Rio outbids Cameco for Hathor Exploration
Rio Tinto is expanding its presence in Canada with an all-cash offer to acquire Hathor Exploration, which owns the Roughrider uranium deposit in Saskatchewan. See http://www.mining.com/2011/10/19/rio-outbids-cameco-for-hathor-exploration/.
Ranger mine owner seeks $A500 million for next stage development
Energy Resources of Australia Ltd, operator of the world class Ranger uranium project in Australia’s Northern Territory, has put out the bowl to shareholders seeking to raise A$500 million (US$505.9 million). The company, controlled by Rio Tinto, has announced a fully underwritten 12 for seven renounceable entitlement at an issue price of A$1.53 (US$1.548) per share. Rio Tinto said it is committed to taking up its 68.4% entitlement and indicated it would participate in sub-underwriting the retail entitlement offer. See http://www.mineweb.com/mineweb/view/mineweb/en/page72103?oid=137387&sn=Detail&pid=92730.
Go-ahead for UK nuclear programme
The Fukushima disaster provides no reason to restrict UK nuclear reactors or stop building new ones, the official nuclear regulator has concluded. Dr Mike Weightman, the UK’s chief nuclear inspector, found no fundamental weaknesses in the current licensing regime or safety principles. The government commissioned the report after events in March damaged Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi plant. See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-15256981.
Protest against nuclear plant in England
A quiet country road in Somerset was the setting for a 250 strong blockade as activists gathered to oppose the construction of Hinkley C – the first new nuclear power station to be built in the UK for over twenty years, part of government plans for up to ten in total. The project is backed by French energy corporation EDF.
See http://stophinkley.org/StopPress.htm.
10,000 protesters lay siege to Indian nuclear plant site
The agitation against Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant near Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu state reached a feverish pitch recently with more than 10,000 activists laying siege to all the entry points to the project site. See http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_10000-protesters-lay-siege-to-tamil-nadu-nuclear-plant-site_1598354.