UK details waste management future
The UK government has published the arrangements for management and
disposal of future nuclear wastes. After demonstrating detailed and
costed plans for decommissioning, waste management and disposal before
they begin construction, operators will need to set aside funds
progressively into a secure and independent fund in much the same way
as most other countries. The government will set a "fixed unit price
for disposal of intermediate-level wastes and spent fuel," which "will
include a significant risk premium" and escalate with inflation. The
government will then take title to the wastes and accept liability for
disposing of them. A new Nuclear Liabilities Financing Assurance Board
is to be set up in 2008 to advise the government in relation to each
proposal and setting the fees. It will have a strong actuarial
function.
Operators will need to make their own arrangements regarding
disposal of low-level operational wastes, and fund that as they go
along. All other waste and decommissioning costs will be met from the
Independent Fund set up by each operator for each plant. The fixed unit
price will be paid into each fund and form part of its corpus alongside
other provisions. Mid-2009 is given as the earliest date that generic
fixed unit price figures for intermediate- and high-level wastes will
be available to aspiring operators. Final figures will then be
negotiated in the light of specific proposals.
UK becomes 21st member of GNEP The UK has become the 21st member of the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP), indicating a fresh approach to its whole nuclear power sector and a willingness to play a significant role globally in fuel cycle technology and non-proliferation. The UK had been a notable absentee from GNEP and the country's inclusion means the partnership now includes all the countries that pioneered nuclear power in the 1950s, all the permanent members of the UN Security Council, all the major uranium exporters and apart from India, all the countries with reprocessing facilities.
Areva reports strong results and upbeat future Areva has reported improvement in sales and profit, with an 85% increase in nuclear orders. Looking further ahead to 2030, it expects to build one third of the world's new nuclear generating capacity (in "accessible markets") by then. The 2030 scenario has 267 GWe of nuclear capacity reaching its nominal end of life by then but 186 GWe of this being granted life extension. Added to this will be 344 GWe of new build, making 635 GWe total nuclear capacity then - half way between the 2030 WNA Reference and Upper scenarios of 2007 and 21% above the World Energy Outlook alternative scenario of 2007.
Sixth full US application for reactor licence Entergy has lodged a combined construction and operating licence (COL) prepared by industry consortium NuStart Energy Development for a new GE-Hitachi 1550 MWe ESBWR reactor at its Grand Gulf site in Mississippi. It already has an early site permit for putting a new reactor there.
IAEA confirms no damage to quaked reactors The second inspection team from the International Atomic Energy Agency has confirmed after inspecting key internal components that there is apparently "no significant damage to the integrity of the plant" at Kashiwazaki Kariwa in Japan. It was shut down after a major earthquake in July, and is not expected to restart for some time.
