Platts - Monday, May 19, 2003
http://www.platts.com

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London (Platts)--19May2003

Swiss vote against nuclear decommissioning in referendum

The population of Switzerland on Sunday voted against
two initiatives aimed at decommissioning nuclear power.
The two initiatives, "Strom ohne Atom" (Electricity
without nuclear power) and "Moratorium Plus," both aimed
at the gradual decommissioning of nuclear power. 

The first initiative was ousted with 66.3% of "no"
votes, while the second initiative was rejected with
58.4%. "Strom ohne Atom" was aimed at a change in energy
policy and the gradual decommissioning of nuclear
plants, while Moratorium Plus wanted to stop new nuclear
plants being built in the country. This is the fourth
time the Swiss have voted to keep nuclear power
following referendums in 1979, 1984 and 1990.
Switzerland generates about 40% of its power demand from
nuclear plants and 60% in hydro plants. 

This story was originally publish European Power Alert.

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Washington (Nuclear News Flashes)--16May2003

NRC seeks limit on license renewal requests

The NRC staff wants to limit to eight the number of
license renewal applications under review at any one
time, beginning in fiscal 2004. Frank Gillespie, deputy
director of the division of regulatory improvement
programs in NRC's Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
said at a meeting today that the step is necessary,
given current budget constraints. The idea of delaying
submissions was not well received by industry members
present. The Nuclear Energy Institute's Alan Nelson said
a delay from the current submission schedule would cost
between $150,000 and $200,000 per month per application.
The two groups agreed to work together to limit the
impact of the cap on application review.

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Stockholm (Nuclear News Flashes)--16May2003

Norway to file protest with U.K. over Sellafield

Norway will file a formal diplomatic protest with the
U.K. over discharges of technetium-99 from Sellafield, a
spokesman for Norwegian Environment Minister Boerge
Brende confirmed today. Brende said he was
"disappointed" after a two-hour meeting with his U.K.
counterpart Michael Meacher yesterday because he
received no assurance that discharges would stop. "It is
an act of provocation not to take into account the
effect of the consequences of discharges on the
Norwegian fishing industry." He added that the Norwegian
government would not rule out demanding compensation
from the U.K. if it could document that fishermen are
being economically hurt by Sellafield discharges.

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