27 Mar (NucNet): France and the UK have promised to work together to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of nuclear energy development projects, including in safety and pre-licensing.

In a joint communique issued during French president Nicolas Sarkozy�s state visit to the UK, Mr Sarkozy and British prime minister Gordon Brown said they had agreed to streamline the development of projects by getting French and British nuclear regulators to work more closely on nuclear safety, security, waste management and reactor licensing.

This cooperation could be extended to other European partners, the communique said. It said France and the UK will explore opportunities to increase the interchange of nuclear regulatory staff between the two countries.

The two countries will also work together towards the establishment of an International Atomic Energy Agency-led system of nuclear fuel assurances to reduce the risk of proliferation.

The IAEA is administering an international uranium fuel bank initiative borne out of a 2006 proposal by the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI). The initiative is to establish an IAEA reserve of low-enriched uranium for use as fuel in power reactors to generate electricity. Countries wanting to buy from the reserve would have to meet IAEA safeguards and refrain from operating uranium enrichment or spent-fuel reprocessing facilities.

During a press conference with Mr Sarkozy this afternoon, Mr Brown said he would host a conference later this year for non-nuclear countries which want to develop civilian atomic power programmes.

>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)

Businessman Pledges Cash To Help Launch World Nuclear Fuel Reserve (News No. 201, 19 September 2006)

EDF Highlights Plans To Invest In �More Than 10� EPRs (World Nuclear Review No. 8, 22 February 2008)

Minister Says UK Can Become �Number One� For New Nuclear (News No. 21, 26 March 2008)

Source: NucNet

Editor: david.dalton@worldnuclear.org

27 Mar (NucNet): The largest trade union in the UK yesterday urged the government and the country�s nuclear regulator to license global designs for an anticipated new generation of UK power plants.

Unite wants a maximum of three designs to be licensed by the UK�s Nuclear Installations Inspectorate �to give UK business and potential vendors the opportunity to invest in long-term product development�.

Dougie Rooney, Unite�s national officer, said: �The licensing of a new generation of UK nuclear reactors provides UK industry with a fantastic opportunity to say to the world and to UK population that we are applying the highest possible global standards.

�It also sends a powerful message to the commercial world and to UK industry that it is safe for it to invest in new facilities, new product designs, training and jobs. If international standards are applied there�s also a massive export potential here for UK industry to exploit but industry needs the certainty that this licensing will provide.�

Unite, which has more than 26,000 energy sector members, says that a standard design is vital to encourage the largest number of bids for new-build nuclear contracts and to give UK industry the opportunity to supply the construction and manufacturing requirements.

The union says that as well as securing thousands of existing jobs, 10,000 additional jobs could be created if the UK regulator licence designs that could be used throughout the world.

UK business secretary John Hutton said yesterday that a new generation of nuclear power plants will offer �breathtaking� economic opportunities for British business on a scale not seen since North Sea oil was discovered.

In January 2008, the UK government gave the go-ahead for the possible construction of a new generation of nuclear power plants in the UK.

- by John Shepherd

>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)

UK Gives Green Light To New Nuclear Plants (News No. 3, 10 January 2008)

All Four Reactor Designs Pass Initial Tests, Say UK Regulators (News No. 20, 18 March 2007)

Source: NucNet

Editor: editors@worldnuclear.org

27 Mar (NucNet): Commercial operation of four new nuclear units in Japan will be delayed by one year, Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) has said.

Tepco said in its fiscal 2008 business management plan that units 7 and 8 of the Fukushima Daiichi plant would now enter commercial operation in October 2014 and October 2015, respectively. Unit 1 of the Higashidori plant is now scheduled to begin operating in December 2015 and unit 2 in fiscal 2018 or later.

Tepco�s Kashiwazaki Kariwa nuclear power plant in Niigata prefecture has been shut since being damaged by an earthquake on 16 July 2007.

Tepco said it is �steadily working� on checking and recovering equipment from the Kashiwazaki Kariwa plant. The company said fuel costs are �skyrocketing� and the business environment surrounding Tepco is the severest in its history.

>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)

No Environmental Impact As 3 Units Shut Down In Japan Earthquake (News No. 168, 17 July 2007)

IAEA Issues Earthquake Report On Kashiwazaki Kariwa Nuclear Plant (News No. 196, 18 August 2007)

Tepco Submits Application To Build New Japanese Unit (News No. 217,
10 October 2006)

Source: NucNet

Editor: david.dalton@worldnuclear.org

27 Mar (NucNet): Lewis Hay was re-elected as chairman of the board of the US-based Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO) yesterday. Mr Hay is chairman and chief executive officer of the US-based energy conglomerate FPL Group.

The INPO board also elected Mayo Shattuck as vice-chairman. Mr Shattuck is chairman of the board, president, and chief executive officer of Constellation Energy Group.

INPO, whose headquarters are in Atlanta, is a non-profit group that promotes safety in the nuclear industry. All US organisations that operate commercial nuclear power plants are INPO members.

>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)

FPL Energy Agrees To Buy Point Beach Nuclear Plant (World Nuclear Review No. 51, 22 December 2006)

INPO Re-Elects FPL�s Lewis Hay As Chairman (World Nuclear Review No. 11, 16 March 2007)

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Source: NucNet

Editor: editors@worldnuclear.org