Leading European Industry Expert to Debunk Myth of French Nuclear Model' For U.S.

’50 Years of French Failings in Nuclear Power Seen As Poor Model for U.S.; Nation's Nuclear Woes Seen Escalating in Huge Cost Overruns at Finnish, Flamanville Reactor Projects. Yves Marignac, a leading international consultant on nuclear energy issues and the executive director of the energy information agency WISE-Paris, will hold a major U.S. news media briefing at 11 a.m. EDT on September 15, 2009 to challenge the myth of the so-called "French nuclear model" that supposedly could serve as a blueprint for the revival of the embattled industry in the U.S. As the U.S. Senate considers additional subsidies to the nuclear industry in its version of pending climate legislation and the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) seeks public comment on weakening the rules for loan-guarantee bail-outs of proposed new reactors, Marignac is visiting the United States to meet with federal and state officials, among other groups.’

Iran, world powers to hold nuclear talks in October

’Analysts foresee a complicated game of diplomatic chess, with Tehran hoping to delay sanctions while the U.S. tries to convince Russia and China to agree to a harsher response if the talks fail. After months of anticipation, the United States, Iran and other world powers on Monday set an Oct. 1 date to meet and potentially discuss Iran's nuclear program, which remains a source of concern to the West and Israel. While the Obama administration has reversed U.S. policy by agreeing to meet on the nuclear issue without preconditions, Iran has all but ruled out talks over halting its production of reactor-grade nuclear fuel, the West's central worry. "We believe that nuclear technology, the nuclear fuel cycle, nuclear energy, is our sovereign right," Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, told reporters in Vienna on Monday. "So we have no bargaining on this," he added. "But this does not mean that within a larger framework [of] discussing nuclear issues, disarmament, peaceful uses of nuclear energy, nonproliferation . . . in this regard, yes, we are open to discussion."’

Romania announces finalization of repatriation procedure of spent nuclear
fuel to Russia

’Romania announced finalization of repatriation procedure of the spent nuclear fuel to Russia, on the occasion of the meeting of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in Vienna, held over Sept. 7-10, 2009, the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) informs in a release on Friday. Romania, which presided the session dedicated to nuclear security as vice-president of this forum, addressed its thanks to the governments of the United States of America and the Russian Federation, as well as to the Agency Secretariat for their support in the process of repatriation finalization of the spent nuclear fuel, stressed the quoted release. In the framework of this meeting, the IAEA member states adopted a series of decisions for the preparation of the IAEA General Conference, set to take place over Sept. 14-18, 2009.’

Pitfalls of Sri Lanka going nuclear - Opening the public debate

’Recently Sri Lanka has shown increased interest in using nuclear energy for future power generation. The Atomic Energy Authority (AEA) of Sri Lanka is in the process of seeking cabinet approval to initiate a programme for 'Nuclear Energy for Peaceful Use'. Initial explorations in Sri Lanka have shown that some areas of the Southern and Western coastline have thorium deposits, which can be used as a nuclear fuel. India, which utilizes thorium for large-scale energy production has entered discussions on how it could assist Sri Lanka to develop thorium based energy. This article argues that nuclear energy is not a viable option for energy generation in Sri Lanka as it is not safe, cost effective or emission free as proponents of nuclear energy suggest. The article advocates that the Sri Lankan Government should explore and invest in renewable energy sources to manage Sri Lanka's energy needs in the future.’

Environmentalists Question Niger Uranium Mine

’Niger's opposition leader is in court facing charges of defying President Mamadou Tandja, who won a referendum last month extending his time in office. The president says one of the reasons voters want him to stay is to oversee the completion of a billion-dollar uranium mine. Some environmentalists are questioning the mine's impact. Uranium is nothing new in Niger. First mined in 1971, more than seven percent of the world's uranium already comes from Niger. But the new Imouraren mine by the French nuclear power group AREVA is unlike anything Niger has ever seen. Oba Nduma Saliou heads the local environmental group CREN. Sailou says if people in Niger have to talk about uranium, it is with bitterness because AREVA has been mining uranium in Niger for 40 years without benefiting people in the area. He says he can not understand how a country with such unimaginable riches continues to go around begging from other countries and mining companies. Saliou says AREVA's impact on Niger is both social and environmental. Socially, he says poverty remains, particularly in mining areas. Environmentally, he says there has been serious degradation in mining zones. Saliou says people have gotten sick from collecting contaminated mining equipment that AREVA has improperly disposed of. And he fears things will only get worse with the new Imouraren mine.’

E.ON Sees EDF Capacity Swap Soon, Delays Russian, German Plants

E.ON AG, Germany's largest utility, expects to reach an agreement with Electricite de France SA on swapping power-generating capacity soon, while putting projects in Russia and Germany on hold as the recession erodes demand. "As I am an optimist, I'd say it's probable" the two companies can agree on exchanging capacity, E.ON board member Lutz Feldmann said in an interview last week. "If we do, it has to be in the near term to meet our divestment obligations." The swap is part of E.ON's plan to dispose of more than 10 billion euros ($14.5 billion) of assets this year and next to trim debt amassed from acquisitions and satisfy antitrust rules. The utility may also scrap a proposed power station in Germany and will delay a Russian unit, Feldmann told reporters in Surgut, western Siberia, where E.ON operates its biggest Russian plant.