Nuclear News: UAE Nuclear Regulator Awaits Final Law To Trigger $41 Billion Nuclear Project
| Share |
|
Today's big stories from the nuclear industry:
Wall Street Journal: UAE Nuclear Regulator Awaits Final Law To Trigger $41B Project
’DUBAI (Zawya Dow Jones)--A crucial law to establish a nuclear regulator for the United Arab Emirates' $41 billion nuclear power program is still awaiting the signature of the country's ruler before major work can begin. "Nothing can happen without the law," David Scott, Executive Director of Economic Affairs at the Executive Affairs Authority, or EAA, a government agency mandated to provide strategic policy advice on the program, told Zawya Dow Jones in a telephone interview. No deadline has been set for the law but officials had expected the legislation to be approved in July. "The U.A.E. will not import nuclear material or begin actual construction of related facilities until that element is firmly in place," he added. The Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation, or FANR, and the Emirates Nuclear Energy Co., or ENEC, two entities set up to oversee the project require the final signature of President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan before significant work can begin on the ground.’
AFP: Drive for atomic energy adds to nuclear challenge: US
’GENEVA - A senior US official acknowledged on Wednesday that the growing demand for atomic energy in response to climate change was adding to the challenges of preventing the spread of nuclear weapons. "Some people are calling this a nuclear renaissance, it's very much in vogue," said Susan Burk, the US president's special representative for nuclear non-proliferation in what she termed her first public presentation. The peaceful use of atomic energy is one of the three pillars of the Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT), allowing countries that have signed up the right to the peaceful use of nuclear power in return for disarmament or giving up weapons ambitions. "Strengthening this pillar of the treaty is more important than ever, especially when one considers the renewed interest in nuclear power as a response to climate change, energy security and the promotion of sustainable development," Burk said. The challenge was to ensure that the world would not be "creating proliferation when we turn the lights on."’
World Nuclear News: Progress in Kazakh ambitions
’Kazakhstan reported a significant increase in uranium production during the first half of 2009. In addition to aiming to become the world's leading uranium supplier, the country is working to become an exporter of fabricated fuel and reactor technology. State-owned nuclear energy company KazAtomProm said that uranium output during the first six months of 2009 totalled over 6000 tonnes, exceeding production plans by 9%. This, the company said, represents a 57% increase in output compared with the first half of 2008. Kazakhstan plans to produce some 8000 tonnes of uranium during the second half of 2009. Uranium-producing enterprises are implementing their plans to bring new deposits into production, KazAtomProm said. It said that Akbastau JSC and Baiken-U LLP have started pilot production, while mines at the Kharasan 1 and Irkol deposits have been put into operation. Meanwhile, construction work at the Kharasan 2 and Semizbai deposits continues. In addition, work is in progress to increase production at the South Inkai deposit, while refinery plants are under construction at Karatau LLP.’
VOA News: Clinton Asks About Detained Congolese Human Rights Activist
’Officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo say a U.S.-funded human-rights activist is being questioned about his allegations that the government in Kinshasa is trying to sell uranium to North Korea. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton asked about the case during talks with Congo's president. Congolese security forces detained Golden Misabiko last month in the southern city of Lubumbashi after the human rights activist published a report questioning the government's deal with the French nuclear power firm Areva. Misabiko says the contract for uranium exploration should be made public so there can be an assessment of health conditions in areas near the mines. Misabiko's African Association for the Defense of Human Rights receives grants from the U.S.-based National Endowment for Democracy.
Secretary Clinton asked President Joseph Kabila about the case during talks in the eastern city of Goma.’
Reuters: ANALYSIS-North Korea looks at new deal of its nuclear cards
’SEOUL, Aug 12 (Reuters) - North Korea seems in no rush to restore its old plutonium-producing plant, but that does not mean it has given up on building a bomb and it may now be betting on uranium enrichment instead for its next nuclear bargaining chip. A switch to uranium would alarm Western powers because it could be done away from the prying eyes of U.S. spy satellites, it may lead to enhanced cooperation with Iran and it could lure customer states keen to start their own nuclear arms programmes. Analysts say Pyongyang now needs to make crucial decisions about whether it should use its limited resources to rebuild its largely inactive Yongbyon plant, which is designed to produce bomb-grade plutonium, start on a full-scale plan to enrich uranium for weapons or use a combination of both. "It makes little sense to restore an obsolete (plutonium-based) nuclear complex. What makes much more sense is for them to work on the highly enriched uranium (HEU) programme," said a well-informed South Korean government source, who declined to be named.’
