Mawson buys Areva's Finnish uranium portfolio
‘Vancouver-based Mawson Resources is to acquire Areva's Finnish uranium exploration portfolio in a deal that will see Areva become a lead shareholder in the Canadian company. The agreement will see Mawson acquire 100% of Areva's Finnish uranium exploration portfolio and a database developed over 10 years of exploring for uranium in the country, for which it will pay Areva 1 million euros ($1.3 million). For its part, Areva will subscribe, via a private placement, for 4,696,698 common shares in Mawson at a price of $0.29 for a total purchase price â‚1 million. In addition, it will receive a further 4,217,012 purchase warrants, exercisable for four years, to purchase an equivalent number of Mawson common shares for $1.00 per share. The deal will see Areva become one of Mawson's biggest shareholders with 11% of the company and the right to increase that to 19% through the purchase warrants. The French company was welcomed on board by Mawson president and CEO Michael Hudson. "This transaction effectively doubles Mawson's exploration portfolio and cements Mawson's place as a key European uranium explorer," he said.’

Site search is on for Malaysian nuclear plants
‘Malaysia's Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water has been given the go-ahead to look for suitable sites for a nuclear power plant. According to reports on state news agency Bernama and prime minister Najib Razak's blog, the country's Economic Council has given its approval for the ministry to look into identifying suitable sites for a nuclear power plant, looking towards a startup date in the early 2020s. Speaking after a conference on sustainable buildings in Kuala Lumpur, minister for energy, green technology and water Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui told reporters that a stakeholder consultation would take place once a site had been identified. Chin described nuclear energy as the "only viable option" for Malaysia's long term energy needs. Malaysia is heavily reliant on gas and coal for its electricity: in 2006, 64% of the country's generation was from gas and 25% from coal. Government policy calls for a reduced reliance on gas, and the country has been taking tentative steps towards nuclear power, with recent reports of a $7 billion budget to build a nuclear power plant by 2025. A keen user of social networking sites, Najib Razak has recently used his Facebook page to seek out the views of Malaysian citizens on the country's aims to become a low carbon economy. In his latest blog entry, the prime minister asks if nuclear is the right energy source for Malaysia.’

California marine life imperiled by power plants
‘SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- State water regulators may order coastal power plants to begin phasing out a cooling process that is blamed for killing billions of aquatic organisms every year. The state Water Resources Control Board was expected to vote Tuesday on regulations for 19 power plants that draw billions of gallons of ocean and estuary water each daily for cooling. The board says the so-called "once-through" cooling process inadvertently traps marine life and returns warm water to the ocean, which harms sensitive coastal habitats. The plants contribute just 7 percent of the energy generated annually in California but serve a critical backup role during periods of peak demand. The new regulations would allow aging plants to develop replacement infrastructure before shutting down their current cooling systems, to avoid a potential energy shortage.’

China must seek NSG exception, says U.S.
‘China will first have to seek an exception from the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) before it can go ahead with its plan to export two nuclear power reactors to Pakistan, a top United States official has said. China last month announced it would set up two civilian nuclear power reactors in Pakistan. The deal has triggered debate in India and the U.S. on nuclear proliferation, as the NSG guidelines disallow the transfer of nuclear equipment to countries who have not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). While the Chinese government has insisted its agreement with Pakistan followed international guidelines, U.S. Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert Blake said on Tuesday the U.S. government's position was the deal could not go ahead unless China first obtained an exception from the NSG. ‘I would just say that we are aware of those reports [of the deal] and to the extent that China does want to try to provide additional reactors to Pakistan, that would require an exception of the guidelines of the Nuclear Suppliers Group,’ he said in Beijing, when asked about the deal. ‘So it would be important that China seek the
exception from the NSG.’

EPA says Arizona uranium mine operating illegally
‘FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - A uranium mine north of the Grand Canyon is operating in violation of the law, and its owner could face thousands of dollars in fines as a result, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said. The agency issued a notice of violation this week to Denison Mines Corp. for its Arizona 1 Mine, which is about 20 miles from the Grand Canyon's northern border. The EPA said Denison failed to notify the agency as to when it would resume mining and that it did not secure the necessary federal approval before ventilating the mine or testing emissions. Denison President Ron Hochstein said Tuesday that he was surprised by the notice and believed the company was operating within the law. He said he was working with regulators to address those issues. A determination on whether to assess fees or civil penalties would not be made until after a hearing is held on the violation notice.’

Al-Bashir Executes Martial Law to Silence El Fasher Unity: US and UN Unspoken
‘(EL FASHER / PORTLAND) – ‘Martial Law has been declared inside El Fasher, Darfur. We have to stay in our homes; the Police and Government Army are searching house to house looking for people, cell phones, cameras and pictures,’ a source on the ground there tells Salem-News.com. The International Superpowers - US Government and China, have all given their silent approval in support of the Genocidal President of Sudan. Omar Al-Bashir is a wanted war criminal who ran, and won the recent, rigged and fraudulent elections. By standing silent the US Government has allowed a continued reign of terror to besiege the people of Sudan. The US government has chosen its path, to stand with the Sudanese President while he targets the people and strips them from their land, families and often their lives. OIL, GOLD, COPPER AND URANIUM are all found in ground of Darfur. Omar Al-Bashir’s actions suggest that the Sudanese people are dispensable; wipe out the people and the land is his, this equals money. He has successfully managed to wipe out over 80% of the villages. El Fasher is one of the largest towns in Darfur with a population of over 250,000, how many will survive?’

Hearing focuses on PSEG Nuclear's permit request for possible fourth reactor at Artificial Island
‘LOWER ALLOWAYS CREEK TWP. - PSEG Nuclear is prepared to take the first step in a long, detailed process that could eventually lead to the construction of a fourth nuclear reactor at its Artificial Island generating complex here. By the end of this month, the utility will file an Early Site Permit application with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the federal agency which oversees the operation of the country’s 104 nuclear power plants. PSEG Nuclear has not officially been given the ‘go’ for the building of a new reactor here, but is laying the groundwork so when it deems both the financial and regulatory atmosphere is right, it will be ready to move ahead. Utility officials have shied away from estimating how much a new reactor would cost, but reports about the nuclear industry generally say the cost could be between $10 and $15 billion.’