Nuclear news 16/11/2007

Russian company is most likely to win contract to build nuclear plant in Belarus, researchers say
Naviny.By
The researcher said that the Belarusian government considered Westinghouse Toshiba, a US-Japanese venture, France’s Areva Group and Russia’s Atomstroiexport as potential contractors. While offering the same quality of services and equipment as the former two, the Russian company is likely to charge Belarus less, he stressed. “Apart from this, if we opt for the Russian supplier, we will share the language and technologies, have the opportunity to obtain loans in the framework of the Union State, train staff at Russian schools of higher learning,” Dr. Tsimashpolski added.

Ignalina shutdown makes a mockery of extension call
The Baltic Times
The reactor at the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant (INPP) switched itself off on Thursday afternoon according to media reports.
An automatic shutdown system was triggered for reasons that have yet to be made clear, though it is not believed that there has been any leak or radiation or other public hazard. The last functioning reactor of Ignalina's two reactors recently underwent planned maintenance and was only brought back online on Sep. 28. Regardless of how serious or trivial the reason for the automatic shutdown turns out to be, the timing could barely be worse for campaigners hoping to persuade the European Commission to grant a stay of execution to Ignalina.

India to Start Safeguard Talks on U.S. Nuclear Accord
Bloomberg
India's government will start safeguard negotiations with the global atomic energy regulator as part of steps to implement a civilian nuclear accord with the U.S., after communist allies lifted their objection to the move.
The communist parties, key allies of the federal ruling coalition, allowed the government to hold initial talks with International Atomic Energy Agency on condition the government won't enter into an agreement without their prior approval.

New life for India's nuclear deal
BBC
India's communist parties have approved the government starting crucial talks with a UN watchdog on a controversial civilian nuclear deal with the US.
The move by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's left allies has revived hopes that the deal is not dead.
Earlier, the communists had opposed the deal, threatening to pull out of the governing coalition.

Ahmadinejad calls on U.S. to apologize for accusing Iran of seeking nuclear bomb
International Herald Tribune
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Friday called for the United States to apologize to Iran for accusing it of seeking to develop nuclear weapons after a U.N. watchdog report found Tehran generally truthful about key aspects of its nuclear history.
While acknowledging Iran's relative cooperation, the International Atomic Energy Agency did say that restrictions the Iranians put on U.N. inspectors two years ago mean it still cannot rule out that it has a secret weapons program, as suspected by Washington and its allies.

Russia readies nuclear fuel bound for Iran
Reuters India
Russia on Friday gave the clearest indication yet that it was ready to send uranium to fuel Iran's first atomic power station, upping the stakes in a diplomatic crisis surrounding Tehran's nuclear programme.
Russia's state-run nuclear fuel producer said inspectors from the United Nations' nuclear watchdog would later this month start sealing nuclear fuel bound for the Bushehr plant, a major step to shipping the fuel to the Bushehr plant in Iran.

Asian countries cautiously promote nuclear power, plan massive tree-planting
Associated Press
Asian countries, along with Australia, would cautiously promote nuclear power and embark on a massive tree-planting campaign to battle global warming.
Such plans to ease climate change are among steps outlined in three declarations to be issued at next week's summit in Singapore of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations and six economic powerhouses led by China, Japan, India and Australia.