Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire

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

Friday, January 29, 2010

Obama eyes significant increase for nuclear loan guarantees

* Sources: Obama eyes significant increase for nuclear loan guarantees
President Barack Obama will reportedly recommend increasing loan guarantees for new nuclear projects to more than $54 billion. The move reflects Obama's call in his State of the Union speech to boost nuclear-energy generation in the country. Industry groups including the Nuclear Energy Institute said the guarantees are vital because many companies lack the available capital to fund such facilities. BusinessWeek/Bloomberg (1/29) Email this Story

* GE exec lauds Obama's endorsement of nuclear power
President Barack Obama's support for nuclear energy may generate jobs and strengthen national security, General Electric Vice Chairman John Krenicki said. The power source "has to be a part of the solution for good energy policy, so we were delighted to hear President Obama endorsing nuclear," Krenicki said during the World Economic Forum. BusinessWeek/Bloomberg (1/28) Email this Story

* GE is still targeting nuclear deals in Middle East, chief says: General Electric said it still seeks to secure nuclear-power deals in the Middle East, even though it lost out on a contract worth $40 billion to construct four nuclear reactors for the United Arab Emirates, Chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt said. The company would "love to do a nuclear project" in the region, he added, where more countries are aiming for nuclear as an energy alternative to fossil fuels. ArabianBusiness.com

Thursday, January 28, 2010

US Asks Pakistan to Stop Blocking Nuclear Talks

US Asks Pakistan to Stop Blocking Nuclear Talks
Eliane Engeler, Associated Press
Pakistan is delaying international talks on a ban on the production of new nuclear bomb material, insisting that any deal must also require its archrival India to reduce its existing stockpile.
Full Article

http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/us-asks-pakistan-to-283912.html

U.S. to Discuss S. Korea's Demand for Nuclear Reprocessing: Campbell

U.S. to Discuss S. Korea's Demand for Nuclear Reprocessing: Campbell
Hwang Doo-hyong, Yonhap News
The United States will discuss next week South Korea's demand for the right to reprocess spent nuclear fuel to help South Korean firms make inroads into the global nuclear energy market, a senior U.S. official said Wednesday.
Full Article

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2010/01/28/69/0301000000AEN20100128001300315F.HTML

U.S. to Outline New Iran Sanctions

U.S. to Outline New Iran Sanctions
Jay Solomon and Joe Lauria, The Wall Street Journal
State of the UnionEditor's Note: With President Barack Obama warning North Korea and Iran of increased isolation in his first State of the Union address, the United States will reportedly present the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, plus Germany, a list of Iranian individuals and firms to target with sanctions, according to the Wall Street Journal. Meanwhile, German Chancellor Angela Merkel signals support for broad-based sanctions as Siemens, Europe's biggest engineering conglomerate, announced an end to business with Iran.
Full Article

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704094304575029692904293082.html

Monday, January 25, 2010

Mitsubishi is close to its first European reactor deal, executive says

Mitsubishi is close to its first European reactor deal, executive says
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries said there is a "high possibility" it will secure its first nuclear power plant contract in Europe next year. A utility in northern Europe is close to awarding a contract for Mitsubishi's 1,700-megawatt model with advanced fault-detection technology, said Akira Sawa, the head of atomic business at the firm. Bloomberg

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601130&sid=aqelzhM83i.w

South Korea aims to take part in Dutch research reactor project

South Korea aims to take part in Dutch research reactor project
The Netherlands' decision to stop the contractor-selection process for the building of the PALLAS research reactor presents a new opportunity for South Korean firms to bid for the project, the South Korean government said. If the Dutch government decides to push through with the project, South Korean firms will take measures to get the deal, the government said, citing that although the bidding process has been stopped, the project itself has not been canceled. Yonhap News Agency (Korea)

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/business/2010/01/25/73/0501000000AEN20100125002100320F.HTML

Feds must begin repayment to utilities for nuclear storage

Feds must begin repayment to utilities for nuclear storage

The federal government should begin paying back the billions of dollars owed to utilities nationwide after a federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., ruled in favor of Nebraska Public Power District over the government's nonpayment of $159 million for nuclear-waste storage. The court rejected the government's excuse of unavoidable delays at the proposed permanent storage facility at Nevada's Yucca Mountain, according to this editorial. Lincoln Journal Star (Neb.)
http://journalstar.com/news/opinion/editorial/article_f9e37f9c-0895-11df-b193-001cc4c03286.html