#GERMANY: Lawmakers Delay Nuke Plant Shutdown Until April

[world politics news]

German lawmakers on Friday voted to postpone the shutdown of the country's remaining three nuclear power plants until mid-April 2023, citing the need to keep up energy generation and guarantee supply security.

The three plants--named Emsland, Isar 2 and Neckarwestheim 2--are remaining in operation for three and a half more months than originally planned due to the crisis spurred by the war in Ukraine, the government said.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#GERMANY: Chancellor Signals Nuke Plants Won't Be Shut

[world politics news]

Germany's chancellor Olaf Scholz has signalled that the country will keep its last three nuclear plants, changing a policy decision by former Chancellor Angela Merkel to shut them down. The move was taken in light of possible Russian fuel shortages this fall, created by the war in Ukraine.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#UK: Gov't Weighs Funding For New Nuclear Plant Development

[world politics news]

The UK Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) said the government had published documents which show significant progress towards implementing a new funding model which will give nuclear projects the financial support they need and attract private investment.

The new Regulated Asset Base model will see projects receive a regulated payment from electricity suppliers. The Sizewell C project in Suffolk could be the first nuclear project to use this model, subject to the outcome of current negotiations.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#UK: Gov't Funding Small Nuke Reactors

[world politics news]

The Conservative Government has committed £210m (US$281m) to develop Small Modular Reactors (SMR) in the UK to help reduce dependency on fossil fuels.

The government will be funding Rolls-Royce SMR to develop the world’s first SMRs, delivering on the Prime Minister’s Ten Point Plan and creating high-skilled jobs.

Matched by £195 in private sector funding and over £250m in government funds, today’s investment will take forward phase two of the Low-Cost Nuclear project to develop SMR design.

Kwasi Kwarteng, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said: “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the UK to deploy more low carbon energy than ever before and ensure greater energy independence.”

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#FRANCE: Pres. Candidate Le Pen Would "Tear Down" Wind Turbines

[world politics news]

 
France's right-leaning presidential candidate Marine Le Pen has said that she will tear down the country's wind turbine, end all subsidies for renewable energy, and focus on nuclear energy if elected president.

She added that she would scrap the subsidies for wind and solar, which she said added up to six or seven billion euros per year and put a heavy burden on consumers' power bills.

Le Pen also said that she would provide strong support for France's nuclear industry.

France produces about 75 per cent of its power in nuclear plants and has an active anti-wind movement.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#CANADA: Alberta Premier Signs Agreement With Other Provinces To Develop Small Nuke Power Plants

[world politics news]

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney formally signed a memorandum of understanding with Ontario, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick to support the development of small-scale nuclear power technology Wednesday.

The joint announcement with Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, and New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs saw the release of a feasibility study with proposals for developing the technology.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#UK: Gov't To Ban Chinese Nuclear Engineers From New Nuke Plant Project

[world politics news]

After banning Huawei from taking part in the development of UK’s 5G infrastructure, governmentsources have indicated that the UK plans to ban Chinese engineers from participating in the construction of Sizewell Nuclear Plant, according to UK’s Daily Mail, adding that if China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN) were to engage in any part of the project, investment from CGN would also be denied. 

 

Sizewell Nuclear Power Plant is a sister project to another nuclear power plant at Hinkley Point, each on a construction budget of £20 billion.  The construction at Hinkley Point has begun in 2018 where 33% of the finance and 40 staff members are provided by CGN. 

 

Sources have pointed out that although the project of building a nuclear plant in Sizewell is still at a preliminary stage, the UK is already in discussion with French energy company EDF, aiming to confine CGN to the role of an investor and not take part in the construction of the power plant. 

CGN has expressed their willingness to cover 20% of the cost of the Sizewell plant construction as well as sending more engineers to UK to discuss the possibility of building new nuclear reactors in Bradwell.

The moves by the UK government come at a time of increased tensions between London and Beijing, largely over the Communist governments insistence on interfering with the government of Hong Kong.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#SWITZERLAND: Voters Reject Nuclear Power, Embrace Renewables; Critics Warn Of Energy Shortages

[world politics news]

Voters have endorsed a new energy law that aims to promote renewable energy, ban new nuclear power plants and lower energy consumption. Final results show just over 58% of voters on Sunday coming out in favor of the Energy Strategy program. Supporters said the result is a "historic step for Switzerland," while opponents have warned of a shortage of energy supplies in winter. Interestingly, regions where the country's five nuclear reactors are situated rejected the reform with clear majorities.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#JAPAN: Leader Of Japan's Democratic Party Gets "Cold" Reception At Party Conference

[world politics news]

At only six months on the job as the Democratic Party's president, Renho Murata reportedly got a "cold" reception at her party's conference, and observers say poor election results in July could put her job in jeopardy. She told her party she will draft legislation to phase out the nation's nuclear reactors by 2030 at a party convention, but her audience was skeptical she could raise the party's standing with the public - which is hovering at 10% - before the Tokyo city Assembly elections. One lawmaker attending said the convention's atmosphere was "frighteningly cold" to her, with only a smattering of applause. It was the first convention for the nation's main opposition party, which was formed last March as a result of a merger.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#GERMANY: Parliament Approves Deal With Utilities Over Nuke Waste Storage Costs

[world politics news]

Germany's lower house of parliament approved a new law on Thursday which will see the country's top utilities pay into a US$24.8 billion state fund from next year in return for shifting the liability for nuclear waste storage to the government. The new legislation removes uncertainty over how to pay for the costs of storing nuclear waste, giving investors greater clarity over the finances of Germany's top four utilities.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#JAPAN: Anti-Nuclear Plant Candidate Wins Governor's Race

[world politics news]

Opposition-backed first-time candidate Ryuichi Yoneyama, who opposes an early restart of a local nuclear power plant, has won the gubernatorial election in Niigata Prefecture, central Japan.
Yoneyama, a 49-year-old doctor and lawyer, trounced the remaining three candidates including Tamio Mori, 67, former mayor of Nagaoka in the prefecture, who was backed by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito.

#IRAN: Parliament Votes To Keep "Death To America Chant" Despite Nuke Deal With US

[world politics news]

Iran will not abandon the slogan “Death to America” despite a nuclear deal reached with world powers including the US. "The martyr-nurturing nation of Iran is not at all prepared to abandon the slogan of 'Death to America' under the pretext of a nuclear agreement," 192 members of Iran's 290-seat parliament said in a statement.

#ARGENTINA: Pres. Kirchner Tells UN That Obama Negotiator Urged Argentina To Sell Nuke Fuel To Iran

[world politics news]

Little reported in American media, last week, Argentine Pres. Cristina Fernández de Kirchner claimed that Pres. Obama's former Arms Control negotiator Gary Samore tried to convince the Argentinians to provide the Iranians with nuclear fuel in 2010. Samore refused to put the request in writing, says Kirchner.

#SWITZERLAND: Legislative Body Declines To Put Expiration Date On Nuclear Reactors

[world politics news]

Switzerland's Council of States has agreed to avoid putting legal limits on the operating lives of the country's nuclear power reactors. It has also rejected a proposal that was supported by the Federal Nuclear Safety Inspectorate, of requiring operators to submit a long-term operating concept every 10 years once a reactor reaches 40 years of service.

ISRAEL: Ahead of Congressional Speech, #Netanyahu Says Iran Deal "Bad" for Israel

[world politics news]

PM Benjamin Netanyahu has struck out at the Obama administration, saying that a nuclear deal that’s being forged between the United States and Iran - a deal largely negotiated behind closed doors - is no good. His comments come weeks before a controversial speech to the US Congress.

#ISRAEL: #Netanyahu Determined to Give US Congress Speech After Week of Criticism

[world politics news]

PM Benjamin Netanyahu has told Likud Party loyalists he is determined to make a speech before the US Congress about Iran policy after a week of criticism from the Obama Administration and others concerned the move is too political and suggestions he speak to closed session of Congress.

#JAPAN

Former PM's Launch Group to Promote Renewable Energy, End Nukes [world politics news]

Former prime ministers Morihiro Hosokawa (left) and Junichiro Koizumi.