Nuclear News: German nuclear policy skirts a taboo
Today's big stories from the nuclear industry:
ANALYSIS-German nuclear policy skirts a taboo
‘FRANKFURT, Nov 5 (Reuters) - Germany's nuclear power policy of keeping old reactors open longer to bridge the gap to greener energy may also leave the door open to eventually break a major electoral taboo -- new atomic power plants. Chancellor Angela Merkel's new centre-right government last week kept nuclear energy alive but stressed that would only be until renewable energies are fully viable. Popular opposition to nuclear is strong and visceral. A total of 17 reactors had faced closure in the coming decade but can now expect a new lease of life. Analysts think this leaves room for opinions to change. "There is an attempt in Germany to establish a policy comfort zone," said Lawrence Poole of IHS Global Insight. "Once they have that in place and safe and well maintained nuclear plants continue to supply power, it makes it that much easier to progress the overall debate," he said, adding, "Whether that means new plants is another question." Merkel's political opponents have been less circumspect in raising their own suspicions. "The oldest scrap metal reactors remain online despite all safety problems," said Green politician and former environment minister Juergen Trittin in a comment on the coalition deal.’
France, Poland sign nuclear cooperation accord
‘PARIS, Nov 5 (Reuters) - France and Poland signed a technical cooperation accord in nuclear power on Thursday but Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said it was too early to say whether French firms would be partners in its planned reactor. Under the agreement, signed during a visit to Paris by Polish ministers, France will offer help training technicians and in research and development. Tusk said France had "taken a big step forward" with the agreement but it was too early to say what nuclear technology Poland would finally adopt for the reactor it plans to build by 2020. "Decisions on the choice of investors and partners are a long way ahead of us," he told reporters during a news conference with French President Nicolas Sarkozy. "France is a valuable partner but probably not unique." Poland wants to build one or two nuclear power plants to break its reliance on coal and intends to identify a technology supplier by 2013.’
E.ON, RWE set up UK nuclear joint venture
‘FRANKFURT -- German energy companies E.ON AG and RWE AG said Thursday that they have set up a joint company to build nuclear power stations in Britain. The new company, called Horizon Nuclear Power and headquartered near Gloucester, will start operations on Nov. 16. Duesseldorf-based E.ON and Essen-based RWE first announced the plan in January. Horizon will focus on new power stations with a 60-year lifetime, a joint statement from the two companies said. It foresees potential investments of more than 15 billion pounds ($25 billion) in developing around 6,000 megawatts of nuclear capacity by 2025. Horizon is also in a tender process with Areva of France and Westinghouse of the U.S. for the selection of reactor technology for the projects.’
Japan's 1st pluthermal power generation begins 10 years behind schedule
‘Japan began operating a nuclear power reactor Thursday using plutonium-uranium mixed oxide (MOX) as fuel for the first time in the country, about 10 years behind the initial plan for the so-called pluthermal electricity generation. Nuclear fission began at the 1.18 million-kilowatt No. 3 reactor at Kyushu Electric Power Co's Genkai nuclear power plant in Saga Prefecture, southwestern Japan, after a control rod was removed from the reactor at 11 a.m., company officials said. The pressurized light-water reactor is expected to attain criticality late Thursday night, the officials said. Kyushu Electric plans to begin generating electricity at the reactor Monday and raise its power output gradually under controlled operation later, they said. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry is scheduled to conduct checks on the reactor Dec 2 to examine its power output stability and core performance. If the reactor clears the checks, it will go into full-fledged operation. In the prefectural capital of Saga, a group of some 20 citizens held a protest rally against the launch of the MOX fuel power generation. Originally, Japan's electric power industry planned to begin pluthermal power generation in the late 1990s under the country's nuclear fuel cycle infrastructure.’
French PM backs Areva despite nuclear safety worry
‘PARIS, Nov 5 (Reuters) - French Prime Minister Francois Fillon said he had confidence in the management of Areva, the world's biggest nuclear reactor maker, which has been told by safety bodies to alter safety features on its new power plants. Safety agencies in France, Britain and Finland this week ordered state-controlled Areva and EDF (EDF.PA: Quote, Profile, Research), the world's largest nuclear electricity operator, to modify safety features on new European Pressurised Reactors (EPR). Fillon played down the concerns, which have hit the share price of Areva's non-voting stock. "The management has the confidence of the state. There is no Areva problem," Fillon said in an interview with the daily Le Monde that was released ahead of publication on Thursday. "We are in the process of building new generation reactors. It is absolutely normal that there is a debate," he said.’
Could Areva safety row affect UAE nuclear decision?
‘Concerns raised by safety agencies in the UK, France and Finland about Areva's latest nuclear reactor are coming at the worst possible time for a French consortium hoping to win a US$40 billion contract to build power plants in Abu Dhabi. Areva is already facing serious problems at the Olkiluoto nuclear plant in Finland, which was initially planned to be operational this year. Instead, the facility will now open at 2012, at the earliest, with extra costs adding another 50% to the initial price tag. Earlier this year, the consortium consisting of Areva, GDF Suez and Total was considered to be in pole position for the Abu Dhabi contract, which is expected to be awarded before the end of the year. The UAE is currently in the advanced stage of evaluating the bids, according to Hamad Al Kaabi, the country's representative to the IAEA, who spoke to Reuters in October. Other consortiums vying for the contract are the Japanese-US alliance between Hitachi and GE and a South Korea-led partnership consisting of Korea Electric Power, Samsung, Hyundai and Westinghouse.’
Japan's Kansai to use nuclear unit for over 40 yrs
‘TOKYO, Nov 5 (Reuters) - Japan's second-biggest utility Kansai Electric Power Co (9503.T) said on Thursday it aims to continue operations at its 340-megawatt Mihama No.1 reactor, which went online in 1970, beyond November 2010. If the move is approved, the unit would mark the second reactor in Japan to operate for more than four decades. Kansai has no plans to build any new reactors. (Reporting by Osamu Tsukimori)’
FACTBOX: Nuclear power plans in Europe
‘(Reuters) - Nuclear energy is seen by some countries as an effective way to keep up electricity supplies while cutting emissions of climate warming gases from burning fossil fuels. Lingering concerns over nuclear safety, waste and costs have limited the sector's growth in western Europe but several central and eastern European countries are keen to build them as a way of reducing their reliance on imported fuels. Below are the nuclear plants being built or planned across Europe…’
