Conference Urges Enhanced Nuclear Safety
By J C Suresh | IDN-InDepth NewsReport
OTTAWA (IDN) - Experts from more than 50 nuclear and non-nuclear countries have stressed the need for enhancing safety and security culture with a view to preventing the occurrence and minimizing the consequences of accidents in nuclear power plants. The call emerged from a four-day conference hosted by the Canadian government in Ottawa.
This was the third international conference of its kind organised by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) since the first such gathering held in Moscow in 2006, followed by the second 2009 in Cape Town, South Africa. The next International Regulatory Conference will take place in 2016 and will be hosted by the European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group (ENSREG) at a location yet to be determined.
Nuclear Energy Far From Extinct
By Richard Johnson | IDN-InDepth NewsReport
LONDON (IDN) - While Japan’s reactors remain vulnerable two years after Fukushima disaster, more than 45 countries, ranging from sophisticated economies to developing nations are reported to be actively considering embarking upon nuclear power programs, The front runners after Iran are said to be UAE, Turkey, Vietnam, Belarus, Poland and Jordan.
‘Nuclear Power Far Safer Than Fossil Fuels’
By J. C. Suresh | IDN-InDepth NewsAnalysis
TORONTO (IDN) - Two eminent NASA scientists have taken up the cudgels for nuclear power, which is being increasingly pooh-poohed around the world since the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in March 2011.
A landmark study by scientist-turned-climate activist James Hansen, who has been more outspoken than virtually all of his peers on the need for climate action, and his NASA colleague Pushker Kharecha avers that nuclear power is far safer than natural gas. According to them, 1.84 million lives have been saved by the worldwide use of nuclear power instead of fossil fuels between1971 and 2009.
Japan Offers Iran Help in Things Nuclear
By Richard Johnson | 
IDN-InDepth NewsAnalysis
LONDON (IDN) - As western powers debate unabatedly Tehran’s real intentions behind harnessing energy from the atom, Japan is willing to provide Iran technical advice, equipment support and vast experience of abiding by nonproliferation safeguards so that it may practice its right to peacefully use nuclear power, says a Japanese government official serving as research fellow at the Federation of American Scientists (FAS).
Anti-Nuclear Power Protests Continue in India
By Devinder Kumar | IDN-InDepth NewsReport
NEW DELHI (IDN) - Though the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCIL) and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh are at pains to 'sell' atomic energy as a "safe, environmental friendly and an economically viable source of electrical energy to meet the increasing need of electricity in the country", protests continue unabated.
Abu Dhabi Conference Focuses On Energy For All
By Bernhard Schell | IDN-InDepth NewsReport
DUBAI (IDN) – More than one billion people live without electricity mainly in poor and rural communities. Providing universal access to energy will therefore be a key discussion point at the sixth World Future Energy Summit (WEES) from January15 to17 in Abu Dhabi, an eminent emirate of the federation of United Aran Emirates (UAE).
Czechs Move Cautiously Towards More Nuclear
By Eva Weiler
IDN-InDepth NewsReport
PRAGUE (IDN) - The Czech Republic plans to lessen its dependence on coal and increase in the next 20 to 30 years the share of nuclear power to supply half of its energy needs under a new long-term energy policy unveiled by Prime Minister Petr Necas.
The policy document, drafted by the Industry and Trade Ministry and approved by the cabinet on November 8, also sets the way for the Czech Republic to achieve a 13 percent share of renewable sources in total energy consumption by 2020, as is required by the European Union, according to the Czech News Agency (ČTK).
China Cautious About Building New Nuclear Plants
By Richard Johnson
IDN-InDepth NewsReport
LONDON (IDN) - More than eighteen months after the Fukushima nuclear disaster in March 2011 in Japan, China continues to exercise caution in returning to building new nuclear power plants. After an executive meeting, the State Council or China's cabinet, presided over by Premier Wen Jiabao, has decided not to set up any atomic plants in inland regions, but only build a few in coastal areas that have gone through adequate justification.
Within days of Fukushima accident, the Council had decided to halt approvals and licensing for new reactors until a safety plan was in place, and there was assurance that existing plants were adequately designed, sited, protected and managed.
Nuclear Industry Upbeat About Future
By Richard Johnson
IDN-InDepth NewsReport
LONDON (IDN) - Though it is still too early to assess the full impact of the Fukushima atomic power plant accident in March 2011, the World Nuclear Association (WNA) believes that it will have "very little impact" on global nuclear fuel markets.
In the latest edition of its biennial report, Global Nuclear Fuel Market: Supply and Demand 2011-2030, the WNA believes that it is possible to make some "reasonable deductions". Despite the closure of reactors in Japan and Germany – and slowdowns in some programs in response to Fukushima – the report notes that the global situation for energy supply and demand remains "effectively unchanged".
Japan Finds it Hard to Abandon Nuclear Energy
By Richard Johnson
IDN-InDepth NewsReport
LONDON (IDN) - The restart of the Ohi nuclear reactor on July 1 in Fukui prefecture, near the centre of the Japan Sea Coast, points to a momentous trend nearly 15 months after the Fukushima meltdown, particularly as this is the first nuclear site to go back online since Japan shut down the last of the country's nuclear reactors in May 2012 because of security concerns.
Mexico Cautious About Nuclear Power
By Richard Johnson
IDN-InDepth NewsReport
LONDON (IDN) – Against the backdrop of the Fukushima disaster, Mexico has decided to tango nuclear and wind power to meet 23% of the country's electricity needs by 2026. The new energy plan also envisages connecting the Mexico's entire population to the grid, cutting back transmission losses and developing abundant shale gas reserves.
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