21 Nov (NucNet): Skip Bowman has resigned as president and chief
executive officer of the US Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI).
The NEI announced Mr Bowman�s decision on 14 November 2008. Mr Bowman
said he is stepping down after nearly four years at the NEI to provide
an opportunity for organisational continuity during the transition in
the federal government�s leadership and throughout the term of
president-elect Barack Obama�s incoming administration.
�Having contemplated retirement in the next year, I believe that taking
this step now provides the industry the best possible opportunity to
ensure continuity during the transition and beyond,� he said. �As a new
administration and Congress prepare to govern in one of the most
challenging periods in our nation�s history, this is a fitting time for
NEI to take stock of how best to meet the challenging energy and
environment issues that confront us.�
Marvin Fertel, NEI�s executive vice-president and chief nuclear officer,
will lead the organisation during the transition period.
NEI chairman John Rowe said: �Skip has had an unwavering commitment to
our industry and to enhancing the nation�s energy security. The NEI
board of directors joins me in recognising Skip�s contributions in these
areas and in wishing him all success in his future endeavours.�
� by John Shepherd
>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)
US NEI Names President And Chief Executive-Elect (News in Brief No. 25,
26 August 2004)
US Nuclear Energy Industry Congratulates President-Elect Obama (News in
Brief No. 128, 6 November 2008)
Source: NucNet
Editor: editors@worldnuclear.org
21 Nov (NucNet): France�s Areva group said today that a second
agreement had been signed for the supply of mixed oxide (MOX) fuel to
Japanese utility Kansai Electric Power.
Under the terms of the contract between Areva�s Melox plant and Japan�s
Nuclear Fuel Industries (which is in charge of designing the fuel with
the utility), Areva will supply 32 MOX fuel assemblies for units 3 and 4
of Japan�s Takahama nuclear power plant in Fukui prefecture.
The fuel will be fabricated at Melox, in southern France, using
materials recovered from the treatment of used fuel at Areva�s La Hague
plant.
Areva said the contract forms part of Japan�s programme to recycle spent
nuclear fuel and follows contracts signed in 2006 and 2008 with Kansai
and other Japanese utilities.
In January 2008, Kansai was given the go-ahead to continue its programme
leading to the use of MOX at Takahama-3 and -4 by the Fukui prefecture
governor.
>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)
Japan Governor Reaffirms Approval For Use Of MOX Fuel (World Nuclear
Review No. 6, 8 February 2008)
Source: NucNet
Editor: editors@worldnuclear.org
21 Nov (NucNet): The operating licence of the US Wolf Creek nuclear
power plant in Kansas has been renewed for a further 20 years, the
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) said yesterday.
Plant operator the Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation submitted
its licence renewal application for the single pressurised water reactor
unit in October 2006. The current operating licence expires in March
2025 and the renewed licence will expire in March 2045.
The 1,165-megawatt Wolf Creek unit was first connected to the grid in
June 1985. The renewed licence brings the total number of US renewals to
49 reactor units.
>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)
Wolf Creek N-Plant Is Latest US Applicant For 20-Year Licence Renewal
(News No. 219, 11 October 2006)
US Regulator Paves Way For Wolf Creek Operating Licence Renewal (News in
Brief No. 56, 19 May 2008)
Source: NucNet
Editor: editors@worldnuclear.org
21 Nov (NucNet): The world�s nuclear community if facing an historic
turning point, an international conference in India on topical nuclear
safety issues was told this week.
The International Atomic Energy Agency�s (IAEA) deputy director-general
and head of the Department of Nuclear Safety and Security, Tomihoro
Taniguchi, told the opening of the five-day International Conference on
Topical Issues in Nuclear Installation Safety in Mumbai on 17 November
2008:
�In light of the many ambitious plans for nuclear power plant
development programmes both in new and mature countries, the
international nuclear community is now facing a historical turning point
with numerous challenges in not only safety, but also security.
�As new nuclear power programmes emerge and mature programmes expand,
managing safety and security becomes a cornerstone of sustainable
development.�
Mr Taniguchi said there needed to be:
� Continued focus on international cooperation, especially support for
new entrants in building actual capacity and expertise to prevent
serious accidents;
� Ongoing recognition of the �vital importance� of emergency
preparedness and response in national and international safety
infrastructures to mitigate the impacts of accidents should they occur;
� A strong commitment to and leadership for safety in ensuring that
robust national safety infrastructures are in place worldwide, with
effective and independent regulatory bodies, and strong safety
management, leadership and culture.
The conference brought together nuclear regulators from the IAEA�s
member states and looked at the infrastructure required for building and
maintaining a safe and productive nuclear energy programme. Mr Taniguchi�s
remarks are available in full on the IAEA�s web site (http://www.iaea.org).
>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)
ElBaradei Emphasises Need For Safety Compliance �At Every Stage� (News
in Brief No. 112, 23 September 2008)
States Introducing Nuclear Power Need �100-Year Commitment�, Says IAEA
(News in Brief No. 131, 18 November 2008)
Source: NucNet
Editor: editors@worldnuclear.org
21 Nov (NucNet): Japan says a summit meeting next year with Pacific
island nations will be important for its transports of nuclear fuel from
Europe.
The Japan Atomic Industrial Forum (JAIF) said on 19 November 2008 that
the next summit meeting of Japan and the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF)
will be held in May 2009 in Tomamu, Hokkaido.
JAIF said there have been ongoing efforts to maintain the understanding
of other nations in the region concerning Japan�s transport of spent
fuel to Europe, and �it will be equally important to do so for the
future transport of mixed oxide (MOX) fuel and radioactive waste back
from Europe to Japan�.
PIF comprises 14 nations, including Australia and New Zealand, along
with two regions. The summit has been held in Japan every three years
since 1997. Japan�s prime minister Taro Aso is scheduled to take part in
the 2009 summit.
Last month, Japan and France announced the formation of a working group
of experts to study issues related to the transport of nuclear material
worldwide. Both sides said the issue was the �cornerstone to
sustainability� of the international nuclear renaissance.
The working group is being established under the framework of the �N-20�
� a bilateral group which meets annually and brings together more than
20 leading figures from the French and Japanese nuclear industries.
� by John Shepherd
>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)
Experts Say Transport Is The �Cornerstone Of The Nuclear Renaissance�
(News in Brief No. 118, 6 October 2008)
Japan Aims For 67% Nuclear Share By 2100 (World Nuclear Review No. 42,
31 October 2008)
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Source: NucNet
Editor: editors@worldnuclear.org