Middle East

Uranium Nations Urged Not To Sell To Iran: Report
24 January 2009

REUTERS (LONDON)—The United States, Britain, France, and Germany believe Iran is running low on raw uranium for its nuclear program. The Western countries are urging uranium exporting countries not to sell to Tehran. Britain’s Foreign Office ordered its diplomats in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Brazil (all major uranium exporters) to lobby their respective governments on the issue. The vice president of Kazakhstan’s state atomic company told Reuters that the country plans to increase uranium production to nearly 12,000 tonnes this year (from 8,600 tonnes in 2008). Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE50N19U20090124?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews (Reliability--High 52.88)

Africa, Australia, And South America

Nigeria Nuclear Power By 2017
27 January 2009

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE (IBADAN, NIGERIA)— Edet Uwak, a nuclear physicist and professor at the Univerisity of Calabar in Nigeria, said the country has begun the process of building nuclear power plants, with nuclear power available as early as 2017. Uwak said there were huge uranium deposits in the country, which is essential for a sustained nuclear power capability. He urged the federal government of Nigeria to provide an environment conducive for the development of nuclear power in order for Nigeria to join with other nations using nuclear power as a source of energy. Source: http://www.tribune.com.ng/27012009/news/news11.html (Reliability: Moderate – 39.50)

Eastern Europe

First Fusion For Travelling Reactor
28 January 2009

WORLD NUCLEAR NEWS (LONDON)--Physicists at the Czech Academy of Sciences (CAV) announced a successful discharge of plasma from their Compass D reactor. The presence of plasma indicated a controlled discharge of thermonuclear power that occurred on 09 DEC 08 after CAV's scientists conducted six months of upgrades and diagnostic tests on the reactor. CAV purchased the reactor, valued at USD 32 million, from the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority's Culham Research Centre for USD 1.45 to replace CAV's outdated, Russian-designed tokamak Acquisition and successful operation of the Compass D reactor establishes CAV's Institute of Plasma Physics as the only entity in Eastern Europe with an operational tokamak. The reactor enables the Czech Republic to expand nuclear fusion research relevant to the Iter project. Source:
http://http//www.world-nuclear-news.org/newsarticle.aspx?id=24546
(Source Reliability: High -- 56.02)

North America

Nuclear Fusion-Fission Hybrid Could Destroy Nuclear Waste, Contribute To Carbon-Free Energy Future
27 January 2009

ENGR.UTEXAS.EDU/NEWS (AUSTIN, TEXAS) - Physisists at the University of Texas discovered a process, that when fully developed, could eliminate 99 % of the transuranic waste created by nuclear power plants functioning today. The key invention for this process to work is the "Super X Diverter." A containment unit enabling the Compact Fusion Neutron Source to safely produce large amounts of neutrons, and heat, without destroying the system in which it operates. This system allows for the burning of transuranic waste in a stable environment. Source: http://www.engr.utexas.edu/news/articles/200901271625/index.cfm (Reliability: Moderate - 43.82)

Former Soviet Union

Russia Scraps Plan To Deploy Nuclear-Capable Missiles In Kaliningrad
28 January 2009

GUARDIAN.CO.UK (MOSCOW) - Russia announced it is abandoning plans to deploy nuclear-capable Iskander missiles in its European Kaliningrad outpost, in what appears to be a sign that it wants to improve relations with a new United States administration. The move comes after President Obama announced he would review missile defense plans in Eastern Europe. Anonymous sources suggest the olive branch may in fact be nothing more than a test to see how President Obama responds. While Obama has not yet stated how he will approach the proposed missile shield, reports suggest he is skeptical of its value. Source: http://tinyurl.com/cecrx3 (Reliability : High - 47.94)

Comment: This announcement coincides with Putin's speech in Switzerland concerning the world economic crisis in which he blames the United States for igniting the downturn but also hopes that the West and Russia can "cooperate constructively." Perhaps an olive branch, the above announcement should be taken cautiously, as the financial crisis is hurting Russia considerably. Previous months have seen tough talk on missile deployment immediately following the American elections and rumors of S300 missile deals with Iran. Russia sounds a little different once the energy dollars stop pouring in.

Asia

New Nuclear Power Plants In China To Be Fully Digital
26 January 2009

CONTROL ENGINEERING (BEIJING)-- The Fuqing and Fangjiashan nuclear power projects are located in Fuijan and Zhejiang provinces, respectively. China Nuclear Power Engineering Corporation (CNPE) chose Invensys Process Systems (IPS) to develop and supply the fully digitized nuclear control rooms, equipped with the latest simulation technologies, critical control, and safety systems. IPS says it will provide an integrated technology platform for both safety and control systems, using its Triconex and Foxboro I/A Series products. The project also includes an advanced reactor protection system (RPS) using functional software and hardware diversity. Ulf Henriksson, chief executive officer of Invensys adds, “We are pleased to enter into this strategic relationship with China and to partner with CNPE to help increase China’s capacity for clean power generation. We are confident this long-term partnership will contribute to the timely deployment of the new digitized nuclear power plants in China." Source: http://www.controleng.com/article/CA6630853.html?industryid=48517 (Reliability: Moderate -- 41.2)

Western Europe

Spain Insists On Energy Saving, Not Nuclear Plants

21 January 2009

REUTERS (MADRID) — Spain reaffirmed its policy of not commissioning new nuclear power plants a day after its biggest utility unveiled plans to build them in Britain, while repeating pledges to boost renewable and save energy. Industry Minister Miguel Sebastian stated Spanish energy consumption per head was 20 percent above the European average and saving that 20 percent would be cheaper and easier than doubling the number of nuclear power plants. Also, the saving is immediate and not controversial. Spain’s government will invest more in safety than extending the lives of the current either nuclear power plants. Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssIndustryMaterialsUtilitiesNews/idUSLL64460720090121 (Reliability: High – 53.47)