Today, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) in the United Kingdom announced that the competition for the new contract for the cleanup of the Magnox reactor sites will commence in 2011. Award of the contract is expected by the end of 2012. EnergySolutions will continue to lead this important cleanup project during this time period and it will bid on the new contract.
The NDA stated that it would select a single operator for Magnox North Limited, Magnox South Limited and Research Sites Restoration Limited.
Companies
EnergySolutions to Continue Magnox Cleanup
Wednesday, December 10, 2008Energy firms refuse to pass on cost cuts
Monday, December 8, 2008Energy firms will refuse to pass on all of the savings they make on cheaper wholesale gas and electricity to consumers, one of the UK's top energy bosses admitted this weekend.
The warning, issued by Paul Golby, chief executive of Eon UK, came after a week in which the price of oil tumbled to just above $40 a barrel. As the government demands that the banks give borrowers the benefit of the latest cut in interest rates, energy companies are also coming under increasing pressure to cut customers' bills.
EDF hopeful of extending duration of its reactors
Monday, December 8, 2008EDF is hoping to secure a multi-billion euro windfall by extending the lifecycle of its nuclear power stations. This could prove crucial to maintaining its top grade credit rating as it invests billlions in acquisitions and plant renewal.
The energy group this week set out in detail the costs and expected gains from the planned investment in its 58 nuclear power stations that could enable it to run reactors for up to 60 years, against the current lifecycle of 40 years.
Rostekhnadzor Registers Two Minor Events at Nuclear Plants in November
Saturday, December 6, 2008Dec 5 (Interfax) - Russia's Federal Service for Ecological, Technological and Nuclear Oversight (Rostekhnadzor) registered two minor events at nuclear power plants in November 2008.
On November 12, Balakovskaya NPP's power unit N2 switched off without activation of the emergency system, the agency said in a press release. Rostekhnadzor has already completed an investigation of this incident. The discharge occurred as a result of a switch- off of the primary circulatory pumps, caused by the loss of a pressure signal in the lubrication system's oil pumps, the agency said.
EDF: Nuclear Goals Mean EUR40 Billion
Thursday, December 4, 2008PARIS - (Dow Jones)- French nuclear utility Electricite de France SA Thursday announced higher costs for a reactor it's building in France and said its ambition to lead a worldwide wave of building new nuclear plants means total capital expenditure of between EUR40 billion and EUR50 billion by 2020.
The net financing requirements for EDF over the same period should be between EUR12 billion and EUR20 billion, EDF said, given the involvement of partners in projects in France, China, the U.S. and possibly the U.K.
Germany's RWE says EC plan to auction EUAs will benefit rival EDF
Friday, November 28, 2008The European Commission's plan to auction 100% of European Union Allowances (EUAs) from 2013 onwards came under fire Thursday from German utility RWE.
RWE's CEO Jurgen Grossmann believes the main beneficiary of the EC's climate change plans would be French utility EDF.
Stop-start revival of the nuclear industry
Friday, November 28, 2008Barely a few days before the collapse of Lehman Brothers, EDF finally clinched its multi-billion pound acquisition of British Energy. At about the same time, the French state-controlled electricity group also tried – and failed – to counter veteran investor Warren Buffett’s bid for control of a US electricity utility, Constellation Energy.
Spark going out for British Energy
Thursday, November 27, 2008THE owner of Torness Power Station has seen earnings plummet in the first half of the year as a result of lower electricity output.
British Energy said pre-tax earnings fell by 50 per cent to £257 million in the six months to September 28.
Czech Temelin nuke plant's Unit 2 off for two days
Wednesday, November 26, 2008PRAGUE, Nov 25 (Reuters) - Czech power group CEZ said on Tuesday it had disconnected Unit 2 at its nuclear power plant Temelin from the grid in the morning due to a fault in a non-nuclear part of the unit and it would be down for two days.
Temelin has two 1,000 megawatt units. The other unit is also out of order, undergoing repair work that is expected to continue until the middle of December.
Ukraine's government approves draft agreement about participation in international enrichment center
Wednesday, November 26, 2008Kyiv, November 26 (Interfax-Ukraine) - Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers has approved a draft agreement with the Russian Federation and Kazakhstan about the joint participation in the International uranium enrichment center in Angarsk, Irkutsk region, Russia.
The Cabinet of Ministers passed a respective resolution on November 19 2008.
