June, 2008

Investors see the USA as the best place in the world to engage in nuclear build projects. Next come the UK and China, followed by South Africa. Banks and utilities, however, are yet to make serious moves.

Bruce Power launched a new energy initiative in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, which includes a feasibility study for the construction of province's first nuclear power plant.

[CBC, 17 June] Duncan Hawthorne, president and CEO of Bruce Power, is expected to make "an important announcement in Saskatoon" this afternoon, the company said. Also in attendance will be the Saskatchewan minister of enterprise and innovation, Lyle Stewart, and the provincial minister of crown...

Areva has been awarded six contracts to provide key services to Eletronuclear, the Brazilian operator of the Angra nuclear power plant. Worth €45 million ($69 million), the contracts focus on Angra 2 and vary in duration from three to five years. The Angra site, near Angra dos Reis, Brazil, currently...

Russian nuclear officials have reacted angrily to the third 'information attack' on their nuclear power operations. Police are investigating the many thousands of messages sent to spread false information and rumours.

Workers at the former research site at Dounreay, Scotland, are preparing to break open and remotely dismantle equipment within a used nuclear fuel reprocessing plant. Robots will tackle pipework within the 50-year-old facility.

The Darlington nuclear power plant in Ontario, Canada, has been selected as the site for a new plant, the provincial government announced. In addition, three reactor vendors have been invited to continue participating in the procurement process.

[Bild am Sonntag, 15 June] Almost half of Germans are against their country's phase out of nuclear energy, according to an opinion poll conducted by the Emnid research institute on behalf of the Bild am Sonntag newspaper. The survey found that 46% of Germans want the country to continue using nuclear...

Iran has been presented with a new incentives to open up on its historic nuclear programs. The country could enjoy cooperation in nuclear power and a range of political and economic benefits if it allows a complete characterisation of its nuclear program.

Three nuclear power plants are operating normally after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake in the prefecture of Iwate, northern Japan. The Onagawa and Higashidori nuclear plants were unaffected by the quake, according to an official from the Tohoku Electric Power Co. At the Fukushima Daini plant, operated by...

The government of South Africa has eased its way onto the global nuclear stage with cabinet approval of its nuclear policy. This paves the way to a focused nuclear energy future that seeks to increase nuclear reliance from 2 GWe to around 40 GWe by 2025.

[Bloomberg 4 June, Hindu 8 June] Indian nuclear power plants are running at about half of capacity due to a chronic shortage of nuclear fuel. The situation is expected to persist for several years unless the civil nuclear agreement with USA proceeds, though some easing this year is likely due to the...

[Reuters, 13 June] French prime minister François Fillon, whilst being interviewed on national television, said that the government was considering constructing a second Evolutionary Pressurized Water Reactor (EPR). He said, "We have already decided to build the first EPR, that's to say a new...

German utility EnBW has reacted strongly against a government decision on the lifespans of its reactors. It said it intends to investigate the ruling and could take legal action.

A step-by-step process has begun in the UK to select a site and design a single facility to store radioactive waste for ever. A white paper on the matter said that principles of "voluntarism and partnership" are to be used in the selection process.

A new pricing structure reflecting current uranium prices has been agreed for the remainder of a commercial deal under which Cameco purchases uranium from dismantled Russian nuclear weapons.

The UK government arranged a special meeting for investors, hoping to further increase interest in new nuclear build. A series of initiatives to drive forward new nuclear build were announced.

[Bloomberg, 12 June] Areva of France is discussing joint ventures for fuel cycle facilities in China and Kazakhstan, according to Bloomberg reports. In China, the company is said to be in initial talks with China National Nuclear Corp (CNNC) on a joint venture to construct a fuel reprocessing plant in...

Northeastern Russia is set for a boost in nuclear investment after an agreement between Rosatom and the government of Murmansk region. The deal should facilitate a new nuclear power plant, used nuclear fuel processing and storage facilities and submarine dismantling.

Kazakhstan's state-owned nuclear energy company, KazAtomProm, has signed a strategic agreement in the front end of the nuclear fuel cycle with France's state-owned Areva.

Ukraine's state-owned nuclear generator, Energoatom, has signed a long-term contract with the Eastern Ore Dressing Combine (VostGOK) for the supply of uranium concentrate.

British officials have changed rules governing work permits for 28 occupations in engineering, including some specialist nuclear roles. The move should make it easier for firms wanting to build new nuclear power plants to source an adequate supply of trained staff.

British Energy (BE) said that although it had received a range of bid offers, "none of the proposals put forward so far is above the share price at the close of business on Friday 6 June." BE's shares had closed at 735 pence ($14.37) per share. In a statement, the company stated that "in...

Swiss energy company Atel has submitted an application for framework approval of a new nuclear power plant to Switzerland's Federal Office of Energy. It could result in a new reactor with a virtually vapour-free cooling tower.

The Public Service Commission of South Carolina has approved Duke Energy's request to spend $230 million in pre-construction costs for the proposed William States Lee III nuclear power plant.