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ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT: |
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Finlan d approves new climate and energy strategy |
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7 November 2008 |
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The Finnish government has approved a new, "ambitious"
climate and energy strategy for Finland, with
detailed insights into climate and energy policy
measures up to 2020, and suggestions up to 2050. The
strategy says that the government should make a
decision on new nuclear capacity within its current
term. |
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NEW NUCLEAR: |
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J-Powe r reschedules Ohma start-up |
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11 November 2008 |
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J-Power has announced that the start-up of its Ohma
nuclear power plant, currently under construction in
Aomori prefecture, northern Japan, has been put back
from early 2012 until late 2014. |
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Financ ing a concern for American Centrifuge Plant |
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10 November 2008 |
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USEC has reported that "substantial progress" has
been made with constructing the American Centrifuge
Plant (ACP). However, it has expressed concerns
about how the uranium enrichment plant will
ultimately be financed. |
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Duke raises cost estimate for Lee plant |
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7 November 2008 |
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Duke Energy has raised the estimated cost of
constructing the proposed William States Lee III
nuclear power plant in Cherokee County, South
Carolina, to $11 billion, around twice its original
estimate of between $4 and $6 billion. |
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Ontari o extends deadline for nuclear bids |
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5 November 2008 |
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Infrastructure Ontario has announced that it has
extended the deadline for the final bid proposals
for two new nuclear power reactors at Ontario Power
Generation's (OPG's) existing Darlington site.
Meanwhile, OPG has been told to cut operating costs
at its existing regulated plants. |
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WASTE & RECYCLING: |
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Contra ct awarded to manage Yucca Mountain project |
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3 November 2008 |
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The US Department of Energy has awarded a five-year
contract worth up to $2.5 billion to USA Repository
Services LLC to manage and operate the used nuclear
fuel repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. |
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NUCLEAR POLICIES: |
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UK OKs nuclear trade with India |
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11 November 2008 |
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The UK government has lifted its ban on
nuclear-related exports to India, following the
decision by the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) to
allow the transfer of "trigger list" items to India
for peaceful purposes. |
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Italia n Deputies vote to overturn nuclear ban |
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6 November 2008 |
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A government bill overturning Italy's moratorium on
nuclear power has been approved by the lower chamber
of the country's government and has been passed for
approval to the country's Senate. |
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REGULATION & SAFETY: |
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French committee reports on nuclear safety |
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10 November 2008 |
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A committee appointed by the French government has
studied the recent spillage at Tricastin and made 18
recommendations for the country's nuclear industry
to improve transparency and information on nuclear
safety. |
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CORPORATE: |
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NRG rejects 'opportunistic' Exelon bid |
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10 November 2008 |
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The board of US electricity generator NRG has
unanimously rejected Exelon's bid for the company,
saying the unsolicited offer grossly undervalues the
company and is not in the best interests of its
shareholders. |
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Life expectancy growing for Canadian units |
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6 November 2008 |
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A complex maintenance programme has boosted Bruce
Power's plans to increase the operating life of
Bruce A unit 3, the company has announced, while
recently completed boiler work has extended the life
of unit 4. |
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Rolls- Royce to help Abu Dhabi assess capabilities |
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6 November 2008 |
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Rolls-Royce of the UK has signed a memorandum of
understanding with Emirates Nuclear Energy Corp to
access Abu Dhabi's industrial capabilities to
support a potential civilian nuclear power programme
in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). |
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Reacto r parts deal for Areva |
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5 November 2008 |
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Areva and Japan Steel Works (JSW) have signed a deal
to ensure the French company's supply of major
components for new nuclear power plants. |
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EXPLORATION & NUCLEAR FUEL: |
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BHP Billiton outlines Olympic Dam grand plans |
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6 November 2008 |
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In a presentation to analysts, BHP Billiton has set
out its five stages for developing its Olympic Dam
mine in South Australia, with a "focus on simplicity
and preservation of future options." |
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INDUSTRY TALK: |
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Fuel loading starts at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa reactor |
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11 November 2008 |
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[Denki Shimbun, 11 November]
Tokyo Electric Power Co (Tepco) has begun loading
fuel rods into Unit 7 of its Kashiwazaki-Kariwa
nuclear power plant. All 872 rods are expected to be
loaded by 16 November, after which safety tests will
be conducted without starting up the reactor. |
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Used fuel contract signed for new US plant |
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11 November 2008 |
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Duke Energy has signed a contract with the US
Department of Energy (DOE) for the disposal of used
fuel from its proposed William States Lee III
nuclear power station. |
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IAEA yet to make Syrian conclusions |
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11 November 2008 |
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[Reuters, 11 November]
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has
criticized diplomatic disclosures that it had found
traces of uranium at a site in Syria under
investigation, saying this was an effort to prejudge
the agency's conclusions. |
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Italia n ministry to collaborate with Rosatom |
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10 November 2008 |
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[Governo Italiano, 6 November; Nuclear.Ru, 7
November]
A declaration of intent to collaborate on nuclear
reactor construction and design was among 14
agreements signed during an Italian-Russian summit
held in Moscow. |
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China considers raising nuclear generation target |
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6 November 2008 |
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[China Daily, 6 November]
China is considering increasing its total installed
nuclear power generating capacity to 70 GW by 2020,
up from an earlier target of 40 GW, according to an
official from the National Energy Administration
(NEA). |
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Vatten fall progressing with Forsmark 3 inspection |
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5 November 2008 |
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Sweden's Vattenfall reported that it has inspected
just over half of the 169 control rods of the
Forsmark 3 reactor and found that some 30% have
signs of cracking. The reactor is not expected to be
restarted until late November at the earliest. |
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Life extension sought for UK's oldest nuclear plant |
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5 November 2008 |
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The UK Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has
appealed to the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII)
to extend the life of the UK's oldest operating
nuclear power station, Oldbury, due to close in
December 2008. |