The decision to increase the lifespan of nuclear reactors came after 12 hours of hectic parleys between senior politicians and forms a key component of the future energy policy of Europe’s largest economy.

The leaders of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union, its Bavarian sister party Christian Social Union and the liberal Free Democratic Party agreed that seven older reactors will cease to operate after eight years while the 10 younger reactors will continue to feed electricity into the national grid for another 14 years.

As they met in the chancellery, several thousand anti-nuclear campaigners demonstrated outside, demanding an early phasing out of atomic power and greater support for the development of renewable energy.

The coalition also agreed to impose a nuclear fuel tax on the companies operating the reactors over a period of six years. The proposed tax, which is part of the government’s austerity package, was endorsed by the cabinet last week to scale down the budget deficit, is expected to bring an annual revenue of about 2.3 billion euros.

In return for extending the lifespan of the reactors, the country’s four major utilities operating them are obliged to pay a special levy for the development of renewable energy.

Germany’s Environment Minister Norbert Roettgen, who has been campaigning for a shorter period for the reactors, expressed satisfaction over the outcome of the meeting and said the coalition laid the foundation for a new energy concept for the coming decades.

“Substantial contributions from the nuclear industry running into billions of euros for the development of renewable energy have been agreed,” he told journalists.

The coalition’s decision to extend the lifespan of the reactors was deplored by the leaders of Germany’s opposition parties and environmental organisations.

Sigmar Gabriel, Chairman of the Social Democratic Party, said that it was “irresponsible” on the part of the coalition to extend the life of reactors which have been operating for more than 20 years. The government is ignoring the security risks for the population to support the business interests of the industry.

“It is a black day for energy politics,” he said. Gabriel criticised the government’s plans to pass a legislation on the new energy concept in parliament circumventing the Bundesrat, the upper house, which is controlled by the opposition.

He vowed to block the bill in the Bundesrat if it comes up there for voting and said the SPD will also reverse the decision if it is elected in the next general election.

The Federal Association of Renewable Energy said the coalition’s decision is a severe blow for the development of alternative energy sources.

This will be the second edition of ‘Asian Nuclear Prospects’ (ANUP) meet. The first was held in Japan in 2008.
“ANUP-2010 aims to bring together nuclear scientists and engineers from Asian countries with nuclear energy programmes and their counterparts from developed countries where nuclear technology has reached a level of maturity to foster mutual interaction and collaboration,” Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) Director Baldevraj said in Chennai Saturday.
He told reporters that 250 delegates, including 60 from abroad would participate in the conference.
Apart from Japan, China, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and India, the meet would see participation from European nations, as well as the US, Russia and Canada, he said.
Besides, leading companies dealing with nuclear energy technology have also been invited to the conference, he said.
Baldevraj said special efforts are on to integrate countries with new energy initiatives in Asia. From India, 25 speakers have been invited, he said.
The IGCAR director said there are plans to constitute a ‘young researchers’ forum’, comprising eight oral presentations by young scientists and engineers from India and abroad.
“A panel discussion is planned at the end of the conference on the theme ‘Engines of Robust and Sustainable Nuclear Energy Growth’”, he said.

News4u-News Desk-India and Japan will hold the fourth strategic dialogue on Saturday when Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada arrives in New Delhi, during which the two sides will discuss a wide gamut of issues, including civil nuclear cooperation.

Okada will have delegation-level talks with External Affairs Minister S M Krishna during which they will review the status of the relationship between the two countries which had held nuclear negotiations in June this year.

Rejecting the reports that the recent declaration made by Mayor of Nagasaki criticising the Japanese government for launching nuclear cooperation talks with India will have any negative impact, Secretary (East Asia) in MEA, Gautam Bambawale said though there was no timeline for the pact, the next round of talks will be held “sooner rather than later”.

He said India was aware of the sensitivities reflected in some viewpoints expressed in that country and it was appreciative of those viewpoints but it was up to the government of Japanto take care of such issues.

“The two sides have decided to work towards a good working pact in the area, creating a win-win situation for both the countries. And there is no timeline to it,” he said.

Before his departure from Tokyo, Okada told a press conference that he will discuss with the Indian leadership issues such as bilateral civilian nuclear cooperation pact and a free trade agreement, negotiations for which are on.

Okada also said that he will “candidly convey to India critical public opinions in Japan” regarding the bilateral nuclear cooperation deal and urge New Delhi to make efforts toward nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.

The minister said Japan and India will need to discuss what to do if India conducts a nuclear test in their future civilian nuclear pact negotiations.

Asked about the same, Bambawale said he will not like to discuss the issue in the public domain or through media. Indiawill respond if the Japanese side raised it during the talks.

An accord will allow top Japanese companies, including Hitachiand Toshiba, to sell atomic power equipment to the growing Indian market now estimated to be of USD 150 billion.

Besides civil nuclear cooperation, the two sides will also discuss economic ties, situation in Pakistan and Afghanistan, reforms in the UN and expansion of its Security Council.

Okada is also expected to raise the situation in North Koreawhich does not have diplomatic ties with Japan.

The visit is also aimed at firming up the agenda for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s trip to Tokyo later this year during which he will have a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan.

Okada, who will be here on a two-day official visit, will also call on Singh.

India and Japan are also involved in the negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).Japan is the sixth largest investor in India.

The pact is expected to slash tariff duties on around 9,000 products, ranging from steel and apparel to drugs and machinery, and give a big boost to bilateral trade which was estimated to be around USD 12 billion in 2008-09.

The two sides are also involved in high-tech trade after Japan removed 11 Indian companies from the list of end-users and added four new ones recently, generating a positive momentum in bilateral ties.

Saturday’s meeting is first ministerial meeting after 2+2 (security and strategic) dialogue in New Delhi on 6^th July during which the two countries discussed issues ranging from counter-terrorism to the UN reforms.

News4u-News Desk-

Iran’s first nuclear power plant, which is set to go online on Saturday after being built and fuelled by Russia, has been delayed for more than three decades.

Its long-anticipated launch comes despite Russiahardening its position on Iran’s nuclear programme and backing a fourth round of UN Security Council sanctions in June over Tehran’s continued uranium enrichment work.

The sanctions targeting Iran’s military and nuclear programmes do not affect the Bushehr plant.
The project, near the port city of Bushehr in southern Iran, was first launched by the US-backed shah of Iran in the 1970s using contractors from German company Siemens.
But it was shelved when the shah was ousted during the 1979 Islamic revolution led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
The power station lay unfinished throughout the 1980s asIran battled internal opposition and the 1980-1988 war against Iraq.
It was revived in the late 1980s under the leadership of the new supreme leader Ali Khamenei and then president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.
Throughout the early 1990s, Iran sought help for the project after being turned away by Siemens over nuclear proliferation concerns.
Despite being the world’s fourth largest crude oil producer and having the second largest gas reserves, Iran insists it needs nuclear power to sustain a growing population whose fossil fuels will eventually run out.

News4u-News Desk-China is set to ink an agreement with the UN atomic watchdog to firm up cooperation in training and nuclear safety in East Asia and the world during the ongoing visit of its chief Yukiya Amano, in the backdrop of its plans to construct two new nuclear reactors in Pakistan.

It is not clear, however, whether the agreement would make any reference to the proposed two new nuclear reactorsChina wants to construct for Pakistan.

China and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will boost cooperation in personnel training and nuclear safety inEast Asia and across the world, according to a draft of the agreement, Chinese news agency Xinhua reported.

The agreement with IAEA is significant as China has been maintaining consistently that its cooperation with Pakistanconcerning the civil nuclear technology is for peaceful purposes and being carried out under the safeguards and supervision of the IAEA.

In June this year, the state media here reported that China would go ahead with its plans to construct two 750 MW nuclear reactors for Pakistan, in addition to the two at Chashma in Pakistan’s Punjab province, ignoring concerns raised by India and the United States.

China so far has not informed the 46 member Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), the apex body concerning nuclear commerce, of which Beijing is a member, about the plans.