Nuclear liabilities could hurt utilities' credit ratings-S&P | Agricultural Commodities | Reuters

PARIS Nov 16 (Reuters) - Provisions for decommissioning nuclear power plants and disposing of nuclear fuel waste over the next two decades could weigh on European utilities' credit ratings, Standard & Poor's said in a report published on Monday.

S&P said that at the end of 2014, nuclear liabilities of the largest eight nuclear plant operators in Europe totaled 100 billion euros ($107 billion), representing 22 percent of their aggregate debt as adjusted by the rating agency.

The eight utilities are France's EDF and Engie , Germany's E.ON, RWE and EnBw , Sweden's Vattenfall, Finland's Fortum and the Czech Republic's CEZ.

"Given the tight headroom in the credit ratings of European utilities with heavy nuclear exposures, and that they generally operate with a high adjusted financial leverage, any changes in the valuation of their provisions could drag on their credit metrics and liquidity, and ultimately their credit ratings," said S&P credit analyst Pierre Georges.

He added that the value of nuclear provisions is more difficult to calculate than other debt-like obligations, such as pensions, and are also harder to compare between peer companies, because accounting methods are not standardised.

S&P said actuarial assumptions pose a potential risk that provisions may rise, notably the real discount rate used to compute the present value of the liability.

Beyond the financial risks stemming from nuclear liabilities, the agency sees potential for operational difficulties, which are still difficult to assess, and added it is uncertain whether companies' dedicated assets will perform as planned to cover decommissioning costs, given the uncertain returns on these investments.

Consultancy Capgemini said this month Europe needs to bring more transparency to utilities' nuclear liabilities as gross provisions for decommissioning and long-term spent fuel management range from 4.7 billion euros per reactor in Germany to just 1.2 billion in France. ($1 = 0.9331 euros) (Reporting by Geert De Clercq; Editing by David Holmes)

Nuclear liabilities could hurt utilities' credit ratings-S&P | Agricultural Commodities | Reuters

Tell Secretary of State Kerry: stop blocking new international nuclear safety rules

The U.S. government, led by the State Department, is trying to block a new post-Fukushima nuclear safety approach proposed by European nations from taking effect. Apparently the government fears that U.S. reactors would be required to make upgrades that the nuclear utilities here don't want to pay for. The U.S. ally in this effort? Russia--not exactly a nuclear safety leader!

Rather than working to prevent new nuclear safety rules, the U.S. should both actively welcome them and follow the lead of our European ally Germany in acting to end the use of nuclear power entirely--replacing it with clean energy resources. If Germany, a major industrialized nation, can do it, so can we.

Make your voice count. Sign the petition below; we will deliver it to the State Department and NRC in January, well before a scheduled mid-February international meeting on this issue.

SIGN NOW: Tell Secretary of State Kerry: stop blocking new international nuclear safety rules

9.14-15 CZECH REPUBLIC: 3rd INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE TO STOP ‪#‎TEMELIN

3 International Conference

STOPS TEMELIN

With Jan Haverkamp, ​​Greenpeace

Atomic expert on Central and Eastern Europe

14th to 15 September 2013 at Temelin / Hluboka

Organizer: The Greens in the Fichtelgebirge / BI STOPS TEMELIN

Moderation and organization: Brigitte Artmann

Temelin NPP 3.Info ride 2013 Programme (in German)

Registration: http://gruene-fichtelgebirge.de/akw-temelin-info-fahrt-2013/
Please spread the news, there are some places left for participants. Thank you!

EU Kommission: Temelin Neubau mit Staatsgarantien

Wirtschaftsminister Rösler für Tschechisches Energiekonzept mit fünf Reaktoren

Marktredwitz, 23. Juli 2013.

Während die EU Kommission für den Temelin Neubau mit Staatsgarantien plädiert, unterstützt Wirtschaftsminister Rösler das Tschechische Energiekonzept mit fünf neuen Atomreaktoren. DIE GRÜNEN im Fichtelgebirge sind Veranstalter  der 3. Internationalen Konferenz  STOPPT TEMELIN vom 14. bis 15. September 2013 in Temelin/ Hluboka (Tschechien) mit Teilnehmern aus Tschechien, Österreich, der Slowakei, Deutschland und Polen. Die Organisatorin Brigitte Artmann sagt: „Selbst die HSBC schätzt den Bau eines Reaktors auf unwirtschaftliche 8 Milliarden Euro Minimum. Atomlobbyismus in Brüssel hat bereits die gefährliche Sschweißnahtsituation in Temelin Reaktor 1 verschuldet. Bereits im Jahre 2001 wandte sich Greenpeace damit an den ehemaligen EU Kommissar Günther Verheugen. Dieser attestierte: Temelin ist sicher. Dabei sind bis heute elementarste Fragen zur Schweißnaht 1-4-5 im Unklaren. Der tschechische Umweltminister Tomas Podivinsky, der deutsche Umweltminister Peter Altmaier und Österreichs Umweltminister Nikolaus Berlakovich weigern sich die bestehende Aktenlage 15/2001/SUJB trilateral auf Vollständigkeit zu überprüfen. Jan Haverkamp von Greenpeace wird über den neuesten Stand berichten“. Auf der Agenda der Konferenz steht weiter die Bildung von Klageallianzen aus Deutschland, Tschechien und Österreich gegen die zu erwartende Baugenehmigung der beiden neuen Temelin Blöcke. Sowohl die deutsche Bundesregierung als auch die bayerische Staatsregierung lehnen es ab im Namen der Öffentlichkeit und deren Sicherheit Klage zu führen. Bereits am Samstagvormittag wird die Maschinenhalle im Hochsicherheitstrakt des AKW inspiziert. Danach ist Start der „1000 Kraniche  gegen Atomenergie“. 50 dieser Tiere werden symbolisch um Temelin fliegen. Alle anderen starten bereits am 7. September 2013 um 12:00 in verschiedenen Orten in Deutschland und auch am geplanten AKW in Lubiatowo in Polen. Man kann sich an dieser Aktion noch beteiligen.

Grüner Kreisverband Wunsiedel: Home

‎3.9 Zwei Jahre Fukushima: Atomanlagen abschalten! Urananreicherung in die Zange nehmen!

Zwei Jahre Fukushima: Gro�demo an der Urananreicherungsanlage in Gronau am 09.03.13 - Mobivideo - YouTube

‎3.9 Zwei Jahre Fukushima: Atomanlagen abschalten! Urananreicherung in die Zange nehmen!

Two years Fukushima nuclear plant shut down! Uranium enrichment "in the pliers take!"

Am Samstag den 09. März 2013 werden anlässlich des zweiten Jahrestages der Atomkatastrophe in Fukushima im Rahmen bundesweiter und internationaler Proteste auch in Gronau wieder Atomkraftgegnerinnen und -gegner direkt an der Urananreicherungs-anlage der URENCO für deren sofortige Stilllegung demonstrieren!

On Saturday the 09th March 2013 will mark the second anniversary of the nuclear disaster in Fukushima in nationwide and international protests demonstrate with "G ronau back" anti-nuclear activists and opponents right at the uranium enrichment plant of URENCO for its immediate closure!

> Zwei Jahre Fukushima: Atomanlagen abschalten! Urananreicherung in die Zange nehmen! | 9. M�rz 2013: Fukushima-Jahrestag in Gronau

Fukushima-Jahrestag: Dezentral und/oder zentral protestieren? | blogs.ausgestrahlt

english translation below

Zwei Termine werden derzeit in zahlreichen Anti-Atom-Initiativen und lockeren örtlichen Zusammenhängen von AtomkraftgegnerInnen diskutiert: Der 9. und der 11. März 2013. Am Montag dem 11. März jährt sich zum zweiten Mal der Beginn der Reaktorkatastrophe von Fukushima und in vielen Orten bundesweit sind Mahnwachen geplant.

Zwei Tage vorher, am Samstag den 9. März, finden vier große zentrale Demonstrationen statt, zu denen bundesweit mobilisiert wird: In Gronau (NRW), Gundremmingen (Bayern), Neckarwestheim (BaWü) und mit einer 350 km langen Aktions- und Menschenkette rund um das AKW Grohnde soll im Jahr der Bundestagswahl der Druck auf die Parteien erhöht werden, mit der Stilllegung des letzten AKW und der Schließung der Atomfabriken nicht bis 2022 oder länger zu warten.

Jetzt diskutieren die Aktiven vor Ort: machen wir lieber eine möglichst große Mahnwache bei uns im Ort oder organisieren wir einen Bus zu den zentralen Protesten zwei Tage vorher? Zur abendlichen Mahnwache kommen auch MitstreiterInnen, die nicht einen ganzen Tag An- und Abreise auf sich nehmen würden und außerdem lässt sich dadurch das Thema in die
Lokalpresse bringen. Andererseits sind die großen Demos am 9.3. Gradmesser für die Öffentlichkeit, wie stark die Anti-Atom-Bewegung zwei Jahre nach Fukushima ist. In Berlin kommt die Botschaft der vielen Mahnwachen kaum an – Zehntausende bei den zentralen Kundgebungen allerdings schon.

Ein Dilemma also, vor dem viele Gruppen jetzt stehen. Und die meisten lösen es mit doppelter Aktivität: Sie machen beides, organisieren einen Bus für den 9.3. und eine Mahnwache für den 11.3. Denn eines ist allen klar, nur wenn sich auf den Straßen weiter Protest zeigt, lokal und bundesweit, können wir den langjährigen Weiterbetrieb der gefährlichen Reaktoren stoppen.

Fukushima-Jahrestag: Dezentral und/oder zentral protestieren? | blogs.ausgestrahlt

via google translate -

Fukushima Anniversary: ​​Decentralized protest and / or centrally?

Jochen Stay - 12 February 2013 -

Two dates are being discussed in numerous anti-nuclear initiatives and informal local contexts of anti-nuclear activists: The 9th and the 11th March 2013. On Monday the 11th March marks the second time the beginning of the nuclear disaster in Fukushima, and in many places nationwide vigils are planned .

Two days earlier, on Saturday 9th March, will be four large central demonstrations , is mobilized nationwide to which: is in Gronau (NRW), Gundremmingen (Bavaria), Neckarwestheim (Baden-Württemberg) and with a 350 km-long action and human chain around the NPP Grohnde in the federal election the pressure on the parties to be increased to delay the closure of the last nuclear power plant and the closure of nuclear plants not until 2022 or longer.

Now the athletes talk there: we prefer to make as large a vigil in our place and we are organizing a bus to the central protest two days earlier? For the evening vigil come fellow activists who would not take a whole day of arrival and departure to and can thereby also the topic in the 
Local media bring. On the other hand the great demos are on 9.3. Barometer for the public how much the anti-nuclear movement is two years after Fukushima. Berlin is the message of many vigils at barely - Tens of thousands of rallies in the central one is.

A dilemma, then, before many groups are now. And most of it dissolve with double activity: make organizing both a bus for the 9.3. and a vigil for the 11.3. One thing is clear to everyone if only on the streets protest shows, locally and nationally, we can stop the long-term continued operation of dangerous reactors.

Hundreds Nuclear Safety Problems in EU & Fukushima update 10/3/12

Hundreds Nuclear Safety Problems in EU & Fukushima update 10/3/12 - YouTube

Published on Oct 3, 2012 by MsMilkytheclown | MsMilkytheclown's channel - YouTube

'Hundreds of problems' at EU nuclear plants - Hundreds of problems have been found at European nuclear plants that would cost 25bn euros (£20bn) to fix, says a leaked draft report. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19804817

http://youtu.be/5u6_92VVgYk
FAIR USE NOTICE: These pages/video may contain copyrighted (© ) material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Such material is made available to advance understanding of ecological, POLITICAL, HUMAN RIGHTS, economic, DEMOCRACY, scientific, MORAL, ETHICAL, and SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES, etc. It is believed that this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior general interest in receiving similar information

NRA: No judgment on reactors resumption
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/society.html

Crisis centers to be moved farther from reactors
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20121003_18.html

Nuclear disaster guidelines to be expanded
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20121003_25.html

NRA to closely monitor Fukushima decommissioning
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20121003_27.html

Govt. to judge safety of reactors resumption
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20121003_31.html

FEMA simulate Nuclear Disaster at Indian Point (not covered in this update)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_d1EZ5UQlV4&feature=em-uploademail-new

Latest Headlines: http://enenews.com/
Asahi: Cesium levels spike in Fukushima primates — Radioactivity much higher in 2012 than in June 2011

NHK: "Underground spring-water" a concern in Fukushima fallout study — Drone helicopter now measuring radiation around plant (VIDEOS)

Radio: "Every few days sinkhole gets bigger and gas bubbles spread out" — "My big fear is significant groundwater and aquifer contamination" for that area of Louisiana (AUDIO)

Top US Nuclear Official: Technologies don't exist yet to clean up Fukushima site... very difficult to overstate difficulty (VIDEO)

Nuclear Whistleblower: I was asked to leave my church — It's been a living hell (VIDEO)

Mother Tells Official: "Lick that soil! Please lick it! Children lick the soil — Please take the soil in your hand and lick it" after being told it doesn't need to be removed from Fukushima school (VIDEO)

Gundersen: Fill Fukushima reactors with cement and come back in 100 years — It's too radioactive (VIDEO)

Intelligence agency pressured researchers to withhold info on spread of Fukushima radiation

Radio: 1 million cancers coming from Fukushima? "We're seeing that already... Enormous increase in cancer precursor" (VIDEO)

Gundersen: They think "biological fouling" is causing temperature increase at Unit No. 1, organisms growing in pipes (VIDEO)

Legal Expert: They applied for permits to dispose of radioactive and other waste in cavern below giant sinkhole... and the material is leaking out (AUDIO)

White smoke coming out from Fukushima Daiichi radioactive waste storage facility

Radio: Geologists predict entire 3-mile-wide salt dome below sinkhole may collapse — "This is a really an ongoing disaster, it's going to continue to get worse" (AUDIO)

Mother/Farmer: We found 75% of Fukushima contaminated with high levels of radioactivity — This should be declared a 'radiation control area' (VIDEO)

Tepco checking for damage inside reactor at Fukushima DAINI

New flyover footage shows grass road is dissolving into giant Louisiana sinkhole (VIDEO)

Temperature jumps almost 10ºC in 24 hours at Fukushima Reactor No. 1 gauge (CHART)

Sinkhole Briefing: "Whole area" being monitored for subsidence — Concern about stability of "entire dome" — Residents ask if venting gas out of ground could cause further collapse (VIDEO)

Nikkei: Sec. Clinton personally pressured Japan leader to keep nuclear power as "President Obama wishes it"

Tokyo hospital for sale, will dispatch its doctors to Fukushima to treat workers at Daichi and DAINI — Tokyo hospital owned by... Tepco

M6.3 quake hits off northeastern Japan — M5.0 in same area 30 minutes later — Hours after three in Fukushima

Detonation or Deflagration at Unit 4? Experts: "Huge detonation sound" when it was severely damaged after 3/11

 MsMilkytheclown's channel - YouTube