CPS Energy sends team to Japan to negotiate cut in nuclear power costs
Energy CEO Milton Lee and Interim General Manager Steve Bartley are heading to Japan on Tuesday to square off behind closed door meetings with Toshiba Corp. officials to discuss why the cost projection on two new nuclear reactors are higher than expected. Toshiba Power Systems is the lead contractor for the proposed expansion of the South Texas Project nuclear power plant in Matagorda County, Texas. There have been reports indicating that the price tag could be as much as $4 billion higher than originally projected. CPS Energy's partner in the South Texas Project expansion, NRG Energy, will also be involved with discussions. CPS Energy will press the Japanese for a pricing structure on the two new reactors that is more
affordable than the current cost projection. CPS Energy wants the cost of the nuclear reactors to have no more than a 5 percent impact on customer bills, Bartley says. CPS Energy officials say they will need a dependable cost estimate by Dec. 31, 2009.’

FACTBOX: Key facts on bids for Areva T&D unit
‘PARIS (Reuters) - State-owned nuclear group Areva is reviewing bids this week for its electricity transmission and distribution business, which analysts have valued at 3 to 5 billion euros. Binding offers are due November 9, and Areva could announce the winner as early as November 16. Following is a list of bidders and facts surrounding the business…’

U.S. says can give Iran time to okay nuclear deal
‘VIENNA, Nov 9 (Reuters) - The United States is willing to give Iran time to decide whether to accept a U.N.-brokered deal meant to allay suspicions it is after atomic bombs but which has drawn Iranian objections, a U.S. diplomat said Monday. The plan for Iran to part with stocks of potential nuclear explosive material in exchange for fuel to keep a nuclear medicine facility running has stumbled on Iranian calls for amendments and more talks, which Washington has rejected. Addressing Iran's misgivings over sending low-enriched uranium (LEU) abroad before it gets reactor fuel in return, the U.N. nuclear agency chief has suggested Iran place the LEU in a friendly third country like Turkey, pending arrival of the fuel. Iranian and Turkish officials discussed the idea Monday on the sidelines of an Islamic states conference in Istanbul attended by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Turkish officials said. They did not elaborate. Turkey, with good ties to neighbor Iran, has said it is willing to mediate in Tehran's long standoff with Western powers over its disputed nuclear energy program.’

Nigeria Takes Step Towards Use of Nuclear Power
‘Nigeria yesterday took a step towards using nuclear power for electricity generation, agricultural produce preservation and health care, among others, with the foundation-laying of low and intermediate nuclear waste management facility. Performing the ceremony at the Nuclear Technology Centre, NTC, Sheda Science and Technology Complex, Abuja, Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Alhassan Zaku, said the "remarkable development" which included the laying of the foundation for a researchers' hostel within the complex, was a significant milestone in the nation's commitment to the emplacement of the requisite scientific and technological infrastructure towards realising the dream of fully deploying nuclear energy for socio-economic development. "Our structured programmes and activities will position the country not only to generate electricity from nuclear power plants, but also apply the technology in food and agriculture, human health as well as in minerals exploration and industry," he said. In this regard, he said plans were on to commercialise the gamma irradiation facility in the complex by using it for the preservation of food items. "Working together with the private sector in a PPP (public-private partnership) arrangement, the gamma facilities will be used to condition food for export to overseas countries in order to earn much needed foreign exchange for the country," Zaku said.’

Aiken-area group wants nuclear waste study
‘Aiken-area business leaders say the Savannah River Site may become the nation's high-level nuclear waste dumping ground if the federal government drops plans for a disposal site in Nevada. But the SRS Community Reuse Organization says shelving the Yucca Mountain site is a bad idea, and it says the nation now needs to figure out how to dispose of high-level nuclear waste. The group's mission supports job creation in the five counties around SRS, a 300-square mile nuclear weapons site. Aiken, Augusta and surrounding communities could suffer a bad image if the waste is left at SRS, making it harder to recruit industry, the reuse organization said in a statement Monday. It is calling for a special blue-ribbon panel to study options for disposing of waste.’

Questions remain on viability and waste
‘Piece by piece, the government's strategy for the future of nuclear power is taking shape. The national policy statements published on Monday set out the reasoning behind the most ambitious programme of nuclear construction in Europe - designed to curb carbon dioxide emissions and secure future power supplies - and picked the 10 sites where new reactors could be built. The new planning system, intended to deliver approvals for large projects such as nuclear power stations much more quickly than in the past, is coming into effect. The thorny problem of nuclear waste, for which there is still no clear long-term solution, is being conveniently swept under the carpet for a later date.’