Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire - Major Energy and Environmental News and Commentary affecting the Nuclear Industry. Nuclear Activities
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
Pakistan Threatens Nuclear Arms Race Over India Deal -- The Telegraph
Pakistan Threatens Nuclear Arms Race Over India Deal -- The Telegraph
Pakistan has threatened a new nuclear arms race in south Asia after Washington supported a move that Islamabad claims will allow it to develop its weapons programme.
Pakistan's military leadership is determined to maintain the current ratio of Indian to Pakistani nuclear warheads and is already concerned India is pulling ahead following the 2009 launch of a domestically-produced nuclear submarine.
Islamabad believes Washington's decision to support Indian membership of the Nuclear Suppliers' Group following its agreement to help India develop its civil nuclear power industry will help New Delhi to further increase its nuclear weapon arsenal. Neither India nor Pakistan are signatories to the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Read more ....http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/8286301/Pakistan-threatens-nuclear-arms-race-over-India-deal.html
More News On Pakistan's Threat To Start A Nuclear Arms Race
Pakistan to grow nuclear deterrent against India -- Irish Times
We will strengthen n-arsenal, says Pak, slams US for India nuclear deal -- Indian Express
Analysis: Why Pakistan wants to expand its nuclear arsenal -- Montreal Gazette/Daily Telegraph
Pakistan warns against India nuclear support -- AFP
Pakistan decries help for India nuclear arms plans -- Reuters
Pakistan’s Block on Nuclear Treaty Talks Tests U.S. ‘Patience’ -- Bloomberg
Disarmament Deadlock Risks Proliferation, U.N. Chief Warns -- Global Security Newswire
U.S. calls for end to global arms control impasse -- Reuters
Arms talks deadlock increases nuclear threat: UN chief -- DAWN/AFP
DAVOS-Saudi has no plans to give up right to enrich uranium
DAVOS-Saudi has no plans to give up right to enrich uranium
Small Modular Reactor Conference, April 2011
Below is a link to a free presentation given by Jack Bailey, V.P. Nuclear Generation Development at TVA .
The presentation gives an outstanding overview of the impact on finance and development that Small Modular Reactors present for TVA’s implementation of this technology.
Download the full presentation here http://www.
The presentation covers:
To see what benefit this meeting is to your business download the conference brochure here.
Tommy Angell
Head of Emerging Markets
Nuclear Energy Insider
Tel: +44 (0) 207 375 7176
E-mail: tangell@eyeforenergy.com
The presentation gives an outstanding overview of the impact on finance and development that Small Modular Reactors present for TVA’s implementation of this technology.
Download the full presentation here http://www.
The presentation covers:
- Detailed review of new reactor designs and why they are of interest to utilities
- Installation requirements for SMR's from the utilities point of view
- Understanding the impacts the financing of new SMR units and deployment times
To see what benefit this meeting is to your business download the conference brochure here.
Tommy Angell
Head of Emerging Markets
Nuclear Energy Insider
Tel: +44 (0) 207 375 7176
E-mail: tangell@eyeforenergy.com
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Raytheon nabs $145 million deal in Kuwait
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Kuwait City (UPI) Jan 27, 2011 Raytheon has won a $145 million contract to make Patriot missiles for Kuwait's air and missile defense systems. Raytheon received the contract from the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command.
The MIM-104E Patriot Guidance Enhanced Missile-T interceptors are capable of eliminating numerous threats including hostile aircraft and nonstrategic ballistic missiles carrying biological, chemical or nuclear payloads.
"This new GEM-T missile production contract highlights the efforts by Kuwait Air Defense to maintain readiness and effectiveness of the Patriot Air and Missile System to counter evolving regional threats," Raytheon Vice President Sanjay Kapoor said in a company release.
The missiles are expected to complement Kuwait's Configuration-3 radar system upgrade work under way at Raytheon.
The company is already working on a radar system upgrade for Kuwait. It is understood that work on the missile contract will be carried out by Raytheon's IDS unit in Andover, Mass.
The U.S. Army said the Patriot deal is intended to bolster ongoing efforts to increase Kuwait's air and missile defenses.
"We continue to modernize the Patriot system and are committed to providing Kuwait and our 11 other partner nations globally with increased system reliability and reduced life-cycle costs," Kapoor said in the statement.
The deal comes as Raytheon also received a $20 million Foreign Military Sales technical assistance to support operational of Kuwait's Patriot Air and Missile Defense System. The deal also affords additional training and support for Kuwait's fielded radars.
"This technical assistance contract award validates the strong alliance among the Kuwait Air Defense Forces, the U.S. government and Raytheon in maintaining the readiness and effectiveness of the combat-proven Patriot system in Kuwait," Kapoor said.
The upgrading program, he added, "is a testament to our commitment to ensure that Patriot remains available for the protection of the U.S. and its allies."
Raytheon is the prime contractor for domestic and international Patriot air and missile defense systems and is the system integrator for Patriot advanced capability-3 missiles.
With 2009 sales registered at $25 billion, Raytheon is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets around the world.
Employing 75,000 people worldwide and with a history of innovation spanning 88 years, Raytheon provides "state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a broad range of mission support services," a company statement said.
US raises stakes on global arms control deal
Geneva (AFP) Jan 27, 2011 The United States on Thursday signalled that deadlock in global arms control talks should be broken this year to get a deal banning the production of new nuclear bomb-making material off the ground. Top US disarmament negotiator Rose Gottemoeller suggested that it might be the best opportunity for more reluctant states to keep leverage in drawing up a Fissile Material Cut Off Treaty, which is supported by the major nuclear powers.
Pakistan this week reiterated its lone public opposition to starting negotiations on a treaty in the Conference on Disarmament, after two years of deadlock in the consensus-bound 65 nation body.
"Let me just place full emphasis and priority today on my main message, which is to launch the negotiations this year on a Fissile Material Cut off Treaty (FMCT) in the Conference on Disarmament," Gottemoeller told journalists.
"I think that is a kind of general timeframe," she said, while adding that it was not a "specific deadline".
The US Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control told the conference on Thursday that waiting indefinitely was "not a viable option."
"If we cannot find a way to begin these negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament, then we will need to consider options," Gottemoeller said.
She nonetheless insisted that Washington preferred a deal through the Geneva-based body, stressing that its consensus rule gave all countries equal weight -- including in defining the scope of fissile material rules.
"I for one hope that Pakistan will take this as a serious effort to verify their concerns," the US official added in a media briefing.
Washington also supported starting discussions by technical experts on the sidelines to lay some groundwork on an FMCT in the meantime.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon warned on Tuesday that the deadlock in Geneva threatens international security by increasing the risk that weapons might fall into the wrong hands.
The FMCT is widely regarded as a key building block in stemming the spread of nuclear weapons.
Pakistan, an atomic weapons state, fears neighbour India's bigger nuclear arsenal. Islamabad also wants to deal with existing stockpiles of nuclear material.
Secretary Chu on Supercomputers and Nuclear Energy
Secretary Chu on Supercomputers and Nuclear Energy
Opening Remarks form NRC Chairman Jaczko on Nuclear Safety Culture Policy
Good afternoon. The Commission meets today to discuss the draft final safety culture policy statement. The development of this policy statement has been a high priority for the agency because we have long recognized the important role that safety culture plays in maintaining safety and security.
Over the past three years, the NRC staff has worked hard to keep the process of developing this policy statement as open, transparent, and inclusive as possible. The agency staff has looked back at our own past work for lessons learned, considered the experience of other regulators and industries, and obtained extensive input from our stakeholders and the public. I want to thank the staff for their efforts, as well as acknowledge our stakeholders for their active participation throughout this lengthy process. Through the safety culture workshop, the extended public comment period, and other public meetings on this issue, the staff and stakeholders have resolved the key issues and achieved a strong overall consensus on the draft final statement.
I look forward to working with my Commission colleagues to bring all our hard work to fruition by finalizing the policy statement. Of course, once we complete this work, the Commission will then move on to the question of what, if any, next steps should follow. Like our policy statements in several other areas – for example, our Advanced Reactor Policy Statement – this policy statement is intended to articulate the Commission’s expectations and serve as a guide for the staff’s efforts. It is not a rule or regulation, nor is it binding on our licensees.
There is a long history to this effort. Back in early 2008, the Commission decided it was an appropriate time to complement the 1996 policy statement on a safety conscious work environment and the 1989 policy statement on the safe conduct of nuclear power plant operations. As stated then, “After years of work in this area, and after the operating experience of the ROP effort, the Commission should now direct the staff to provide the Commission with a draft ‘Policy Statement on Safety Culture.’ This policy statement should be broad and explain the Commission's expectations for a healthy safety and security culture at all NRC licensees.”
So, here we are today, three years later, and our staff and stakeholders have now faithfully answered that charge.
I look forward to working with my Commission colleagues to bring all our hard work to fruition by finalizing the policy statement. I understand that many of you are interested in continuing the dialogue beyond the policy statement, to what may follow. Right now, however, the Commission is focused on the policy statement itself, and we are very interested to hear about the staff’s work and the stakeholder input in developing it. We are pleased to have such a broad range of organizations represented here today. This afternoon, the Commission will hear from three panels: first, a panel of external stakeholders; second, a panel of medical, industrial, and Agreement State representatives; and third, the NRC staff.
Source NRC
Over the past three years, the NRC staff has worked hard to keep the process of developing this policy statement as open, transparent, and inclusive as possible. The agency staff has looked back at our own past work for lessons learned, considered the experience of other regulators and industries, and obtained extensive input from our stakeholders and the public. I want to thank the staff for their efforts, as well as acknowledge our stakeholders for their active participation throughout this lengthy process. Through the safety culture workshop, the extended public comment period, and other public meetings on this issue, the staff and stakeholders have resolved the key issues and achieved a strong overall consensus on the draft final statement.
I look forward to working with my Commission colleagues to bring all our hard work to fruition by finalizing the policy statement. Of course, once we complete this work, the Commission will then move on to the question of what, if any, next steps should follow. Like our policy statements in several other areas – for example, our Advanced Reactor Policy Statement – this policy statement is intended to articulate the Commission’s expectations and serve as a guide for the staff’s efforts. It is not a rule or regulation, nor is it binding on our licensees.
There is a long history to this effort. Back in early 2008, the Commission decided it was an appropriate time to complement the 1996 policy statement on a safety conscious work environment and the 1989 policy statement on the safe conduct of nuclear power plant operations. As stated then, “After years of work in this area, and after the operating experience of the ROP effort, the Commission should now direct the staff to provide the Commission with a draft ‘Policy Statement on Safety Culture.’ This policy statement should be broad and explain the Commission's expectations for a healthy safety and security culture at all NRC licensees.”
So, here we are today, three years later, and our staff and stakeholders have now faithfully answered that charge.
I look forward to working with my Commission colleagues to bring all our hard work to fruition by finalizing the policy statement. I understand that many of you are interested in continuing the dialogue beyond the policy statement, to what may follow. Right now, however, the Commission is focused on the policy statement itself, and we are very interested to hear about the staff’s work and the stakeholder input in developing it. We are pleased to have such a broad range of organizations represented here today. This afternoon, the Commission will hear from three panels: first, a panel of external stakeholders; second, a panel of medical, industrial, and Agreement State representatives; and third, the NRC staff.
Source NRC
GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy bolsters presence in Europe
GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy bolsters presence in Europe
Hitachi, Toshiba May Win 200 Billion-Yen Nuclear Plant Order
Hitachi, Toshiba May Win 200 Billion-Yen Nuclear Plant Order
Senator Bingaman Promotes Nuclear Energy Leadership
National Museum for Nuclear Science and History
For Release: Immediately
Contact: Jeanette Miller, 505-5079426
January 27, 2011
Senator Bingaman Promotes Nuclear Energy Leadership
Washington, D.C. – Energy and Natural Resources Committee chairman, Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) called upon the U.S. nuclear energy industry to be a world leader in small modular nuclear reactors at a news conference held on Capital Hill today as part of National Nuclear Science Week activities.
“We have a great opportunity to be a leader in the development and deployment of small modular nuclear reactors and to maintain our position of leadership for this technology worldwide,” Bingaman noted from the Senate Natural Resources conference room. Bingaman emphasized the need to continue to increase enrollment in the nuclear sciences; he also noted support of 2005 national energy bill which gave tax incentives and credits for new nuclear building and the need to address the issues surrounding regulatory uncertainty for nuclear licensing renewal.
The education and innovation theme echoed points that the speakers heard President Obama make in the State of the Union address this past Tuesday. “A few years ago there were only a handful of nuclear technical programs in the U.S. and now there are 40 two-year programs.” said Dr. Audeen Fentiman, Associate Dean of Engineering for Graduate Education at Purdue University. “Our students in nuclear engineering are excited about the future of the industry and their career paths in nuclear energy.”
“Nuclear power plants provide 71% of the electricity from a non-GHG emitting source,” stated Marv Fertel, President and CEO or the Nuclear Energy Institute. “We heard the President say that 80% of our electricity needs to come from clean sources by 2035. This means that nuclear energy must play an important role in meeting this goal.”
Rounding out the panel, Guiseppe Esposito, MD, Associate Professor of Radiology and Chief of Nuclear Medicine at Georgetown University, spoke about the important healthcare role that nuclear medicine plays in diagnostic and treatment of patients nationwide. “More than 20,000 people work in our field providing more than 50,000 procedures daily for 16 million Americans annually. Our issue of concern is regarding affordable and available radioisotopes as we care for our patients each day,” he noted.
The panel was moderated by Jim Walther, Director of the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History located in Albuquerque, N.M. The museum is the founding sponsor of the national recognition week for the nuclear science industries.
“This week and this event on Capital Hill provide the opportunity for us to turn a spotlight on how nuclear sciences contribute to job growth and economic strength for our country,” Walther said. “We are focusing on the clean air contributions of nuclear energy, critical patient care services provided by nuclear medicine and the significant future career needs in the nuclear science and energy sectors.”
National Nuclear Science Week is a partnership between the host organization, the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History and nuclear industry partners, including the Entergy, U.S. Department of Energy, the American Nuclear Society, the Society of Nuclear Medicine, the Nuclear Energy Institute and others. The Website, www.NuclearScienceWeek.org, features free information, teaching curricula and tools plus followers can access news through Twitter, Facebook, and a nuclear science week blogspot.
The National Museum of Nuclear Science & History is the nation’s only congressionally chartered museum in its field and a Smithsonian affiliate. Established in 1969, the Museum shares the story of the Atomic Age, from early research of nuclear development through today’s peaceful uses of nuclear technology. www.NuclearMuseum.org.
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Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Arms talks deadlock increases nuclear threat: UN chief
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Geneva (AFP) Jan 26, 2011 UN chief Ban Ki-moon warned on Tuesday that the deadlock in global nuclear arms control talks in Geneva threatens international security by increasing the risk that weapons might fall into the wrong hands. His comments came day after Pakistan reiterated its lone public opposition to starting talks in the Conference on Disarmament on a ban on the production of new nuclear bomb-making material.
"The continued deadlock has ominous implications for international security," the UN Secretary General told the 65-nation body.
"The longer it persists, the graver the nuclear threat - from existing arsenals, from the proliferation of such weapons, and from their possible acquisition by terrorists," he added.
Nuclear powers broke more than a decade of deadlock in May 2009 by agreeing on a work plan at the world's only multilateral arms control forum, including negotiations on a fissile material ban, as well as lesser talks on nuclear disarmament.
However, the conference has slumped back into deadlock since then with nuclear weapons state Pakistan's objections, as Islamabad said it feared neighbour and bigger nuclear rival India's strategic ambitions.
Ban raised the stakes on Wednesday by underlining that the conference -- which once forged major Cold War arms control deals and the nuclear Non-Proliferation treaty -- has played only a small role in more recent disarmament efforts.
"Just one or two countries must not be able to block the process indefinitely," Ban told the body. "The future of the CD (Conference on Disarmament) is in your hands."
"With respect to the Fissile Material Treaty, it is clear that within the CD, there is almost universal support for negotiations on such a treaty," he added.
Pakistan's ambassador Zamir Akram told journalists this month that his country "would like a treaty that deals with stocks not just future product
Poland eyes EUR25 bln investments as it goes nuclear
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Warsaw (AFP) Jan 25, 2011 Poland hopes to attract 25.8 billion euros (35 billion dollars) in investment in a new nuclear energy sector over the next 20 years, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Tuesday. "When we speak of all the costs involved in nuclear energy, we're talking of sums in the order of 100 billion zloty (25.8 billion euros)," Tusk told reporters following a cabinet meeting focused on developing Poland's nuclear energy sector from scratch.
"We're building the future of a market worth 100 billion zloty, speaking only of direct investments," Hanna Trojanowska, Poland's nuclear energy tsarina said at the joint press conference with Tusk.
The plans call for private enterprise to finance the lion's share of investments, she added.
Meeting 94 percent of its electricity needs from coal-fired plants, coal-rich Poland currently has no nuclear power plants. The first such facility is due to start working in 2020, Tusk said.
The legal framework for nuclear power is to be set up between July 2011 to December 2013, while construction on the first of two power stations is to begin in 2016, the prime minister revealed.
Between 2020-2030, plans call for the capacity of the first reactor to be boosted while a second plant is expected to come online.
Poland's PGE energy group, charged with developing the country's nuclear energy sector, has already inked initial co-operation protocols with the US-Japanese Westinghouse Electric Company LLC and GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas as well as France's EDF and Areva.
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