Nuclear News: Japan Pushes Forward on Plutonium Imports
| Share |
|
Today's big stories from the nuclear industry:
IEEE Spectrum: Japan Pushes Forward on Plutonium Imports
’21 May 2009-Japan's power-generation companies are moving full-speed ahead-again-to start plutonium-thermal power generation this fall, in the face of fierce opposition from antinuclear groups. Japan needs to deal with its growing stockpiles of plutonium, a by-product of the fuel used in its reactors. This fissile material must be disposed of by burying it deep underground. Alternatively, it can be recycled and used again in Japan's light-water reactors after it is combined with uranium to produce mixed-oxide fuel, or MOX. The industry's renewed efforts to use MOX is partly in response to the ongoing troubles of Japan Atomic Energy Agency's experimental Monju fast-breeder plant in Fukui Prefecture, 400 kilometers west of Tokyo, which is designed to use the plutonium. But Monju has been closed since 1995, following a series of safety scares. The latest start-up postponement occurred this February, because of delays in final safety checks.’
WebWire: U.S. Department of Energy Selects Calvert Cliffs 3 For Final Due Diligence and Detailed Negotiations Under Loan Guarantee Program
’BALTIMORE.- UniStar Nuclear Energy, LLC (UniStar), a strategic joint venture between Constellation Energy and EDF Group, the global leader in nuclear power, today announced that its Calvert Cliffs Unit 3 nuclear energy facility is among four projects chosen by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to enter the final phase of due diligence for a portion of $18.5 billion in federal loan guarantees for advanced nuclear projects. The selection positions UniStar to move forward with detailed negotiations leading to a conditional commitment under the program. DOE's decision means that UniStar is another step closer to developing an advanced nuclear reactor at Calvert Cliffs in Lusby, Md.’
Forbes: EdF may launch retail bond issue
’Electricite de France may seek to tap into France's small investors and savers by launching a bond reserved for retail investors, the company's chairman and chief executive said Wednesday. Speaking at EdF's annual shareholder meeting, Pierre Gadonneix said the company was studying the possibility with stock market regulators. He said more details would be disclosed "in the coming weeks." The French government-controlled electricity utility raised more than euro11 billion ($15 billion) over the last six months through bonds sold to institutional investors. Gadonneix didn't say how much EdF would seek to raise through the retail bond issue.’
Reuters: Spain's Iberdrola eyes EDF's nuclear land in UK
’LONDON, May 21 (Reuters) - Iberdrola is interested in buying land owned by EDF Energy which could be used to build new nuclear power plants in England, a spokesman for the Spanish power company said on Thursday. EDF Energy invited expressions of interest in early May from nuclear power plant operators interested in buying land nears its Dungeness nuclear power plant in Kent or Heysham facility in Lancashire. "We definitely are in the process, and the process involves the sale of Dungeness and Heysham, as well as other possible options involving the 11 sites identified by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority," the spokesman said.’
New Civil Engineer: Nuclear development cash released for Capenhurst
’Nuclear reprocessing company Sellafield yesterday that is was pushing ahead with plans to speed up the removal of uranium reserves from its Capenhurst site in Cheshire. It is developing two projects that aim to reduce Capenhurst's overall radioactivity hazards and maximise the value of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority's (NDA) uranium assets at the site.’
The Guardian: BHP plans big uranium mine, nickel plant up for sale
’SYDNEY, May 22 (Reuters) - Global miner BHP Billiton is looking to develop a big uranium mine in western Australia, the company said on Friday, in another sign that the country is gearing up to power a surge in global nuclear power. But BHP declined to comment on a separate newspaper report that it was in talks to sell an Australian nickel refinery. BHP said it had submitted plans to environmental authorities to develop the Yeelirrie uranium deposit with a view to starting construction in 2011 and initial production in 2014, subject to government and BHP board approvals. Yeelirrie is Australia's second-biggest unmined uranium deposit.’
