[video] Taiwan’s energy conundrum
Like Japan, Taiwan’s location on the edge of the Pacific makes it vulnerable to earthquakes and tsunamis. But with no oil and gas of its own, the island state lacks any kind of energy security. Sarah Mishkin visits a nuclear power station under construction which may never be turned on.
Another blow to Korea’s nuclear hopes
South Korea’s shutdown of two more atomic power plants because of safety concerns could hardly be worse news for the country’s nuclear energy industry, coming as Seoul struggles to increase nuclear exports to developing countries. Continue reading »
Nuclear friction within the Czech government
By Nicholas Watson of bne
The Czech prime minister assured his Russian counterpart on May 27 that the process for choosing the winner of the country’s nuclear tender would be fair and transparent. Yet a growing split in the cabinet, a continuing stand-off with France’s Areva after it was ejected from the tender, and now sources saying CEZ is asking the remaining bidders to finance the €8bn-12bn nuclear expansion, have all cast further doubt on the project. Continue reading »
Turkey’s record-breaking investments: as good as they sound?
At first sight the figures are staggering. In the space of a single day last week Turkey signed an agreement on a $22bn new nuclear power plant and concluded a €22bn tender on building Istanbul one of the biggest airports on the world.
No wonder there were proclamations about record-breaking investments as soon as last Friday’s announcements were made. Continue reading »
Japan close to Turkish nuclear deal?
Did Japan just win the protracted, $20bn plus contest to build Turkey’s second nuclear power plant?
As part of a regional tour, Shinzo Abe, Japan’s prime minister (pictured), is due to visit Turkey on May 2 and 3, a stop which, because of the context, stands out. Continue reading »
Guest post: safeguarding nuclear’s role in Ukrainian energy
By Riccardo Puliti of the EBRD
The use of nuclear power generates at least as much debate as electricity.
This is especially true in the case of Ukraine, where in 1986 the Chernobyl accident happened. The events demonstrated that in nuclear power generation safety always must be the utmost priority – from the first moment of operation to long after the active life of any nuclear reactor. Continue reading »
Bulgarians vote for new nuclear power, but referendum is not binding
Those (few)Bulgarians who made it to the polls in Sunday’s referendum on nuclear power have voted in favour of further development.
The vote was a political exercise which is unlikely to lead to the building of new atomic plants any time soon. But it was an unusual show of support for the much-criticised industry. How many other European Union countries would have voted in favour? Continue reading »
Czech nuclear tender dispute: Areva wins some breathing space
By Nicholas Watson of bne
The Czech authorities have temporarily blocked the state power company CEZ from signing a contract to build two nuclear reactors while they consider an appeal from France’s Areva against its disqualification from the tender. Continue reading »
Areva and CEZ battle it out
By Tim Gosling and Nicholas Watson of bne
Areva, the French nuclear group, is to launch a fresh appeal against its exclusion from a multi-billion euro tender by CEZ, the Czech utility, for two new units at its Temelin nuclear power plant.
The move threatens to bring the tender process to a halt. Its announcement came immediately after CEZ rejected an earlier appeal from Areva against its removal from the tender on October 5 for what are still unclear reasons. Continue reading »
Bulgaria: a nuclear referendum
Pre-election machinations may be behind a decision by Bulgaria’s parliament this week to hold a referendum on a nuclear power plant.
The referendum, to be held in January, follows the government’s March decision to cancel the development of the Danube-side Belene nuclear power plant (NPP), in which Bulgaria had already invested 1.4bn levs ($925m), with one reactor already completed. Continue reading »
CEE nuclear power: deeper in doubt
Nuclear power has long held the possibility of energy independence for central Europe, freeing it from its heavy reliance on imports of Russian natural gas. But a series of political and corporate decision across the region in the last few days leaves the future of atomic power murkier than ever. Continue reading »
Areva excluded from CEZ nuclear bid, leaving US and Russian rivals
By Nicholas Watson of bne
In a shock announcement, Czech power company CEZ on Friday excluded France’s Areva from its multi-billion-euro tender to expand the Temelin nuclear power plant for failing to fulfill all the requirements, leaving Toshiba’s US unit Westinghouse and a consortium led by Russia’s Atomstroyexport as the two remaining bidders. Continue reading »
Czech ČEZ: old assets on the block
By Tim Gosling of business new europe
ČEZ, the Czech power utility, has put five of its coal-fired power plants on the block and hired the local unit of Deloitte as its financial adviser on the sale.
But analysts say there may not be many suitors for plants that should be in a museum. And the sales are unlikely to do much to placate the European Union, currently investigating ČEZ for allegedly abusing its dominant market position. Continue reading »
Turkey infrastructure: back on track?
Two of Turkey’s biggest, most complicated and controversial infrastructure projects came closer to becoming reality on Friday. Ankara said it was in talks with a Canadian company over a nuclear power plant and also confirmed it had attracted four bidders to build a new bridge over the Bosphorus. Continue reading »
Turkey turns to coal and nuclear power
Much of Europe may be moving towards cleaner power but in Turkey it is a different story.
EUAS, the country’s state-owned electricity company, was due on Monday to sign a memorandum of understanding with two South Korean groups on a $2bn coal fired power plant. It is also moving ahead with plans for two nuclear plants. Continue reading »
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