Hinkley Point Power Station, Somerset, England
The climate change crisis is upon us. The world’s leading climate scientists agree that time is rapidly running out and that urgent steps are needed in the next 10 years to dramatically reduce our carbon emissions. But exchanging global warming for nuclear meltdown is not the answer.
See http://edition.cnn.com/2013/11/07/opinion/pandora-nuclear-gunter-kamps/index.html.
Fukushima nuclear disaster is warning to the world, says power company boss
The catastrophic triple meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in March 2011 was “a warning to the world” about the hazards of nuclear power and contained lessons for the British government as it plans a new generation of nuclear power stations, the man with overall responsibility for the operation in Japan has told the Guardian.
See http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/nov/19/uk-government-new-plant-fukushima-nuclear-disaster-warning.
New-Build Nuclear Is Dead: Morningstar
Nuclear reactors are not a viable source of new power in the West, Morningstar analysts conclude in a report this month to institutional investors. Nuclear’s “enormous costs, political and popular opposition, and regulatory uncertainty” render new reactors infeasible even in regions where they make economic sense, according to Morningstar’s Utilities Observer report for November.
See http://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffmcmahon/2013/11/10/new-build-nuclear-is-dead-morningstar/?ss=business:energy.
French nuclear giant Areva slammed for ‘tax negotiation’ in Niger
Areva is cotracted to supply uranium as part of its services for the proposed new nuclear power station, Hinkley Point C, in Somerset, England.
The French uranium mining firm Areva is facing calls to end its practice of securing tax exemptions from the government of Niger, one of the poorest countries in the world, as contract negotiations between the two reach a critical stage. Uranium makes up about 70% of exports from Niger, but only 5.8% of the country’s GDP. Campaigners say that one of the reasons for this is a series of national tax opt-outs that the company has secured in its existing contracts.
See http://www.euractiv.com/development-policy/french-nuclear-giant-areva-slamm-news-531914.
AREVA/NIGER : Oxfam chooses Nigerien side
Oxfam France has published a French language report entitled “Areva in Niger: Who benefits from uranium?“, showing that the partnership between the French company and the African country does not profit the latter.