urg:::UIC weekly digest
Uranium Information Centre
uic@mpx.com.au
Thu, 20 Jun 2002 16:01:17 +0100
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<div><font color="#000000"> <br>
21 June 2002<br>
<br>
<b>Significant nuclear-related news items in
perspective</b></font><br>
<font color="#000000"><b></b></font></div>
<div><font color="#000000"><b>Cameco purchases Smith Ranch
mine.</b> Through a subsidiary which already operates the
adjacent Highland ISL mine, Cameco Corporation has agreed to purchase
the Smith Ranch ISL mine in Wyoming from BHP Billiton subsidiary Rio
Algom. The 900 t/yr mine has reserves of 12,000 tonnes U3O8.
The deal includes "other ISL properties" in the state.
Cameco will assume US$ 11 million decommissioning
liabilities. </font></div>
<div><font color="#000000">Cameco 19/6/02.</font></div>
<div><font color="#000000"><br>
<b>New Canadian reactor design launched. </b> AECL
has announced the launch of its Advanced Candu Reactor (ACR),
previously known as the Candu NG. This departs from traditional
CANDU technology in having light water cooling as in a PWR, and a
compact core with slightly enriched uranium oxide. Capital cost
is thus 40% lower (about US$ 1000 per kilowatt if built in pairs) and
construction of a 700 MWe model could begin in 2005. A 1000 MWe
version is under development. AECL has a pre-application review
of the ACR-700 design under way with the US Nuclear Regulatory
Commission, and the design is under active consideration by British
Energy for UK.<br>
AECL June 2002, Nukem Market Report June 2002.<br>
<br>
<b>Sweden to initiate talks on nuclear future</b>.
Sweden's parliament has confirmed coalition government plans to
initiate discussion with the nuclear utilities regarding closure of
ten Swedish nuclear reactors at the end of their economic lives,
possibly after 2030. The decision excludes Barseback-2, which is
planned for closure next year if its output can be replaced from
non-fossil sources and there is no economic detriment. There is
no sign of these conditions being met. The broader decision
confirms the step back from the 2010 nuclear phase-out envisaged in a
1980 referendum, and is influenced by the agreement between the German
government and its utilities for eventual phase-out after several
decades. Discussions are likely to centre on Sweden's unique
nuclear generation tax which adds some 15% to nuclear generation
costs, and replacement capacity. <br>
Nucleonics Week 13/6/02, NucNet background # 10/02.</font><br>
<font color="#000000"></font></div>
<div><font color="#000000"><b>Lithuania to close second reactor in
2009</b>. After sustained disagreement on the issue,
negotiations between Lithuania and the EU have resulted in a decision
to close Ignalina-2 in 2009, conditional upon "adequate financial
support" from the EU. This helps clear the way for the
country to join the EU in 2004. Ignalina-1 is to close by 2005.
Both are very large Soviet RBMK type reactors which started up in 1984
and 1987, and supply 80% of the country's
electricity. </font></div>
<div><font color="#000000">Nucleonics Week 13/6/02.<br>
<br>
<b>Clarification of terrorist vulnerability</b>. A study
undertaken by the Electric Power Research Institute has confirmed the
initial assessment that US nuclear power plants would withstand a
September 11 type attack without any catastrophic release of
radioactivity. Both reactor containment and spent fuel storage
were considered.<br>
The Nuclear Energy Institute has also responded to media speculation
that a 'dirty bomb' might utilise spent nuclear fuel from power
reactors, and underlined the practical impossibility of this on
radiological and physical grounds as well as normal security.<br>
NEI Infowire 18/6/02, NucNet background # 9/02.<br>
<br>
<i><b>Briefing/info papers updated</b></i>: </font></div>
<div><font color="#000000">Economics of nuclear
power<x-tab>
</x-tab> </font></div>
<div><font color="#000000">Small nuclear power reactors<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>
</x-tab><x-tab>
</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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