Climate change is an often heard argument for the once called nuclear "renaissance". However, if one looks closer, there was something fishy about the industry using climate change protection as its most prominent feature... » Read more
More then thirty years of debate, and the controversy remains as polarised as ever. This website (to be fair - whose maintainer is anti-nuclear) collects news about nuclear power in Europe, sorted by nuclear power plant, type of power plant, country etc.
By presenting different (media) angles on current nuclear issues, we hope to be able to cut out some spin, either pro or against, and to allow the reader to make up his or her own mind about today's pro's and con's of nuclear power.
In the menu on the right you can select your country, the nuclear power plant in your neighbourhood, or your favourite company and read latest (most English) news about it.
Latest nuclear news
170 billion rubels to go toward nuclear power plant
Saturday, September 6, 2008Some 170 billion rubels to go toward 2009 preparations for nuclear power plant construction, deputy minister says.
Around 170 billion rubels in public funds is projected to be spent on 2009 preparations for the construction of a nuclear power plant in Belarus, Deputy Finance Minister Uladzimir Amaryn said at a meeting with members of the House of Representatives on Thursday.
Under the ministry's 2009 budget estimates, some 700 billion rubels is to be earmarked for support of the real economic sector, 1.5 times more than this year, with 262 billion rubels to account for direct subsidies.
Some 2,000 billion rubels in loans and subsidies from the state budget is to go toward housing construction projected at six million square meters. In addition, 314 billion rubels from the state and local budgets is projected to be spent on the laying of supply pipelines at new developments.
'Sloppy security' at Forsmark nuclear plant
Saturday, September 6, 2008Forsmark nuclear power plant has been criticized by the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority (SSM) for slack security after it found that an emergency cooling system vent had been shut for a year.
During a routine inspection on August 18th this year, SSM inspectors discovered that an emergency cooling vent in reactor 2 at the Forsmark nuclear plant on Sweden's east coast had been closed since their inspection there a year earlier.
Lack of power and water cap Namibian uranium output
Friday, September 5, 2008LONDON (Reuters) - A shortage of energy and water will cap future uranium mine expansion in Namibia, but the country hopes to ease the bottlenecks through desalination and a new coal-fired power plant, an industry body said on Wednesday.
The government has issued some 50 exclusive prospecting licenses for more uranium mining firms, but output of uranium is dependent on the availability of water.
Energy firms to invest around PLN 135 billion by 2030
Friday, September 5, 2008Energy firms plan to incest around PLN 135 billion between 2008 and 2030, which will bring almost 22,000MW of extra power and, counting withdrawn power, a netto increment of nearly 6,700 MW, Energy Regulatory Authority (URE) President Mariusz Swora said Thursday quoting an inhouse survey.
EDF says Tricastin 2 reactor stopped for refuelling
Thursday, September 4, 2008PARIS, Sept 4 (Reuters) - EDF said on Thursday it had stopped its 900-megawatts nuclear reactor 2 at its Tricastin plant in southeast France for refuelling on Aug. 30.
The reactor 4 at the 3,600-MW plant was halted on July 12 for maintenance.
Utilities turn to US, Europe for uranium enrichment
Thursday, September 4, 2008LONDON, Sept 4 (Reuters) - Uranium enrichment companies in the United States and Europe have seen an increase in customer interest after the recent conflict involving Russia and Georgia, industry sources said on Thursday.
Nuclear reactors are dependent on reliable supplies of fuel, made from uranium ore that has been converted into a gas which in turn is enriched into nuclear fuel.
Government promises to secure sufficient electricity for industry
Thursday, September 4, 2008Sixth nuclear installation possible
Government promises to secure sufficient electricity for industry
The government hopes to make sure in its new energy and climate strategy that Finnish industry will get the electricity it needs.
Helsingin Sanomat has learned that a ministerial working group estimates that the need for electricity in 2020 will be about 103 terawatt hours (TWh). After that year, demand for electricity is expected to decline slowly.
The estimate means that in addition to the fifth Finnish nuclear reactor currently being built in Olkiluoto, only one more such installation would be built in Finland.
Spain nuclear watchdog warns on plant renewals
Wednesday, September 3, 2008VALENCIA, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Spain's nuclear watchdog told plants on Wednesday that renewing their operating permits would depend on how they implemented tighter safety procedures spurred by a rash of unscheduled stoppages.
Among others, the Nuclear Safety Council reviewed safety plans at the 1,000 megawatt Asco I plant, which faces a hefty fine after the regulator asked for government sanctions over the management's handling of a radioactive leak last November.
Report on Possibility of Building Nuclear Research Reactor in Azerbaijan to be Prepared within three years: IAEA Secretariat
Wednesday, September 3, 2008Azerbaijan, Baku, 3 September /corr. Тренд News R.Novruzov / The IAEA will devise a report on the possibility of building nuclear research reactor in Azerbaijan within three years, IAEA technical coordinator, Andrei Chupov, who is on visit to Azerbaijan, briefed the media on 3 September.
Poland needs 1,500-2,000 MW a year of new power
Wednesday, September 3, 2008WARSAW, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Poland needs to build between 1,500 and 2,000 megawatts a year of new power capacity to keep up with growing demand, an adviser to the economy minister said on Wednesday.
The country, which needs to increase capacity quickly to make up for years of abandoning investments and plant renovations, would be interested in building natural-gas fired plants, Joanna Strzelec-Lobodzinska said.
"The estimates show Poland needs to create between 1,500 and 2,000 MW in new capacities to keep up with growing demand and replace outdated technologies," Lobodzinska told reporters.