Czech business boss says PM’s position on new nuclear reactors is ‘fiction’

The head of the Czech Chamber of Commerce has hit out at current prime minister Andrej Babiš for his stance that state dominated utility ČEZ should be able to build new nuclear reactors on its own without any help. Chamber president Vladimír Dlouhý, speaking at an energy conference in Prague, said such a position was …

Wyoming uranium producers appeal to Trump to decrease foreign imports

The two largest uranium producers in the country, both operating in Wyoming, are asking President Donald Trump for relief from one of their greatest challenges: foreign imports. Denver-based Energy Fuels and Ur-Energy petitioned the Department of Commerce to look into whether imports from dominant uranium producers, like Russia, pose a national security risk. The firms …

Senate environment panel chief backs probe into uranium imports

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The chair of the Senate’s Environment and Public Works Committee said on Thursday he wants the Commerce Department to investigate the impacts of uranium imports from Russia and central Asia on national security, backing a request from two U.S. uranium mining firms who filed the petition. “America’s ability to produce uranium is …

A Troubling Scenario for Kazakhstan

Key Points Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev has anchored the country’s political system for over a quarter century, making the uncertainty of his eventual succession a potential flash point for instability. In the event of volatility in Kazakhstan, Russia would, at a minimum, seek to secure its own borders and also possibly intervene on the pretext …

Colorado uranium companies ask Trump for help

Two Colorado uranium companies are jointly asking President Trump to help the U.S. uranium mining industry. In a joint letter yesterday to the U.S. Commerce Dept., Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE: UUUU) of Lakewood and Ur-Energy Inc. (NYSE: URG) of Littleton said that they want protection from “imports of uranium products that threaten national security.” The companies …

IAEA conducts first nuclear security assessment on China

BEIJING, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) — The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Monday started its first nuclear security assessment of China, at the request of China Atomic Energy Authority (CAEA). During the ten-day assessment, the agency will review China’s nuclear security system, laws and government supervision, and visit nuclear plants in Zhejiang Province, according to the …

Areva says state subscribed to 2.5 billion euro capital increase for NewCo

PARIS (Reuters) – The French state has fully subscribed to a 2.5 billion euro ($2.92 billion) capital increase of nuclear fuel group Areva NewCo, completing one of the last stages of a complex state-funded restructuring of the company, Areva said on Thursday. Areva (AREVA.PA) said that the 500 million euros that Japanese companies Mitsubishi Heavy …

Niigata Governor’s Plans May Upend TEPCO’s Nuclear Restarts

By Kentaro Hamada and Osamu Tsukimori TOKYO (Reuters) – The governor of Japan’s Niigata prefecture, home to the world’s largest atomic power plant, Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, will not take steps to restart the site until a nuclear advisory committee completes its work, delaying its operation at least three years. Governor Ryuichi Yoneyama told Reuters in an interview …

France to close some nuclear reactors, says ecology minister Hulot

BOLOGNA, Italy (Reuters) – French environment and energy minister Nicolas Hulot said on Monday that the government plans to close some nuclear reactors of state-controlled utility EDF (EDF.PA) to reduce nuclear’s share of the country’s power mix.He gave no indication of timing.Hulot told reporters at the G7 environment summit in the Italian city of Bologna …