urg:::UIC weekly digest
Uranium Information Centre
uic@mpx.com.au
Thu, 13 Jun 2002 17:22:51 +0100
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<div><font color="#000000"> <br>
14 June 2002<br>
<br>
<b>Significant nuclear-related news items in perspective<br>
<br>
<br>
Finland a 'role model' for UK -
BE. </b></font></div>
<div><font color="#000000">The Executive Chairman of British Energy
has pointed to Finland as a role model for UK energy policy, since
there had been progress from debate to implementation. He cited
two key aspects: a commitment to rational energy policy which looked
to the future in respect to security of supply and price vulnerability
as well as environmental quality, and its long-term commitment to
dealing with nuclear wastes. The latter dated from the early
1980s and there has been steady progress towards having a deep
geological repository for all Finland's spent fuel operating in 2020,
with the support of communities involved. This would be fully
funded from past and future levies on electricity produced.
Underground low- and intermediate-level waste repositories are already
operating, along with a spent fuel storage facility separate from the
reactors, since 1987. The recent decision to add 40-50% to
Finland's nuclear capacity was seen as a helpful example for BE's
endeavours to at least maintain the nuclear proportion of UK's
electricity long-term.</font><br>
<font color="#000000"></font></div>
<div><font color="#000000"><b>Bruce Power to upgrade
plant.</b> </font></div>
<div><font color="#000000">British Energy subsidiary Bruce Power has
announced that it is investing C$ 1.8 billion to upgrade the two Bruce
nuclear power plants which it leases from Ontario Power Generation.
C$ 625 million has already been spent for the lease and assets, C$ 340
million will be spent on the restart of Bruce A units 3 & 4 (1538
MWe) to mid 2003, and some C$ 800 million will be spent over two years
on replacing turbines and other improvements at the four Bruce B
reactors (3440 MWe), the operation of which is substantially funding
the program. In addition, annual lease payments to OPG are over
C$ 100 million. The company is 15% owned by Cameco, 5% by
unions, and 80% by
BE. </font></div>
<div><font color="#000000"><i>NucNet business news # 34/02.</i><br>
<br>
<b>New grants to refurbish US nuclear
education</b>. </font></div>
<div><font color="#000000">In the context of concern about nuclear
physics and engineering programs and research reactor facilities at US
universities, a new program has been set up to encourage new
investment in these areas and to establish strategic partnerships with
national laboratories and industry. The Innovations in Nuclear
Infrastructure & Education (INIE) program will complement 65 new
nuclear engineering grants by the Dept. of Energy to 31
universities. </font></div>
<div><font color="#000000"><i>NucNet news # 206/02.</i><br>
<br>
<b>Further boosts to US power plants.</b> </font></div>
<div><font color="#000000">The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has
renewed the operating licences of FP&L's Turkey Point units 3 &
4. The twin 666 MWe units started up in 1972-73 and will now be
able to run until 2032-33. This makes a total of ten units at
five sites which have had licences renewed for a further 20 years.<br>
<br>
The NRC has also approved a 15% uprate for CP&L's Brunswick
nuclear power plant. Unit 1 will be increased from 841 to 958
MWe, and next year unit 2 will be boosted from 835 to 951 MWe.
The reactors started up in 1975-76.</font></div>
<div><font color="#000000"><i>NucNet news # 206/02, Ux Weekly
10/6/02.</i><br>
<br>
<i><b>Briefing/information papers updated</b></i>:<x-tab>
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<div><font color="#000000">Nuclear energy in Finland<br>
Reactor table<x-tab>
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<div><font color="#000000">The Hydrogen economy<br>
<br>
<b>World Nuclear Association</b>, 114 Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7LJ,
UK<br>
<b>Uranium Information Centre,</b> GPO Box 1649N,
Melbourne 3001, Australia<x-tab> </x-tab><br>
E-mail: wna@world-nuclear.org,
uic@mpx.com.au<x-tab>
</x-tab><x-tab>
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</x-tab><x-tab>
</x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab>ISSN
1326-4907</font><br>
<font color="#000000"></font></div>
<div><font face="" color="#000000">-- <br>
Regards, Ian Hore-Lacy</font></div>
<div><font face="" color="#000000"><br>
General Manager, <br>
Uranium Information Centre, Melbourne<br>
http://www.uic.com.au</font></div>
<div><font face="" color="#000000">Head of Communications,
</font></div>
<div><font face="" color="#000000">World Nuclear Association,
London</font></div>
<div><font face=""
color="#000000">http://www.world-nuclear.org</font></div>
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