Platts - Tuesday, June 14, 2005 http://www.platts.com ------------ New York (Platts)--13Jun2005 Possible 4,000 MW of new US nuclear generation by 2015 There could be 4,000 MW of new US nuclear generation by 2015, under the "promoting energy supplies" scenario included in a new report released on June 13 by the National Association of Manufacturers. The report's less optimistic "restricting energy supplies" scenario assumes no increase in nuclear. Assuming that four large new nuclear plants will be constructed in the next 10 years is "a bit of a stretch, but within reason," Nuclear Energy Institute spokeswoman Melanie Lyons told Platts. The report focused on the potential impact of comprehensive energy legislation on employment. The House passed an energy bill April 21; the Senate begins considering energy legislation this week. The report is at http://www.nam.org/s_nam/doc1.asp?CID=14&DID=234393. This story was originally published in Nuclear News Flashes http://www.nuclearnews.platts.com ------------ IAEA board endorses ElBaradei for third term Paris (Platts)--13Jun2005 The 35-country IAEA board of governors endorsed Mohamed ElBaradei of Egypt as director general for a third four-year term. The consensus decision came late today at the end of a six-hour stalemate over a technicality ostensibly involving the agenda of the meeting. With no candidate for the post other than the 62-year-old incumbent (the U.S. having withdrawn earlier objections to his being given a third term), the election was considered a formality and tabled as one of the last items in the original agenda. But a proposal by Egypt at the start of the meeting that it be brought to the top to enable ElBaradei to make his customary introductory address to the board as the new head of the agency was rejected by Japan, though it was said to be supported by most other governors. ------------ Cogema to supply 25 casks to Synatom Paris (Platts)--10Jun2005 Cogema Logistics will supply 25 storage/transport casks to Synatom under a contract signed June 6, Cogema parent Areva announced today. The new TN-24 casks will cover the future needs of Electrabel's Doel nuclear power plant, Areva said. They will join more than 50 such casks already loaded in Doel's interim spent fuel storage facility. Synatom manages the nuclear fuel cycle for Electrabel. Areva said that more than 300 TN-24 dual-purpose casks have been ordered from Cogema Logistics. ------------ Documents returning to on-line library after NRC security review Washington (Platts)--9Jun2005 NRC said today it is restoring 70,000 documents to its on-line library, Adams. The agency said the documents, which were removed last October, have cleared a security review to ensure they do not contain sensitive information that could potentially aid a terrorist. NRC said the documents are administrative, contractual, and research papers that are not connected to a specific licensee. The agency said it is still reviewing documents dealing with nuclear materials. NRC expects to re-post several thousand documents per day to limit the impact on its electronic records system. The process is anticipated to be completed by June 20. ------------ Price-Anderson Act extension passes Senate committee Washington (Platts)--8Jun2005 A Senate committee today approved legislation to extend the Price-Anderson Act until 2025. The act provides liability coverage for commercial nuclear plants and DOE contractors working on nuclear-related projects. The Senate Environment & Public Works Committee approved S. 865, under which "the total retrospective premium for each reactor would be set at the current level of $95.8-million and the limit on per-reactor annual payments raised to $15-million, with both to be adjusted for inflation every five years," committee staff said in a bill summary. The previous limit on annual payments was $10-million. Both current and newly-licensed reactors would be covered. The bill would also treat modular reactors of 100-300 megawatts at a single site as a single reactor under Price-Anderson. Floor action has not been scheduled. ------------