January, 2008

Fennovoima has submitted an environmental impact assessment programme to the Finnish Ministry of Employment and the Economy regarding the construction of a new nuclear power plant.

Losses of around ¥155 billion ($1.44 billion) are projected by Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) for FY2007 as the costs of the July 2007 earthquake mount. The figure is over 50% higher than the last.

Long term cost and progress estimation needs revision at the UK Nuclear Decommissioning Authority to put escalating figures - of some £73 billion ($145 billion) - in perspective.

The fourth annual Global 100 list of the most sustainable large corporations in the world has been announced. The list includes six energy companies and five utilities, some of which operate nuclear power plants.

The International Nuclear Safety School has been launched in South Korea to promote nuclear safety learning and cooperation on a global and regional basis. The school will become the IAEA's regional training centre in Asia.

An eight-strong team from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has arrived in the Philippines to help assess the feasibility of rehabilitating the mothballed Bataan nuclear power plant. It has been suggested to convert the plant to run on fossil fuel.

Uranium giant Cameco has received approval to carry out engineering changes at its Port Hope uranium conversion plant in response to contamination in groundwater last year.

A new index of 66 leading global nuclear companies has been created by a partnership of the World Nuclear Association (WNA) and S-Network LLC. Pending regulatory approval, financial products based on the WNA Nuclear Energy Index could be available by March.

US President George Bush called for a reduction in US dependence on oil and an increase in the use of nuclear power in his final State of the Union address. On climate change he warned no nation should expect a "free ride."

Lord Jonathan Adair Turner has been named as the first chairman of the new Committee on Climate Change, which will provide the UK government with independent, expert advice on how the country can best meet its climate change goals.

Security experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have concluded a visit to Pelindaba, triggered by the armed break in the nuclear research complex suffered in November 2007. Necsa runs the site in the north of the country, on which the Safari-1 research reactor operates.

General Electric (GE) and the University of Bath have received an award for developing technology to store, treat and recycle tritium waste - a radioactive chemical by-product of medical research and nuclear power generation.

The World Economic Forum (WEF) has published the Global Risks Report 2008 , which highlights the need for new thinking and concerted action on a number of global issues, including energy supply. An international "nuclear fuel insurance fund" is one suggestion.

Entergy is to be fined $650,000 for being too slow to ensure public warning systems had back-up power at the Indian Point nuclear power plant. Florida Power & Light will face a $208,000 fine over security issues, and BWXT will pay $32,500 over a safety lapse.

The UK energy bill received a second reading in the country's lower house on 22 January. Business and enterprise minister John Hutton said he hoped for a nuclear renaissance.

US energy secretary Sam Bodman has acknowledged the importance of nuclear during a tour of the Middle East. Meanwhile, President George Bush has given his approval to a US-Turkey nuclear cooperation agreement.

The nuclear division of the Shaw Power Group has opened a new office in Shanghai to support the rapidly growing Chinese nuclear power market, the Shaw Group announced on 23 January. The Shaw Group already has an office in Beijing. The new Shanghai office will accommodate the Shaw project management team...

[AP, 22 January] Powerful nations opposed to Iran's uranium enrichment program approved a draft UN resolution on the matter on 22 January. German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier told reporters after the Berlin meeting: "We are united in the assessment that a nuclear-armed Iran would...

Kazakhstan and Australia both reported double-digit increases in uranium production during 2007. Kazakh output increased over 25%, despite a shortage of sulfuric acid, whilst Australian output grew 13%.

The European Commission has made long-awaited proposals on energy and climate change. By 2020 it wants a 20% cut in carbon dioxide emissions, and 20% of energy to come from renewables. Some MEP's called for nuclear power to be recognised.

Alternate Energy Holdings Inc. (AEHI) announced on 23 January that it had signed a memorandum of understanding with UniStar Nuclear Energy (UNE) to discuss the possibility of UNE acquiring a "significant" ownership interest in a potential nuclear power plant in the US state of Idaho. In addition...

The German power industry should speak up with a single for what it wants, Hans-Peter Villis, CEO of EnBW, told the newspaper Handelsblatt .

UK prime minister Gordon Brown has said he supports the US-India deal and that he would work with his Indian counterpart, Manmohan Singh, to agree a civil nuclear cooperation deal.

A new public opinion poll suggests that almost half of Swedes support the construction of new nuclear power plants in the country, despite Sweden's policy for phasing out nuclear energy. The survey indicated widely varying opinions according to political affiliation.

Finnish utility Fortum will introduce two new eco-labels for electricity sold to business customers in Finland and Sweden. The labels will signify electricity produced with no carbon dioxide emissions, including nuclear-generated, and that produced entirely from renewable sources.