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ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT: |
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RWE launches zero-carbon
supply option |
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14 November 2008 |
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As the debate in Germany
continues over its nuclear
phase-out policy, utility
RWE has introduced a new
zero-carbon energy
purchasing scheme which will
allow its customers to
specify that they wish to
buy electricity mainly from
nuclear power plants. |
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Nuclea r's role in EU's
energy plans recognised |
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13 November 2008 |
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The European Commission has
published its second
Strategic Energy Review,
proposing a wide-ranging
energy package that gives a
new boost to energy security
in Europe, supporting the
'20-20-20' climate change
proposals. |
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IEA: Nuclear capacity must
grow 80% by 2030 |
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12 November 2008 |
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The International Energy
Agency (IEA) has published
the latest edition of its
World Energy Outlook,
which states that nuclear
capacity must grow by at
least 80% by 2030 if global
temperature rises are to be
kept to 2oC. |
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WASTE & RECYCLING: |
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Studsv ik to treat
Oskarshamn 3 modernization
waste |
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17 November 2008 |
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Studsvik has been awarded a
contract by OKG for the
treatment of metallic waste
resulting from the
modernization of unit 3 of
the Oskarshamn nuclear power
plant in Sweden. Most of the
metal will be recycled. |
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Plans for new deconversion
plant kept alive |
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12 November 2008 |
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US company International
Isotopes Inc says that its
plans for a new plant to
remove fluorine from
depleted uranium tails and
use it to manufacture
high-value fluoride gases
can remain on track thanks
to funds raised through a
private stock placement. |
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NUCLEAR POLICIES: |
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New WA government opens
doors to uranium |
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17 November 2008 |
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The new Liberal-National
government in Western
Australia has formally
lifted the ban on uranium
mining in the state, which
covers nearly one-third of
the country. BHP Billiton
promptly announced that it
will reactivate its
Yeelirrie project in the
state. |
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Staffi ng levels steady at
US plants |
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14 November 2008 |
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US nuclear power plants have
seen staff numbers go up and
down over the last year, but
a new survey of staffing
levels has returned a net
result of "no change". |
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Poll shows growing UK public
support for nuclear |
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12 November 2008 |
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The UK public is
increasingly concerned about
energy supplies and support
for nuclear energy is
growing as a means of both
meeting future demand and
reducing emissions,
according to a poll
commissioned by EDF Energy. |
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CORPORATE: |
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Uraniu m companies
weathering the storm |
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13 November 2008 |
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Cameco has revised its 2008
uranium production
forecasts, and First Uranium
has announced a delay in
commissioning the uranium
plant at Ezulwini, but both
companies' third quarter
reports suggest that,
although not immune to
uncertainty in world
financial markets, they feel
well placed to weather the
storm. |
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EXPLORATION & NUCLEAR FUEL: |
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ERA announces significant
Ranger prospect |
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18 November 2008 |
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Energy Resources of
Australia (ERA) has
announced the definition of
a significant mineral
exploration target adjacent
to its Ranger 3 pit in
Australia's Northern
Territory. The exploration
mineralisation target could
potentially containing up to
34,000 tonnes of uranium. |
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Slovak ia retains Russian
fuel supply services |
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18 November 2008 |
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Russian nuclear fuel
fabricator TVEL will
continue to supply fuel for
Slovakia's nuclear power
reactors under long-term
contracts signed with Slovak
utility Slovenske
Elektrarne. |
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Uraniu m One makes cuts
after Q3 losses |
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17 November 2008 |
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Uranium One is planning
"significant" reductions in
exploration expenditure
across all its operations
after a third quarter which
saw net losses of $2 billion
from continuing operations. |
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INDUSTRY TALK: |
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O'Brie n: Nuclear 'crucial'
to UK climate change policy |
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18 November 2008 |
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[Daily Telegraph, Reuters;
18 November]
UK energy minister Mike
O'Brien has warned that
electricity generating costs
will increase by up to 40%
without a new nuclear power
programme in the country. |
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Chines e equity in Kazakh
uranium mines confirmed |
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18 November 2008 |
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Following agreements between
China and KazAtomProm, China
Guangdong Nuclear Power Co
is to become a 49% joint
venture partner in two
Kazakh uranium mines, while
China National Nuclear Corp
will become a 49% joint
venture partner in another. |
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Uraniu m recovery plant
agreement signed |
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17 November 2008 |
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A letter of intent on the
construction of a bulk
sampling plant to recover
uranium from waste coal ash
has been signed by Sparton
Resources' 60%-owned Chinese
joint venture Sparton New
Enviro Tech Ltd and China
National Nuclear Corp (CNNC)
subsidiary Fourth Institute
of Nuclear Engineering. |
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Bowman resigns as NEI
president |
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17 November 2008 |
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Frank "Skip" Bowman has
resigned as president and
CEO of the Washington-based
Nuclear Energy Institute
(NEI). He said he is
stepping down to provide an
opportunity for
organizational continuity
during the transition in the
federal government's
leadership and throughout
the new administration's
term. |
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Eskom tender winner by year
end? |
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14 November 2008 |
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[Bloomberg, Engineering
News; 13 November]
South African state utility
Eskom still plans to
announce its preferred
bidder to build a nuclear
power plant by the end of
the year, despite doubts on
the future of the project
expressed by a government
official. |
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Forsma rk control rod
inspection completed |
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14 November 2008 |
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Sweden's Vattenfall reported
that it has completed
inspecting all of the
control rods at Forsmark 3
and has found some 25%
showing signs of cracking.
The company is looking at
several options for bringing
the unit back online. |
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All old Russian subs to be
scrapped by 2012 |
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14 November 2008 |
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[RIA Novosti, 14 November]
Russia will dismantle all
decommissioned
nuclear-powered submarines
by the beginning of 2012,
according to Vladimir
Nikitin, general director of
the Zvezdochka shipyard in
Severodvinsk, northern
Russia. |
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Uraniu m production startup
in Uzbekistan |
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13 November 2008 |
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[Nuclear.Ru, 12 November]
Pilot in-situ leach (ISL)
uranium production has begun
at Northern Kanimekh in
Uzbekistan. The plant,
operated by the Navoi Mining
and Metallurgical Combine
(NMMC), is expected to reach
full capacity by 2012 and
could increase NMMC's output
by up to 30%. |
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Croati a considers nuclear
energy option |
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13 November 2008 |
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[BBC Monitoring, 10 November]
According to a report on
Croatia's HRT1 TV, the
country will soon make a
decision on whether to
construct a nuclear power
plant. Presenting the draft
energy strategy, deputy
prime minister Damir
Polancec said that the
scenario involving
constructing a nuclear power
plant was considered "the
most favourable one." |
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Japan' s idle reactors lead
to greater emissions |
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12 November 2008 |
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[Reuters, Bloomberg; 12
November]
Preliminary figures indicate
that Japan's greenhouse gas
emissions rose 2.3% in the
year ended March 2008. The
increase was partly
attributed to more fossil
fuels being burned to
compensate for reduced
nuclear generating capacity. |