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News in Brief / No. 124 / 21 October 2008
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Canadian Province Sets Up Uranium Industry
Advisory Group
21 Oct (NucNet): A new, 12-person group has
been created to advise the provincial government
of Saskatchewan in Canada on the development of
its uranium industry, it was announced on 20
October 2008.
The Uranium Development Partnership includes
leaders of companies with vested interests in
Saskatchewan's uranium. They include Jerry
Grandey, president and chief executive officer
of Cameco; Armand Laferrere, president and chief
executive officer of Areva Canada; and Duncan
Hawthorne, president and chief executive officer
of Bruce Power, which is currently conducting
its own feasibility study into building a
nuclear power plant in the province.
The group also includes representatives from the
First Nations aboriginal community, and urban
and rural municipalities as well as nuclear
physicists and nuclear researchers.
The Uranium Development Partnership will receive
up to 3 million Canadian dollars (2.4 million US
dollars, 1.8 million euro) in funding from the
province.
Enterprise and Innovation Minister Lyle Stewart
said: �The time is right to start adding value
to Saskatchewan�s uranium resources. Canada is
the world�s largest producer of natural uranium,
with the majority of the raw material mined in
Saskatchewan.�
The partnership will �thoroughly and objectively�
consider the development of the province�s
uranium industry. The team will provide a final
report to the government by 31 March 2009.
>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available
to subscribers)
Canada Begins Public Discussion On Repository
Site (World Nuclear Review No. 34, 5 September
2008)
Bruce Power Welcomes Proposed Review Of
New-Build Application (News No. 113, 9 May 2007)
Source: NucNet
Editor: david.dalton@worldnuclear.org
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Westinghouse Appointment Paves Way For
AP1000s In India
21 Oct (NucNet): Westinghouse Electric has
created a new position designed to pave the way
for the �eventual construction and operation� of
its AP1000 reactors in India.
Meena Mutyala is the new vice-president and
business leader for the company�s India
strategy. She will be responsible for
formulating a business strategy to pursue
commercial nuclear power opportunities in India.
Westinghouse president and chief executive
officer Aris Candris said Ms Mutyala�s new role
is an important one because the nuclear power
market in India promises to be both �robust and
long term�.
Ms Mutyala most recently served as
vice-president of product management and
engineering for the company�s Global Nuclear
Fuel business. She also held the position of
vice-president of US PWR Fuel with
responsibility for marketing, sales and project
management for the customer base in US and Asia.
On 8 October 2008, US president George Bush
signed into law the US-India Civil Nuclear
Cooperation Agreement, giving approval for US
companies to sell nuclear fuel and technology to
India for the first time in three decades.
>>Related reports in the NucNet database
(available to subscribers)
US-India Nuclear Deal Moves Step Closer (News in
Brief No. 114, 29 September 2008)
Bush Signs Nuclear Deal With India (News in
Brief No. 121, 9 October 2008)
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12,000 reports published since 1991. To
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Process Starts To Find Next IAEA Chief
14 Oct (NucNet): The board of the International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) plans to appoint the agency�s
next director-general by June 2009 and to formally
approve the appointment in the autumn.
The IAEA said last week that the process of finding a
successor to Mohamed ElBaradei, to serve four years
beginning 1 December 2009, has formally begun. The board
expects to formally approve the appointment of a
successor at its general conference in September 2009.
Mr ElBaradei�s term of office ends on 30 November 2009.
He has served as director-general since 1997 and has
said he is not available for a fourth term of office.
At the IAEA�s board meeting on 6 October 2008 it was
confirmed that the closing date for submitting
nominations is 31 December 2008. The final list of
candidates is expected to be circulated soon after.
The successful candidate must secure two-thirds of the
vote of the 35-member IAEA board. If a two-thirds
majority is not achieved, the nomination process starts
again. A new list of candidates is then presented to the
board.
Japan has already announced that it will nominate Yukiya
Amano, permanent representative and ambassador
plenipotentiary of Japan to the international
organisations in Vienna, as its candidate to succeed Mr
ElBaradei.
>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available to
subscribers)
ElBaradei Will Not Seek Further Term As IAEA Chief (News
in Brief No. 107, 15 September 2008)
Japan Announces Nomination For IAEA Director-General
(News in Brief No. 120, 8 October 2008)
Source: NucNet
Editor: editors@worldnuclear.org
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Minister�s Nuclear Role Outlined In UK�s New Energy
Department
14 Oct (NucNet): The UK government today confirmed
responsibilities of ministers in the new Department of
Energy and Climate Change (DECC), created on 3 October
2008 as part of a cabinet reshuffle by prime minister
Gordon Brown.
Minister of state Mike O�Brien will have specific
responsibilities at the DECC for delivering a low carbon
economy and ensuring secure and affordable energy supply
including nuclear strategy and delivery, radioactive
waste and international non-proliferation. He reports to
DECC�s secretary of state (chief minister), Ed Miliband.
Mr Brown reaffirmed his commitment to nuclear power last
month, saying that it could play an important part in
climate change and energy security. 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.
>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available to
subscribers)
UK Unveils �Action Plan� For New Nuclear (News No. 45,
12 June 2008)
UK Climate Change Advisers Say 80% Cut In Emissions
Needed By 2050 (News in Brief No. 119, 7 October 2008)
Source: NucNet
Editor: editors@worldnuclear.org
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Studsvik Acquires Nuclear Engineering Consultancy
14 Oct (NucNet): Sweden-based nuclear services
company Studsvik has acquired ALARA Engineering, a
nuclear engineering consultancy operating in the Swedish
and Finnish nuclear industry.
Studsvik, which announced the acquisition yesterday,
said the move enables it to offer specialised services
such as safety reports, chemical studies and
radiological analyses.
The acquired operations will be included in Studsvik's
Global Services business.
>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available to
subscribers)
Studsvik Wins GBP 14 Million Sellafield Waste Facility
Contract (World Nuclear Review No. 17, 27 April 2007)
Studsvik Announces Management Changes (World Nuclear
Review No. 23, 20 June 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
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IAEA And ITER Sign Fusion Cooperation Agreement
13 Oct (NucNet): The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
and the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER)
Organisation today signed an agreement that will enhance
research into nuclear fusion.
According to the agreement, both organisations will exchange
information regarding the study and potential application of
fusion energy and will participate in each other�s meeting.
The IAEA and the ITER Organisation will also cooperate on
training, publications, organisation of scientific conferences,
plasma physics and modelling, and fusion safety and security.
The agreement is also expected to broaden the reach of fusion
research into countries which do not have fusion programmes but
may wish to participate in fusion science and research in the
future.
The aim of ITER, which will be constructed in Cadarache in
southern France, is to develop fusion energy with the objective
of bringing it closer to commercial use.
>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available to
subscribers)
New Spanish-Based Organisation To Administer EU Contribution To
ITER (World Nuclear Review No. 34, 25 August 2006)
ITER On Target To Submit Safety Report (News in Brief No. 8, 3
May 2007)
Source: NucNet
Editor: david.dalton@worldnuclear.org
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Proposal For New �Bell Bend� Nuclear Plant Filed With US
Regulators
13 Oct (NucNet): An application to build and operate a new
nuclear power plant in the US state of Pennsylvania has been
filed with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
PPL Corporation said on 10 October 2008 that a subsidiary had
filed the combined licence (COL) application for the proposed
Bell Bend reactor unit, to be built near the company�s existing
two-unit Susquehanna nuclear plant. The proposed new unit is
named after the nearby bend in the Susquehanna River.
The COL cites Areva�s 1,600-megawatt US Evolutionary Power
Reactor (US EPR) design, which is already under design
certification review by the NRC. PPL contracted with UniStar
Nuclear Energy, a joint venture of Constellation Energy and the
EDF Group, to help prepare the application.
PPL also submitted the first part of a federal loan guarantee
application for Bell Bend to the US energy department on 29
September 2008. The company said it expects to submit the second
part of the application before the deadline of 19 December 2008.
The NRC expects its review of the COL to take three to four
years. However, the president of PPL Nuclear Development, Victor
Lopiano, said a final decision on whether to move forward with
Bell Bend would not be made for �several years�.
Mr Lopiano said the final decision would depend on receiving NRC
approval, and also on receiving a federal loan guarantee, on
attracting additional investors and on the company�s view of the
power market at that time.
In June 2007, PPL told the NRC it intended to submit a COL for a
third unit at Susquehanna. The company said it would not build
the proposed unit on its own, but would proceed with
construction only in a joint venture arrangement.
Details about the proposed project are available on line (http://www.bellbend.com).
� by John Shepherd
>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available to
subscribers)
PPL Plans Application For Third Susquehanna Unit (News No. 147,
13 June 2007)
UniStar Announces Plans To Submit COL For Susquehanna Unit (News
No. 261, 19 December 2007)
�Evolutionary Power Reactor� Design Accepted For Review By NRC
(News No. 17, 26 February 2008)
The NucNet database currently contains around 12,000 reports
published since 1991. To subscribe or ask for any further
information email
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France-China Agree On Joint Venture Company For Future N-Plant
Projects
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
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Japan Announces Nomination For IAEA Director-General
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
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