Archive
International News Services archives articles supplied to clients one year or more after initial publication. These articles are protected by a password and not made available to readers without permission from clients. They are used as a background resource by agency journalists. Upon client requests, International News Services will remove such articles from the archive or not upload them in the first place. They are included to demonstrate the breadth of topics undertaken by the agency and also to help promote clients’ coverage.
UKRAINE/BULGARIA
KEITH NUTHALL
THE EUROPEAN Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has further signalled its determination to use its vast financial resources in improving the environmental performance of eastern European power sectors, via the announcement of two large loans, in Bulgaria and the Ukraine.…
METHANE FUEL CELL
KEITH NUTHALL
GREEK and American researchers say they have developed a fuel-cell reactor which can produce hydrogen from ethanol. Scientists from the universities of Patras and Minnesota claim that the invention could be a major advance in creating viable hydrogen-based energy systems, because the technology could be used in small fuel cells generating 350 watt-hours of electricity.…
SCHNEIDER TAKEOVER
KEITH NUTHALL
THE EUROPEAN Commission has authorised the proposed acquisition of French power supply continuity device company MGE UPS Systems SA by French electrical equipment maker Schneider SA. Brussels concluded after an inquiry that the deal should not create competition problems in this electricity product market, noting that Schneider already provides many components to MGE.…
NORTH ATLANTIC DRIFT
KEITH NUTHALL
BRITISH and American scientists are installing scientific instruments in the Atlantic, between the Bahamas and the Canary Islands, calibrated to detect possible changes to the North Atlantic Drift that provides one million nuclear power stations’ worth of heat to Europe.…
URANIUM WASTE
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE RISK of millions of tonnes of uranium mining waste being swept by a landslide into the populous Fergana Valley river basin in Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikstan has prompted the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to redouble efforts to prevent this tragedy.…
NUCLEAR SAFETY - EU
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE EUROPEAN Commission is to redraft its controversial proposals on nuclear safety, radioactive waste and Euratom spending, after accepting that a blocking minority opposed to the plans exists at the European Union (EU) Council of Ministers. The move will – claim opponents – buy the Commission time, allowing it to release fresh proposals as the incoming 10 new member countries join the EU in May, many from eastern Europe, with nuclear power plants.…
IAEA SECURITY CODE
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE INTERNATIONAL Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has released its updated Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources, which has been strengthened in line with concerns sparked by the September 11 attacks in the USA; these revisions were approved by the IAEA Board of Governors.…
EURATOM REPORT
BY KEITH NUTHALL
EURATOM has released its 2002 report on inquiries carried out by its European Commission officials tasked with checking the safety and security of nuclear installations across the European Union (EU); although the paper’s conclusions was generally satisfactory, it notes a number of problems detected that required resolution.…
IAEA DATABASE
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE INTERNATIONAL Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is offering Internet access to some nuclear fuel cycle related databases and a simulation system for long-term projections of nuclear fuel cycle material and service requirements. Based on information from the IAEA’s Integrated Nuclear Fuel Cycle Information System (iNFCIS), this data is mainly based on voluntary reports from IAEA members as well as published material.…
PETTEN PROGRAMME
BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE EUROPEAN Union Council of Ministers has approved a three-year supplementary research programme at the EU’s joint research centre high flux reactor, at Petten, the Netherlands. Funded largely by the Dutch government, the Euro 30.6 million studies should improve reactor safety, waste management and develop nuclear fuel unable to be transformed into weapon grade plutonium.…