WASHINGTON
INT7International/Diplomacy/DefenceN-deal: Bush may sign away Indian concerns Oct 8By Arun KumarWashington, Oct 5 IANS President George W. Bush will sign the Congressional approval of the Indo-US nuclear deal into law Oct 8, hopefully taking care of Indian concerns over a couple of new riders in the legislation.US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee failed to sign the implementing 123 agreement during her just concluded visit to New Delhi due to Indian insistence that Bush must first sign the approval legislation.While Rice and other US officials had taken the plea of pending "administrative details" for Bush not signing the legislation, but apparently what really kept him was how to allay Indian concerns regarding nuclear fuel assurances and technology transfers for uranium enrichment and reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel.But White House invitations Saturday for Wednesday's ceremony indicate that the two sides may have found the right formulation to allay India's concerns over these issues by way of a signing statement as he did over certain "extraneous and prescriptive" provisions in the Hyde Act in December 2006."My approval of the Act does not constitute my adoption of the statements of policy as US foreign policy," he then said in a presidential statement asserting that he would specifically treat three sections - 103, 104 and 109 - relating to India's Iran policy, NSG transfer guidelines and a joint scientific cooperative nuclear non-proliferation programme at best as "advisory".US presidents have often used such signing statements to interpret a law the way they choose without taking the extreme step of rejecting a bill outright with a veto. Usually these are quietly listed in the Federal Register recording all executive actions without a public announcement.India's concerns over "H R 7081, United States India Nuclear Cooperation Approval and Nonproliferation Enhancement Act," stem from its mover Howard Berman making Bush's controversial statement about "political commitments" regarding nuclear fuel supply assurances not being "legally binding" a part of the legislation.Berman, Democratic chairman of the House Foreign Affairs committee, who had initially strongly opposed to the deal on non-proliferation grounds, was brought around to supporting the legislation with the inclusion of a couple of new provisions in the bill.He also extracted an assurance from Rice that the US would work with members of the Nuclear Suppliers Group to "prohibit" transfers of enrichment and reprocessing technology to non-members of Non-Proliferation Treaty. Rice later clarified that she had used the word "limit" not "prohibit".Section 104 of the approved bill requires that licenses may not be issued by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for transfers of nuclear fuel, equipment and technology until after the president determines and certifies to Congress that 1 the safeguards agreement approved by the IAEA Board of Governors on August 1, 2008, has entered into force; and 2 India has filed a declaration of facilities that is not materially inconsistent with the facilities and schedule described in its separation plan.The legislation also requires a future administration to submit a "subsequent arrangement" for India establishing a dedicated facility to reprocess US-origin spent nuclear fuel to Congress, which would have the power to pass a resolution of disapproval.To be sure "administrative details" too have to be worked out before the president signs a bill into law. For one, the House clerk has to first enrol the bill, print a copy on parchment paper and then send it to the White House for the president's signature. But it took just a couple of hours to do so in the case of the administration's $700 billion financial rescue package.Another reason for the delay was as Rice put it the administration's desire to "use it as an opportunity to thank all of the people who have been involved in this", including the Indian American community and the business community which played a key role in pushing the deal through the Congress.--Indo-Asian News ServiceAk/tb681 Words*05100900
2008-10-05 03:00:00China searches for energy security
ECO1Economy/EconomyChina searches for energy securityBy Yang JianxiangBeijing, Oct 5 Xinhua It was a mid-May night, and trucks queued up at a gas station by the East 5th Ring Road of Beijing. The line was long, blocking a lane of the main road.At the station, the oil pipe nozzles were dry - the stock of diesel had run out and the fresh supplies would not come until after midnight. But when new consignment came, it was far less than adequate. Most vehicles would be partly filled and some would wait in vain.The situation had a direct link with soaring oil prices on the international market. To the country's decision makers, it was a harsh reminder of a vital issue - energy security.Though the aggregate figure looks quite impressive, China is poor in energy resource reserves on per capita calculation. Proven reserves of fossil fuels have increased in recent years, but this cannot change the overall picture.Production of energy fell behind growing demand due to a rapid development of the economy, the quickening pace of urbanization and the rising living standard.The country's coal reserves ranked third globally. Production accounted for about 40 percent of world output in 2007. Given the current rate of exploitation, the reserves would be exhausted in a little over 80 years. The comparatively small reserves of oil and gas would dwindle even faster, in 15 years and 30 years respectively.The government announced an energy strategy that lay emphasis on conservation to optimize consumption. It relies on domestic production and seeks diversified sources to secure supply and to develop new and renewable energies as alternatives for the future."We will strive to establish a steady, economic and clean energy supply system," Zhang Guobao, minister in charge of the energy sector of the National Development and Reform Commission NDRC, said at an international conference in January.It might be necessary for China to maintain fast economic growth, but energy consumption may grow at a slower pace if a good job is done in conservation. The country's unit gross domestic product GDP energy consumption was three to eight times as much as those in the United States and Japan.Adjusting the demand of industries is one way to reduce energy consumption intensity. A government announcement made Oct 11, 2007 terminated preferential power rates for high energy consuming industries such as electrolytic aluminium, alloy and chloro-alkaline enterprises.Tightening management and upgrading technology also help reduce the energy consumption of suppliers as well as consumers. For example, thermal plants were required to adopt highly efficient new technologies for coal burning power generation.By the end of 2010 China has set a target of cutting down energy consumption per 10,000 yuan $1,460 of GDP by 20 percent, from 1.22 tons of coal equivalent TCE in 2005 to 0.98 TCE. That means an annual average of 4 percent.Last year, while the overall reduction rate of 3.66 percent still fell short of expectations, more than two-thirds of the provinces met the annual goal. This was in sharp contrast to the first year when only Beijing managed to do so.NDRC Energy Institute director Zhou Dadi said, efforts by some provincial governments and companies were inadequate.The government has acknowledged the importance of clean and renewable energy. China has abundant resources in hydropower and wind, solar, biofuel, geothermal and tidal energy. Renewable energy and nuclear power accounted for 7.5 percent of total energy consumption last year. The State Renewable Energy Medium- and Long-term Planning SREMLP aimed at raising the renewable share to 10 percent in 2010 and 15 percent in 2020.The latest statistics available show the country's nuclear power capacity totalled 9,100 mw, with 11 reactors in operation. By 2020, the State Nuclear Power Development Plan aims at a total installation of 40,000 mw, which would account for 4 percent of the nation's total power capacity. Compared with the world average of 14.8 percent and close to 80 percent in some leading countries, there was much room for China's nuclear power development.--Xinhuadkg/jg 730 Words05101051
2008-10-05 01:05:08ABU DHABI
INT27International/Diplomacy/MediaUAE dailies hail India-US nuclear dealAbu Dhabi, Oct 4 IANS Newspapers in the United Arab Emirates UAE have hailed the Indo-US nuclear deal as a formal recognition of India's nuclear status, reminding the Asian giant of its role as an anchor of stability in the region. As the US Senate voted Thursday in favour of the deal, Gulf News pointed out that India was getting the formal right to enter into civilian nuclear commerce with other countries after 34 years in the wilderness, due to sanctions.The paper wrote: "Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh referred to it as virtually the 'done deal' and so it was as the US Senate voted overwhelmingly in favour of India getting the formal right to enter into civilian nuclear commerce with other countries after 34 years in the wilderness, due to sanctions."The agreement shows that India's emergence as a global power has now been formally certified, the daily said adding that the distinction came on the birth anniversary of one of the architects of India's independence.The Gulf Daily noted that the Senate endorsement was preceded by Singh's "classic case of statesmanship" in signing a nuclear cooperation contract with French President Nicholas Sarkozy."So even as the Indian opposition back home carp that the current government has 'sold out' to the US by agreeing to buy 10,000 MW of nuclear power, others armed with more forethought reckon that this historic accord will help to address the country's energy shortfall, helping it gain more mileage as it builds on its process of rapid industrialisation," the Gulf Daily said."The onus is now on India to be an anchor of stability in South Asia and an engine that drives growth not just at home but in the region."Khaleej Times said "the deal is without doubt a huge personal victory for a lame-duck US president George W. Bush. Perhaps, the only feather in his unadorned cap," adding that it was the only resounding foreign policy victory of the beleaguered Bush. Khaleej Times further commented: "The ambitions of nuclear powered India were just common sense and good commerce for Bush." "The Bush Administration's half-hearted affair with India that initially suffered from mutual mistrust has matured into a solid alliance and win-win relationship between the world's greatest democracies," the paper said. "Ironically enough, the civilian nuclear deal with Delhi may very well turn out to be the only feather in the cap of this beleaguered and besieged president. It may not entirely rescue the Bush legacy but it will certainly bring some consolation to him at a time when he badly needs it," the editorial said and called it a spectacular break of US non-proliferation policy for at least three decades."The evolution of India's nuclear programme is not constrained by access to nuclear fuel supplies. Besides, the US and India are expected to expand their ties protecting shared interests as free democracies." --Indo-Asian News Servicedkg/jg521 Words04101426
2008-10-04 05:00:00Human generated CO2 emissions register a four-fold increase since 2000
Washington, Oct 3 ANI: The latest figures on the global carbon budget have indicated that emissions of carbon dioxide CO2 from human activities have been growing about four times faster since 2000 than during the previous decade."This is a concerning trend in light of global efforts to curb emissions," said Global Carbon Project GCP Executive-Director, Dr Pep Canadell, a carbon specialist based at CSIRO in Canberra.Releasing the 2007 data, Dr Canadell said emissions from the combustion of fossil fuel and land use change almost reached the mark of 10 billion tonnes of carbon in 2007.Using research findings published last year in peer-reviewed journals such as Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Nature and Science, Dr Canadell said atmospheric carbon dioxide growth has been outstripping the growth of natural carbon dioxide sinks such as forests and oceans.The new results were released simultaneously in Washington by Dr Canadell and in Paris by Dr Michael Raupach, GCP co-Chair and a CSIRO scientist.Dr Raupach expressed concerns particularly about Australia, whose position remains unique as a developed country with rapidly growing emissions."Since 2000, Australian fossil-fuel emissions have grown by two per cent per year. For Australia to achieve a 2020 fossil-fuel emissions target 10 per cent lower than 2000 levels, the target referred to by Professor Garnaut this month, we would require a reduction in emissions from where they are now by 1.5 per cent per year," he said. "Every year of continuing growth makes the future reduction requirement even steeper," he added.The Global Carbon Project GCP is a joint international project on the global carbon cycle sponsored by the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme IGBP, the International Human Dimensions Programme on Global Environmental Research IHDP, and the World Climate Research Program. ANI
2008-10-03 23:00:00Iran could reconsider uranium enrichment with fuel guarantees
New York, Oct.3 ANI: A leading Iranian nuclear envoy has suggested that his country could reconsider its uranium enrichment program if it gets cast-iron guarantees of regular international fuel supplies for its nuclear power plants. "We are going to continue as long as there is no legally binding internationally recognized instrument for assurance of supply," said Ali Ashgar Soltanieh, the chief Iranian delegate to the International Atomic Energy Agency. However, he declined to clarify whether that meant that Iran would halt its enrichment program in return for such international guarantees, suggesting it might have to continue at a diminished level in case the outside supply stops. According to CBS, Iran has steadfastly rejected international pressure to give up enrichment, a potential source of both nuclear fuel and fissile warhead material. The United States says the enrichment program is designed to give Iran a nuclear bomb. Soltanieh said Iran is forced to develop its own enrichment facilities to ensure security of supply for its power plants because it fears international suppliers would face pressure from the United States or others to cut deliveries. That might change if all 145 members of the U.N.'s atomic energy agency conclude a legally binding agreement to guarantee a constant supply of fuel, Soltanieh told reporters after addressing a think-tank conference. Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, speaking at the Asia Society in New York, also held open the door to negotiations. At the same time, he questioned the good faith the U.S. and its partners. "Unfortunately, at the moment in the world today ... we don't see that much fair play out there. Mostly what we see is a selective approach and double standards," Mottaki complained. Getting all members of the Vienna-based nuclear agency to agree on legally binding guarantees would be very difficult, and Soltanieh suggested that Iran might want to keep some enrichment activities even if such an agreement were found. "We have to have a contingency safeguard in case of interruption. This is not an overnight situation that there is a paper today, and tomorrow then they say Iran will stop. No, it's not possible. There is no way," he said.Previous efforts to persuade Iran to stop its enrichment program by offering outside fuel supplies, notably from Russia, have failed. ANI
2008-10-03 23:00:00Ban Muslim headscarves, say teachers
London, Oct.3 ANI: Nearly half of Britain's teachers believe Muslim headscarves should be banned in schools.Quoting a new research, The Telegraph says forty-six percent of primary and secondary school teachers have suggested that allowing pupils to wear religious symbols goes against British values.They also feared it would undermine the drive to promote religious and racial harmony in schools.The findings, in a poll carried out by YouGov, will fuel the controversial debate about the wearing of religious symbols in schools.Currently, individual schools are free to make their own decisions, but a string of recent court ruling said some policies amounted to "unlawful discrimination".In July, a Sikh schoolgirl, won a discrimination case against her school after she was banned from wearing a religious bangle.John Dunford, general secretary of the Association of College and Student Leaders, defended the right of schools to decide for themselves.He said he was "very concerned" that the courts may "prevent schools in future from setting appropriate uniform standards.""Where you have an identifiable religious community it is good practice for the school to discuss uniform with that local community, as they do with parents," he added.Christine Blowers, acting general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said when pupils breached a uniform code it often harmed cohesion.The poll, commissioned by Teachers TV, found that more than 70 per cent of teachers agreed that the promotion of British values was part of a teacher's role.Andrew Bethell, chief executive of Teachers TV, said that the results marked a "shift away from multiculturalism" in the "post 7/7 Britain".He added: "There seems to be an increasing feeling among teachers that simply embracing difference is no longer enough. Pupils need a sense of common identity and 'Britishness' is a big part of this." ANI
2008-10-03 23:00:00India Energy Conference focuses on building a competitive market for alternative energy sources
New Delhi, Oct 03 ANI/Business Wire India: Recognizing the grave financial and security implications the sky-rocketing crude oil prices has on the economy, the India Energy Conference 2008 reiterated the fact that as one of the fastest growth economies of the world, the energy strategy of the country is critical for the achievement of our development objectives and the goal of the government as well as the corporate sector must be to improve access to reliable, affordable, economically viable, socially acceptable and environmentally sustainable energy sources. The conference is organised by the Energy and Resources Institute TERI in association with Petroleum Federation of India PetroFed and the two-day conference was inaugurated by Vice President M. Hamid Ansari at Taj Palace Hotel, New Delhi. It also had the presence of Abbas. A Naqi, Secretary General, OAPEC, Dr. R.K. Pachauri, Director-General TERI and Chairman IPCC, and Sarthak Behuria, Chairman, Petroleum Federation of India and Indian Oil Corporation Limited apart from other big-wigs in the oil and gas sector such as RIL, ONGC, GAIL, IOCL, BPCL, BP India, Vestas India. Addressing the occasion, Dr. R.K. Pachauri, Director-General TERI and Chairman IPCC said, "We are going through historic changes in the energy sector, hence renewable and alternate sources of energy should be tapped in a bigger scale. I feel that nuclear energy is an important component of the energy sector. Energy sector needs major investments for R and D and the oil exporting nations will play a quintessential role in supporting the infrastructure and welfare of the local community."He further added that "I see this as a unique opportunity for these nations to invest in countries like India that would be mutually beneficial. We, in TERI, realize that there is a need for closer relation with the Gulf. Biotechnology in TERI has invented technology to clean up oil spills through 'Oil Zapper'. Just as energy market is changing, there are enormous opportunity to work in collaboration to develop science and technology to meet demands and conserve environment through clean technologies."Enunciating on the relevance of the conference, Ansari said, "Energy for development debate is important and should be multifaceted in nature encompassing environment conservation. Successful nations have harnessed energy security. Government's energy policy must meet demands at competitive prices and should be economically viable. The direct correlation between energy use and human development is well established.""Our goal must remain to improve access to reliable, affordable, economically viable, socially acceptable and environmentally sustainable energy sources. We have no choice but to increase per capita energy consumption to provide to our citizens a minimum acceptable level of well being and welfare. I do hope that the conference deliberations would, while focusing on hydrocarbons, place them within the ambit of broader energy issues affecting us, and come forth with suitable policy options," he added.Appreciating the initiative taken by TERI and organizers, Naqi said, "We envisage that Asian nations are expected to use two-third of total oil required in the developing countries. India itself is the fourth largest economy of the world and is the fifth largest energy consumer. OPEC has well-equipped itself to tackle the growing demands without compromising upon the environmental aspect. Fossil fuels will continue to satisfy the growing demands and OPEC is working towards building technologies to create cleaner fuels. We believe that mitigation and adaptation to climate change is necessary and OPEC nations have created a fund of 300 million dollar to conserve environment."The two day conference is structured to provide an in-depth analysis of the policy and regulatory aspects in the entire value chain of the hydrocarbon sector. While discussing alternative energy sources, the conference focused in their potential in India and identified policy imperatives required to push these sources to move the economy towards a sustainable pathway. Specifically the conference focused on prospects of bio-fuels in the light of the controversies on the use of land for food v/s fuel. To present a balanced view, conference had national and international players of the new and renewable energy sources as speakers, with sessions ranging from exploration and production, refining, marketing and petroleum product pricing. Panel discussions on natural gas market development, utilization and pricing were an integral part of the sessions. ANI
2008-10-03 23:00:00Secret BBC script from 1970s for nuclear apocalypse announcement released
London, Oct 3 ANI: A top secret BBC script for an announcement to be broadcast if the UK came under nuclear attack in the early 1970s has been released from files in the National Archives in Kew, west London.According to a report by BBC News, the script has been in a file of documents kept secret for more than 30 years.Drawn up amid secret discussions between the Government and the BBC on how a new Wartime Broadcasting Service would operate in the event of a conflict involving the Soviet Union, the pre-recorded announcement is short on theatrics, with little to offer but a stiff upper lip.A terrified population were to be told simply to "stay calm and stay in your homes". The advice the population would have been offered was simple. Echoing public information leaflets available at the time, people were told to make the most of supplies of tinned food, save water and stay tuned to the BBC.News that British civilisation was facing its great ever threat was to be announced in a few crisp sentences like, "This is the Wartime Broadcasting Service. This country has been attacked with nuclear weapons. Communications have been severely disrupted, and the number of casualties and the extent of the damage are not yet known.""We shall bring you further information as soon as possible. Meanwhile, stay tuned to this wavelength, stay calm and stay in your own homes," it added.The horror of radioactive fall-out is spelt out in with the simple warning: "Remember there is nothing to be gained by running away.""Make sure gas and other fuel supplies are turned off and that all fires are extinguished," the public were then told.They were to use tap water, if it was still running, to fight any fires before filling buckets and containers to store supplies for drinking and cooking."Water must not be used for flushing lavatories: until you are told that lavatories may be used again, other toilet arrangements must be made," the announcement says, opting for the polite term.Without mention of nuclear shelters, people were to be advised to take cover in a "fall-out room" in the middle of their home, away from doors and windows.The script is contained in a file of documents kept secret for more than 30 years discussing arrangements for communicating with the public in the event of a nuclear war. ANI
2008-10-03 23:00:00India can be automotive research leader: Scientific advisor
ECO15Economy/Science/NationalIndia can be automotive research leader: Scientific advisorChennai, Oct 3 IANS With the entry of global automobile companies into India and also their research arms, automotive research is one of the areas where India can be a leader, said a top Indian scientist here Friday. "In a developing country, process and product innovation would create more wealth," R. Chidambaram, principal scientific advisor to the central government. Speaking at the Automotive R&D Trends 2015, a conference organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry CII and Tamil Nadu Technology Development and Promotion Centre TNTDPC, he said that by the end of this century, the temperature change will be between 1.1 to 6.4 degrees centigrade as compared to the 1980-1999 levels, which in turn would result in rise in sea levels. "The per capita emission of carbon dioxide CO2 is 20.01 tonne by the USA, 9.87 tonne by Japan, 11.71 tonne Russia and India is just 1.02 tonne," he added. Emphasising the need for an intelligent transportation system, he cited the vehicle tracking system installed by the Tamil Nadu government in 100 buses that would convey to the bus station in advance its likely arrival time. "This helps the people to know to which bay the bus would stop and at what time." Predicting a shortage of doctorates and also professors to guide research associates in the years to come, he called upon the automobile industry to have a close interaction with the academia and even identify students at the undergraduate and post-graduate levels and sponsor their studies. According to Srivats Ram, managing director, Wheels India Ltd, the purpose of design innovation is to offer reduced life time ownership costs of a vehicle, cradle to cradle design and baby-proof or safe vehicle. Citing Boeing that reduced the weight of its Dreamliner plane to increase fuel efficiency, he said the automobile players too should look at alternative materials like composites to cut their vehicle weight. "Boeing increased the use of composites by 30 percent to 50 percent. This in turn increased the fuel efficiency by 20 percent." He said the vehicle manufacturers should increase the use of recyclable materials - cradle to cradle design - and also materials like natural fibre for seats, head rests, sun visors."Baby proofing is having active safety mechanisms. Like the defence sector, automobiles too could look at having night vision glasses, adaptive front lighting or safe tyres," Ram suggested. According to him innovative design also means making an existing part redundant. "If there is a windshield glass that has the properties of a lotus leaf - repulsing water - there will not be a need for wiper.--Indo-Asian News Servicevj/ank/vt485 Words03101951
2008-10-03 11:00:00Private players in n-power may be allowed: scientist
NAT36National/Technology/DefencePrivate players in n-power may be allowed: scientistChennai, Oct 3 IANS The country can allow private players into nuclear power generation if the issues of safety - of plant and materials - are taken care of, a leading scientist has said. "The Atomic Energy Act will be amended to allow private players. There are two main issues - operating the plant safely and the safety of the sensitive materials - in operating a nuclear power plant," R. Chidambaram, principal scientific advisor to the government, told IANS here. Agreeing that private players lack experience and may face shortage of skilled hands, he said, "Perhaps the private sector can initially partner with the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited, and may later go on their own." He said there are sufficient sites in the country to locate nuclear power plants. According to him the signing of the nuclear deal with the US and opening up of the market for overseas reactors will not in any way affect the country's three-stage nuclear power programme. Nuclear energy is the sustainable mitigating technology in the context of global climate, he said. "With the same amount of natural uranium, 50 times more power can be generated if the nuclear fuel cycle is closed. And fast breeder reactors are key to that," he remarked. India has adopted three-stage nuclear power programme which would close the fuel cycle.Two other fissile materials that can fuel nuclear reactors are plutonium and U233, which are manmade and not available in nature.The first stage is the setting up of Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors PHWR powered by natural uranium. Besides generating power, PHWRs will convert a part of U238 in natural uranium into plutonium, which is separated from the spent fuel in plutonium reprocessing plants.The second stage is fast breeder reactors FBR powered by plutonium obtained from the first stage PHWRs and U238. The fast breeder reactors will fission plutonium for power production and at the same time breed more plutonium from the U238.The surplus plutonium from each FBR can be used to set up additional FBRs and grow the nuclear capacity in tune with India's needs. Consolidation and further growth of the nuclear electric base is planned too by means of thorium breeders, which will form the third stage of the programme. With the US COngress passing the India-US civilian nuclear deal, it is ready to be signed and will open up the doors of global nuclear commerce with India after more than three decades. --Indo Asian News Servicevj/rn/vt454 Words03101726
2008-10-03 08:00:00
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