenda, Sabouri asserted that the agreement allowed no cushion for Iran to utilize the fuel for military purposes, adding, "Bushehr is entirely under the supervision of the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency). The fuel will be verified before it is sent to Iran and the IAEA inspectors will be here to open the seals." Disregarding U.S. pressure, Russia has continued to pursue cooperation with Iran's nuclear industry, claiming that the subsequent contract has rescued their own atomic energy industry.
(AFP http://news.yahoo.com/_050622185927 6/22/05)
Former Chief UN Weapons Inspector Blix Believes Bomb Making to be Beyond Iran
Hans Blix, former chief UN weapons inspector, announced that Iran is far from acquiring nuclear-bomb making capability. Blix addressed concerns over the new Bushehr plant as being a weapons depot, calling them "exaggerated" because the plant's construction had been completed by Russia with low-grade nuclear technology: "It's like putting the motor of a Lada in a Mercedes." Although recognizing Bushehr a possibility as a weapons plant, he maintained that it would be "very difficult. The way you would usually go is to have a research reactor [plus] light-water reactors are not ideal for creating plutonium." What is more alarming, according to Blix, is Iran's ability to enrich uranium from their own resources. As for Bushehr, Iranians "have begun digging in the dirt a bit they may need 10 years" for this to become a threat, concluded Blix.
(AFP http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20050623/wl_mideast_afp/irannuclearswedenblix_050623141107 6/23/05)
Japan Relinquishes Revolutionary Reactor To France
Japan, reportedly will relinquish its bid to host the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), which will now be built in France, in exchange for a large share of the project production. Japan will construct the project's main research facility and keep 20 percent of the jobs at the head office, including the top post of the ITER organization, for Japanese nationals. Japan will also maintain 20 percent of the work to build the reactor, while only contributing 10 percent of the cost of the ITER.
(AFP http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20050622/wl_asia_afp/chiter_050622192255 6/22/05)
Japanese Power Plant Data Divulged on Web
Confidential information concerning Japan's nuclear plants, specifically photographs of interiors, details regarding inspections, schedules of repair work, and names of workers were leaked onto the internet by a virus through a personal computer. The personal computer was that of a Mitsubishi subsidiary employee who was in charge of inspecting the plants. According to Chief Cabinet Secretary, Hiroyuki Hosoda, "The information allegedly leaked does not include data directly related to nuclear materials, which are kept under strict control." Mitsubishi Electric Corp. apologized and promised to take action such that will prevent a similar occurrence in the future.
(Reuters http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050623/wr_nm/japan_nuclear_secrets_dc_5 6/23/05)
U.S. Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns in India to Pave Way For Bush
U.S. Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns and India's Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran are conducting talks in New Delhi regarding possible civilian nuclear power cooperation between the U.S. and India. Along with the nuclear issue, they will discuss other cooperative efforts concerning their respective space programs, missile defense, and high technology trade. The meeting of the secretaries precedes that of President Bush's and Prime Minister Moanmohan Singh's, which is to take place next month. India hopes to alleviate U.S. concerns regarding nuclear technology proliferation, maintaining that the cooperative effort will be solely directed at coping with impending energy shortages.
(Yahoo News http://asia.news.yahoo.com/050624/ap/d8atv9g01.html 6/24/05)
Indonesia: Itching to Go Nuclear
The Indonesian National Atomic Energy Agency (BATAN) urged the government to begin plans to construct a nuclear power plant as an alternative energy source. The country is currently beleaguered by both power supply and fuel crises. According to Soedyartomo, chief of BATAN, "the supporting capacity of fossil based energy is dwindling fast [thus] the government should no longer postpone the plan to build the country's first nuclear power plant," which is to be located in Muria, Central Java. Projections have set the shortage of power to occur sometime in 2016-2017. At present, BATAN is preparing "everything needed including socialization, land clearing, human resources and analysis of environmental impact," prior to construction, says Hudi Hastowo, a deputy of BATAN.
(http://au.biz.yahoo.com/050622/17/504o.html 6/23/05)
Domestic
Workers Penetrate Plant with False Documentation
The Department of Energy inspector general's office reported that, as a result of soft security controls, sixteen foreign construction workers were able to gain access to a nuclear weapons plant in Tennessee with phony documentation. The report went on to say that, while no evidence indicated that the trespassers had access to any sensitive documents, documents labeled "official use only" were lying unprotected in a trailer to which the workers had admittance. The Y-12 plant makes parts for nuclear warheads and is the country's primary storage facility for weapons-grade plutonium. In response to the report, the plant has tightened security, requiring visitors to produce passports or birth certificates as well as other background information.
(Mansfield, Duncan http://www.boston.com/news/breached_report_says/?%2BNews 6/21/05)
Bush Backs Nuclear Power
While on his visit to Constellation Energy's Calvert Cliffs nuclear power plant in Maryland, President Bush declared that it was time "for this country to start building nuclear power plants again." President Bush, motivated by global warming and foreign resource dependency, argued that, "Nuclear power is one of America's safest sources of energy [...] without producing a single pound of air pollution and greenhouse gases, [adding] nuclear plants are safer than ever before." As it is now, the President's current climate policy seeks to limit the growth of emissions rather than reducing them, arguing that a limitation of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon, would devastate the economy and lead to even higher energy prices. Subsequently, nuclear power would purportedly limit both carbon emissions and release the United States from foreign resource dependence without straining the economy. Concurrently, the Senate approved a measure by Senator Chuck Hagel, which would offer government incentives to companies to create better ways to reduce emissions and contain carbon.
(MSNBC http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8315963/ 6/22/05)
Science
Cancer Connected to Plutonium Production Site
According to a recent study performed at University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, the age at which one is exposed to low doses of ionizing radiation can play a part in the development of cancer. The study was conducted at the U.S. Department of Energy's Hanford Site in Richland, Washington, where plutonium was produced for atomic weapons. The greatest portion of the test affected were older people suffering from lung cancer. The report stated that "cancer death rates increased, on average, about 3 percent for every additional rem (a unit of radiation dose) received at ages 55 and above[...] For lung cancer the increase was about 9 percent per rem," according to Dr. Steven B. Wing, associate professor of epidemiology at the UNC School of Public Health. Wing asserts the importance of the study considering "the push for new nuclear power plants and debates over whether to release radioactively contaminated metals into the consumer recycled-metal market." Wing added that, although older people may be more susceptible to radiation, it does not mean that younger people exempt from risk, since the study did not examine cases which did not lead to death, nor did they evaluate the genetic damage which could be passed on to children or fetuses.
(Williamson, David http://www.unc.edu/news/archives/jun05/wing8061605.htm 6/20/05)
New Line of Nuclear Prototypes
The three prospective nuclear reactor designs, Westinghouse AP1000, AREVA's EPR, and General Electric's ESBWR, are all adaptations of the third generation light-water reactors now operating in Europe and the United States. The new reactors are supposedly safer, more efficient, and are easier to build as well as operate. The new designs, which utilize natural processes, such as convection and gravity in their cooling systems, eliminate extraneous pumps and valves that are prone to failure or operator error. The AP1000 is estimated to contain 80 percent fewer pipes; The ESBWR maintains 25 percent fewer pumps, piping, cabling, valves, and motors; The EPR's process has also been simplified and incorporates more redundant and isolated safety systems, along with a double-walled concrete containment dome, which functions as increased protection against airplane crashes. Should there be a meltdown, the EPR reactor is constructed to catch the core melt in a containment cavity below. Generation IV reactors, which are not due until 2030, plan to go even further beyond the third generation advancements, producing less waste and more heat, as well as replacing fossil fuels with hydrogen.
(AP http://www.dailyherald.com/business/businessstory.asp?id=63360 6/20/05)
Op-Ed
Energy Bill Seeks to Bolster Nuclear Power, But All Aren't on the Bandwagon
On the docket this week for the Senate is an energy bill, which has an incentive package designed to encourage the construction of new nuclear power plants, harkening the resurrection of a nuclear power industry that has been dormant the past 27 years. The Senate bill, as well its House counterpart, will allow for new nuclear plants to apply for federally backed loan guarantees for "innovative technologies." The Senate bill will also allow for tax credits for companies that develop new nuclear reactors. However, despite nuclear power's gaining support on both sides of the environmental issue, objections still persist. Environmentalists such as Dave Hamilton, director of global warming and energy programs for the Sierra Club, find that "by and large the environmental community is united in thinking that nuclear power is a bad idea that causes more problems than it solves." Hamilton also asserts that the move to nuclear power will prove burdensome to taxpayers who will have to carry costs of waste storage and cleanup of reactor accidents, as well as security concerns regarding protection of sensitive nuclear material from terrorists. Others, like Keith Ashdown of Taxpayers for Common Sense, find the energy bill itself to be harmful, calling the tax credits, "the worst of the measure's giveaways to energy special interests [costing] billions of dollars in tax breaks."
(Kiely, Kathy http://news.yahoo.com//usnuclearpowerindustryworkingonquietcomeback 6/20/05)
Miner Prepares for Uranium Mania
All signs point to the rebirth of nuclear power, and Gerald Grandey, president of the Cameco Corporation, whose primary product is uranium, does not want to get caught with his pants down. He remarked, "Today the world's 440 nuclear plants use 180 million pounds of uranium annually" and that "conservative estimates [...] show that annual consumption is expected to increase to about 206 million pounds within 10 years and rise to 215 million pounds by 2024." Subsequently, Grandey is confident that uranium demand will remain high for decades, and believes it is time "to start investing a great deal of money in exploration and new mine development." Although the demand may be growing for nuclear power, it is still uncertain whether that demand will be able to be met, and, according to an IAEA press release, "declining secondary supplies have pushed the spot price of uranium to over 75 dollars (63 euros) a kilogram from 28 dollars a kilogram in 2003." Grandey, however, remains optimistic: "It is true that we have been living on inventories for about 20 years, and the industry is producing out of its primary mine consumption 60 percent of what is consumed on an annual basis [...] But uranium is a very, very common element, and there is a lot of it to be mined."
(AFP http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/_050620174200 6/20/05)
Credits
Compiled by: Joe Schultheis
Edited by: Suzanne Vogel
Nuclear Energy Update
June 26- July 1, 2005
Welcome to Nuclear Energy Update. This is a weekly update compiled by The Eisenhower Institute of the most significant news items in international, domestic, and scientific nuclear energy news.
International
Iranian President Elect Insists on Right to Nuclear Power
Iran's newly elected President Mahmood Ahmadinejad, declared that Tehran would continue to participate in nuclear talks with the European triumvirate. Despite his classification as a hardliner and "ultra-conservative," Ahmadinejad insisted that he would create a new government of "moderation" dedicated to international cooperation. Accordingly, "based on national interest of the Islamic Republic of Iran, we will continue negotiations," said Ahmadinejad. Ahmadinejad also reiterated Iran's commitment to advance its nuclear power program, claiming that "nuclear technology is our right, to be used for peaceful purposes." Ahmadinejad also added that "Iran is on a path of progress and elevation, and does not really need the United States on this path," promising only to "work with any country in the world that does not show animosity to Iran." United States Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld responded to Ahmadinejad's ascension saying, "I don't know much about this fellow [...] But he is no friend of democracy. He's no friend of freedom."
(AFP http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/_afp/iranvote_050626183404 6/26/05)
Public Opinion Pushes Taiwan Toward Abandonment of Nuclear Power
According to Minister of Economic Affairs Ho Mei-yueh, Taiwan is planning to double its capability to produce electricity from coal as a means to reduce its reliance on nuclear power. The Taiwanese movement away from nuclear power is in direct contrast to the United States and its European counterparts, who are all reevaluating nuclear power's expansion. Furthermore, Taiwan intends on "eventually become nuclear free," according to Ho Mei-yueh. The new coal initiative is in response to public resistance toward a prospective $7 billion dollar nuclear power plant, which would maintain two reactors. Policymakers have been pushed to rescind the nuclear programs as a result of public concern regarding earthquakes: "Taiwan can't afford to have nuclear plants," says Chen Jiauhua, chairwoman of the Taiwan Environmental Protection Union and a delegate at the energy policy planning conference held last week. The utilization of coal will have to be augmented to replace the 21% of Taiwan's power generated by nuclear reactors. The ministry hopes to downsize its electricity production by nuclear reactors to 5 percent by 2025.
(Yu-huay Sun http://www.iht.com/bin/print_ipub.php?file=/articles/2005/06/27/bloomberg/sxnuke.php 6/26/05)
Inspectors In Iran as Fears of New Hardliner President Flourish
Inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency returned to Iran today for the first time since the election of President Ahmadinejad this past week. The inspectors are back "within the framework of regular inspections and are in designated sites," said Ali Agha Mohammadi, spokesman for Iran's top national security body. The team continues to try to evaluate Iran's nuclear power program, ascertaining whether or not Iran is complying with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Mohammadi indicated that the Iran and the European Union triumvirate would resume talks sometime early July. Mohammadi maintained that although the Iranian government will inevitably change, "The wider principles of Iran's foreign policy will not."
Ahmadinejad is to take office August 3rd, replacing Iran's current President Khatami.
(AFP http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20050627/wl_afp/irannuclear_050627160332 6/27/06)
India Appeals for Nuclear Cooperation With U.S.
India's defense minister, Pranab Mukherjee, on his first visit to the United States, petitioned the U.S. regarding possible civilian nuclear power cooperation in India. The minister argued that the existing restrictions inhibit India's ability to be a stabilizing force in Asia. However, concern regarding the intentions of India persists due to India's undeclared nuclear status and abstention from most international nonproliferation regimes. India hopes to alleviate U.S. concerns by maintaining that the cooperative effort will be solely directed at coping with impending energy shortages. The defense minister's visit paves the way for Prime Minister Moanmohan Singh's, who is to meet with President Bush next month.
(Giacomo, Carol http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050628/wl_nm/india_usa_defense_dc_1 6/27/05)
Russian Declares Atomic Assistance with Prospective Iranian Nuclear Power Plants
According to a statement made by Alexander Rumyantsev, the Russian Atomic Energy Agency's director, Mahmood Ahmadinejad, the newly elected Iranian president, intends to construct six new nuclear reactors, and "as soon as Iran announces the tender for offers to construct new nuclear reactors, we [Russia] will participate." Disregarding U.S. pressure, Russia has continued to pursue cooperation with Iran's nuclear industry, claiming that the contract has rescued their own atomic energy industry. Putin attempted to assuage international concern by asserting that cooperation with Iran will be done "while taking into account our international obligations in the area of nonproliferation." According to officials, the first deliveries of Russian nuclear fuel will head to the Iranian Bushehr power plant within a few months.
(AFX http://www.iii.co.uk/news/?type=afxnews&articleid=5337396&subject=general&action=article 6/27/05)
South Korea Vies to Become Nuclear Leader
According to a report disseminated by the Ministry of Science and Technology, South Korea has set a goal to rank among the top five in the world's nuclear industry by 2011. Currently, South Korea maintains 20 operational nuclear reactors and one experimental unit, which yield close to 40 percent of its electricity. According to the nation's newest nuclear development plan for 2007-2011, South Korea will construct an Advanced Power Reactor 1400, while emphasizing its production of fuel for it light water reactor, and its X-ray quarter: "The goals call for broader application of nuclear and X-ray related technologies with the objective being to make South Korea a leader in this field," said a government official. An expert panel of 100 specialists will convene to discuss the plan in 2006, after which the proposal will be made public.
(Yahoo News http://au.biz.yahoo.com//050627/17/525p.html 6/28/05)
The Fusion Reactor Finally Finds Home in France
After the withdrawal of the Japanese bid, France finally has been chosen to host the world's first nuclear fusion reactor in Cadarache. The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) is a nuclear fusion reactor estimated to cost approximately 12 billion dollars. First initiated between the United States and Russia, during 1985 summit talks, ITER has since received support from countries such as Japan, China, the European Union, and South Korea. The process of nuclear fusion reaction is enacted by housing "heavy hydrogen", also know as deuterium and tritium-which is a radioisotope of hydrogen with atoms three times the mass of hydrogen atoms-in a doughnut shaped vacuum vessel while it is heated to 100 million C or more. It is said that one gram of fusion fuel can produce the energy equivalent to eight tons of kerosene.
(Reuters http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050628/sc_nm/energy_france_nuclear_dc_5 6/28/05)
North Korea Resurrects Restricted Reactors?
A Japanese newspaper, Nihon Keizai Shimbun, citing undisclosed United States government sources, reported that North Korea has resumed building two nuclear reactors that had been abandoned since 1994. The newspaper quoted a Washington official as saying that North Korea "indirectly" told the U.S it was resuming its construction on the site in Yongbyon and Thaechon. These sites had been previously decommissioned under a1994 agreement in exchange for multi-billion dollar energy aid and the construction of two light-water reactors, which are more difficult to employ in arms developing. However, according to South Korean officials there is no specific proof to corroborate the story: "At this stage, there is no additional information to substantiate this report, which has been talked about before based on assumptions," said the official.
(Reuters http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20050630/ts_nm/korea_north_reactors_dc_4 6/30/05)
Domestic
Subpoenaed Scientists Says Yucca Mountain Work is Sound
Joseph Hevesi, a United States Geological Survey hyrdrologist, rebuffed accusations that he falsified documentation regarding the Yucca Mountain waste dump, in his testimony before House Government Reform subcommittee today. The committee is investigating emails by Hevesi and other scientists, which may suggest that they changed their work to support the continuance of the project. Hevesi claimed that "I feel the work is sound, and I realize it doesn't seem that way with the emails [...] I placed things in emails out of emotional response." Hevesi and his associates were commissioned to gauge water movements through the desert site. Ultimately, they validated Energy Department conclusions of a relatively low seepage of water, which indicates a diminished radiation outflow. The site is slated to become the home of 77,000 tons of nuclear waste for the duration of 10,000 years, but has since been stymied by the controversial emails, among other problems.
(AP http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8406644/ 6/29/05)
Senate Approves New Energy Bill that Endorses Nuclear Power
The Senate, in an overwhelming 85-12 vote, backed a new energy bill that will provide more than $18 billion in tax breaks to incite more efficient uses of resources, enhanced reliance upon renewable fuel, and an increased development of nuclear energy. According to Steve Kerekes, spokesman for the Nuclear Energy Institute, the bill will provide $1 billion worth of tax credits to utilities to install 6,000 megawatts of new nuclear generating capacity, which is the equivalent of 4-6 plants. It also sets $3.5 billion aside for nuclear power research, as well as sets a 2010 construction goal for the first nuclear power plant in three decades.
(Gaynor, Pamela http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/pp/05180/530021.stm 7/1/05)
Science
Scientist Equates Fusion Reactor Enterprise to Landing a Man on the Moon
Ian Fells, of the Royal Academy of Engineering in Britain and an expert on energy conversion, likens the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) endeavor to landing a man on the moon. The ITER project seeks to construct the world's first nuclear fusion reactor, which is to be cleaner, more powerful, and economical than the presently used fission reactors. "The technology of this is the science of the hydrogen bomb," Fells said. "You take a couple of hydrogen atoms and you squeeze them together, you fuse them together, and they turn into an atom of helium and produce a great burp of energy." Many enthusiasts are looking to the ITER to unburden the world from its energy concerns for an extended period of time: "If we can really make this work, there will be enough electricity to last the world for the next 1,000 to 2,000 years," says Fells. Fells finds the enterprise achievable since it mimics the hydrogen bomb reaction, but recognizes the great difficulty in bringing the reactor to fruition due to complications in controlling the reaction. Subsequently, Fells "gives it a 50-50 chance of success but the engineering is very difficult."
(Reaney Patricia
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050628/sc_nm/energy_france_nuclear_project_dc_1 6/28/05
Op-Ed
British Think Tank Bashes Nuclear Power
The New Economics Foundation issued a report, authored by Andrew Simms, this Wednesday, which declared that nuclear power was an uneconomical and inefficient solution to climate change, while increasing risks for terrorism. Mr. Simms called the rebirth of the nuclear initiative a "Mirage and Oasis", contending that it would be protracted in its development and temporary in its solution: "If you suddenly dramatically scaled up in a very short period of time, you'd also, a little bit like oil, you'd very quickly run into natural resource limits." Subsequently, the report contends that renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and geothermal power could adequately meet the world's energy needs without harming the planet. In theory, for renewable to meet impending energy demands would require a broader combination of renewable energy sources, ranging from micro to macro technologies, which would be applied flexibly. The report, issued a week before the G8 summit, seeks to inhibit the growing push towards a nuclear resurgence, which Simms identifies as being "justified by voodoo economics, stands to hinder and potentially derail renewable energy."
(AFP http://news.yahoo.com/news_050629115939 6/29/05)
Credits
Compiled by: Joe Schultheis
Edited by: Suzanne Vogel