GdF Suez prepares for nuclear operation
’The purchase of an EPR simulator has revealed the seriousness of GdF Suez's ambitions in nuclear power. Apart from Electrabel and a set of nuclear-related subsidiaries, the bulk of the group which was formed a year ago from Gaz de France and Suez of Belgium has been primarily involved in natural gas. However, a strategic move to pursue nuclear power beyond Electrabel could see it with ownership shares in French, British and Emirati reactors in just a few years. Beyond that, it wants a controlling stake in France's next EPR. In preparation for all this, the company has agreed to buy a full-scale engineering simulator of the Areva EPR from Corys TESS. That company said it could be used to train engineers as well as operators of EPR-based power plants and even to be used in the design of future reactors. It will be set up in Brussels, Belgium.’

North Korea calling for new nuclear talks: Richardson
’SANTA FE, New Mexico (AFP) - North Korea is calling for new nuclear talks but wants them directly with the United States, Governor Bill Richardson said Wednesday after a rare meeting with diplomats sent by Pyongyang. "The delegation indicated that North Korea is ready for a new dialogue with the United States regarding the nuclear issue," said a statement from Richardson's office during the first of two days of talks in New Mexico. "The question is whether to proceed with face-to-face bilateral talks, as the North Koreans prefer, or to utilize the six-party framework that the United States has advocated. The North Koreans clearly want bilateral talks and not the six-party framework."’

IHI, Kobe Steel to Get Nuclear Export Subsidies, Nikkei Says
’Aug. 20 (Bloomberg) -- IHI Corp., Kobe Steel Ltd., Japan Steel Works Ltd., Ebara Corp. and Okano Valve Manufacturing Co. will get 7 billion yen in Japanese government subsidies designed to help nuclear power exports, Nikkei English News said, without saying where it got the information. The companies will match the subsidies with 3 billion yen ($32 million) of their own, Nikkei reported. The Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry will announce the grants tomorrow, Nikkei said.’

China approves 3rd phase of Tianwan nuclear plant
’BEIJING, Aug 20 (Reuters) - China has approved plans to start building the third phase of its Tianwan nuclear complex in October next year, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC) said in a statement. Tianwan, in eastern Jiangsu province, now has two 1.06 GW pressurised water reactors using technology from Russia. Jiangsu Nuclear Power Co is close to agreeing terms of a contract with Russia's Atomstroyexport for a second phase, which has already been agreed in principle, the statement said. The statement did not specify which technology would be used in the third phase, which will add two further 1 GW reactors. A final, fourth phase is expected to bring the total number of reactors to eight, with overall capacity of 8 GW.’

Niger Ends Emergency Rule, Declares General Election
’Aug. 19 (Bloomberg) -- Niger's President Mamadou Tandja today announced that a general election will be held on Oct. 20, the national radio station, La Voix du Sahel, reported. Earlier, the president ended emergency rule and promulgated a new constitution that enables him to extend his 10-year rule of the West African nation. The 71-year-old leader dissolved parliament in May and assumed emergency powers after the Constitutional Court rejected his call for the referendum to change the constitution. Last month, he disbanded the court after it ruled a third time against his plans to serve a third term. The cancellation of emergency powers was announced in a presidential decree yesterday in the capital, Niamey.’

Jay Hancock on Business: Constellation Energy Group and Electricite de France to scrap $4.5 billion deal
’Aug. 19--This is a column about how Constellation Energy Group and Electricite de France are going to scrap the $4.5 billion deal that has filled headlines, politics and regulators' files for eight months. My apologies for not writing it sooner -- like the day they announced it. We should know by now that, any time Constellation contemplates matrimony, the courtship is probably doomed to political resistance and heartache. Shame about that third nuclear reactor the companies were going to build at Calvert Cliffs on the Chesapeake. An electricity-starved Maryland could have used the juice. A dead deal also means the fabulous paycheck of Constellation boss Mayo A. Shattuck III will escape molestation. Gov. Martin O'Malley was demanding a Shattuck haircut as part of the ransom for approving the deal. Maybe that's Constellation's main motivation for exiting. But it's not the only one.’