14 Nov (NucNet): A new publication from the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) provides new insights into how best to protect the public in the event of an accident at a nuclear power plant.

The NRC said yesterday that the publication is based on the results of focus groups and telephone surveys conducted in the Emergency Planning Zones (EPZs) around reactor sites.

The surveys found that a majority of the residents living within the EPZs of nuclear power plants were:

� Generally well-informed about what to do in a nuclear power plant emergency;

� Remembered receiving emergency response information from the plant and kept it readily accessible;

� Recalled receiving information about evacuation and sheltering;

� Agreed they would evacuate, shelter-in-place or monitor for more information, if directed to do so;

� Agreed they would support a staged evacuation, during which some residents would shelter while others would evacuate.

Nuclear regulators say the data will help them review regulations and guidance related to emergency preparedness and determine if changes need to be considered to existing protective action strategies.

The full report, �Review of NUREG-0654, Supplement 3, Criteria for Protective Action Recommendations for Severe Accidents�, is on the NRC�s web site (http://www.nrc.gov).

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

Regulatory Chief Calls For Better Communications About Nuclear Incidents (World Nuclear Review No. 46, 16 November 2007)

NRC Assessments Show US Plants Continue To Operate Safely (World Nuclear Review No. 34, 5 September 2008)

Source: NucNet

Editor: editors@worldnuclear.org

14 Nov (NucNet): A comprehensive review of SpainŽs nuclear safety found good practices in areas such as technical competence of personnel and quality of infrastructure, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported yesterday.

The IAEA said the review, carried out under the agency�s Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) highlighted positive aspects of Spain�s nuclear system and identified areas for improvement.

Speaking at a workshop in Seville, Spain, on lessons learned from the IRRS mission, the IAEA director-general Mohamed ElBaradei urged that a strong nuclear safety culture be adopted worldwide, noting that while nuclear safety has improved significantly, vulnerabilities remain and continued vigilance is needed.

�We must work together to close the gaps that exist today in the coverage of international safety conventions and codes of conduct. It is essential to ensure that a true safety culture takes root worldwide, not least in countries new to nuclear power," he said.

The Seville workshop, which took place on 5 November 2008, was organised by Spain�s Nuclear Safety Council (Consejo de Seguridad Nuclear).


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

Spain Launches National Debate On Nuclear Energy (News No. 28, 1 February 2006)

Source: NucNet

Editor: editors@worldnuclear.org

14 Nov (NucNet): A sub-committee of Japan�s Agency for Natural Resources and Energy has met for the first time to discuss international cooperation and support for overseas activities by nuclear energy-related industries.

The Japan Atomic Industrial Forum (JAIF) said the sub-committee on international affairs, which reports to the nuclear power sub-committee of the Advisory Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, met on 30 October 2008.

JAIF said key topics discussed included support for countries that are planning to launch domestic nuclear power programmes, securing stable supplies of nuclear fuel and making Japan�s nuclear power industry more competitive.

The sub-committee plans to meet about once a month before publishing a mid-term report about potential activities in the spring of 2009.


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

Nuclear �At Forefront Of Japan Energy Policy� As New Ministers Appointed (News in Brief No. 89, 12 August 2008)

Japan Aims For 67% Nuclear Share By 2100 (World Nuclear Review No. 42, 31 October 2008)

Source: NucNet

Editor: editors@worldnuclear.org

14 Nov (NucNet): A six-month public review period has begun into Bruce Power�s proposal to build up to four additional reactor units at its existing plant site on the eastern shore of Lake Huron in Ontario, Canada.

The Joint Review Panel for the proposed project � an independent body that will assess the environmental effects of the proposal and review the licence application � announced the start of the review on 4 November 2008.

Details about the review and the status of new nuclear projects in Canada are available on the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission�s web site (http://www.nuclearsafety.gc.ca).

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

Bruce Power�s Canada New-Build Proposal Moves Forward (News in Brief No. 96, 26 August 2008)

Review Panel Appointed For Canada New-Build Proposal (News in Brief No. 104, 9 September 2008)

Bruce Power Plans Environmental Assessment For More Ontario Units (News in Brief No. 126, 4 November 2008)

The NucNet database currently contains around 12,000 reports published since 1991. To subscribe or ask for any further information email info@worldnuclear.org
 

4 Nov (NucNet): An industrial agreement for the supply of large forged parts needed for the manufacture of nuclear components has been signed by France�s Areva group and Japan Steel Works Ltd (JSW).

Areva said today that the agreement, signed recently by JSW president and chief executive officer Masahisa Nagata and Areva chief executive officer Anne Lauvergeon, is for the supply of parts to Areva until 2016.

The agreement is a continuation of one signed by both companies in April 2008. Areva also announced its friendly acquisition of 1.3 per cent of JSW stock.

Ms Lauvergeon said that �to keep pace with the rapid revival of nuclear, we need to keep on increasing our resources, investing and forming partnerships around the world.�

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

EU And Japan Sign 30-Year Nuclear Cooperation Agreement (News No. 42, 27 February 2006)

Areva Boosting Production Of EPR Components In France (News in Brief No. 75, 3 July 2008)

Source: NucNet

Editor: editors@worldnuclear.org

4 Nov (NucNet): Canada�s Bruce Power is to conduct an environmental assessment (EA) into the possible construction of a new nuclear power plant in the Haldimand-Norfolk region of southern Ontario.

The EA, which could take nearly three years to complete, will examine the environmental and social impacts of building two reactor units with a combined installed generating capacity of up to 3,000 megawatts-electric.

Bruce Power said the EA will formally start when the company�s project description and site preparation licence, filed on 31 October 2008 with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), is accepted by the commission.

Bruce Power president and chief executive officer Duncan Hawthorne said the company will not decide to proceed with the proposal until there has been �thorough consultation� with Haldimand-Norfolk residents and the EA has made �significant� progress. In June 2007, local councils in Haldimand and Norfolk passed resolutions supporting the launch of an EA into new nuclear.

In 2006, Bruce Power filed a site licence application with the CNSC for the construction of 4,000 megawatts of additional nuclear generating capacity in the vicinity of its existing Bruce A and Bruce B nuclear plants on the eastern shore of Lake Huron in Ontario. The CNSC accepted Bruce Power�s project description in January 2007.

The company is also considering building new units in the Peace Country region of Alberta and, earlier this year, Bruce Power launched a feasibility study to help the province of Saskatchewan decide whether it will add nuclear to its existing energy mix.


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

Bruce Power Releases Environmental Assessment For Ontario Units (News in Brief No. 63, 2 June 2008)

Bruce Power�s Canada New-Build Proposal Moves Forward (News in Brief No. 96, 26 August 2008)

Review Panel Appointed For Canada New-Build Proposal (News in Brief No. 104, 9 September 2008)

Source: NucNet

Editor: editors@worldnuclear.org

4 Nov (NucNet): The formation of a body to oversee nuclear decommissioning and waste disposal funding arrangements in the UK was announced by the government yesterday.

Energy and climate change minister Mike O'Brien said the new Nuclear Liabilities Financing Assurance Board (NLFAB) would be chaired by Lady Balfour of Burleigh.

As part of any application to build a new nuclear power plant in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, operators must submit plans for decommissioning and waste management which will include arrangements for financing those plans.

The NLFAB will provide independent scrutiny and advice on the financing arrangements of the plans, which will have to be approved by the government. The first meeting of the NLFAB is expected to be held in January 2009.

Mr O'Brien said: �Nuclear energy is an affordable, low carbon, dependable and safe technology that is important for our low carbon future. But we've always said the taxpayer should be protected from the costs of decommissioning and waste disposal arising from new nuclear power stations. The NLFAB will be another piece of armour to help ensure they get that protection."

The UK�s Office for Nuclear Development also issued the first of three discussion papers yesterday to hear the views of the general public on estimates of the costs of decommissioning and waste management.
The UK government gave the go-ahead for the possible construction of a new generation of nuclear power plants in the country in January 2008.

� by John Shepherd

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

UK Unveils �Action Plan� For New Nuclear (News No. 45, 12 June 2008)

Minister�s Nuclear Role Outlined In UK�s New Energy Department (News in Brief No. 123, 14 October 2008)

Centrica Confirms Plans To Raise Money For Stake In British Energy (World Nuclear Review No. 42, 31 October 2008)

Source: NucNet

Editor: editors@worldnuclear.org

4 Nov (NucNet): Companies considering building new nuclear power plants in the US are being offered contracts for the disposal of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radwaste from the Department of Energy (DOE).

Under US law, companies must have a contract with the DOE for disposal services in order to receive a licence from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to build and operate a new reactor unit.

The DOE said on 31 October 2008 that it was making contracts available to companies that have notified the NRC of their intention to build new units.

Energy secretary Samuel Bodman said: �Making these contracts available to the developers of new reactors will support the expanded use of nuclear power in the United States, which is critical to meeting our country�s climate change and energy security goals.�

The status of licensing applications for US nuclear power plant projects is available on the NRC�s web site (http://www.nrc.gov).

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

Utility Awarded Costs Over US Failure To Open Federal Repository (News in Brief No. 58, 22 May 2008)

Proposed Revisions Remove �Prejudgment� About Yucca Mountain, Says NRC (News No. 84, 29 October 2008)

The NucNet database currently contains around 12,000 reports published since 1991. To subscribe or ask for any further information email info@worldnuclear.org
 

8 Oct (NucNet): France and China could jointly work on nuclear power plant projects worldwide under the terms of an agreement between Areva and the China Guandong Nuclear Power Company (CGNPC).

Areva said yesterday that the agreement was one of two signed during a recent visit to China by its chief executive officer Anne Lauvergeon.

Under the terms of one agreement, Areva and CGNPC will form a joint venture company � 55 percent owned by Chinese interests and the remainder by Areva � responsible for the engineering and procurement of second and third generation nuclear plants such as the Chinese-type pressurised water reactor (CPR1000) and the European pressurised water reactor (EPR).

The joint venture, which will focus initially on CGNPC�s projects in China, will �subsequently be in a position to contribute to joint projects abroad�, Areva said.

In the other agreement, CGNPC and various Chinese funds will take a 49 percent stake in UraMin, a mining company currently wholly-owned by Areva whose projects will continue to be operated by Areva.

�This agreement provides CGNPC with guaranteed access to more than half of the total production of UraMin, thus securing the marketing of UraMin�s future production,� Areva said. In return, Areva will benefit from additional sources of financing to develop its activities.

Zhang Guobao, vice-president of China�s National Development and Reform Commission and president of the country�s National Energy Administration said: �This event is a very important step for both these organisations in the field of nuclear cooperation. These two agreements enable the broadening and deepening of nuclear cooperation. It brings both parties into a new stage of cooperation.�

CGNPC chairman Qian Zhimin the agreements are �key� for his company. �One secures the supply of uranium for our nuclear power plants until 2022 and allows us to lean on a market leader whose industrial expertise and environmental, social and corporate standards are recognised worldwide. The other affirms our long-term technological cooperation with Areva in the joint development of nuclear power station projects.�

� by John Shepherd

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

Areva Completes UraMin Acquisition (News No. 179, 1 August 2007)

Areva To Build Two EPRs In China � Talks Start Over Possible Reprocessing Plant (News No. 249, 26 November 2007)

China Is Looking Overseas For Nuclear Investment, Says Report (News in Brief No.34, 25 March 2008)

Source: NucNet

Editor: editors@worldnuclear.org

8 Oct (NucNet): The Japanese government is nominating Yukiya Amano, permanent representative and ambassador plenipotentiary of Japan to the international organisations in Vienna, as its candidate for the next director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Japan�s prime minister Taro Aso made the announcement during his address to the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York last month.

The IAEA�s current director-general, Mohamed ElBaradei, will not seek a further term of office when his current term ends on 30 November 2009.

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

IAEA Chief Accepts Appointment To Serve Third Term (News No. 101, 13 June 2005)

ElBaradei Will Not Seek Further Term As IAEA Chief (News in Brief No. 107, 15 September 2007)

The NucNet database currently contains around 12,000 reports published since 1991. To subscribe or ask for any further information email info@worldnuclear.org

Source: NucNet

Editor: david.dalton@worldnuclear.org