September 2005

Nuclear Energy Update
September 5 - September 9, 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 Disagrees With US Over Iran
Moscow has stated that it opposes referring Iran to the UN Security Council over its nuclear energy program, in direct opposition to US and EU plans. However, the Russian Federation is in possession of a veto on the Security Council, and Russia has been a supporter of the Iranian nuclear program for some time now. It is currently building Iran a $1 billion dollar nuclear power plant at Bushehr. Said one Russian diplomat, "Russia has its own economic interests. Referring its key client to the Council would automatically cancel all of its lucrative contracts with Iran. Besides, Moscow would never miss a chance to irritate the Americans."
(Houston Chronicle, http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/world/3340088, 9/5/05).

GreenPeace Wants Canadian Plant Shut Down
Greenpeace protestors placed a banner on Quebec's only nuclear power plant, Gentilly-2. HydroQuebec, the energy giant in the province, is attempting to rebuild the 23-year old CANDU reactor. Greenpeace would like it to be shut down in 2010, while HydroQuebec is looking to overhaul an aging reactor that is vital to the energy users of the province.
(Newswire, http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/September2005/05/c6065.html, 9/5/05).

Survey Shows Businesses Want Nuclear Power
A recent survey released by the New Zealand Herald's Mood of the Boardroom, reflects the concerns of New Zealand's business leaders about their future energy supply and the ability of their country to meet that demand. According to the survey, most business leaders want nuclear power re-investigated and nuclear-powered ships allowed back in New Zealand, banned since New Zealand became a nuclear free state. According to the results, over 63.3% of the executives surveyed believed New Zealand should investigate nuclear power. Nearly 94% of those surveyed suggested that the limited amount of future energy supplies concerns them.
(Taylor, Kevin. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=3&ObjectID=10344208, 9/6/05).

Chernobyl Report Issued by IAEA
At the recent Chernobyl Forum Conference, the IAEA issued a report on the Chernobyl disaster which provided the most up-to-date death toll from the nuclear fallout. They stipulate that some 56 people have died as a direct result of the disaster and that this number could reach 4,000 in the future. This number is quite small compared to the roughly 350,000 people in Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia who were evacuated from their homes because of the meltdown. Another bright spot is the effect the disaster had on making nuclear plants safer. IAEA Chief Mohammed ElBaradei said, "What might be considered one of the few positive aspects of Chernobyl's legacy is today's global safety regime." The Chernobyl Forum is attempting to bring together the scientific community in order to come to a consensus on the authoritative account of Chernobyl's effects.
(Murhpy, Francois. http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20050906/sc_nm/nuclear_chernobyl_dc_2, 9/6/05).

Greenpeace Suggests That IAEA Numbers are "Whitewashed"
In response to the recent release of an assessment of the Chernobyl disaster by IAEA officials, Greenpeace has argued that the atomic energy group is "whitewashing" the impact of the world's worst nuclear disaster. The report, which found that only 56 people have so far died and that 4,000 may eventually perish, was being discussed at a two-day Chernobyl Forum conference in Vienna. Greenpeace suggests that report focuses only on the 600,000 people studied in the area of the disaster. They argue that fallout radiation was spread over most of Europe.
(Yahoo News, http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050906/ts_afp/ukrainenuclear_050906132121, 9/6/05).

New Report Says Iran 5 Years from Nuclear Capability
According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, a London-based think tank, Iran is still five years away from developing a viable nuclear weapons program. The think tank went on to say that the five year assessment is based on Iran putting all of their resources into the program. They suggest that a more likely scenario would be a 10-15 year program to acquire weapons. The assessment comes two weeks before the IAEA is to determine whether to refer Iran to the Security Council or not, a move which could prompt sanctions and further de-stabilize the international community. "We estimate that if everything goes right, they might be able to produce enough weapons-grade uranium for a single nuclear weapon within five years," says Gary Samore, editor of the report .
(Yahoo News, http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=_iran_arms_dc_2, 9/6/05).

Japan Likely to Promote Nuclear Energy in Asia
Japan is planning to promote nuclear energy in their country and in other Asian nations like Indonesia and Vietnam, according to a Japanese trade ministry official. Japan will swap experts with the two countries in order that they learn more about safe, secure nuclear technology. "We could help establish a system for nuclear power generation that should be in line with nuclear non-proliferation and domestic laws in countries such as Vietnam and Indonesia," the trade ministry official said. Japan currently gets 30% of its energy needs from nuclear power, but is planning to increase that number as energy demands continue to rise.
(Jakarta Post, http://www.thejakartapost.com/detaillatestnews.asp?fileid=20050906110241&irec=6, 9/6/05)

EU Predicts Nuclear Energy and High Oil Prices Will Continue
The European Union's Energy Commissioner recently predicted that oil prices will continue to remain high in the foreseeable future and that the EU will need to build more nuclear reactors in order to lessen their dependence on oil. "There are no miracles that we can use now to decrease the prices (of oil) below the current level," according to Commissioner Andris Piebalgs. He also warned that the EU must focus on combating the long-term problem of demand growth outracing supply, with China's exponentially growing demand. Alongside nuclear energy plants and new coal technologies, the EU intends to focus on energy-saving and renewable energy sources in the coming months.
(Bettman, Andrew, http://euobserver.com/?sid=9&aid=19809, 9/6/05).

Iran Ready to Alleviate All Nuclear Concerns
Iran is expected to continue its atomic program, but it has stated its intentions to satisfy all other international concerns. According to Ali Larijani, Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, Iran is "determined to have nuclear technology," but at the same time, they are "fully prepared to have any negotiation or discussion to remove the international concern." Larijani held this press conference in Pakistan, as he continued to visit various countries in the hopes of drumming up support for its civilian nuclear energy program. Larijani has also visited India and China in recent weeks.
(AFP, http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/_050907152207, 9/7/05).

Brazil To Build More Nuclear Plants
According to Brazil's Minister of Science and Technology, the country is moving ahead on plans to approve the construction of more nuclear reactors later this year. The country plans on spending some $13 billion over the next 17 years to build seven nuclear power reactors. Brazil currently has two nuclear reactors operating in the country, and work on a third has been stalled for years due to budget, safety, and economic concerns. According to Greenpeace, who opposes the push for nuclear energy, nearly 80% of Brazilians also oppose expansion of nuclear power.
(Astor, Michael. http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=8722, 9/7/05).

Pakistan Wants Same Nuclear Treatment as India
According to the Pakistani ambassador to the US, Pakistan should be given the same nuclear rights that President Bush has proposed to India. Pakistan is reportedly worried about tilting the balance of power in South Asia towards India, and they will, if necessary, "start taking extraordinary measures to ensure a capability for deterrence and defense." US officials have argued that the Pakistani case is different in that Pakistan has not shown the commitment to democracy and non-proliferation that India has shown in over the past several decades. The claim is backed by the uncovering of AQ Kahn's vast nuclear technology network and President Musharraf's refusal to step down as Army chief.
(Klug, Foster, AP, http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050908/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_pakistan_nuclear_2, 9/8/05).

Russia Approves Floating Nuclear Plant
The Russian Federal Nuclear Energy Agency has reportedly approved the decision to build a low capacity floating nuclear power plant in the country. The plant will produce a small percentage of the electricity of a standard Russian power plant, but construction is set to begin in 2006. The small plant will be located in the White Sea off the coast of the town of Severodvinsk. The plant is expected to meet all of the energy requirements of the Sevmash State Nuclear Shipbuilding Center and will cost only $200,000. The floating plants will supposedly be a blessing for Russian Arctic regions which lack centralized energy supplies. Russia is not planning on selling the technology to any other country, and they have worked hard to alleviate concerns about potential terrorist threats, according to the Agency's chief.
(RIA Novosti, http://en.rian.ru/analysis/20050908/41340255.html, 9/8/05).

 

 

 

Domestic

 

Entergy Restarts New Orleans Plant
Entergy Corporation is expected to restart its New Orleans nuclear plant sometime this week, according to company executives. The 1,100-megawatt plant was shut down prior to Hurricane Katrina hitting land. The need for power in the area has been increasing since some grids have come back on-line. As of Tuesday, Entergy had restored power to nearly 600,000 of its 1 million customers who lost service from the terrible disaster. Both the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Federal Emergency Management Agency has to authorize the restart after the plant proves that everything is in prime working condition. There are no signs of major damage to the plant, yet due to the massive evacuations and migrations, Entergy is expected to lose nearly 100,000 customers due to the hurricane and subsequent flooding.
(Yahoo News, http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050906/ap_on_bi_ge/katrina_nuclear_plant_hk3_1, 9/6/05).

 

Credits

Compiled by: Chad Kreikemeier
Edited by: Suzy Vogel

 

Nuclear Energy Update
September 12 - September 16, 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

France Supports India's Nuclear Quest
Following a meeting between French President Jacques Chirac and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh this week, France will reportedly support India's quest to develop civilian nuclear energy. This pronouncement comes on the heels of India's decision to award France two multi-billion dollar aircraft and submarine contracts. "France recognizes the need for full international cooperation with India in the civilian nuclear field," said Chirac. India, which is not party to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty, has won approval for its civilian program from the US, Britain, and now France. In response to the French support, India is buying six French submarines and 43 Airbus planes. Chirac, however, distinguished India from its counterpart, Pakistan, by suggesting that "India is a democracy that functions well. Our political system offers sufficient guarantees to ensure that we keep our promises."
(Yahoo News, http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050912/wl_asia_afp/franceindianuclear_050912192845, 9/12/05).

Iran Plans to Build More Nuclear Reactors
According to the Iranian Foreign Minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, Iran plans to build at least two more nuclear power plants. Mottaki mentioned that Iran will soon invite bids from international companies for the construction of these two new plants. Iran's Bushehr plant is currently being constructed with help from Russia and will operate with Russian nuclear fuel. Mottaki also warned of "consequences" if other nations attempt to turn Iran over to the UN Security Council.
(Sify News, http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=13937884, 9/11/05).

Finnish Plant Begins Construction
A controversial new nuclear power plant has begun construction in Finland. Speaking at a ceremony commemorating the first block of the new plant, the President of the Finnish Parliament, Paavo Lipponen, suggested that nuclear power would enable Finland to dodge large fluctuations in the prices of non-renewable fuels in the future. The new reactor is expected to come on line in 2009 and is a 1600-megawatt first of its kind reactor. A French and German consortium is currently building the pressurized water reactor in northern Finland. Finland currently imports 67% of its electricity needs.
(AFP, http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050912_050912161730, 9/12/05).

Russia To Help Vietnam Nuclear Program
According to Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister, Alexander Alexeyev, Russia is prepared to help Vietnam create a civilian nuclear power program. Russia has already contributed to countless electricity power stations in the country, but has yet to provide nuclear power technologies. According to sources, the Moscow-Hanoi cooperation has been thriving lately and the trade turnover could exceed nearly $1 billion dollars this year. Most of the trading has been in the energy sector with the Russian-Vietnamese joint oil company Vietsovpetro accounting for nearly 60% of oil extracted from Vietnam.
(Ria Novosti, http://en.rian.ru/business/20050912/41368949.html, 9/12/05).

Iran to Bring Power Plant Online in 2006
At a meeting between Alexander Rumyantsev, the head of the Russian Federal Agency for Nuclear Power, and Gholamreza Aqazadeh, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, the two discussed construction of Iran's first nuclear power plant. According to the officials, the Bushehr plant will go on line in 2006. The Bushehr plant is set to provide nearly 1,000 Megawatts for Iran, and Russia is prepared to build up to six other nuclear stations throughout Iran within the next decade.
(Ria Novosti, http://en.rian.ru/russia/20050912/41370556.html, 9/12/05).

Bush Admits Iran Has Right to Civilian Nuclear Power
At an impromptu media session on Tuesday, President George Bush said that though the US questions the Iranian need for civilian nuclear power, "it's a right of a government to want to have a civilian nuclear program." That comment caused quite a stir, considering the US government's rejection of North Korea's right to civilian nuclear power. Aides would later say that this is not a policy change towards North Korea. "I can guarantee that is not what he intended to indicate," said National Security Council spokesman Frederick L. Jones.
(Yahoo News, http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=ts_nm/iran_usa_dc_2, 9/13/05).

Germany Will Seal Underground Nuclear Dump
German officials are reportedly ready to seal an underground nuclear waste dump that has been collecting nuclear waste since 1971. The dump, located within the formerly Communist East German territory, will be filled with 4 million tons of concrete in order to contain the radioactive waste. The plan could take up to 20 years, will cost up to $2.5 billion and will contain the radioactivity for nearly 150,000 years. The site contains nearly 37,000 cubic meters of waste. The decision comes prior to the German Parliamentary election this Sunday. Opposition conservatives, hoping to thwart Gerhard Schroeder's government, have pledged to support nuclear power, while Schroeder has pledged to shut down all German nuclear power stations by 2020.
(AlJazeera 9/13/05).

Australians Don't Want Nuclear Waste Facility
A group of Aboriginal land owners have rejected the move by the Australian government to move a nuclear waste facility onto their land in Central Australia. Owner Benedict Stevens has said that he and his community don't want any "poison" from the Lucas Heights nuclear plant in Sydney. "The government may think this place is remote, but this is our home," said Stevens. According to Stevens, no one from the government even asked the locals if the move would be acceptable. Australian Science Minister Brendan Nelson said that consultations with the locals would begin next month, but that the decision has been made and there will be no "mucking about." Nelson admitted that the waste facility will be built in the area regardless of the results of the discussion.
(Adlam, Nigel. http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,16599017-17001,00.html?from=rss, 9/14/05).

Ontario Open to Nuclear Power If that is What is Needed
Canada's Ontario province is open to building more nuclear plants if a review board, set to submit its final report by December of this year, deems that they are needed. Ontario's premier, Dalton McGuinty, says that he is waiting for a report from the Ontario Power Authority, before he makes a decision on new nuclear power plants. The Authority is currently reviewing the province's energy supply concerns.
(CP, http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/cpress/20050914/ca_pr_on_na/ont_nuclear_power_1, 9/14/05).

Iran To Share Nuclear Technology with Other Islamic Nations
Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, said that Iran would be willing to provide other Islamic nations with nuclear technology. The suggestion comes after a meeting with Turkey's prime minister during the UN meeting of world leaders. According to Ahmadinejad, "Iran is willing to transfer nuclear know-how to Islamic countries due to their need." He, however, also repeated the promise that Iran will not pursue nuclear weapons technology in its drive to produce civilian nuclear power.
(USA Today, http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2005-09-15-iran-nuclear_x.htm, 9/15/05).

Malaysia Shuns Nuclear Program
According to Malaysia's Energy, Water, and Communications Minister Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik, the country will not revive nuclear power in the immediate future to help curb their rising energy demands. The nuclear program in Malaysia was halted back in the 70's, and lately, the issue has re-surfaced as natural gas and oil prices have sky-rocketed. "Not in the immediate future," says Yaik regarding the possibilities of re-starting the nuclear program. "No need to think about it."
(Malaysian National News Agency, http://www.bernama.com.my/_business.php?id=155575, 9/15/05).

 

 

 

Domestic

 

US Regulators Approve Nuclear Waste Facility
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has reportedly granted a license to the privately owned Private Fuel Storage Company to store radioactive waste on a Native American reservation in Utah. The firm plans on storing several tens of thousands of tons of nuclear waste on the Skull Valley Band of Goshute Indians' Reservation, which lies 50 miles southwest of Salt Lake City. The above-ground facility will hold up to 40,000 tons of spent nuclear fuel. The country's Bureau of Indian Affairs must approve of the project and the Bureau of Land Management must also approve a rail line to the facility.
(Yahoo News, http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20050910/sc_nm/utilities_nuclear_storage_dc_1, 9/10/05).

DOD Plan Supports Nuclear Pre-emption
In a yet-to-be-released DOD planning document, the Pentagon is reportedly leaving the door open for pre-emptive nuclear strikes. The "Doctrine for Joint Nuclear Operations" has not been updated for nearly a decade and is being circulated among the various services and Defense Secretary Rumsfeld's office before being released. The new planning document says that "deterrence of potential adversary WMD use requires the potential adversary leadership to believe the US has the ability and will to pre-empt or retaliate promptly with responses that are credible and effective." The new release will fall largely in line with President Bush's 2002 doctrine of pre-emption. One scenario suggested for nuclear first strike would be in the case of an "imminent attack" from the adversary using WMD.
(AP - USA Today, http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-09-10-nuclear-doctrine_x.htm, 9/11/05).

Nuclear Company Accused of Gouging
Connecticut's Attorney General, Richard Blumenthal, has filed a complaint against federal regulations that allow nuclear and coal-fired power plants to set their prices according to the recently volatile oil and natural gas prices. "Pegging nuclear power rates to the cost of oil and gas leads to federally approved price gouging," says Blumenthal. The Attorney General has filed a complaint with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that the two power companies were taking advantage of rising fuel costs to gouge consumers. A spokesman for Dominion Power, the operator of a local nuclear plant in the area, rejects the "assertion of unfair profits."
(AP, http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/c=ny-region-apconnecticut, 9/12/05).

Nuclear Power Plants Vital to Northeast Emissions Pact
A recent agreement among the nine Northeastern states calls into question the future extension of two nuclear plants in New Jersey and Vermont. The new agreement is their best attempt to cap greenhouse emissions from power plants in the area. To do that, the states may have to extend the licenses of two rapidly aging nuclear power plants beyond the 40-year terms they are nearly close to approaching. The question has split the environmental lobby. Some have suggested that they can't possibly cut greenhouse emissions without the help of these nuclear plants while other environmentalists will simply not support nuclear energy, instead opting for a greater use of conservation in the area. Many in the field have suspected that they would one day have to choose between greater nuclear power generation and greater greenhouse gas emissions. That time has come.
(Wald, Matthew http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/14/national/14nuke.html, 9/14/05).

 

 

Credits

Compiled and Edited by: Chad Kreikemeier

 

Nuclear Energy Update
September 19 - September 23, 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

North Korea Agrees to End Nuclear Program
After a week of negotiations, North Korea has decided to end its nuclear program. The agreement is contingent upon Russia, the U.S., Japan, South Korea, and China providing North Korea with energy assistance after the country has abandoned all nuclear endeavors. North Korea had previously refused to disarm unless it was allowed a civilian nuclear program. The statement released at the end of the six-party negotiation acknowledged that North Korea had a right to peaceful uses of nuclear energy. The countries have also agreed to discuss giving North Korea a light-water nuclear reactor "at an appropriate time." Other parts of the agreement include an effort by both the U.S. and North Korea to normalize relations, as well as South Korea's assurance that it has no nuclear weapons in its territory.
(CNN, http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/09/19/korea.north.talks.0917/index.html, 9/19/05)

Russia to Help Build North Korean Nuclear Power Plants
The Director of Russia's Federal Agency for Atomic Energy, Alexander Rumyantsev, said this week that Russia might be willing to help North Korea build a nuclear power plant to help alleviate its energy concerns. The statement comes on the heels of the recent pledge by North Korea to give up its own nuclear program. "Russia is ready to join the project anytime, because it has enough potential and willingness for it," says Rumyantsev.
(Itar Tass, http://www.tass.ru/eng/level2.html?NewsID=2429744&PageNum=0, 9/19/05).

Slovenia Denies New Nuclear Plant
According to rumors floating throughout the country of Slovenia last week, the government was planning to construct a new nuclear power plant facility. However, according to Economics Minister Andrej Vizjak, the rumor is not true. Vizjak told reporters that Slovenia is not currently planning on constructing a nuclear plant, but he would not shut the door on the issue. He suggested that if it came down to it, Slovenia could construct a plant, and they would do so "transparently and publicly." The denial comes shortly after Austria made a scathing statement about the possibility of a nuclear plant near its borders. Austrian officials claim that a new plant would go against Slovenia's obligations under the EU.
(Slovenia Press Agency, http://www.gzs.si/eng/news/sbw/head.asp?idc=19538, 9/19/05)

Countries Split over Iran's Nuclear Future
United Nations countries continue to debate Iran's nuclear program almost a month after the country resumed work on a uranium processing plant. The United States, France, Britain and Germany approached the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) this week in the hopes it would refer Iran to the United Nations Security Council. However, gaining enough support for this referral will be an issue in the coming weeks. Russia, China and Brazil are openly opposed to the referral, and countries like Italy and Austria fear their exports will be affected if they support it. Iran vowed on Monday to continue its nuclear research, claiming it is being done solely for the purpose of generating electricity. In a speech to the U.N. General Assembly, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad referred to western attempts to restrict Iran's nuclear program as "nuclear apartheid." Many developing countries are agreeing with Iran, believing that the West is trying to deprive them of nuclear technology.
(Reuters, http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/09/19/iran.nuclear.reut/index.html, 9/19/05)

North Korea Reneges on Deal
A day after North Korea pledged to give up its nuclear weapons program, they have begun to dispute some of the details of their landmark decision. Pyongyang has declared that it would give up its weapons program only after it received light-water nuclear reactors. China, the architect of the newest deal, immediately disregarded the differences. The Bush administration rejected the newest demand and said that the issue would be discussed when talks resume in November. "This has reinforced everything we feared about North Korea's promises, but no one expected them to shove it in everyone's faces within 24 hours," says Peter Beck of the International Crisis Group.
(Yahoo News, http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20050920/ts_nm/korea_north_dc_64, 9/20/05).

UK Liberal Democrats Want to End Nuclear Power Building
During a conference in Blackpool, Environmental Spokesman Norman Baker said the UK should pursue renewable energy sources instead of pursuing more nuclear power plants. The UK government is considering building more nuclear power plants to reduce the energy gap left after the closure of several older plants. The Liberal Democrats hope to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 60% by 2050.
(BBC, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4267306.stm, 9/21/05)

Iran Newspapers Remain Defiant
In reaction to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's appearance before the International Atomic Energy Agency, Iranian newspapers have rallied in defiant support of the country's nuclear testing program. The E'temaad newspaper stated, "The first point that [President] Ahmadinejad stressed is Iran's unwillingness to achieve the production of atomic weapons; what Iran's supreme leader [Ali Khamenei] has called a red line that must not be crossed. However achieving the technology of peaceful atomic energy is also another red line that cannot be ignored by anyone in the country." While Resalat wrote, "The American-North Korea agreement over Korea's nuclear issue will put more psychological pressure on Iran, but the nature of Korea's problem is totally different. Iran has clearly announced that it is not seeking atomic weapons."
(BBC, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4267580.stm, 9/21/05)

EU Drops Request to Bring Iran to Security Council
The European Union has withdrawn its draft to bring Iran to the United Nations Security Council over the country's nuclear program. Earlier in the week Russia and China, believing that the issue could be resolved within the EU and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), expressed their objections to the proposal. The United States and the EU's "Big Three," France, Germany and England, have continually doubted Iran's pledge that its nuclear program is peaceful. The issue will be brought up at the IAEA's board meeting later this week.
(AP, http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/09/22/news/iran.php, 9/22/05)

South Korea Accused of Sloppy Nuclear Safety Checks
A South Korean lawmaker made claims on Thursday that the country's nuclear safety watchdog has not only failed to conduct proper safety checks of nuclear reactor facilities, but also falsified inspection records. Rep. Kang Sung-jong of the Uri Party says that the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS) actually conducted only four of the ten reported checks between 2003 and 2005. Records show that a KINS inspector was in fact on an overseas business trip when he supposedly performed a safety check of a nuclear power plant in February 2004. Sung-jong also claims that another KINS official cleared two nuclear reactor facilities without ever visiting the sites. Those checks that were completed were done by untrained officials, Sung-jong also reports. The Minister of Science and Technology says an investigation is underway.
(Asia Pulse, http://au.biz.yahoo.com/050922/17/9sd9.html, 9/22/05)

India Plans for Four New Nuclear Power Stations
A government spokesman reported on Thursday that India's Cabinet had approved four sites for new nuclear power stations. Selected sites will be in the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Rajasthan. No financial details were released, but the Cabinet plans on two light-water reactors and two heavy-water reactors. Two months ago the United States agreed to help India with a civilian nuclear program. The Cabinet's decision is subject to U.S. approval.
(AP, http://in.rediff.com/news/2005/sep/22nuclear.htm, 9/22/05)

Support for Finnish Nuclear Power Station Project
Finland's Social and Health Minister Sinikka Mönkäre has voiced her support for the construction of a new nuclear power station. However, she stressed the fact that the decision to build the country's sixth station is based solely on the financers' wishes. Political reasons are not likely to stop the project, Mönkäre said during a Swedish language radio news broadcast. The last decision to build a new nuclear power station was approved in 2002 with 107 votes to 92 in Parliament.
(STT, http://newsroom.finland.fi/stt/showarticle.asp?intNWSAID=10099&group=Politics, 9/22/05)

 

 

 

Domestic

 

Texas Nuclear Plants in Rita's Path to be Shut Down
Texas officials will shut down the South Texas Project nuclear plant in light of Hurricane Rita's apparent path. The plant serves nearly one million customers and is built on an elevated area twelve miles inland in Bay City. Its structure is reportedly designed to withstand hurricanes that reach Category 5 winds. The two reactor containment buildings are made of steel-reinforced concrete walls capable of handling the direct impact of a Boeing 767. Officials plan on shutting down the plant seven hours before landfall.
(CNN, http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/21/rita.nuclear/index.html?section=cnn_latest, 9/21/05)

UniStar Hopes for U.S. Nuclear Power Plant by 2015
Constellation Energy Group and Areva Inc. have joined together to build the United States' next nuclear power plant under the name UniStar Nuclear. "We believe the time is right to build nuclear power plants in America," said Michael J. Wallace, executive vice president of Constellation. According to Wallace, the group could begin construction as early as 2010, with plants in use by 2015. Sites for potential plants have been identified in Maryland and New York. A nuclear power plant has not been licensed in the U.S. since 1978.
(Hess, Glenn, http://pubs.acs.org/cen/news/83/i39/8339energylaw.html, 9/22/05)

Gulf States Chosen as Next Nuclear Site
Mississippi and Alabama have been chosen as possible sites for the first nuclear energy plant to be constructed since 1970. A consortium of eight energy companies has banded together in order to spend the $100 million needed to prepare applications for the two new reactors. The consortium, called NuStart Energy, will have substantial government funding, as the Department of Energy is expected to share the costs to develop the applications. They have already paid the $30 million application fee for one of the units. The Mississippi site will be in Claiborne County, next to an Entergy reactor, while the Alabama site will be housed next to the abandoned Bellefonte nuclear construction site.
(Wald, Matthew. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/23/business/23nuke.html, 9/23/05).

 

 

Op-Ed and Science

 

 

Made-in-Ontario nuclear power
In his editorial, Alan Middleton rallies support for Ontario's nuclear technology, the CANDU. Ontario is suffering an electricity supply gap, and Ontario Energy Minister Dwight Duncan recently spoke of the need to build new nuclear power plants in the area. However, with this announcement, has come talk that Ontario would allow France or the United States to build the needed plants. Middleton openly wonders "why Ontario is even contemplating opening [its] doors wide to foreign interests at the expense of a local technology that employs thousands of people and produces the best reactors in the world." According to Middleton, the CANDU 6's average lifetime capacity factor is far longer than that of reactors made by the U.S. and France. The CANDU 6 also operates in five countries on four continents. Emphasizing that Ontario's nuclear technology is newer and more advanced than others, Middleton points out that the U.S. has not built a new reactor since the 1970s.
(Middleton, Alan, http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/call_pageid=968256290204&col=968350116795, 9/20/05)

 

 

Credits

Compiled by: Chad Kreikemeier and Brita Ericson
Edited by: Chad Kreikemeier

 

Nuclear Energy Update
September 26 - September 30, 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

Iran Threatens to End Nuclear Site Checks
Upset by the vote at last week's meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency to refer Iran to the UN Security Council, Iran threatened to cease allowing IAEA officials access to nuclear sites. Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki rejected the resolution as illegal and stated that Iran had no reason to follow the Additional Protocol agreement of the Non-Proliferation Treaty which requires states to allow UN spot checks of nuclear facilities. "Iran has no legal commitment to continue implementation of the Additional Protocol," Mottaki said. "The resolution is illegal, illogical, and politically motivated."
(Hafazi, Parisa. http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20050925/wl_nm/nuclear_iran_dc_71, 9/25/05).

India Surprises Many With Vote Against Iran
In a surprising move, India chose to side with the United States against Iran in the on-going dispute over Iran's nuclear program. India and Iran have had a traditionally friendly relationship and have been expanding their energy ties. The vote came at an IAEA meeting as the board of governors passed a resolution which stated that Iran's nuclear program had a "long history of concealment and deception." The resolution threatened to send Iran to the Security Council but stopped one step short of an actual referral. That action could be taken as early as November during the next IAEA Board meeting.
(Goodenough, Patrick. http://www.crosswalk.com/news/1353449.html, 9/25/05).

Construction on China's Biggest Nuclear Plant Begins in 2006
Vice Mayor Zhong Yi of Yangjiang, a port city in south China's Guangdong Province, announced that the construction of a nuclear power plant in his city is set to begin early 2006. This will be China's largest nuclear power plant, with the capacity of six million kilowatts. Since international bidding for plant equipment supplies was announced in September, 12 nuclear power giants have placed bids.
(Xinhua, http://english.people.com.cn/200509/26/eng20050926_210948.html, 9/26/05)

Canadian Nuclear Power Station Back On-Line
For the first time in nearly a decade, one of the reactors at Ontario's Pickering Nuclear Power Station came back on-line. The Pickering A Unit 1 was shut down for refurbishment in December 1997. Cost estimates of the refurbishment stand at nearly $995.2 million. Ontario officials have suggested that the Canadian government should consider building additional nuclear power plants in order to help address the expected energy shortage over the next several decades.
(Globe and Mail, http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story//BNStory/National/, 9/27/05).

Italian Nuclear Neglect Starts to Turn Around
According to the Italian Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs, Giuseppe Drago, the people of Italy have begun to change their minds regarding nuclear power. Drago predicts that the increase in popularity might actually lead to changes in how Italy conducts its energy policy. Drago was speaking at the 49th conference of the IAEA. He purported that the change in attitude was mostly prevalent among the young people in the country and that the government would do everything in its power to engage any and all local communities that might be concerned about the prospects of supporting nuclear power.
(AGI. http://www.agi.it/english/news.pl?doc=200509271957-=0&id=agionline-eng.italyonline, 9/27/05).

Iran Threatens Nuclear Foes
Iranian officials this week threatened to punish any countries that side with the United States in the continuing clash over their nuclear program. Several countries, including India, recently voted to report Iran to the UN Security Council for possible sanctions. Though they have threatened to restrict trade with unnamed nations, they promised India that they would not make any hasty decisions. "We will reconsider our economic cooperation with those countries that voted against us," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi.
(Hafezi, Paris. http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20050927/wl_nm/nuclear_iran_dc_81, 9/27/05).

Australian Leader Suggests Australia for Nuclear Waste
Bob Hawke, the former centre-left Australian Prime Minister, has suggested that his country should offer to store the world's nuclear waste. "What Australia should do in my judgment, as an act of economic sanity and environmental responsibility, is say we will take the world's nuclear waste," Hawke stated to a stunned crowd of political and business leaders this week. He suggested that the vast desert interior of Australia would be suitable and safe for nuclear waste, while the money earned from the program could help support environmental and social welfare programs. "Australia has...geologically one of the safest places in the world for the storage of waste," Hawke said. Geologists tend to agree. Politicians on the other hand, do not. "Now right at the moment, we can't even get agreement on where to put a nuclear repository for Australia's waste, let alone for the world's waste," said the government's health minister, Tony Abbott.
(Reuters, http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3425367a12,00.html, 9/28/05).

UK to Decide on Nuclear Power Next Year
In an attempt to inject greater urgency into the debate on nuclear power, UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has decided to give a ‘yes' or ‘no' on the issue by the end of next year. This last week, Mr. Blair appeared to give a push for nuclear power when he supported the replacing of Britain's aging nuclear power stations, scheduled to be de-commissioned by 2023. The drive to speed up the process is due to the importance Mr. Blair is attaching to the issue. He will be chairing a new cabinet committee on energy and the environment, which will ultimately help determine the role of nuclear energy in the UK's energy mix.
(Eaglesham, Jean. http://news.ft.com/cms/s/8895ba60-305b-11da-ba9f-00000e2511c8.html, 9/28/05).

Europeans Split on Nuclear Power
According to a recent Eurobarometer survey, European citizens remain largely uninformed regarding nuclear power and radioactive waste and are generally split on what to think of it. A good majority are skeptical of information from national governments and the media, while NGO's and independent scientists remain the most trusted sources of information for the nuclear debate. Nearly 75% of EU citizens purport that they are "not well informed" about radioactive waste. 37% of Europeans say that they are ‘strongly in favor of' or ‘in favor of' nuclear power while 55% say they are ‘fairly' or ‘completely' opposed to nuclear energy. Nuclear power was least popular in Austria, where 88% of the people polled suggested that they were not in favor of nuclear energy.
(Euractiv, http://www.euractiv.com/Article?tcmuri=tcm:29-145003-16&type=News, 9/29/05).

Britain to Privatize Nuclear Firm
The state-owned British Nuclear Fuels Limited (BNFL), currently in charge of a number of Britain's nuclear power plants, is expected to be privatized according to government officials. The British company has also been charged with decommissioning the majority of its nuclear plants by the year 2023. The UK nuclear structure is complex, but the majority of the nuclear plants currently online in the UK are run by either the state-owned BNFL or a completely private company called British Energy, which owns and operates eight of Great Britain's plants.
(BBC News, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4295812.stm, 9/30/05).

 

 

 

 

Domestic

 

Westinghouse Popularity Explodes
With the recent turn towards nuclear power by China, the United States, and possibly Great Britain, the nuclear power company, Westinghouse, has become somewhat of a hot item. Six years ago, nuclear energy's popularity had reached rock-bottom. At this time, the British government's nuclear arm bought the company for a minimal price; however, now, with nuclear back firmly on the agenda, Westinghouse has attracted bids from a dozen international power players, including GE, Mitsubishi Heavy, Toshiba, and Doosan. Its current value stands at around $1 billion, but that price could rise dramatically over the next several weeks. The US government is likely to consider Westinghouse a US corporation, even though it is British-owned, because its headquarters are located within its borders. This requires any sale to be cleared by the US Committee on Foreign Investment.
(The Sunday Times, http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2095-1795835,00.html, 9/25/05).

 

 

Science

 

Nuclear Power to be Used for Hydrogen Production
American companies are quickly gaining interest in Canada's tar sands oil deposits, which are estimated to hold nearly 1.8 trillion barrels of low-grade oil. With recent devastation from Katrina and Rita, the low-grade oil from Canada is gaining popularity; however, with more oil development comes the need for increased refining. At present, hydrogen is needed by US refineries to convert synthetic crude to gasoline. Most of the hydrogen is currently produced from natural gas, but with natural gas prices expected to soar over the winter, refineries are beginning to look to nuclear power to substitute for natural gas in producing hydrogen. Recent Congressional actions have provided nearly $100 million for scientists to produce hydrogen at two operating nuclear power plants. The legislation also provides for $1.25 billion for the construction of a large research reactor in Idaho which could produce both electricity and hydrogen.
(Grimesey, Robert. http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2005/09/24/build/opinion/42-guest-opinion2.inc, 9/24/05).

 

Op-Ed

 

Op-Ed: The Pendulum Swings Back Toward Nuclear Power
In his recent editorial, Charles Stein urged investors to consider diversifying energy investment. Stein recalls New Hampshire's nuclear power plant struggles during the 60s and 70s. First, gas prices were too high and the Seabrook nuclear power plant looked like the only way out, but engineering and political problems hindered construction. When it was finally completed, gas prices were low again and no one wanted anything to do with the Seabrook plant. The situation is reversing today, Stein says. Oil and gas prices have skyrocketed and everyone is looking towards nuclear power again. Stein insists, that had investors stuck out the nuclear power push during the 1960s, American's would not be so pressed for money and gas now. "We need to be diversified. Investors spread their bets around because they don't know which stocks will do well and which will do poorly. We need to do the same with sources of energy because, in truth, we don't have a clue what will happen to their prices in the future."
(Stein, Charles, http://www.boston.com/business/articles/_back_toward_nuclear_power/, 9/25/05)

Op-Ed: Environmental Minister Favors Clean Fossil Fuel over Nuclear
Citing the high costs of constructing a nuclear reactor (around $3.8 billion), UK Environment Minister Elliot Morley suggested recently that "clean" coal and gas would be a much cheaper and more efficient way of reducing emissions. "Nuclear plants are expensive and if you're looking at the energy mix, then at the moment I think you'll probably get more value from investment in clean coal," said Morley. He does not rule out, however, nuclear energy as a viable source for energy in the future. "Nuclear may have a role down the line," admitted Morley.
(Hanrath, Alexander. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000102&sid=aEjbn_EDKdMs&refer=uk, 9/26/05).

 

 

Credits

Compiled by: Chad Kreikemeier
Edited by: Suzy Vogel