Arab Nations Advance Quest For Atomic Power
‘A number of Arab governments have taken steps in recent months to set up and advance civilian nuclear power programs in their countries amid a backdrop of growing regional concerns over Iran's nuclear activities, United Press International reported yesterday (see GSN, June 29). In the last four years, a total of 13 Middle Eastern countries have declared their intention to initiate or relaunch nuclear power projects (see GSN, June 23). Saudi Arabia inked an atomic trade agreement with France last week and Jordan is in discussions with French nuclear giant Areva and the Japanese firm Mitsubishi to purchase technology that would enable the energy-hungry country to construct its first atomic power facility. The United Arab Emirates, which is further along in its pursuit of atomic energy, authorized the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corp. to begin readying the chosen location for the nation's first nuclear reactor. At the end of last year, the Gulf state selected a South Korean-led business group to construct and run four atomic energy facilities (see GSN, June 4). The surging Middle Eastern drive has caused some worry in the United States even as Washington publicly promotes the benefits of atomic energy to nations that are in good standing with the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.’
Is Russia's Backing of Iran Sanctions Starting to Fray?
‘For a couple of weeks in June, it seemed like Russia's stance on Iran was finally coming into line with that of the U.S. President Barack Obama, in one of the biggest achievements so far of his foreign policy, had convinced Russia to support a new round of U.N. sanctions, approved on June 9, meant to stop Iran from building a nuclear bomb. There was a lot of back-patting at the U.N. Security Council, and on June 24, Obama's political honeymoon with his Russian counterpart, Dmitri Medvedev, reached a high point when the two chowed down at Ray's Hell Burger outside Washington, D.C., looking friendlier than ever. But this week, with the two presidents back in their respective capitals, Russia is changing its tone on Iran. The Kremlin appears once again to be playing both sides. On Wednesday, Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko held a meeting in Moscow with Iranian Oil Minister Massoud Mir Kazemi, and afterwards Shmatko announced that Russia was ready to deliver fuel and oil products to Iran. "The sanctions cannot stop us," he declared. And it is true: the latest round of U.N. sanctions does not forbid fuel sales to Iran, but the unilateral sanctions imposed by the U.S. and Europe do.’
German nuclear tax to raise 2.3 bln eur-draft law
‘BERLIN, July 15 (Reuters) - The proposed German tax on nuclear power station operators would likely raise 2.3 billion euros annually between 2011 and 2014, a finance ministry draft law obtained by Reuters said. Nuclear power station operators will face a levy of 220 euros per gramme of nuclear fuel (uranium or plutonium) which can be offset against taxes, the draft said. The levy will be raised for as long as plants continue to operate. Revenue from the tax would help Germany cut its budget deficit and finance the clean-up of its repositories for nuclear waste. The Bundesrat, Germany's upper house of parliament, would not be required to agree to the law, according to the draft. However, the finance ministry could still agree to an alternative to the tax as long as it generated similar revenue. The four nuclear power plan operators -- RWE, E.ON, EnBW and Vattenfall Europe -- were still in discussions with the government over this.’
Turkey - Parliament approves Akkuyu nuclear power plant deal
‘Parliament on Thursday approved a bill on an agreement between Russia and Turkey for the construction of Turkey’s first nuclear power plant in the coastal town of Akkuyu, in Mersin province. According to the agreement, which was signed during Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s official visit to Turkey in May, the two countries will cooperate in the construction and operation of the power plant. A consortium led by state-controlled Russian builder AtomStroyExport will construct the plant in Akkuyu, paying all the costs of construction for the nuclear plant, which is estimated to cost around $20 billion. The firm will be able to transfer up to 49 percent of its shares to another firm. The Russian Federal Atomic Energy Agency (Rosatom) and Energy and Natural Resources Ministry will be the representatives of the two sides in the agreement. A Russian consortium will initiate work for the establishment of a company to carry out the construction project within three months. The plant will have the total capacity of 4,800 megawatts (MW) in four units.’
Utah - Italian waste
‘EnergySolutions says it no longer aspires to import the world’s nuclear waste to Utah. Instead, it wants to export its expertise to the world, and help other nations dispose of their own radioactive waste. After the company doggedly pursued a license to import waste from Italy in the face of overwhelming opposition, the shift in strategy announced this week seems a welcome turn of events. This page has long advocated that the company grow its business by exporting landfills instead of importing waste. So, arrivederci, foreign waste. The world will have to find another sap. EnergySolutions’ low-level radioactive waste disposal facility in Tooele County is not the solution to the planet’s radioactive waste disposal needs. But, because companies are not bound by their press releases, and because priorities and personnel and policies change, this sudden notion by EnergySolutions to close the gates to foreign waste must be made ironclad. Perhaps now that lame-duck U.S. Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, no longer needs EnergySolutions’ campaign contributions, he’ll remove his foot from the throat of the federal Radioactive Import Deterrence Act, which would ban the importation of radioactive waste.’
Peru - Southern Andes Energy Inc. to Begin Uranium Exploration in August
‘Southern Andes Energy Inc. is planning to begin a uranium exploration program on its Macusani Plateau area properties in Peru in late August. Southern Andes is the largest land owner in the emerging Macusani Plateau uranium district in southern Peru, holding a 100% interest in more than 122,000 hectares of ground. Exploration programs conducted by a previous joint venture partner focused on drill testing several radiometric anomalies in the Macusani East project area. This work was successful in outlining near surface mineralization on four targets. Southern Andes will focus on examining some of the largest and strongest radiometric anomalies in the district which to date have not been drill tested. The Company plans to start a reconnaissance field program in late August which will test the large Chachaconiza radiometric anomaly located 29 km west of Macusani and 175 km north west of Juliaca, Peru. This anomaly, located near the multi million ounce Corani Silver deposit owned by Bear Creek, is on the flank of a large volcanic caldera interpreted from satellite imagery. Covering more than 3,700 hectares and measuring approximately 7 km by 5 km, Chachaconiza is the largest radiometric anomaly identified in the Macusani Plateau area and which has never been drill tested.’
Indonesia demands inquiry into reports Freeport illegally mines uranium
‘Indonesia’s House of Representatives has demanded an immediate investigation into accusations that PT Freeport Indonesia is illegally secretly mining uranium in Papua. The Jakarta Globe reports that the House said the multi-national company would need to provide clarification on the matter. The chairman of the House’s United Development Party, Hazrul Azwar, says that if the allegations are true, Freeport could be penalised, including changes to their operating contract with the Government. His statement comes after a Papua Legislative Councillor, Yan Mandenas, claimed that Freeport had been covertly mining uranium for at least eight months. This is despite the widely-held belief that Indonesia does not possess viable deposits of the strictly controlled mineral. The councillor had also claimed Freeport had illegally mined coal and other minerals not listed in its permits at its giant Grasberg gold and copper mine in Papua since 1964. Freeport, however, has denied all the allegations.’
Federal nuclear regulator wants more emissions info from Cameco
‘Uranium emissions that possibly exceeded the action level at Cameco's Port Hope Conversion Facility has the federal nuclear regulator asking for more emissions information from the company. According to a Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) media release, the CNSC feels further improvements to Cameco's uranium dioxide (UO2) plant in-house stack sampling system and preventative maintenance program are needed after uranium emissions at the plant on June 29 potentially exceeded the action level. Based on a Cameco report, the CNSC determined the UO2 plant uranium emission rate was 7.21 gU/h (grams of uranium emissions per hour). Although this rate is well below the licensed limit of 150 gU/h, it is above the plant's action level of 7 gU/h.’