IAEA Daily Press Review
The objective of the DPR is to present a general overview of international, English-language, media coverage of the IAEA and nuclear issues, that does not purport to be exhaustive. The following articles are obtained from external news sources for whose content the IAEA takes no responsibility.
September 7, 2012
Nuclear News
Russia warns against attacking Iran over nuclear fears Russia has starkly warned Israel and the United States against attacking Iran, saying Moscow sees no evidence that Tehran’s nuclear programme is aimed at developing weapons, the Interfax news agency reported on Thursday. Daily Times
S. Korea, China keeping ‘close watch’ on nuclear reactor progress in NK South Korea and China are keeping a “close watch” on the progress in North Korea’s light-water atomic reactor project that experts say may help expand the North’s nuclear weapons capacity, a high-ranking Seoul official said Friday. Yonhap
Cesium level down to quarter on sea floor off Ibaraki: study The first sequential study of cesium concentration on the sea floor off Ibaraki Prefecture has found the level of the radioactive element in coastal areas dropped to about a quarter about 13 kilometers off shore. Kyodo
Japan utility behind nuke crisis says can’t afford to develop renewable energy The head of the Japanese utility that owns the tsunami-hit Fukushima nuclear power plant says last year’s meltdowns sapped away money it might have used to switch to alternative energy, making it all the more important for the company to stick with nuclear. AP
Won’t stop fuel loading at nuclear plant, says court The Madras high court has refused to interfere with an Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) order permitting loading of fuel in the first unit of the Kudankulam nuclear power plant. TNN
Myanmar Eases Concerns on Secret Nuclear Program: State Department Myanmar has eased worries that it might pursue a secret nuclear program in collaboration with pariah state North Korea, the U.S. State Department said in a new report. GSN
Number of US nuclear units under increased oversight jumped in H1 2012: NRC The number of nuclear power reactors under heightened oversight by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission more than doubled in first-half 2012, to 41 units from 15 in second-half 2011, according to data released by the agency late Thursday. Platts
Spain’s oldest nuclear plant to be mothballed in July 2013 Spain’s oldest nuclear plant, known as the ‘sister’ to Japan’s disaster-struck Fukushima plant, is to be closed in July 2013 after 42 years in service, the operator said Thursday. AFP
Westinghouse Awarded Contract to Provide Feasibility Study for Hybrid Reactor Unit at Kozloduy NPP Westinghouse Electric Company has announced that it has received a contract from the Kozloduy NPP – New Build PLC of Bulgaria to perform a feasibility study on a potential seventh unit at the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant. SPX
Nuclear industry needs incentives The nuclear-power sector has failed to attract enough people, including outstanding students, as the incentive policy for nuclear workers has not been made clear, said State officials in the field. VNS
Govt plans a second nuke power plant Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the government would build a second nuclear power plant apart from the one to be constructed at Rooppur. Daily Star
Agneta Rising selected for WNA Agneta Rising will take over as director general of the World Nuclear Association (WNA) from 1 January 2013, upon the retirement of current head John Ritch. WNN
Opinion and Analysis
What We Know About Iran’s Nukes WSJ
Russian nuclear support for Iran limited by distrust CSM
Race to the End: Pakistan’s terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad idea to develop battlefield nukes FP
Nuclear safety Express Tribune
The oversight imperative BOAS