Nuclear liability law has sting in tail for the U.S. too
‘The Manmohan Singh government may be courting trouble at home by pushing a controversial new law to limit the financial exposure of nuclear companies in the event of a nuclear accident. But the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill also has a sting in its tail for the United States, which has made the passage of a liability law immunising its suppliers from lawsuits a precondition for any American nuclear sales to India. For even as the legislation will free foreign companies from any responsibility towards the victims of a nuclear accident, it contains a loophole that could well see Westinghouse and G.E. being hauled up before an Indian court in the event of a disaster involving equipment made, supplied or serviced by them. Though the Department of Atomic Energy first mooted a liability law way back in 2000, well before the Indo-U.S. nuclear agreement of 2005, the current urgency surrounding the bill is related to the anxiety of American reactor suppliers which want legal protection from a Bhopal type situation - where the victims of India's worst industrial accident filed multi-million dollar claims against Union Carbide Corporation in India and the U.S.’

Jordan rejects joint nuclear power project with Israel
‘AMMAN, Mar 09, 2010 (AFP) - Jordan on Tuesday rejected plans for a joint nuclear power project with Israel, saying it would be "premature" to talk about atomic cooperation before resolving the conflict with the Palestinians. "There are no Jordanian-Israeli projects in the field of nuclear energy," Khaled Tukan, head of Jordan's Atomic Energy Commission, told state-run Petra news agency in Paris, where he is taking part in a conference hosted by France. Israeli officials said on Monday that a nuclear power plant to meet the region's energy needs and promote peace would be a joint project between Israel and Jordan, and that France would supervise and provide technology. "It's an old proposal provided by the Israeli energy minister to his French counterpart several months ago," Tukan said. "We had nothing to do with this proposal, and it's premature to talk about any Jordanian-Israeli nuclear cooperation before finding a solution to the Palestinian issue."’

Kuwait to have nuclear power 'within 7 years'
‘JEDDAH - Kuwait is aiming to have a nuclear power station operational within seven years, according to a report by the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA). Kuwait's Minister of Electricity and Water Bader Al-Shuraiaan made the announcement while attending an international conference in Paris on peaceful usage of nuclear energy. KUNA also reported that Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah has formed a special committee to undertake the task of acquiring and using the nuclear energy in line with international treaties and resolutions. A special team has also been assigned to decide on the site for the nuclear reactor and Al-Shuraiaan said it was likely to be up and running in seven years. At the Paris conference on Monday, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said that nuclear energy has become a basic issue for the future of
mankind and he called on the international community to find ways to fund nuclear power facilities in countries facing power shortages.’

Swiss canton launches first consultation
‘The Swiss canton of Aargau has launched a consultation on its structural masterplan in preparation for a possible new reactor at the Beznau nuclear power station. Meanwhile, operators of the existing reactors are to benefit from a simulator upgrade. Framework permit applications for possible new nuclear units to replace aging reactors at Beznau and Mühleberg were filed by Axpo Group and BKW FMB Energy at the end of 2008, triggering a review process involving consultations from the cantonal to the international level, Federal Council and parliamentary votes, and an optional referendum. Now the canton of Aargau, home to Beznau, has decided to launch a consultation on its structural plan in advance of the 2011 cantonal consultation on the general licence application.’

Argentina Minister of Federal Planning De Vido meets with French ministers, discusses energy strategies
‘The Minister of Federal Planning, Julio De Vido, held two meetings with the French Minister of Ecology, Development and Sustainable Planning, Jean-Louis Borloo, and the Minister of Economic Reactivation, Patrick Devedjian, in the framework of his visit to their country in order to discuss energy strategies between both governments. De Vido spoke with his French counterpart, Jean-Louis Borloo, about the possibility of France -through the state-owned AREVA- becoming incorporated in Argentina's nuclear plan, after holding a meeting with the president of the company. Both officials conversed, as well, about the politics that their countries carry on with regards to renewable energies, particularly: biodiesel, biomass, solar and wind.’

GE Hitachi wants to sell reactors to Europe
‘PARIS, March 9 (Reuters) - GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy plans to sell between 10 and 15 new generation reactors in the next 10 years to Europe, a senior executive at the firm's nuclear branch said on Tuesday. GE Hitachi was well-positioned to sell its new design ESBWR reactors to Europe, a key target region for the group, Daniel Roderick, vice president of GE Hitachi's new plant project told Reuters at a nuclear conference. An increasing number of countries are keen to build nuclear reactors as a way to cut their reliance on imported fuels and meet carbon emissions targets. But lingering concerns over nuclear safety, waste and costs have limited renewal of the sector's stock in western Europe to date. "Over the next decade we see between 10 and 15 units sold to Europe," Roderick said, adding that a lot of reactors were going to come up for bidding in Europe in the next few years, whether in Scandinavia, Britain or Italy.’

Japan - Start of studies for acceptance of waste returned from UK and France
‘TOKYO, JAPAN --Aomori prefectural government has commenced studies in preparation for acceptance of the low-level radioactive waste derived from the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel consigned by Japanese electric utilities to the United Kingdom and France. On March 6, the governor of the prefecture made an announcement to this effect in talks with the head of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). The acceptance of low-level radioactive waste from France is scheduled to begin in 2013, and arrangements for it must be completed by that time. Shingo Mimura, governor of Aomori Prefecture, has thus far deferred decision on acceptance. In the talks, METI Minister Masayuki Naoshima requested studies of acceptance, stating that a delay in acceptance of the returned waste would detract from Japan's international credibility. Mimura responded that the prefectural government would consider the matter while getting the opinions of experts on safety, provided that the final disposal site for the returned low-level radioactive waste would not be located in Aomori Prefecture.’