29 May (NucNet): Japan and Vietnam have signed a memorandum for
cooperation on the development of nuclear power in Vietnam.
The memorandum was signed on 15 May 2008 by Vietnam�s vice-minister for
industry and trade Do Huu Hao and Japan�s senior vice-minister of
economy, trade and industry Masashi Nakano.
The Japan Atomic Industrial Forum (JAIF) said Vietnam is preparing to
start construction of its first nuclear power plant by 2015. Japan�s
public and private sectors will support the country�s full cooperation
with Vietnam in the project, JAIF added.
The memorandum, which expires in March 2010 but can be extended, covers
activities including the preparation, planning and promotion of nuclear
power development; human-resource development; development of safety
regulations; and public information activities.
Vietnam�s Third International Exhibition on Nuclear Power, held in Hanoi
from 14 to 17 May, was the venue for the memorandum�s signing ceremony.
Other countries taking part in the exhibition included France, South
Korea, Russia and China.
In 2007, Japan�s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said it was
looking into the possibility of introducing nuclear reactors to a number
of Asian countries including Indonesia, Vietnam and Kazakhstan.
JAIF said then that Japan already sends experts to Vietnam and Indonesia
and wants to further expand its assistance to include the development of
infrastructure in preparation for possible new nuclear build.
>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)
US Signs Agreement To Help Vietnam Prepare For Nuclear Energy (News No.
209, 13 September 2007)
Vietnam Prepares To Unveil Draft Nuclear Energy Legislation (News in
Brief No. 27, 19 September 2007)
Japan Plans Increased Assistance To Countries Considering Nuclear (News
in Brief No. 33, 17 October 2007)
Source: NucNet
Editor: editors@worldnuclear.org
29 May (NucNet): US enrichment corporation USEC said yesterday that a
contract has been awarded to Alabama-based Teledyne Brown Engineering to
manufacture 540 gas centrifuge service modules for the American
Centrifuge uranium enrichment programme.
USEC said the contract, worth 92 million US dollars (USD) (60 million
euro) follows an earlier order to the same company for 36 service
modules.
The contract was awarded by the Fluor Corporation on behalf of USEC.
Fluor serves as the engineering, procurement and construction manager
for the American Centrifuge Plant in Piketon, Ohio.
Last month, USEC announced that it had finalised the initial design for
the AC100 centrifuge machine, releasing 75 percent of the drawings to
strategic suppliers to begin manufacturing components. The remaining 25
percent are expected to be released next month.
In February 2008, USEC said the project budget for building the plant
was expected to be about USD 3.5 billion, which includes spending to
date but does not include costs for financing or financial assurance.
USEC said yesterday that it expects to complete its review of the
comprehensive project budget and schedule for the plant towards the end
of next month.
USEC Says Lead Cascade Test Programme Is Under Way (News No. 211, 14
September 2007)
USEC Gives American Centrifuge Plant Update (News in Brief No. 47, 17
April 2008)
Source: NucNet
Editor: editors@worldnuclear.org
29 May (NucNet): The US signing of a key treaty governing global
civil nuclear liability has been welcomed by the International Atomic
Energy Agency (IAEA).
US ambassador Gregory Schulte deposited the instruments of ratification
of the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage (CSC)
at the IAEA�s headquarters in Vienna on 21 May 2008.
Mr Schulte said: �With the US ratification, only one or two more are
needed to bring the CSC into effect.�
Once in force, the CSC will �establish a uniform global legal regime for
the compensation of victims in the unlikely event of a nuclear accident�,
the IAEA said.
Johan Rautenbach, the director of the IAEA�s office of legal affairs,
said: �The US ratification introduces a new dynamic in the process of
establishing a global nuclear liability regime, which is particularly
important given the anticipated growth in nuclear power around the
world.
�We hope that the US ratification will act as encouragement to other
countries, particularly those with large nuclear power industries, to
enter into CSC ratification.�
The CSC provides for compensation for citizens in states that have
nuclear power plants, but also makes important provisions for
compensation of damages incurred across international borders.
The US ratification brings the number of CSC contracting states to four.
In addition to the US, Argentina, Morocco and Romania have ratified the
CSC. Thirteen states in total are signatories to the convention.
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Source: NucNet
Editor: editors@worldnuclear.org