Nuclear News: Gulf’s Push for Nuclear Experts May Delay U.K. Plans
Today's big stories from the nuclear industry:
Bloomberg: Gulf’s Push for Nuclear Experts May Delay U.K. Plans
June 15 (Bloomberg) -- U.K. utilities risk falling behind with plans to build nuclear power plants because Middle East nations may use higher salaries to lure skilled workers, reactor builder Westinghouse Electric Co. said. “These nations have no legacy program to use as a source for nuclear expertise,” said Adrian Bull, U.K. stakeholder relations manager at Westinghouse, a unit of Japan’s Toshiba Corp. “If you have literally nothing to go on, you have to be the Chelsea or Real Madrid and buy in the people from elsewhere.” Oil-producing nations including the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait plan nuclear plants to meet growing energy demand at home while exporting fuel abroad. The U.A.E. plans to select companies to develop an atomic power program by the end of this year and has a 2017 target date for completing its first reactor, the same year Electricite de France SA plans to start a new British nuclear plant.
Power Engineering: Russia postpones Iran nuclear plant operation again - paper
Jun 14, 2009 (BBC Monitoring via COMTEX) -- On the threshold of commissioning of the Bushehr nuclear power station, Russia has prevented the power plant to begin operation with new excuses. In an announcement on the issue, the Russian company Atomstroyexport said that there were financial impediments in the way of constructing the first unit of the Bushehr nuclear power station. On this basis, Russian experts have quoted Atomstroyexport Company saying that the timing of the commissioning of the Bushehr nuclear power station will be confidential.
World Nuclear News: Korea buys into French enrichment plant
Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power (KHNP) will take a 2.5% stake in the Georges Besse II (GB-II) enrichment plant in France under an agreement signed with Areva. How the GB-II building could look on a sunny day The agreement, under which the South Korean utility will take a 2.5% stake in Société d'Enrichissement du Tricastin (SET), the operator of the future plant, was signed by Areva CEO Anne Lauvergeon and KHNP CEO Kim Jong Shin. KHNP operates 20 nuclear power reactors, generating about 40% of South Korea's electricity. The company said that it currently imports some 400 tonnes of enriched uranium annually. Financial details of KHNP's agreement with Areva were not disclosed.
The Globe and Mail: Uranium One adds to Kazakh presence
Just weeks after a political scandal in Kazakhstan spooked its investors, Uranium One Inc. (UUU-T2.940.113.89%) is doubling down in the former Soviet republic. The Vancouver company is buying a stake in another Kazakh mine and striking a partnership agreement with Russia's state-controlled uranium miner Atomredmetzoloto (ARMZ) in a cash-and-stock deal valued at about $585-million (U.S.).
UPI Asia: South Koreans call for nuclear sovereignty
Seoul, South Korea- In light of a mounting nuclear threat from North Korea, there are growing calls in South Korea to lift its self-imposed ban on nuclear activities to allow the reprocessing of nuclear materials, a sensitive issue that could trigger a controversy with the United States. The move toward "nuclear sovereignty" comes as President Lee Myung-bak is set to hold summit talks with U.S. President Barack Obama, which are most likely to be dominated by the North Korean issue.
