[While I have heard of Canadian engineers being in unions and some utilities in the US having unionized engineers, this is the first time I heard of such unions protesting. Prior to the credit crunch, the projections showed increased pressure on wages due to the new plant efforts and retirements.]
http://www.ksby.com/Global/story.asp?S=9513693
Posted: Dec 12, 2008 06:22 PM EST
Reported by: Stacy Daniel
Employees at Diablo Canyon picket outside the nuclear power plant. They are trying to call attention to what they say are unsafe working conditions.
Nuclear engineers claim the plant is putting profits before safety. They say that employees are not paid enough and because of that, it makes retaining qualified workers difficult.
Senior Consulting Engineer Cory Pfau said, "Their heart is really in it as you can see. We're out here to make sure management knows that. We are united and we're going to fight for what's right and what's fair."
Their gripe: PG&E is putting profits before safety. Workers said the plant is doing nothing to attract new engineers.
As aging employees prepare to retire, more positions are outsourced. Employees said that compromises the safety of not only the employees at Diablo Canyon, but also the people who live close to the nuclear power plant.
Rob Martin is a Senior Electrical Engineer. He said, "Nuclear power is a very complicated industry and so we need the very best engineers to come here and keep this the best power plant in the country. I think San Luis [Obispo] County deserves that, and I think they expect that."
A representative for PG&E told Action News safety is the plant's number one priority.
PG&E spokesperson Emily Christensen said, "PG&E pays very competitive wages and it gives us the ability to attract some of the most talented highly skilled professionals, and we do believe that our employees here at Diablo Canyon are among some of the best in the industry - and their salaries, frankly, do reflect that."
Employees said if that were true they wouldn't be out here demanding change. Organizers said picketing was a last resort, but they felt it was neccessary to call attention to their grievances.
This is the first organized picket at the power plant since the engineers unionized eight months ago. Organizers said more will follow.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Russian expert suggests Kaliningrad nuclear plan for Baltics
If foreign investors are roped into building Baltic nuclear plant in Kaliningad, they’re most likely Baltic countries, who are interested in fortifying their energy security, Aleksei Ivanov from Kurchanov’s institute told Regnum, ERR News reports.
Planned power of Baltic nuclear plant (2300 mega watts) assumes export to neighbours, Baltic counties, since the plant is too powerful for Kaliningrad.
Declaration about investments into two energy blocks of Baltic nuclear plant was signed on November 21. Investment into that is 124.3 billion rubles (EEK 59.6 bln).
Considering the energy deficit in that part of the Europe, especially after Ignalina’s closure, only Baltic nuclear plan can guarantee energy supply, Ivanov said. No noted that other countires haven’t got further of words in he question of building nuclear plant.
(Source: Baltic Business News)
Planned power of Baltic nuclear plant (2300 mega watts) assumes export to neighbours, Baltic counties, since the plant is too powerful for Kaliningrad.
Declaration about investments into two energy blocks of Baltic nuclear plant was signed on November 21. Investment into that is 124.3 billion rubles (EEK 59.6 bln).
Considering the energy deficit in that part of the Europe, especially after Ignalina’s closure, only Baltic nuclear plan can guarantee energy supply, Ivanov said. No noted that other countires haven’t got further of words in he question of building nuclear plant.
(Source: Baltic Business News)
Britain's nuclear power ambition needs investment in training
Britain's nuclear power ambitions will only be realised if generators, contractors and consultants invest in training to upskill the UK supply chain, a lead contractor said last week.
Balfour Beatty chief operating officer Andrew McNaughton said that people working in the nuclear power plants supply chain would need retraining so they can deliver new nuclear facilities.
McNaughton was speaking as his firm agreed a deal to deliver French reactor manufacturer Areva's European Pressurised Reactor (EPR) in the UK.
"We need to start investigating the knowledge development that the supply chain needs to make [to deliver new nuclear power stations]," he said.
The National Skills Academy for Nuclear estimates the sector will need to recruit an additional 10,000 people over the next 10 years. At the same time 80% of the existing 50,000 strong workforce is older than 50.
Balfour Beatty will work with Areva to identify the skills and resources in the civils sector that are needed to deliver a fleet of EPRs. Rolls Royce is working with Areva on mechanical and electrical equipment supply issues.
Areva president Luc Oursel said the UK's new build programme could be as large as 20GW to 25GW, although to date only generators EDF and E.ON have ambitions to build new plants.
EDF is set to take over eight of the UK's 10 operational nuclear plants with a £12.5bn takeover of British Energy. It intends to build four new nuclear reactors in the UK, with the first to be operational by 2017.
E.ON plans to build two new nuclear reactors, although it has yet to secure any UK sites.
E.ON has signalled its willingness to use either Areva or Westinghouse
reactors in its facilities.
Both designs are making their way through a design assessment process, due to complete in 2011.
The government's Generic Design Assessment (GDA) process for the licencing of new reactors for use in the UK aims for only one or two reactor designs across all new nuclear plants.
This is intended is to reduce decommissioning costs. The current decommissioning programme will be relatively expensive because no two nuclear power stations are the same.
The government's GDA process is in its second phase. Despite uncertainty about which reactors will be approved, Oursel said it was time to start investing in the supply chain.
He added that he was confident the EPR would be approved in the GDA process and that Areva could deliver cost-eff ective nuclear power. But the only two EPRs currently under construction are running late and over budget.
Construction costs at EDF's EPR at Flamanville, Normandy are up by a fifth from initial forecasts. The EPR under construction at Olkiluoto, western Finland, is not expected to open until 2012, three years later than planned.
In a separate development, Balfour Beatty has formed a joint venture with Vinci Construction to help deliver project management, construction and civil engineering infrastructure for the EPR programme in the UK.
(Source: NCE)
Balfour Beatty chief operating officer Andrew McNaughton said that people working in the nuclear power plants supply chain would need retraining so they can deliver new nuclear facilities.
McNaughton was speaking as his firm agreed a deal to deliver French reactor manufacturer Areva's European Pressurised Reactor (EPR) in the UK.
"We need to start investigating the knowledge development that the supply chain needs to make [to deliver new nuclear power stations]," he said.
The National Skills Academy for Nuclear estimates the sector will need to recruit an additional 10,000 people over the next 10 years. At the same time 80% of the existing 50,000 strong workforce is older than 50.
Balfour Beatty will work with Areva to identify the skills and resources in the civils sector that are needed to deliver a fleet of EPRs. Rolls Royce is working with Areva on mechanical and electrical equipment supply issues.
Areva president Luc Oursel said the UK's new build programme could be as large as 20GW to 25GW, although to date only generators EDF and E.ON have ambitions to build new plants.
EDF is set to take over eight of the UK's 10 operational nuclear plants with a £12.5bn takeover of British Energy. It intends to build four new nuclear reactors in the UK, with the first to be operational by 2017.
E.ON plans to build two new nuclear reactors, although it has yet to secure any UK sites.
E.ON has signalled its willingness to use either Areva or Westinghouse
reactors in its facilities.
Both designs are making their way through a design assessment process, due to complete in 2011.
The government's Generic Design Assessment (GDA) process for the licencing of new reactors for use in the UK aims for only one or two reactor designs across all new nuclear plants.
This is intended is to reduce decommissioning costs. The current decommissioning programme will be relatively expensive because no two nuclear power stations are the same.
The government's GDA process is in its second phase. Despite uncertainty about which reactors will be approved, Oursel said it was time to start investing in the supply chain.
He added that he was confident the EPR would be approved in the GDA process and that Areva could deliver cost-eff ective nuclear power. But the only two EPRs currently under construction are running late and over budget.
Construction costs at EDF's EPR at Flamanville, Normandy are up by a fifth from initial forecasts. The EPR under construction at Olkiluoto, western Finland, is not expected to open until 2012, three years later than planned.
In a separate development, Balfour Beatty has formed a joint venture with Vinci Construction to help deliver project management, construction and civil engineering infrastructure for the EPR programme in the UK.
(Source: NCE)
Japan: Nuclear power company eyes decommissioning of 2 reactors due to stiffer quake standards
Chubu Electric Power Co. is considering decommissioning two reactors at the Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant and building a new reactor in response to tougher earthquake resistance standards, it has been learned.
The power company is reportedly considering decommissioning the No. 1 and No. 2 reactors at the plant in Omaezaki, Shizuoka Prefecture, and building a new sixth reactor that would start operating from fiscal 2018 or later. Decommissioning work on the reactors, which are currently not operating, would be completed around 2035.
Since the 2007 Chuetsu Offshore Earthquake that struck Niigata Prefecture, the government has requested tougher earthquake-resistance checks, and it appears that the power company decided that, from a cost perspective, it would be difficult to resume operations of the aging No. 1 and No. 2 reactors.
Chubu Electric Power Co. had planned to resume operations of the two reactors in fiscal 2011 after improving their earthquake resistance. However, in the 2007 Chuetsu Offshore Earthquake, shaking at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in Niigata Prefecture was 3.8 times more intense than had been predicted. Accordingly, major quake resistance reinforcement became necessary for the No. 1 and No. 2 reactors at the Hamaoka plant. Since there was a high possibility of major increases in the cost of restarting the reactors, the power company began looking at decommissioning them as an option.
If the company receives government approval of its decommissioning plans, it will spend about 10 years reducing the amount of radioactive material in the reactors and then dismantle the nuclear reactor buildings.
(Source: Mainichi Daily)
The power company is reportedly considering decommissioning the No. 1 and No. 2 reactors at the plant in Omaezaki, Shizuoka Prefecture, and building a new sixth reactor that would start operating from fiscal 2018 or later. Decommissioning work on the reactors, which are currently not operating, would be completed around 2035.
Since the 2007 Chuetsu Offshore Earthquake that struck Niigata Prefecture, the government has requested tougher earthquake-resistance checks, and it appears that the power company decided that, from a cost perspective, it would be difficult to resume operations of the aging No. 1 and No. 2 reactors.
Chubu Electric Power Co. had planned to resume operations of the two reactors in fiscal 2011 after improving their earthquake resistance. However, in the 2007 Chuetsu Offshore Earthquake, shaking at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in Niigata Prefecture was 3.8 times more intense than had been predicted. Accordingly, major quake resistance reinforcement became necessary for the No. 1 and No. 2 reactors at the Hamaoka plant. Since there was a high possibility of major increases in the cost of restarting the reactors, the power company began looking at decommissioning them as an option.
If the company receives government approval of its decommissioning plans, it will spend about 10 years reducing the amount of radioactive material in the reactors and then dismantle the nuclear reactor buildings.
(Source: Mainichi Daily)
Construction of Bulgaria's Second Nuclear Power Plant to Begin Late 2009
The construction of Bulgaria's second nuclear power plant, AEC-Belene, may begin in the second half of 2009, nuclear regulator chairman Sergei Cochev said Saturday.
Prime Minister had made the first dig at the site this summer, but work can not begin without the regulator’s approval. All the documentation by Russian company Atomstroy Export, which is building the plant, is expected to arrive within days, said Cochev.
The regulator then has nine months to come up with a statement on the project. Expertise is to be done by 3 companies - a French one, a German one, and Bulgaria's N Pro Consult.
(Source: BNN)
Prime Minister had made the first dig at the site this summer, but work can not begin without the regulator’s approval. All the documentation by Russian company Atomstroy Export, which is building the plant, is expected to arrive within days, said Cochev.
The regulator then has nine months to come up with a statement on the project. Expertise is to be done by 3 companies - a French one, a German one, and Bulgaria's N Pro Consult.
(Source: BNN)
India: First nuke power plant after N-deal may come up in Haryana
Haryana could become the first state in the country to set up a 2,800 MW nuclear power plant after India’s inking the civil nuclear deal with the US.
“Atomic Energy Commission has already approved our proposal to set up a 2,800 MW nuclear power plant at Kumaharia village in Fatehabad district in the state. We are waiting for the Centre’s nod,” Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said.
He was speaking on the sidelines of a function to attend the boiler drum lifting ceremony of the 1,500 MW Indira Gandhi Super Thermal Power plant which entails an investment of Rs 7,892 crore. The plant is being set up by the Aravali Power Company Pvt Ltd (APCPL).
“We expect the proposal to get through soon as no other state aspiring to set up a nuclear power plant has identified any site for that. We have no dearth of land and water at the identified site, which are the essentials for setting up a nuclear power plant,” Hooda said.
Chief Minister further said, “The two units of 500 MW each of this thermal power plant would start generation before the Commonwealth Games. The plant would be fully functional by the end of 2,010.”
Bhel Director Anil Sachdev, who was also present, said, “Bhel is making all efforts to commission the first unit (500MW) one month ahead of schedule by June 2010. The remaining two units would be commissioned with a gap of three month each.”
Bhel is supplying the main generating equipment, including boiler, steam turbine, generator and their auxiliaries. The company had bagged the supply, erection and commissioning order in July, 2007.
If everything goes well, Delhi would get its share of 750 MW before the Commonwealth Games. The power generated from the plant would be shared by Haryana and Delhi on 50:50 basis.
NTPC, Haryana Power Generation Corporation Limited and Indraprastha Power Generation Company Limited are jointly promoting APCPL. NTPC% has 50 stake in the company while the other two promoters have an equal share.
The debt equity ratio is 70:30. The equity requirement will be met from the promoter’s contribution, while the debt would be financed by the Power Finance Corporation.
(Source: LiveMint.com)
“Atomic Energy Commission has already approved our proposal to set up a 2,800 MW nuclear power plant at Kumaharia village in Fatehabad district in the state. We are waiting for the Centre’s nod,” Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said.
He was speaking on the sidelines of a function to attend the boiler drum lifting ceremony of the 1,500 MW Indira Gandhi Super Thermal Power plant which entails an investment of Rs 7,892 crore. The plant is being set up by the Aravali Power Company Pvt Ltd (APCPL).
“We expect the proposal to get through soon as no other state aspiring to set up a nuclear power plant has identified any site for that. We have no dearth of land and water at the identified site, which are the essentials for setting up a nuclear power plant,” Hooda said.
Chief Minister further said, “The two units of 500 MW each of this thermal power plant would start generation before the Commonwealth Games. The plant would be fully functional by the end of 2,010.”
Bhel Director Anil Sachdev, who was also present, said, “Bhel is making all efforts to commission the first unit (500MW) one month ahead of schedule by June 2010. The remaining two units would be commissioned with a gap of three month each.”
Bhel is supplying the main generating equipment, including boiler, steam turbine, generator and their auxiliaries. The company had bagged the supply, erection and commissioning order in July, 2007.
If everything goes well, Delhi would get its share of 750 MW before the Commonwealth Games. The power generated from the plant would be shared by Haryana and Delhi on 50:50 basis.
NTPC, Haryana Power Generation Corporation Limited and Indraprastha Power Generation Company Limited are jointly promoting APCPL. NTPC% has 50 stake in the company while the other two promoters have an equal share.
The debt equity ratio is 70:30. The equity requirement will be met from the promoter’s contribution, while the debt would be financed by the Power Finance Corporation.
(Source: LiveMint.com)
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Hong Kong's CLP mulls expanding nuclear capacity
http://pepei.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ARTCL&SubSection=Display&PUBLICATION_ID=6&ARTICLE_ID=347497
10 December 2008 - CLP Holdings, one of Hong Kong's two electricity producers, said it is studying the feasibility of investing in two nuclear power plants with a combined capacity of 2000 MW.
CLP already owns 25 per cent of a nuclear power joint venture at Daya Bay, in the bordering mainland Chinese city of Shenzhen, with partner China Guangdong Nuclear Power Holding.
"We would like to make more investment. Right now it's a feasibility study only. It's not a firm commitment idea," Andrew Brandler, CLP's chief executive officer, told reporters.
The company is looking to generate 20 per cent of its power from renewable sources, including nuclear, by 2020, Brandler said. Renewables accounted for more than five per cent of its energy portfolio at the end of last year, according to its website.
10 December 2008 - CLP Holdings, one of Hong Kong's two electricity producers, said it is studying the feasibility of investing in two nuclear power plants with a combined capacity of 2000 MW.
CLP already owns 25 per cent of a nuclear power joint venture at Daya Bay, in the bordering mainland Chinese city of Shenzhen, with partner China Guangdong Nuclear Power Holding.
"We would like to make more investment. Right now it's a feasibility study only. It's not a firm commitment idea," Andrew Brandler, CLP's chief executive officer, told reporters.
The company is looking to generate 20 per cent of its power from renewable sources, including nuclear, by 2020, Brandler said. Renewables accounted for more than five per cent of its energy portfolio at the end of last year, according to its website.
Belarusian Protesters Seek To Stop New Nuclear Power Construction
ASTRAVETS, Belarus -- Protesters against the construction of a nuclear-power plant in the western Belarusian town of Astravets are seeking approval to hold a demonstration on December 27.
The protest organizing committee has requested permission from town authorities to hold the meeting, but a similar request was denied in the fall.
Committee leaders Mikola Ulasevich and Ivan Kruk told RFE/RL's Belarus Service that "the construction of a new nuclear power plant on the territory of the Narach-Vileyka National Park will appear to many as putting a new 'Chornobyl hole' on Europe's map."
(Source: Radio Liberty/Free Europe)
The protest organizing committee has requested permission from town authorities to hold the meeting, but a similar request was denied in the fall.
Committee leaders Mikola Ulasevich and Ivan Kruk told RFE/RL's Belarus Service that "the construction of a new nuclear power plant on the territory of the Narach-Vileyka National Park will appear to many as putting a new 'Chornobyl hole' on Europe's map."
(Source: Radio Liberty/Free Europe)
Pavilionis: exception has to be made for Lithuania in EU climate portfolio
An exception has to be made for Lithuania when passing decisions on the greenhouse gas emission quotas in the EU climate portfolio, related to the closure of the Ignalina nuclear power plant, claims Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Zygimantas Pavilionis.
The diplomat is quoted in the report of the Foreign Ministry released on Monday after the sitting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council, writes ELTA.
According to the Foreign Ministry, Lithuania will strive during the European Council this week for the new financial resources allocated for the revival of the EU economy to be used when solving the energy security challenges in the Baltic region after 2009.
The European economy revival plan submitted by the European Commission to speedy the financial stimulus for the extension of energy grids was discussed at the meeting.
"Now it is most important to mobilize financial mechanisms and to start implementing such projects as Swedlit urgently," Pavilionis is quoted in the ministry"s report.
"Lithuania will strive in the European Council on December 11-12 for the new financial resources allocated for the revival of the EU economy to be used when solving the energy security challenges in the Baltic region after 2009. It is strived to reduce the region"s dependency on a single exterior energy supplier," the ministry claims.
"An exception has to be made for Lithuania when passing decisions on the greenhouse gas emission quotas in the EU climate portfolio due to the difficult situation in the country related to the closure of the Ignalina nuclear power plant," Pavilionis said.
Pavilionis also expressed Lithuania"s support to the Eastern Partnership project presented by the European Commission. This initiative is designed to deepen bilateral relations with six neighbors – Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus (when it satisfies the requirements), Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.
(Source: Baltic Course)
The diplomat is quoted in the report of the Foreign Ministry released on Monday after the sitting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council, writes ELTA.
According to the Foreign Ministry, Lithuania will strive during the European Council this week for the new financial resources allocated for the revival of the EU economy to be used when solving the energy security challenges in the Baltic region after 2009.
The European economy revival plan submitted by the European Commission to speedy the financial stimulus for the extension of energy grids was discussed at the meeting.
"Now it is most important to mobilize financial mechanisms and to start implementing such projects as Swedlit urgently," Pavilionis is quoted in the ministry"s report.
"Lithuania will strive in the European Council on December 11-12 for the new financial resources allocated for the revival of the EU economy to be used when solving the energy security challenges in the Baltic region after 2009. It is strived to reduce the region"s dependency on a single exterior energy supplier," the ministry claims.
"An exception has to be made for Lithuania when passing decisions on the greenhouse gas emission quotas in the EU climate portfolio due to the difficult situation in the country related to the closure of the Ignalina nuclear power plant," Pavilionis said.
Pavilionis also expressed Lithuania"s support to the Eastern Partnership project presented by the European Commission. This initiative is designed to deepen bilateral relations with six neighbors – Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus (when it satisfies the requirements), Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.
(Source: Baltic Course)
Germany's RWE Torn by Power Strife over Bulgaria's Nuclear Plant "Belene"
Germany's second largest energy concern RWE is torn by a struggle for power related to the company's participation in the construction of Bulgaria's Nuclear Power Plant Belene.
One of the main contention issues between the company Director Jürgen Großmann, and RWE's supervisory board is the future Belene plant because of environmental concerns, and because of its location in a zone with high seismic risk, the Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung reported.
The main issue at stake in the company is the role that each of its bodies has to play in the approval of large investment projects such as RWE's participation in the Belene Plant.
During its session on Thursday, the supervisory board is expected to change its statutes so that it could have a more decisive role in approving large-scale project that are now approved by RWE's governing board.
The former Minister of Economy and Labor of Germany Wolfgang Clement, who is a member of the supervisory body of the subsidiary RWE Power, is quoted as saying the Belene Project had been prepared perfectly, and that many zones with nuclear facilities in the USA, Japan, and Korea had much greater earthquake risk than the lower Danube.
Meanwhile, the protests of German environmentalists against the Belene project are continuing, the umweltruf.de portal reported
RWE has won the tender of Bulgaria's National Electric Company NEK for the purchase of 49% of the future Belene Nuclear Power Plant for EUR 1,2 B.
NEK representatives stated they were currently negotiating with RWE the form of the shareholders' agreement, and that they were expecting that it would be signed on December 15.
(Source: Novinite)
One of the main contention issues between the company Director Jürgen Großmann, and RWE's supervisory board is the future Belene plant because of environmental concerns, and because of its location in a zone with high seismic risk, the Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung reported.
The main issue at stake in the company is the role that each of its bodies has to play in the approval of large investment projects such as RWE's participation in the Belene Plant.
During its session on Thursday, the supervisory board is expected to change its statutes so that it could have a more decisive role in approving large-scale project that are now approved by RWE's governing board.
The former Minister of Economy and Labor of Germany Wolfgang Clement, who is a member of the supervisory body of the subsidiary RWE Power, is quoted as saying the Belene Project had been prepared perfectly, and that many zones with nuclear facilities in the USA, Japan, and Korea had much greater earthquake risk than the lower Danube.
Meanwhile, the protests of German environmentalists against the Belene project are continuing, the umweltruf.de portal reported
RWE has won the tender of Bulgaria's National Electric Company NEK for the purchase of 49% of the future Belene Nuclear Power Plant for EUR 1,2 B.
NEK representatives stated they were currently negotiating with RWE the form of the shareholders' agreement, and that they were expecting that it would be signed on December 15.
(Source: Novinite)
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