U.S. Senators unveil bill to double nuclear power
‘WASHINGTON, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Two U.S. Senators on Monday unveiled bipartisan legislation aimed at doubling nuclear power in 20 years and increasing funding for research into low carbon sources of energy. Sponsored by Tennessee Republican Lamar Alexander and Virginia Democrat Jim Webb, the bill would provide $100 billion in loan guarantees for carbon-free electricity projects, adding to the existing $47 billion loan guarantee program. Although the additional loan guarantees would not be limited to nuclear power, the nuclear industry would likely be the major recipient of the extra money because it is one of the most established low carbon energy sources. The legislation comes as Senate Democrats work to draw more support for controversial climate legislation by crafting measures that would increase support for nuclear power and offshore drilling. This bill is separate from the climate legislation currently making its way through the Senate, said Alexander and Webb.’

Nuclear Plant Built for Iran Is Delayed, Russia Says
‘MOSCOW - Russia added a new note of discord to its relations with Iran on Monday, announcing that a Russian-built nuclear power plant in Iran would not come online at the end of the year as planned. Russia’s energy minister said that politics had played no role in delaying the startup of the plant, a focal point in a broader dispute over Iran’s nuclear ambitions. And although Iran’s senior leadership offered no immediate response, hard-line members of its Parliament excoriated the delay, calling Russia “dishonest.” “If we wait another 200 years, the Russians will not complete the plant,” said Mahmoud Ahmadi Bighash, a member of Parliament, according to Iran’s ISNA news agency. “It is naïve to believe that the Russians are cooperating with us.” The startup of the plant, at Bushehr, in southern Iran, has been plagued by delays since Russia took over work on the facility in the mid-1990s, with Russian officials often appearing to use the project as leverage in negotiations with Iran’s leaders.’

Vattenfall denies outgoing CEO Josefsson "pawned the company" through German nuclear deal
‘16 November 2009 - Swedish utility Vattenfall has denied that outgoing CEO Lars G. Josefsson "pawned the company" through a nuclear insurance deal with Vattenfall's German subsidiary. The Swedish television channel TV4 claimed that Vattenfall's CEO Lars G. Josefsson has "pawned the whole company" by signing a nuclear insurance policy for Vattenfall's German subsidiary on 17 March 2008. Conditions for operating nuclear power differ between Sweden and Germany, since legislation for nuclear power responsibility in the two countries is different. In Sweden, nuclear power operators are financially liable up to a certain level. In Germany, the operator has unlimited responsibility for costs that may emanate from an accident. But just as in all other business, companies take out insurance policies. In Germany, Vattenfall took out joint insurance with other German nuclear power operators worth SEK 23bn ($3.4bn).’

The reactor relapse takes 3 hits to the head
‘The much-hyped “Renaissance” of atomic power has taken three devastating hits with potentially fatal consequences. The usually supine Nuclear Regulatory Commission has told Toshiba’s Westinghouse Corporation that its “standardized” AP-1000 design might not withstand hurricanes, tornadoes or earthquakes. Regulators in France, Finland and the UK have raised safety concerns about AREVA’s flagship EPR reactor. The front group for France’s national nuclear power industry, AREVA’s vanguard project in Finland is at least three years behind schedule and at least $3 billion over budget. And the Obama administration indicates it will end efforts to license the proposed radioactive waste repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. After more than 50 years of trying, the nuclear industry has not a single prospective central dump site.’

Post-Saddam Iraq demands right to nuclear power
‘Vilified as a nuclear bomb-seeking threat to world peace before the 2003 invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein's regime, Iraq now wants access to civilian nuclear power for its economic and energy needs. Science and Technology Minister Raed Fahmi, in an interview with AFP, called for the international community to lift the Saddam-era UN resolutions which still stand in its path. "Our nuclear strategy is for civilian application of atomic energy and we believe we have the right and that certain obstacles contained in Resolution 707 should be lifted," he said. "We have a clear and transparent political strategy in close coordination with international bodies, and Iraq has the right to certain of its capacities," the minister said. But Fahmi stressed no political decision had yet been taken to build a nuclear power plant.’

Chinese fund enters race for EDF network
‘A Chineses infrastructure company controlled by billionaire investor Li Ka-shing is considering bidding for EDF’s £4bn of UK electricity distribution networks. Cheung Kong Infrastructure (CKI) on Monday expressed an interest in the networks, which may be put up for sale next month. CKI, which already owns Northern Gas Networks in the UK, joins Scottish & Southern Energy and Canadian pension funds among those considering whether to make a bid. The Chinese company said earlier this year that it was looking to spend a war-chest of cash in countries including the UK and US. On Monday, it increased its stake in the Northern Gas Networks from 75pc to 88pc. It already owns gas, water and road assets in Australia, Canada and the UK, plus a 39pc stake in Hongkong Electric, the territory’s second-biggest power supplier. EDF, the power company majority owned by the French state, said in early October that it was “considering its options” for the business that serves 8m homes in London, the South-East and East of England.’