‘Nearly 25 years after
the worst nuclear accident in history, new
scientific findings suggest that the effects
of the explosion at Chernobyl have been
underestimated. Experts last month published
a series of studies indicating that, contrary
to previous findings, populations of animals
decreased in the exclusion zone surrounding
the site of the former nuclear power plant,
and that the effects of radioactive contamination
after the outbreak had been "overwhelming."
More and more pigs with high levels of cesium
are found at the scene. This information
was disclosed months after doctors detected
increased rates of cancer in Ukraine and
Belarus, mutations and diseases of the blood,
which they believe are related to Chernobyl.
Meanwhile, an American investigation published
in April found an increase in birth defects,
apparently due to sustained exposure to
low level doses of radiation. For activists
against nuclear power, these studies demonstrate
that the inhabitants of the affected area
will suffer devastating consequences for
decades, perhaps centuries. "This is
a problem that will not go away in few years.
It will be there for centuries," said
Rianne Teule, from the environmental organization,
Greenpeace.’
Nuclear N-Former: India
finalizes Indo-US deal
‘India’s Parliament approved a final, critical
piece of a long-delayed landmark civil nuclear
agreement on Monday, a pact regarded as
a cornerstone of a Bush-era effort to transform
the relationship between the United States
and the world’s largest democracy. But even
as supporters praised a historic victory,
the end result is probably not what the
United States had hoped for, nor does it
seem likely to signal a new era in relations
between the United States and India. Indeed,
some analysts say the compromises needed
to move Monday’s legislation through India’s
contentious Parliament could undermine the
practical impact of a political, diplomatic
and economic accord that took years to negotiate.
With President Obama scheduled to make his
first visit to India in early November,
the governments in both countries are trying
to strengthen a relationship sometimes described
as a natural and strategic alliance of democracies.
But drawing closer has proved complicated
as differences remain on issues like trade
and climate change as well as how to effectively
deal with Pakistan. The nuclear issue, putatively
about India’s future, has sparked weeks
of bitter political debate in New Delhi,
tapped into Indian nationalism and public
suspicion of foreign corporate interests
while also dredging up a very different
chapter in the countries’ relations: the
1984 Union Carbide industrial disaster at
Bhopal, which killed thousands. Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh, accused of toadying to America,
appeared before the lower house of Parliament
to deny that his allegiance was anywhere
but with India.’
Eurasia.net: New Nuke Plant in Armenia Draws
Criticism from Environmentalists
‘Armenian leaders are ecstatic that Russia
is getting involved in the construction
of a new nuclear power plant at Metsamor.
Environmentalists and technical experts
are far less enthused, saying that a new
Metsamor unit poses considerable risks.
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and Russian
leader Dmitry Medvedev signed bilateral
agreements on August 20 to enable Moscow’s
participation in the construction of a new
unit at the Metsamor atomic power station.
Under the agreement, Russia could contribute
about 20 percent of the financing for the
unit’s construction, currently projected
at between $5 billion and $7.2 billion.
Work is slated to begin in 2012, although
questions remain about how Armenia will
come up with the bulk of the money to build
the facility. Construction of the new unit,
capable of producing 1,060 Megawatts of
power annually, will help Armenia comply
with the international community’s wishes
to shut down the VVER reactors. Currently,
Metsamor produces about 40 percent of the
power consumed in Armenia. Environmentalists
say that the area’s vulnerability to earthquakes,
makes operating a nuclear plant at Metsamor
a high-risk proposition, regardless of the
new reactor’s design. "It's a crime
to build a new nuclear power station in
Metsamor," Hakob Sanasaryan, president
of the Greens Union of Armenia, told EurasiaNet.org.
"A nuclear power station cannot be
constructed near water and agricultural
systems, in seismic zones, in densely populated
areas.’
French Nuclear Watchdog
Says EDF Has Problems With Flamanville EPR
Liner
‘Electricite de France SA, Europe’s biggest
power producer, experienced renewed problems
with welding quality at the EPR nuclear
reactor being built in Normandy, according
France’s nuclear safety agency. Faults in
welds of the containment liner of the Flamanville
EPR, the utility’s first in France, were
found during an inspection in July, the
Autorite de Surete Nucleaire said in an
Aug. 27 report on its website. EDF officials
weren’t immediately available for a comment.
"Welding difficulties caused by the
ergonomics of the welder’s post’ were the
cause of similar problems at the building
site in 2008 and 2009 and treatment by EDF
‘was not performed correctly,’ according
to the report. The agency also said EDF
was slow in detecting ‘inferior weld quality.’
EDF’s EPR, which was designed by Areva SA,
is considered key to the utility’s ability
to export nuclear technology to other countries.
Earlier this month, EDF was asked for modifications
of the control platform on the reactor,
which is delayed and will cost more than
expected. EDF is developing a similar model
in Taishan, China, and plans more in Italy,
the U.K. and U.S. The state-controlled operator
of France’s 58 nuclear reactors in July
said the Normandy reactor will cost 5 billion
euros to develop, about 50 percent more
than initially estimated, and will be delayed
by about two years to 2014.’
Gabon's Dark Side of
Dams and Mines
‘An independent study released this month
by Gabonese NGO, Brainforest, documents
the devastation caused by uranium and manganese
mines in southeast Gabon. The study, Impacts
of mining on the local populations and the
environment in Haut-Ogooué, also
describes the government’s plan to build
the Grand Poubara hydropower dam to help
expand mining and mineral processing. Toxic
pollution of the rivers and soil, disappearance
of fish, and lack of public information
are amongst Brainforest’s main concerns.
The report hopes to bring attention to the
government's role in enabling profits at
the cost of local people. Since 1961, French
company Areva has operated four uranium
mines at Mounana. Radioactive residues from
the mines have contaminated the area’s waterways
and soils. During the mine’s first 15 years,
radioactive waste was poured directly into
the river. The radioactive contamination
is the source of the main environmental
and medical problems for nearby villagers.
In nearby Moanda, manganese mining is conducted
by a subsidiary of French company, Eramet.
After the manganese is mined, it is processed
at the Industrial Complex of Moanda (CIM)
and taken by train to the port of Owendo.
Eramet would like to expand production through
development of the 200 million Euros Metallurgical
Complex of Moanda (CM). The complex would
depend on electric power from the Poubara
dams.’
