N-Base Briefing 507


N-Base Briefing 507
18th November 2006
ISSN 1478-4661

Blair commits to nuclear

Prime minister Tony Blair gave his strongest speech yet in favour of nuclear power while speaking in the House of Commons this week on the Queen's Speech. Mr Blair said: "In common with countries around the world, we need to put nuclear power back on the agenda and at least replace the nuclear energy we will lose" with the closure of old reactors. In an exchange with Tory leader David Cameron, Mr Blair said: "when over the next few years our nuclear power stations are closed, are we at least going to replace them ? I say yes". (Times 16/11/06, www.foratom.org)

Blair visit

Prime minister Tony Blair visited Sellafield this week. Mr Blair had been invited by the site's trades unions. He told workers the UK had to use nuclear energy and this was "a tremendous opportunity for Sellafield". (Whitehaven News 17/11/06, News and Star 17/11/06)

Bosses leave

Two of the nuclear industry's leading executives have left their jobs this week. There was surprise when British Energy's chief nuclear officer Roy Anderson resigned his GBP400,000 a year job. His departure came as the company warned the closure of two of its reactors would add to its reduced power output. Next chief executive of British Nuclear Group announced he was leaving the company. Lawrie Haynes is understood to be leaving with a financial package worth GBP1m. (Daily Telegraph 13/11/06, Scotsman 18/11/06)

Radioactive surveys

The Radioactivity in Food and the Environment (RIFE) report for 2005 has been published and a full copy is available at www.sepa.org.uk/publications/rife/index.htm

New energy minister

Energy minister Malcolm Wicks has been moved by prime minister Tony Blair to be the new science minister. Trade and Industry Secretary of State Alistair Darling will take over direct responsibility for energy issues. (Financial Times 12/11/06)

Sandside particle

Another radioactive 'hotspot' particle has been found on the Sandside beach. This is the 73rd particle found there by monitors employed by the UKAEA. (BBC 15/11/06)

New coal

New clean coal power plants need to be built in the UK according the Coal Forum. The group of industry bosses said new nuclear reactors couldn't be built in time to meet future demands for electricity. (Independent 12/11/06)

Norway debate

The Progress Party in Norway has joined the debate on whether the country should develop nuclear reactors based upon thorium fuel. Norway has the world's third largest resource of thorium and the party says it could ensure a secure future for the country. (www.bellona.org)

Shut down

The Ringhals 3 reactor in Sweden was shut down this week after a fire in a transformer. (www.iii.co.uk 14/11/06)

Drigg security

The security company, AFC Group, has been employed by the British Nuclear Group to assist the Civil Nuclear Constabulary with security at the Drigg low level waste repository in Cumbria. (Whitehaven News 16/11/06)

Nirex review

The nuclear waste agency Nirex has published the review of its work by an Independent Transparency Review Panel. Full details at www.nirex.co.uk

MOX shipment

A shipment of MOX plutonium fuel from Sellafield is expected to be shipped from Barrow docks to Cherbourg in France this weekend. The fuel is destined for a reactor in Switzerland. The fuel will be loaded onto the roll-on roll-off cargo vessel Atlantic Osprey. The Irish Government has banned the vessel from its territorial waters. MOX shipments are usually from Workington, but work on the docks there has meant using Barrow. Cumbrians Opposed to a Radioactive Environment (CORE) said the Barrow docks had significantly reduced security and safety features. (Irish News 16/11/06, Evening Mail 14/11/06)