San Francisco Business Times: Report: U.S. energy use fell in 2008
’Americans used less energy overall in 2008, according to a Livermore Lab report, and more of that energy came from renewable sources. The report from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory says the United States used 99.2 quadrillion BTUs, or "quads" of energy in 2008, down from 101.5 quads in 2007. Use of energy in the transport and industrial sectors of the economy fell slightly, while residential and business usage climbed slightly. Nuclear power provided 8.5 quads in both 2008 and 2007. The number of nuclear generators in the country, which the DOE refers to as "units," has remained steady at 104 for the last decade.’

Easy Bourse: Energy Executives Meet At French President's Office
’PARIS (AFP)--The heads of France's four leading energy groups were received Monday at the French presidential palace, an AFP photographer said. The four executives were Anne Lauvergeon of nuclear group Areva, Pierre Gadonneix of electricity group EDF, Gerard Mestrallet of gas and energy company GDF Suez and Christophe de Margerie of oil giant Total. "Mrs. Lauvergeon went to the Elysee for a meeting, as she does regularly, in order to consider different matters linked to Areva's operations," an Areva spokesman said. But an informed source said a project to build a third generation EPR nuclear reactor at Penly in northwestern France was among the topics discussed. EDF, GDF Suez and Total are all involved in the Penly project, for which the technology has been developed by Areva.’

World Nuclear News: Supporting new nuclear countries
’Some 60 countries are considering the use of nuclear power, in addition to the 30 that already do so. One of these is Chile, which commissioned Finnish experts for advice. The figures come from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which last week held a four-day workshop to develop tools to help those countries make the decision. It said that 20 of the states it is helping could have a program in place to use nuclear by 2030. It is also helping a number of regional programs.’

World Nuclear News: Construction progresses at Shimane 3
’The reactor pressure vessel has been installed for unit 3 of Chugoku Electric Power Co's Shimane nuclear power plant in Japan, under construction by Hitachi using modular techniques. The vessel - with an inner diameter of about 7 metres and some 21 metres high - was lowered into position by one of the world's largest mobile cranes on 17 July. Weighing around 910 tonnes, the vessel was almost the maximum rated load of 930 tonnes for the large crawler crane. Steel components for the reactor vessel were fabricated by Japan Steel Works at its Muroran plant. The component was then manufactured over a three year period by Babcock-Hitachi at its No.2 plant in Kure City, Hiroshima prefecture. It was completed and transported by sea on 7 July, and unloaded at the power plant site in Shimane prefecture on 14 July.’

World Wire: Push For New Nuclear Power Sputters, But Old Reactors Still Pose Cancer Risks
’CHICAGO, Illinois, July 27, 2009 --/WORLD-WIRE/-- Nuclear reactors in the United States should be phased out, and replaced by technologies that don't threaten public health with the emission of radioactive chemicals, urges the Cancer Prevention Coalition. A recent energy bill sponsored by Congressional Republicans proposed building 100 new nuclear reactors across the United States in the next 20 years. But this month, two Swedish scientists published an article concluding that a large increase in nuclear reactors will not solve global warming. The utilities, of course, fail to report that greenhouse gases are emitted throughout the entire nuclear fuel cycle, and operating the reactor itself is the only exception. Both the nuclear reactor industry and its support industries spew radioactive materials into local air and water, posing a serious health hazard, warns Dr. Samuel S. Epstein, chairman of the Cancer Prevention Coalition and Professor emeritus Environmental & Occupational Medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health.’

New Vision Online: Uganda Atomic energy council formed
’THE Atomic Energy Council to regulate and ensure the safety of Ugandans when the country starts mining uranium has been launched in Kampala. "Despite the positive contribution, it is well known that exposure to high level of ionising radiation can be fatal or cause permanent damage to human life and the environment," said state minister for mineral development Peter Lokeris at the launch of the council. Lokeris said the mandate of the council is to regulate peaceful applications of ionising radiation. He also urged the council to develop the regulations required to operationalise the Atomic Energy Act.’

EFY Times: Capgemini To Upgrade EDF's Nuclear Reactors Maintenance Apps
’Monday, July 27, 2009: Capgemini France SAS, a subsidiary of the Capgemini Group, has been selected by EDF to upgrade the maintenance applications of its nuclear fleet. This upgrade will lead to an improvement of EDF's nuclear reactors performance and enable an extension of their lifetime, the company says. With 58 reactors across 19 sites producing almost 80 per cent of power generated in France (installed capacity of 63 GW), EDF manages the largest generation fleet of all the major European electricity providers, the company claims. It is in the process of building two future EPR1 nuclear reactors at Flamanville (Manche, France) and Penly (Seine-Maritime, France), and carries out numerous nuclear projects across the globe.’