7 Oct (NucNet): The UK government's advisory body on climate change said today that a cut in domestic greenhouse gas emissions of at least 80 percent was needed by 2050 and should include the aviation and shipping sectors.

The chief executive officer of the Committee on Climate Change, David Kennedy, said the cut in domestic emissions was required �if we are to keep on track and to avoid dangerous climate change�.

Mr Kennedy said nuclear energy could be among power generation measures used to achieve emission reductions. A cut of 80 percent is �challenging but feasible�, he added.

In March 2007, the UK proposed legally binding targets in the country of a 60 percent reduction in CO2 emissions by 2050, and a 26 to 32 percent reduction, by 2020.

UK prime minister Gordon Brown said last month that nuclear power 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 �Revolutionary� Climate Change Proposals (News No. 63, 13 March 2007)

Rise In UK Emissions Shows Need For New Nuclear, Says Industry Chief (News No. 82, 2 April 2007)

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

Source: NucNet

Editor: editors@worldnuclear.org

7 Oct (NucNet): An exploration licence for uranium deposits near Alice Springs in Australia has been granted to a joint venture of Cameco Australia, a subsidiary of Canada�s Cameco Corporation, and Paladin Energy.

Cameco said on 3 October 2008 that the licence had been granted by the Northern Territory government for the Angela and Pamela deposits, 25 kilometres south of Alice Springs in the centre of Australia.

The licence includes a condition that Cameco obtains further regulatory authorisation under Northern Territory mining laws. Approval of the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority is also required before work on the ground begins. Drilling is planned to start on the Angela deposit in 2009, subject to all necessary approvals.

Jennifer Parks, regional director for Cameco Australia which will be the operator of the project during the exploration phase, said: �A considerable amount of work was done on these properties in the 1970s and 1980s, but it will take several more years to complete the work needed to decide whether to apply to mine them. This includes environmental, engineering and feasibility studies.�

Ms Parks said the company intends to become part of the Alice Springs community and will engage as many local suppliers and staff as possible.

Comprehensive environmental and social impact studies will be required should an application be made to mine the deposit. These would include detailed hydro-geological studies to ensure the geology and hydrology of the area are well understood, Cameco said.

In February 2008, Northern Territory chief minister Paul Henderson said: �The exploration phase alone will inject millions of dollars in to the economy, creating jobs for Territorians and business opportunities for support and supply services to the project.�

The Northern Territory government said a record 37 applications were received for the Pamela and Angela prospects.

� by John Shepherd


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

Cameco Completes Acquisition Of Stake In Australian Uranium Project (News in Brief No. 89, 12 August 2008)

Uranium Industry Welcomes New Government In Western Australia (News in Brief No. 108, 16 September 2008)

Source: NucNet

Editor: editors@worldnuclear.org

7 Oct (NucNet): A combined licence application (COL) to build two reactor units in Levy County, Florida, has been formally accepted for review, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) said yesterday.

US utility Progress Energy Florida is seeking approval to build and operate two Westinghouse AP1000 reactors at the greenfield Levy County site near Crystal River.

The NRC will review the application over the next three to four years. If the application is eventually approved, site preparations could begin as early as 2010, construction could begin in 2012, with commercial operation of the first unit scheduled for 2016 and the second unit for 2017.

A final decision by the utility on whether or not to go ahead with the units has not yet been made, but filing the COL application will give it the option.

The AP1000 is a Westinghouse 1,100 megawatt electric pressurised water reactor design certified by the NRC in 2006. The agency is currently reviewing an application by Westinghouse to amend the certified design. Details about the review are available on the NRC�s web site (http://www.nrc.gov).


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

Progress Energy Chooses Florida Site For Possible New-Build (News No. 264, 13 December 2006)

Progress Chooses AP1000 For Possible Florida Build (World Nuclear Review No. 28, 13 July 2007)

Progress Energy Submits COL For Possible Florida Units (News in Brief No. 85, 4 August 2008)

Source: NucNet

Editor: editors@worldnuclear.org

7 Oct (NucNet): The decommissioning support fund for Lithuania�s Ignalina nuclear power plant is co-financing the construction of a power interconnection between the country and Poland, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has confirmed.

The London-based EBRD, which administers the Ignalina International Decommissioning Support Fund*, said on 3 October 2008 that the fund is contributing 2 million euro (EUR) (about 2.7 million US dollars) to studies examining the financial, technical and territorial planning of the interconnection project and its environmental impacts.

EBRD said the projected transfer capacity of the transmission line is 1000 megawatts, which would allow for the transmission of up to 8 terawatt hours of electricity per year.

�The main objective of the project is to increase the supply security and system reliability in the Baltic region and the integration with the European power networks after the closure of the Ignalina nuclear power plant by the end of 2009,� EBRD said.

EBRD�s director for nuclear safety, Vince Novak, said the project should be treated with �a sense of urgency�.

Ignalina-2 is Lithuania�s only commercially operational unit following the shut-down in December 2004 of Ignalina-1. The shut-down of both units was linked to conditions of Lithuania�s entry into the EU.

In March 2008, Lithuanian president Valdas Adamkus told EU leaders that his country would need a new nuclear plant to replace generating capacity that will be lost from Ignalina-2. In 2006, Lithuania and neighbouring countries provisionally agreed to collaborate in building a replacement nuclear power plant in Lithuania.

European Commission president José Manuel Barroso said last month that the EU would do �everything that is in our competence to help Lithuania and to make sure that it will achieve energy security�.

*The support fund started its work in 2001. To date, more than EUR 623 million has been committed by the EU and individual European countries.

� by John Shepherd


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

Baltic Heads Of Government Call For New �Shared� Nuclear Plant In Lithuania (News No. 44, 28 February 2006)

Utilities To Discuss Poland�s Participation In New Lithuanian N-Plant (News No. 55, 1 March 2007)

Lithuania Warns Of �Unacceptable Pressures� After Closure Of Ignalina-2 (News in Brief No. 111, 22 September 2008)

Source: NucNet

Editor: editors@worldnuclear.org

7 Oct (NucNet): The EU is contributing 7.5 million euro (about 10 million US dollars) to support the International Atomic Energy Agency�s (IAEA) efforts to combat nuclear proliferation and the illegal trafficking of nuclear material.

The contribution was agreed at the IAEA�s headquarters in Vienna, Austria, on 3 October 2008. The EU Joint Action IV agreement, which is aimed at supporting nuclear security activities in Southeast Asia, is the fourth of its kind and follows agreements covering other regions.

Legislative and regulatory assistance, increased security and control of nuclear and other radioactive materials and strengthening countries� capabilities to detect and respond to illicit trafficking are among areas covered under the agreement.

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

IAEA Conference Adopts Resolution on Nuclear Physical Protection (News No. 284, 21 September 2001)

EU And IAEA Plan Greater Cooperation (World Nuclear Review No. 17, 9 May 2008)

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Source: NucNet

Editor: editors@worldnuclear.org