Balkans power supply needs may spur nuclear push
’BELGRADE (Reuters) - Environmental and health concerns over high-polluting coal plants as well as a critical need for stable power supply could push Balkan countries to welcome nuclear energy. Analysts and officials say that an emphasis on lignite -- the cheapest but dirtiest building block fuel -- is creating concern about the long-term impact of the region's energy strategy and forcing a rethink on nuclear power despite memories of the Chernobyl disaster. Nikola Rajakovic, state secretary in Serbia's energy ministry, said that mounting costs to upgrade thermal plants to meet environmental standards and to run mines needed to supply the plants may help tip the balance toward nuclear power. "The question is do we really want to use all our lignite reserves, and what happens after we exhaust our lignite reserves?" Rajakovic said, adding it would take Serbia a long time to develop nuclear technology and train experts.’

Shaw Awarded Nuclear Power Maintenance Contract by Southern California Edison
’BATON ROUGE, La.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Shaw Group Inc. today announced it has been awarded a new three-year contract with Southern California Edison, an Edison International company, to provide nuclear maintenance services to San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) in northern San Diego County, Calif. Under the new contract, Shaw will provide routine maintenance/modifications, refueling maintenance/modifications and facilities services. The undisclosed value of the contract will be included in the Shaw Maintenance segment’s backlog of unfilled client orders in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2009.’

One-year setback for Nine Mile Point 3
’Regulators will not begin work on an application to build a new reactor at Nine Mile Point for another year after Unistar Nuclear Energy concluded a 'sequence optimization' of the project. The new schedule increases its chance of gaining a loan guarantee from the US Department of Energy. Unistar - a joint venture of Constellation Energy and Electricité de France's EDF Group - submitted an application to build and operate a 1600 MWe Areva EPR at Nine Mile Point 3 at the end of September 2008, with an original intention that work on the COL would start in September 2009. However, in early February the Nuclear Regulatory Commission was asked to hold off starting its review of because Unistar would be focusing its resources on the Calvert Cliffs site, the "lead" application for the EPR. Now the start date for main work on the COL application will be September 2010 after Unistar wrote to the NRC to discuss a "sequence optimization" of the review.’

Lagarde eyes Areva T&D sale decision by end-2009
’PARIS, Sept 1 (Reuters) - French Economy Minister Christine Lagarde said she hoped state-controlled nuclear reactor maker Areva would reach a decision on a possible sale of its transmission and distribution (T&D) unit by the end of 2009. "As of today, I don't have a deadline on this. We can't rush into these sorts of things, but at the same time we must not let this drag on. In any case, I hope that by the end of the year, we will have reached a decision," Lagarde told Reuters. On Monday, Areva Chief Executive Anna Lauvergeon said she expected that Areva would soon receive bids for the T&D business, which some analysts estimate could be worth as much as 5 billion euros ($7.18 billion).’

Alstom to pick stake in Bhel-Nuclear Power JV
’The first tranche of foreign investment in the Indian nuclear sector will come from France. Bharat Heavy Electricals (Bhel) and Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) have picked Alstom of France as partner in a three-way joint venture. It will manufacture equipment for uranium-fed power plants. Bhel and NPCIL, which are 50:50 partners in a joint venture, may offload up to 30 per cent equity in it to Alstom. Bhel chairman and managing director K Ravi Kumar, however, denied to comment on the issue. ‘We have identified our technology partner. The talks are in advanced stage. There are certain small issues, which will be ironed out soon. An announcement is likely by September 15,’ he said.’

Iran Ready For Talks, Says Nuclear Negotiator
’TEHRAN, Sept. 1 -- Iran's top nuclear negotiator said Tuesday that the country is ready to reopen talks with world powers increasingly concerned about Iranian intentions, according to the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency. The announcement by Iranian negotiator Saeed Jalili came a day before a meeting in Germany of representatives from six nations, including the United States, that are seeking to develop a strategy for addressing Iran's nuclear ambitions. "Iran has prepared to present its revised package of proposals . . . and is ready to hold talks with world powers . . . in order to ease common concerns in the international arena," state television quoted Jalili as telling reporters. Iranian officials did not comment on whether the timing of the proposal is connected to the Sept. 15 deadline set by the White House for Iran to respond to an offer to reopen talks on the nuclear issue.’