Iran officials appear split on nuclear plan
’TEHRAN -- High-ranking Iranian officials appear divided over a draft proposal with the United States and other countries that would transfer the bulk of the Islamic republic's enriched uranium stockpile out of the country. The divergent views have emerged in a string of reports in the official press and other media outlets over the past several days. On Friday, Iran missed a deadline to respond to the proposal, which would allow the country to acquire fuel for its medical reactor. In what may mark a possible compromise position, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said Monday that Iran could either send part of its low-enriched uranium stockpile abroad for specialized processing into fuel or buy the material from foreign suppliers. "In order to obtain this fuel, we might spend money as in the past or we might present part of the fuel that we have right now, and currently do not need, for further processing," he was quoted as saying by the official Islamic Republic News Agency. But several influential lawmakers, the leading pro-government newspaper and the former top nuclear negotiator have all spoken out against the deal. They say the West is trying to deceive the country and keep the nuclear material in order to sabotage Iran's atomic progress.’

Nuclear Industry 'Restart' Means More Loan Guarantees, Chu Says
’Oct. 27 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. should consider expanding its $18.5 billion loan guarantee program for developers of new nuclear power plants, Energy Secretary Steven Chu said today. The Energy Department is still working to get the currently authorized loan guarantees "out the door" so as many as four new plants can be built, Chu told reporters on Capitol Hill. The Nuclear Energy Institute yesterday called the loan program "clearly inadequate" to make the construction of new nuclear reactors in the U.S. financially viable. The NEI said Congress should approve another $100 billion in loan guarantees for nuclear plants and other energy sources that don't emit carbon dioxide. When asked about the NEI proposal, Chu said the Obama administration is "looking at all the things that are within our control to actually restart the nuclear industry." "I would say that in order to really restart in a serious way you might want more than just three or four (new nuclear plants) in order to get it going," Chu said.’

Austrian courts cannot shut Temelin
’An Austrian legal challenge to the operation of the Czech Republic's Temelin nuclear power plant has ended with a ruling that courts have no authority over another member state. A case had been brought under an Austrian law that states a landowner can prohibit his neighbour from causing nuisance emanating from the latter's land if it exceeds normal local levels and significantly interferes with the usual use of the land. If the nuisance is caused by an officially authorized installation, the landowner is entitled to bring court proceedings for compensation. In a bid to close the Temelin plant 60 kilometres over the border, the Land Oberösterreich (Province of Upper Austria) made an application under this law to the Landesgericht Linz (Linz Regional Court), claiming that ionizing radiation and the risk of an accident was spoiling use of its agricultural land. However, the regional court has now been told it has no power over organisations operating in another EU member state, after it sought clarification from the European Court of Justice (ECJ).’

Proglio not planning EDF/Veolia merger -politicians
’PARIS, Oct 28 (Reuters) - Henri Proglio, due to become the new head of France's main electricity provider EDF, is not planning a full merger between EDF and rival utility Veolia, politicians who questioned Proglio said on Tuesday. Politician Patrick Ollier told journalists that Proglio had been "quite clear" on this topic. "A merger between the two companies is definitely not on the agenda," said Ollier, who heads up an economic affairs committee at France's lower house of parliament. Proglio is currently still the head of French utility Veolia Environnement but is set to take up the top job at state-controlled EDF within a matter of weeks. Proglio faced questions from a panel of politicians at France's lower house of parliament late on Tuesday. The hearing was not open to the public and Proglio himself declined to tell reporters about what he had said at the hearing. EDF currently has a stake of around 4 percent in Veolia, and a source close to Veolia's board told Reuters in September that EDF could raise its Veolia stake to up to 15 percent. EDF and Veolia already have a joint venture through their Dalkia energy services business.’

EDF sidesteps ban over 'green and British' dispute
’LONDON - EDF's climate change campaign has escaped a ban by the Advertising Standards Authority after a large number of people challenged claims that the firm is both eco-friendly and British. The TV, press and poster ads, by Euro RSCG London, attracted 149 complaints from people who felt the ads misleadingly implied EDF Energy was a 'green' energy company and a British company. EDF said it had made efforts to tackle environmental and social issues facing the industry. It had released documents called 'Our Climate Commitments' in 2007 and 'Our Social Commitments' in 2008 outlining its role in dealing with these issues.’

Australia - $140 NT uranium deal waits for tick
’THE Federal Government is set to decide this week whether to allow a $140 million deal for the Territory to provide uranium to Chinese nuclear power plants. The China Guangdong Nuclear Power Group is trying to purchase a 70 per cent stake in Energy Metals, which is exploring the Bigrlyi uranium deposit near Alice Springs. CGNPC chairman Xiong Jiang told Resources Minister Kon Vatskalis he was very concerned about the approval process. "Uranium is a very sensitive field and it is included in the non-proliferation agreement, but please keep in mind it will be used for peaceful uses," he said. The company already has four power stations in China and a further 18 under construction.’

Is Mongolia the next frontier?
’Recent developments in Mongolia indicate that the remote country is finally about to live up to its incredible potential. With one major mining deal in the bag, and more expected to follow, Mongolia is about to enter a phase of astronomic growth. In fact, people are starting to compare the sparsely populated, resource-rich country to places like Brunei and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). "Over the next decade, Mongolia will have the fastest growing economy in the world in terms of GDP growth, succeeding Qatar, which in percentage terms, although not absolute terms, surpassed that of China in the past decade," said John Finigan, chief executive officer of Golomt Bank, one of Mongolia's three largest banks. Mongolia's prospects become more plausible when you see exactly how mineral rich it is. Beneath the country's immense land mass is an untapped periodic table of metallurgical treats. To be precise, 69 of the 111 known elements have been found within its borders. The mainstays of the commodities industry -- copper, iron ore and coal -- are there in vast quantities. The rarer substances include the politically sensitive uranium, as well as a whole host of obscure minerals that you would need a degree in chemistry to recognise.’

Sellafield MOX plant to continue operating
’The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority has decided that the Sellafield MOX Plant (SMP) should continue operating until it completes its current fuel manufacturing campaign. The plant first went into production in 2002 and to date has failed to meet its throughput targets. In a statement on 27 October the NDA said it "has a duty to monitor the performance of all plants within its ownership and the performance of the Sellafield MOX Plant (SMP) has been of concern to the NDA since its formation in 2005." NDA's main aim is to achieve the best value for money for the taxpayer in the future. It has therefore taken recent performance, future potential capability and the views of customers into account when considering options for the facility.’