Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire

Major Energy and Environmental News and Commentary affecting the Nuclear Industry.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Syria defends Iran nuclear plans

Syria defends Iran nuclear plans
Damascus (AFP) Dec 3, 2009 - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad defended Iran's controversial nuclear programme on Thursday, during a visit to Damascus by Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, and promised that cooperation between the two countries would continue. Assad asserted "the right of Iran and other countries that are signatories to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to enrich unranium for civilian purpo ... more

http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Syria_defends_Iran_nuclear_plans_999.html

S.Korea hails first nuclear reactor export

S.Korea hails first nuclear reactor export
Seoul (AFP) Dec 4, 2009 - South Korea on Friday hailed its first export of an atomic reactor, saying the deal with Jordan would spur future overseas sales of nuclear technology. Government officials said a South Korean consortium has won a deal worth about 173 million dollars to build a five megawatt multi-purpose reactor at the Jordan University for Sciences and Technology by 2014. Jordan will use the reactor ... more

http://www.nuclearpowerdaily.com/reports/S.Korea_hails_first_nuclear_reactor_export_999.html

World Powers Could Hold Iran Meeting Next Week

World Powers Could Hold Iran Meeting Next Week
Slobodan Lekic and Vladimir Isachenkov, Associated Press
World powers trying to end a standoff over Iran's nuclear program are weighing whether to meet next week to discuss tougher measures, a European Union official said Thursday as Russia reiterated its reluctance to agree to new sanctions.
Full Article
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iRqjZV1Meppj40hTs8IBOv4DdsQwD9CGHHL00

Iran Tries to Reassure IAEA over New Uranium Units Aresu Eqbali, Agence France-Presse

Iran Tries to Reassure IAEA over New Uranium Units
Aresu Eqbali, Agence France-Presse
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Wednesday that Iran's plan to build 10 new uranium enrichment plants was not aimed at confronting the UN atomic watchdog, which censured Tehran last month, the state television website reported.
Full Article
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hhmmOJ92Y3l7_UloldsmxhEqyGdA

U.S. Envoy: No Commitment by N. Korea on Future Talks Blaine Harden, The Washington Post

U.S. Envoy: No Commitment by N. Korea on Future Talks
Blaine Harden, The Washington Post
BosworthPresident Obama's envoy to North Korea said Thursday that his journey to Pyongyang produced no commitment that the North would return to international talks aimed at ridding the country of nuclear weapons.

But Stephen Bosworth, after a three-day visit that marked the first high-level contact between the Obama administration and the government of leader Kim Jong Il, said his conversations had established a "common understanding" of the need for negotiations.
Full Article
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/10/AR2009121000756.html

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Obama’s Nobel & START: Peacemaker Arrives Empty-handed

Obama’s Nobel & START: Peacemaker Arrives Empty-handed

by Eric Walberg / December 9th, 2009 (0)

Obama desperately needed a new nuclear arms treaty to replace START I to provide some justification for the Nobel Committee’s gamble. The award in the face of US imperial wars and hubris is proving to be extremely embarrassing to everyone, left and right. In awarding the Nobel Prize to Obama on 9 October, the selection committee “in particular looked at Obama’s vision and work toward a world without atomic weapons,” giving him an out, if he could at least bring a nuclear arms treaty with him.

Instead, US inspectors packed their bags last week and left Russian nuclear sites unmonitored for …
(Full article …)
http://dissidentvoice.org/2009/12/obamas-nobel-start-peacemaker-arrives-empty-handed/

The real path to green energy: Hybrid nuclear-renewable power

The real path to green energy: Hybrid nuclear-renewable power Premium
BY CHARLES FORSBERG
A targeted use of nuclear power could solve the major problems of renewable energy sources by providing carbon-emission-free power for biofuel refineries and backup energy for solar, wind, and other renewable sources.

http://thebulletin.metapress.com/content/k5mg3023428g312l/?p=3e066ae975cf41419a094c318b039a9e&pi=6

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Malaysia Recalls U.N. Envoy after Iran Nuclear Vote

Malaysia Recalls U.N. Envoy after Iran Nuclear Vote
Reuters
Malaysia said on Sunday it recalled its envoy to the United Nations in Vienna for "consultations" after he voted against a resolution at the International Atomic Energy Agency rebuking Iran.
Full Article
http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-44506820091206

Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire: Russia Sees New Arms Control Deal in 10 Days Global Security Newswire

Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire: Russia Sees New Arms Control Deal in 10 Days Global Security Newswire

Russia Sees New Arms Control Deal in 10 Days Global Security Newswire

Russia Sees New Arms Control Deal in 10 Days
Global Security Newswire
A successor to a key nuclear arms control treaty could be signed by late next week, Agence France-Presse reported yesterday (see GSN, Dec. 7).
Full Article
http://gsn.nti.org/gsn/nw_20091208_8224.php

Turkey Balks at Iran Sanctions

Turkey Balks at Iran Sanctions
Jay Solomon, The Wall Street Journal
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan balked at supporting new economic sanctions against Iran after a White House meeting with President Barack Obama Monday, arguing diplomacy aimed at ending Tehran's nuclear program needed more time.
Full Article
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB126021478791880453.html

Iran's Growing Weapons Capability and Its Impact on Negotiations

Iran's Growing Weapons Capability and Its Impact on Negotiations
David Albright and Jacqueline Shire, Arms Control Association
AhmadinejadThe crisis over Iran's growing nuclear weapons capabilities is rapidly reaching a critical point. Recent developments do not bode well for the prospect of successful negotiations that can end concerns about Iran's nuclear program, at least in the short term.

These concerns center on two related questions: whether Iran can be prevented from using its nuclear program for weapons purposes, and how much confidence the United States and other countries can have in verification measures to ensure that the Iranians are not using their program for such purposes.
Full Article
http://armscontrol.org/act/2009_12/AlbrightShire

Russia, India forge nuclear-cooperation agreement

Russia, India forge nuclear-cooperation agreement
Russia has signed a nuclear-cooperation deal with India, becoming the latest country to do so. "Today, we have signed an agreement which broadens the reach of our cooperation beyond the supply of nuclear reactors to areas of research and development and a whole range of areas of nuclear energy," Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said after his meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. Financial Times

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/86b6465c-e398-11de-9f4f-00144feab49a.html

Climate talks should include nuclear power, Constellation CEO says

Climate talks should include nuclear power, Constellation CEO says
Nuclear energy should be part of climate-change discussions in Copenhagen, said Constellation Energy Group CEO Mayo Shattuck III. The power source plays an important role in the country's carbon-reduction targets and should be promoted internationally, he added. The use of nuclear energy should "increase substantially" if the world seeks to achieve a 50% cut in emissions by 2050, Shattuck said. American City Business Journals/Baltimore

http://baltimore.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2009/12/07/daily7.html

U.S. nuclear companies express concern over land scarcity in India

U.S. nuclear companies express concern over land scarcity in India
The lack of land in India could further postpone a nuclear-cooperation agreement between the U.S. and India, a consortium of American nuclear companies said. Aside from land scarcity, businesses are concerned with delays including differences over a fuel-reprocessing deal. "Yes, we realize land acquisition is a problem here," GE executive Timothy Richards said. Reuters

http://in.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idINDEL26413220091208

Nuclear waste storage decision will affect SRS

GAO report suggests 2 options for nuclear-waste storage
A Government Accountability Office report identifies two possible solutions to concerns over the country's nuclear-waste storage. One is the centralized storage of the material at two unnamed sites, and the other is continuing the practice of on-site storage at 80 locations. The Augusta Chronicle (Ga.)
http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/12/07/met_558496.shtml

India, Russia sign deals on nuclear energy, defence

India, Russia sign deals on nuclear energy, defence
Moscow (AFP) Dec 7, 2009 - India and Russia signed deals on nuclear energy and arms sales on Monday as Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh held talks in the Kremlin with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. "We welcome Russia's participation in the broadening of our nuclear energy programme," Singh told reporters after the talks, according to remarks translated into Russian. "The successful end of the negotiations ... more
http://www.nuclearpowerdaily.com/reports/India_Russia_sign_deals_on_nuclear_energy_defence_999.html

Monday, December 7, 2009

S. Korea wins contract to build Jordan's first nuclear reactor

S. Korea wins contract to build Jordan's first nuclear reactor
A South Korean consortium has secured a bid to build Jordan's first nuclear reactor, beating offers from Argentina, Russia and China, according to South Korea's science ministry. The contract, which is worth more than $170 million, requires the group to build a five-megawatt reactor for research purposes. Chosun Ilbo (South Korea)/Arirang News

http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/12/07/2009120700607.html

U.S. nuclear companies proceed with India talks

U.S. nuclear companies proceed with India talks
A consortium of U.S. companies led by GE and Westinghouse Electric is scheduled to meet today with their counterparts in India to discuss nuclear construction plans in the country. The meetings come in the wake of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's U.S. visit last month and the possibility that India will advance a nuclear liability bill that would open up the industry to U.S. businesses. Hindustan Times (India)

http://www.hindustantimes.com/US-nuclear-firms-set-for-Take-2-of-talks-with-India/H1-Article1-483680.aspx