Courtesy of WNN Daily

17-23 May 2011

REGULATION & SAFETY:

AP1000 concerns for NRC
23 May 2011
Westinghouse is working to address AP1000 shield design and peak containment pressure concerns raised by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in its review of the amended reactor design.

Water and debris hamper Fukushima work
23 May 2011
The accumulation of contaminated water and the existence of radioactive debris continue to hamper work to stabilize the reactors at the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan. Meanwhile, South Korea and China have agreed to greater cooperation with Japan in nuclear safety and disaster management.

Japanese reactor shutdowns threaten power shortages
20 May 2011
Japan will face nationwide power shortages during the coming summer months unless reactors currently shut down for regulatory-mandated periodic inspections are allowed to resume operation, the head of the country's electric utility association has warned.

Cold shutdown a must for Fukushima return
19 May 2011
The Japanese government has spoken of the future of nuclear power as well as its demands before people evacuated from near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant can return.

Images show tsunami impact
19 May 2011
The most dramatic pictures yet of the tsunami inundation at Fukushima Daiichi have been released today by Tokyo Electric Power Company.

British, Finnish and German nuclear safety reports
18 May 2011
Safety authorities of three European countries have concluded that there is no reason to shut down nuclear plants as a response to the Fukushima accident, despite varying political views on the technology.

Revisions to Fukushima restoration roadmap
17 May 2011
While reporting progress made in its restoration of the stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) has amended its roadmap. However, the company still expects the damaged units to be stabilized by the end of the year.

Theory for Fukushima Daiichi 4 explosion
17 May 2011
A theory has emerged to explain the hydrogen explosion at Fukushima Daiichi 4, despite no nuclear fuel being damaged there, based on an influx of the gas via pipework shared with unit 3.

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT:

UK proposes fourth carbon budget
19 May 2011
The UK government has announced a fourth carbon budget, aimed at halving carbon dioxide emissions by 2027 compared with 1990 levels. Ultimately, the country has set its sights on slashing emissions by 80% by 2050.

NEW NUCLEAR:

More supercomputer power for US lab
20 May 2011
Research into nuclear and energy-related issues at the USA's Idaho National Laboratory has taken a step forward with the installation of a new 12,512-processor supercomputer.

WASTE & RECYCLING:

Texas House approves waste bill
18 May 2011
The Texas House of Representatives has voted in favour of allowing Dallas-based Waste Control Specialists to dispose of low-level radioactive waste from 36 other US states at its facility in Andrews County, Texas.

CORPORATE:

Trillion-yen cost of tsunami
20 May 2011
Tokyo Electric Power Company announced the ¥1.02 trillion cost so far of reparations from natural disasters has pushed it to a ¥1.25 trillion ($15 billion) loss for the financial year just ended.

Dutch nuclear plant to be 30% German-owned
17 May 2011
Dutch municipally owned utility Delta is to own 70% of the Netherlands' Borssele nuclear power plant after reaching an agreement over plant ownership with RWE Group of Germany. RWE will own 30%.

INDUSTRY TALK:

Exelon-Constellation merger seeks regulatory OK
23 May 2011
Exelon Corporation and Constellation Energy have filed for Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approval of their proposed merger.

New payment in Siemens-Areva split
20 May 2011
Siemens' exit from a joint-venture reactor business with Areva is now complete after the German company paid a final €648 million ($923 million) settlement.

Bieber 'mans-up' to face radiation
20 May 2011
Thousands of Japanese teenagers were this month celebrating the courage of Canadian singer Justin Bieber after he kept dates to perform in Osaka and Tokyo in the face of a 'mutiny' by crew.

Blix: The world will still use nuclear
19 May 2011
[AFP] The majority of the world will continue to use nuclear energy, recent events at Fukushima notwithstanding, according former International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) director general Hans Blix. "Fukushima is a bump in the road and will also lead to a further strengthening of the safety of nuclear power," he said.

Laramide, Rio Tinto team up to explore
18 May 2011
Laramide Resources has announced it has concluded a joint venture agreement with Rio Tinto Exploration covering two uranium tenements in Australia's Northern Territory.