THE WORLD'S NUCLEAR NEWS AGENCY

World Nuclear Review - week ending 25th June 2004

'We Cannot Avoid N-Power', Minister Tells South Africa's Parliament

South Africa's minerals and energy minister has said that the country "cannot avoid" the use of nuclear power as part of a developing energy mix.

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, who spoke during a 22nd June parliamentary debate on her department's budget, said the country's Integrated Energy Plan (IEP) indicated that nuclear, in addition to coal, would increase South Africa's energy options "for the foreseeable future" - together with "large" hydropower projects.

She said: "Nuclear will help us increase energy diversity, security of supply and reduce energy related emission levels because it is a cleaner burning fuel. South Africa needs to wake up to the reality that we do not have infinite coal reserves. In fact we have less than previously thought. We do not have oil and gas so we cannot avoid nuclear energy."

South Africa's cabinet has also endorsed a five to ten year plan for the development of the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR), which the minister said would help develop "a critical research and skills base to support the PBMR programme and a sustainable nuclear industry in South Africa".

Source: Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka

Full report: NucNet News No. 136, 23rd June

US N-Plants Sustain Near-Record Levels of Safety And Performance

Latest figures compiled by the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) show that US nuclear power plants continued to operate at high levels of efficiency and safety last year.

The US Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), which announced WANO's annual performance indicators on 16th June, said the country's 103 nuclear plants in 31 states generated a total of 764 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity in 2003 - just 2% down on the record 780 TWh generated in 2002.

Other highlights of the US nuclear industry's performance last year include: - A unit capability factor - a measure of efficiency - at 89.8%, the fourth highest since WANO began collecting data and just below the 2005 goal of 91%; - For the 11th consecutive year, more than 90% of key safety systems met industry goals for availability. The three key safety systems are two main cooling systems and back-up power supplies used to respond to unusual situations.

Source: NEI

Full report: NucNet News No. 135, 21st June

British Energy Reports On Progress Towards Restructuring

UK nuclear utility British Energy (BE) says progress has been made towards completing the restructuring of the company - subject to a "large number of significant uncertainties and important conditions".

BE, which announced its results for the financial year ended 31st March 2004 on 17th June, said its UK operating profit was 57 million pounds (GBP) - (about 85 million euros) - before exceptional items, compared to GBP 7 million in the previous year.

Separately, a BE spokesman told NucNet that the company may seek to extend the lifetimes of its UK nuclear power plants "where appropriate provided the economics are right and that the company is in a position to fully support the technical and safety issues in this complex process". However, the spokesman added: "It should be pointed out that no formal decision has been taken by the company."

Source: BE

Full report: NucNet News in Brief No. 2, 22nd June

Japanese Companies Revise Supply Plans And New Build Projects

This report is a summary of an in-depth article that is available under the News Feature section of NucNet's website (www.worldnuclear.org)...

Japan's 10 electric power companies have revised downward for the second consecutive year the predicted average annual growth in electricity demand through fiscal 2013 - as well as the number of new nuclear units they plan to develop.

The companies, offering their predictions at the end of fiscal year 2003 in March of this year against a background of sluggish demand (see Business News No. 33, 10th June 2004), said that the amount of required new installed electricity generating capacity over the next decade will be an all-time low of 31 900 megawatts (MW) - including electricity wholesalers and independent power producers.

Total electricity sales and peak electricity demand for the 10 companies is expected to reach 941.1 terawatt hours (TWh) and 192 420 MW, respectively, in August 2013. Predicted increases in electricity sales and peak demand were both set lower than planned in the previous year.

The utilities' power development projects have been continuously delayed or cancelled, and the predicted start of commercial operation has been delayed at 22 power plants - including nuclear - compared with last year's predictions.

Source: Japan Atomic Industrial Forum

Full report: NucNet Features No. 4, 22nd June 2004

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