Today's big stories from the nuclear industry:
Environmental campaigners have accused the SNP of turning Scotland into the world’s ‘nuclear dustbin’.
’The allegations come as the Sunday Herald today uncovers how more than 600 tonnes of foreign nuclear waste is to be kept in Scotland despite repeated promises by governments and the nuclear industry that it would be sent back to the countries from which it came. The Sunday Herald can reveal that the Scottish government has secretly proposed storing the waste at the Dounreay nuclear plant in Caithness. Moreover, under a ‘swap scheme’, waste from south of the border - from Sellafield in Cumbria, which has been stored in a different form - will be returned instead. Anti-nuclear campaigners have responded by accusing the SNP of breaking its promises to prevent Scotland from becoming the world’s ‘nuclear dustbin’. Campaigner Lorraine Mann said: ‘It is quite disgraceful that any Scottish government should acquiesce in turning Scotland and the Highlands into a dumping ground for vast quantities of other people’s radioactive waste. ‘Solid undertakings were given by Tory and Labour administrations that all of this waste would be returned to the countries of origin. It is perhaps the ultimate irony that it is an SNP administration, whose members screamed so loudly about nuclear dumping when in opposition, which is reneging on these assurances now they’re in office.’
Iran needs up to 300kg of nuclear fuel: report
’TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran needs up to 300 kg of nuclear fuel to cover the requirements of a reactor in Tehran for a year and a half, an official was quoted as saying on Saturday. Ali Shirzadian, a spokesman for Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, also suggested the Islamic Republic could take steps to provide the fuel itself if it did not obtain it from abroad -- a development likely to worry the West. Western diplomats say Iran agreed in principle at October 1 talks in Geneva to send about 80 percent of its stockpile of low-enriched uranium to Russia and France for processing and return to Tehran to replenish dwindling fuel stocks for a reactor in the capital that produces isotopes for cancer care. Shirzadian referred to it as Iran's proposal, to turn over low-enriched uranium and receive fuel refined to 20 percent in return, in comments carried by ISNA news agency. "This proposal is feasible and it has been decided that the different ways of realizing this goal should be discussed," he said.’
Nuclear fuel agency to go in attempt to cut debt
’The Government’s stake in Urenco, which owns nuclear fuel plants in Britain, Germany and the Netherlands, will be sold off to help to repay the country’s escalating debt mountain, the Prime Minister will announce today. Gordon Brown will also announce plans to sell off the Dartford Crossing, the Channel Tunnel and the Tote and will signal that he is restarting the privatisation of the Student Loan book, which was shelved in March because of poor market conditions. The Times revealed during the Labour Party conference that the Government believes that asset sales by central and local government could raise £16 billion. Mr Brown will warn that government needs to keep investing or risk a ‘Japanese-style’ downturn: ‘A reduction in growth of 1 per cent next year would raise the deficit by 0.5 per cent next year and even more in subsequent years, adding to the future debt burden. The resulting impact on the debt burden could be more than 5 per cent of GDP after ten years.’ The plan to sell off the Government’s one-third stake in Urenco could be the most controversial. The stake is controlled by the Shareholder Executive, which was created in 2003 to better manage the Government’s performance as a shareholder in businesses. The other two thirds are owned by the Dutch Ultra-Centrifuge Nederland and German Uranit.’
Bangladesh: No Good News for Nuclear Power Plant
’Absence of strong political will and a sense of uncertainty about winning political mileage have kept successive governments away from implementing Bangladesh’s lone nuclear power project, conceived nearly five decades ago, say nuclear scientists. Bureaucratic tangles also stand in the way of implementing the project, proved to be viable for the electricity-starved country whose gas reserves are shrinking fast while the demand for power is rapidly spiralling, they say. The then Pakistan government undertook the nuclear power project in 1961 at Rooppur in Pabna and the land was acquired in 1963 even before France had its first nuclear power plant in 1964.
Just Say No
’Indian nuclear scientists are trying to bully their government into testing a nuclear weapon. That would be a huge setback for India’s relations with Washington, for the battle against terrorists, and for global efforts to halt the spread of nuclear weapons. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is resisting. He must continue to resist. If India tests, the United States is bound by a 2008 agreement to cut off all sales of nuclear fuel and technology. That would be a huge setback to India’s plans to expand its nuclear power generation and its economy. We fear that if India tests, Pakistan will decide that it has to test. That would raise tensions between the two longtime rivals, and it would further distract Islamabad and its generals from the far more important battle against the Taliban and other extremists inside their country and along their border with Afghanistan. Congress recently approved a five-year, $7.5 billion aid package to strengthen civilian rule in Pakistan and encourage the fight against extremists. There would be strong pressure to cut that aid if Pakistan tested. And if India and Pakistan test (China also may be unable to resist), it could make it even harder for President Obama to persuade the Senate to ratify the test ban treaty.’
Tuareg faction says rejects rebel peace plan
’NIAMEY (Reuters) - A Tuareg group headed by a key Niger rebel leader said on Saturday it would reject a peace deal brokered by Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi between the fighters and the governments of Niger and Mali. The FFR faction, led by Rhissa Ag Boula who was at the forefront of the Tuareg rebellion of 1990, said it would continue to "pursue the political and armed struggle until democratic order and justice are restored". The statement on the group's official website adds to evidence of divisions among the fighters in the uranium-rich desert region that have stymied past peace accords and may threaten this one as well. Mali and Niger on Wednesday agreed to a comprehensive peace deal with the main Tuareg rebel groups under which more than 1,000 fighters had already laid down their arms. Gaddafi said under the deal "there will be no single armed rebel left in the mountains of Mali and Niger and all those who used to lead the rebel movements are present alongside me".’