Nuclear News 1/02/2008

IAEA: No Major Damage to Quake-Hit Plant
AP

There was no significant damage to a nuclear plant in northern Japan shuttered since last summer after it was hit by a strong earthquake, the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency said Friday.
A 12-member team from the International Atomic Energy Agency drew that conclusion after a four-day visit to Tokyo and the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear complex, which was rocked by a magnitude-6.8 quake July 16.
The quake, which killed 11 people and injured more than 1,000, caused malfunctions and leaks at the plant — the world's largest by capacity — and raised concerns about safety at Japan's nuclear power stations.

Russian-made floating nuclear power plants could be offered to ease SA tightness
Engineering News, South Africa

Russian technology could help South Africa to meet its medium-term energy needs, roughly in the period 2011 to 2015, by which time new baseload power stations planned by State-owned power utility Eskom should be in full operation.
Russia is in the middle of developing an approach to power generation which could help South Africa to temporarily bridge the generation gap currently afflicting the country. What the Russians are doing is building the world’s first floating nuclear power plant (FNPP) intended to provide power for terrestrial infrastructure.

Thailand opens study on possible nuclear plant
AFP

Thailand has launched a three-year study to decide whether the kingdom should build a nuclear power plant to meet its growing energy needs, a top energy official said Friday.
The study, which will cost about 1.8 billion baht (54.5 million dollars), will include a survey of potential sites, developing safety regulations and a public education campaign, said Kopr Kritaykirana, an adviser to the project.
The research is being undertaken by the new Nuclear Power Program Development Office, which was officially opened by the energy ministry on Thursday, he said.

Balts, Poland to meet on delayed nuclear plant plan
Reuters

Economy ministers from the Baltic states and Poland are to meet next week to talk on delayed plans for a new nuclear power plant aimed at replacing one Lithuania has to shut down at the end of 2009.
Talks on the new plant have become bogged down due to Polish demands for a third of the power, though four partners are involved. Poland has linked its demand to agreeing to build a power link between its grid and that of Lithuania.
The Latvian Economy Ministry said in a statement that the economy ministers of the four countries would have a working meeting and get an update on the nuclear plant plans as well as the project for the power bridge to Poland and one to Sweden.

Turkey to invite bidders for nuclear power plant auction in February
The New Anatolian

Turkish Energy Minister Hilmi Guler said Thursday Turkey was set to make an official invitation in February for potential bidders in an auction to build the country's first nuclear power plant."We have finished necessary legal arrangements and we will invite bidders on February 21st," Guler told reporters after he received the members of RUWARD Youth Education Center based in Kuwait. Guler also underlined that Turkey would use nuclear technology solely for civilian purposes.