Pyramid Comment

This journal takes an alternative view on current affairs and other subjects. The approach is likely to be contentious and is arguably speculative. The content of any article is also a reminder of the status of those affairs at that date. All comments have been disabled. Any and all unsolicited or unauthorised links are absolutely disavowed.

Sunday, October 21, 2007

EDF And Nuclear Power

EDF formerly London Energy
EDF formerly Seeboard Energy
EDF formerly SWEB Energy

The EDF website describes what it was, but not what it is.

EDF Energy: one of the UK's leading energy companies


One of the leading companies. A UK company? No, but a company operating in the UK.

Électricité de France (EDF)

For a company that promotes itself as a leading energy company, it is remarkably reluctant to reveal much about itself. Not particularly surprising. Just alarming.

Wikipedia extract:

Électricité de France (EDF)
is the main electricity generation and distribution company in France. It was founded on April 8, 1946 as a result of the nationalisation of a number of electricity producers, transporters and distributors by the Communist Minister of Industrial Production Marcel Paul. Until November 19, 2004 it was a government corporation, but it is now a limited-liability corporation under private law (société anonyme). The government plans to float 30% of its shares on the stock market by the end of 2005, and retain 70% government ownership.

Incidentally, société anonyme in French means: an anonymous or nameless society, company, community or association.

EDF held a monopoly in the distribution, but not the production, of electricity in France until 1999, when the first European Commission directive to harmonize regulation of electricity markets was implemented.
EDF is one of the world's largest producers of electricity. In 2003, it produced 22% of the European Union's electricity, primarily from nuclear power:

Its 58 active nuclear reactors (2004) are spread out over 20 sites (nuclear power plants). They comprise 34 reactors of 900MW, 20 reactors of 1300 MW, and 4 reactors of 1450MW, all PWRs.

Almost no interest in wind power or renewable sources. And it is patently not British. No doubt the reason for maintaining its cloaking tactic.

But there's hope and the extent of the attempted railroading may be revealed in this critical example of the 'power struggle'. It was revealed that more than 90% of people (900 people in the 1000 person sample over nine public meetings across the UK over the weekend), are worried about creating more nuclear waste.


[Although a relatively small sample it could be viewed as representative in that it covered such a wide area.]

The hijacking of a voting public by bribery is becoming more obvious. I have made arguments that the provision of state benefits can buy positive voting. The hand that feeds should be left intact to continue to provide. This means that desperation is setting in. The 'winners' are begining to view themselves as the 'losers'.

Nuclear specialists (Areva) provide another example of apparent cloaking about a company and seems to be the French way, at least when the French want to infiltrate Britain and push nuclear power. The "PR stitch-up" appeared to be in complete disarray when invited environmental groups including Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth pulled out.

Preliminary results showed 46% of people supported or strongly supported continued use of nuclear power. Existing nuclear facilities are responsible for about 20% of UK energy, which are due to go "off-line" over the next 20 years. Only 25% state that they either opposed or strongly opposed the idea. Being either concerned or very concerned about safety and security issues associated with nuclear energy was felt by 89%. Nuclear waste creation was a prime concern for 92%.

Any dispute with environmental groups was glossed over by Business and Enterprise Secretary John Hutton by simply insisting that the meetings had been useful. "It's important that we know what the public thinks." (Though it'll probably make little difference.) "We have a preliminary view - that nuclear should be able to play a part in providing the energy that we need to keep the lights on and help cut carbon emissions."

The 20-week consultation was ordered earlier this year after a High Court ruling deemed the previous process "seriously flawed" and "manifestly inadequate and unfair". EDF and Areva (both French) have launched a joint website detailing their EPR reactor.

The assessment process could take up to three years, but the government has expressed a view that new nuclear power stations should be built. But if this is rejected during consultation then the plans will be scrapped.

So: the assessment will not be rejected and the nuclear power stations will be built.

Pressure will be brought to bear in the right quarter. That is obvious.

British Gas - The Attitude
British Gas - The Disaster
British Gas - The Hiding
British Gas - The Owner (Centrica)
British Gas - The Round Up
GDF
Southern Electric

    • An article has been prepared and will shortly be posted. Awaiting a response from Southern Electric. Recorded delivery 13.12.08 and no response within 10 days will prompt the posting to Comment.