A renaissance for nuclear power gets underway in Asia



Recent start-ups hardly provide much evidence of the vaunted "renaissance" in civilian nuclear power that promises reliable supplies of electricity without the pollution and greenhouse gas emissions associated with fossil fuels, especially coal. Only two new nuclear plants began operation last year, one in Japan and the other in India. Since two reactors were shut down in 2009, it left the same number, 436, generating about 15 per cent of the world's electricity in 31 economies.
However, the pace of reactor construction is rising particularly in Asia, where rapid growth and demand for electricity makes nuclear power an important energy priority for major economies. In the Middle East, too, the UAE's recent decision to go nuclear is expected to be followed by many other countries in the region. While problems related to public acceptance, safety, the disposal of radioactive waste and high capital costs of nuclear power have slowed its advance in Europe and North America, Asia - and soon probably the Middle East - will become the standard bearers for future expansion. Of nearly 70 reactors under or close to construction, 45 are in Asia mainly in China (23), India (6), Japan (6) and South Korea (6).
EDF, the French nuclear power operator, has published a global forecast for the period to 2020. These show 140 gigawatts of new capacity being built and 10 GW decommissioned, to give 480 GW in 2020, up from 370 GW today. Of the difference, 60 per cent is in Asia, leaving Europe, the Americas and Russia with about 12 per cent each. Even so, according the latest projections from the International Atomic Energy Agency, nuclear power's share of worldwide electricity production will actually be a bit less in 2020 than it is now, although it might increase slightly by 2030.
However, the real significance is the rate of growth in Asia and the emergence of South Korea, China and India, not just as sources of advanced nuclear technology, but also as exporters of nuclear plants, components and know-how. The nuclear industry is rapidly globalising. As it does so, there will be sharper vendor competition, costs and construction times are expected to fall - and more countries will opt for nuclear power. This will make it even more urgent to tighten global nuclear security and safeguards to prevent the technology being used to make weapons of mass destruction.
The World Nuclear Association lobby group reckons that another 25 countries in Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Africa and Latin America are either considering or have already decided to make nuclear energy part of their power generation systems. Nonetheless, the WNA says that over 80 per cent of the expansion this century is likely to be in major economies already using nuclear power. By the end of 2006, three big western-Japanese alliances had formed to dominate much of the world reactor supply market. They included Areva of France with Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and General Electric of the US with Japan's Hitachi. Meanwhile, Westinghouse of the US had become a 77 per cent subsidiary of Japan's Toshiba.
Until very recently, only these three groups and a small number of other firms, among them the Atomic Energy of Canada, Russia's AtomStroyExport, and Chinese state-owned companies supplying Pakistan, had shown they had the technical knowledge and project management experience to export nuclear power plants. A new member joined the club late last year when a consortium of mainly South Korean companies headed by KEPCO, the Korea Electric Power Co, beat an Areva-led group and GE-Hitachi to win a contract worth about US$20 billion to build four advanced reactors in the UAE. The project is covered by strict safeguards to ensure that it is for peaceful purposes only.
The first of the 1,400 megawatt reactors is due to start generating electricity in 2017, with the others following by 2020. The consortium also expects to earn another US$20 billion by jointly running the reactors for 60 years. Since the UAE has said it plans to standardise on one technology, Korea is hoping to secure follow-on orders. Faced with limited resources and a fast-growing demand for energy, South Korea imported Westinghouse System-80 pressurised water reactors in the late 1970s. The contract included terms that allowed KEPCO to develop its own versions of the reactor, such as the advanced model now being supplied to the UAE. Today, Korea has a full nuclear design, manufacture and construction capability, backed up by extensive skill resources and the heavy engineering capability to make reactor components.
China and India are moving swiftly in the same direction and also plan to compete in the nuclear export market, along with Japan, France, Russia, the US and South Korea. Korea plans to become self-sufficient in nuclear reactor technology by 2012 and export 80 power reactors, worth some US$400 billion, by 2030. This would make it the world's third or fourth largest nuclear reactor supplier, with a 20 per cent share of the global market.
A report to South Korean President Lee Myung-bak early last month set out the rationale for developing the nuclear industry as a major export arm of the country's economy: "Nuclear power-related business will be the most profitable market after automobiles, semiconductors and shipbuilding." Given the success that Korea has had in exporting its products from all three of these sectors, rival nuclear vendors would be well advised to take the new Korean challenge seriously.
Michael Richardson is a former Asia editor of the International Herald Tribune and a visiting senior research fellow at the Institute of South-east Asian Studies in Singapore

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Key products and UAE prices

iPhone XS
With a 5.8-inch screen, it will be an advance version of the iPhone X. It will be dual sim and comes with better battery life, a faster processor and better camera. A new gold colour will be available.
Price: Dh4,229

iPhone XS Max
It is expected to be a grander version of the iPhone X with a 6.5-inch screen; an inch bigger than the screen of the iPhone 8 Plus.
Price: Dh4,649

iPhone XR
A low-cost version of the iPhone X with a 6.1-inch screen, it is expected to attract mass attention. According to industry experts, it is likely to have aluminium edges instead of stainless steel.
Price: Dh3,179

Apple Watch Series 4
More comprehensive health device with edge-to-edge displays that are more than 30 per cent bigger than displays on current models.

RESULT

Brazil 2 Croatia 0
Brazil: 
Neymar (69'), Firmino (90' 3)    

What is a calorie?

A food calorie, or kilocalorie, is a measure of nutritional energy generated from what is consumed.

One calorie, is the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water by 1°C.

A kilocalorie represents a 1,000 true calories of energy.

Energy density figures are often quoted as calories per serving, with one gram of fat in food containing nine calories, and a gram of protein or carbohydrate providing about four.

Alcohol contains about seven calories a gram. 

TV: World Cup Qualifier 2018 matches will be aired on on OSN Sports HD Cricket channel

MATCH INFO

What: Brazil v South Korea
When: Tonight, 5.30pm
Where: Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ae

The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Power: 510hp at 9,000rpm
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Price: From Dh801,800
MATCH INFO

Scotland 59 (Tries: Hastings (2), G Horne (3), Turner, Seymour, Barclay, Kinghorn, McInally; Cons: Hastings 8)

Russia 0

The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201.8-litre%204-cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E190hp%20at%205%2C200rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20320Nm%20from%201%2C800-5%2C000rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeven-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%206.7L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh111%2C195%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
FFP EXPLAINED

What is Financial Fair Play?
Introduced in 2011 by Uefa, European football’s governing body, it demands that clubs live within their means. Chiefly, spend within their income and not make substantial losses.

What the rules dictate? 
The second phase of its implementation limits losses to €30 million (Dh136m) over three seasons. Extra expenditure is permitted for investment in sustainable areas (youth academies, stadium development, etc). Money provided by owners is not viewed as income. Revenue from “related parties” to those owners is assessed by Uefa's “financial control body” to be sure it is a fair value, or in line with market prices.

What are the penalties? 
There are a number of punishments, including fines, a loss of prize money or having to reduce squad size for European competition – as happened to PSG in 2014. There is even the threat of a competition ban, which could in theory lead to PSG’s suspension from the Uefa Champions League.

Schedule:

Pakistan v Sri Lanka:
28 Sep-2 Oct, 1st Test, Abu Dhabi
6-10 Oct, 2nd Test (day-night), Dubai
13 Oct, 1st ODI, Dubai
16 Oct, 2nd ODI, Abu Dhabi
18 Oct, 3rd ODI, Abu Dhabi
20 Oct, 4th ODI, Sharjah
23 Oct, 5th ODI, Sharjah
26 Oct, 1st T20I, Abu Dhabi
27 Oct, 2nd T20I, Abu Dhabi
29 Oct, 3rd T20I, Lahore

Fifa%20World%20Cup%20Qatar%202022%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFirst%20match%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENovember%2020%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFinal%2016%20round%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDecember%203%20to%206%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EQuarter-finals%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDecember%209%20and%2010%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESemi-finals%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDecember%2013%20and%2014%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFinal%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDecember%2018%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Inside%20Out%202
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%C2%A0%3C%2Fstrong%3EKelsey%20Mann%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%C2%A0Amy%20Poehler%2C%20Maya%20Hawke%2C%20Ayo%20Edebiri%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
When is VAR used?

Goals

Penalty decisions

Direct red-card incidents

Mistaken identity

How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE

When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.

Specs – Taycan 4S
Engine: Electric

Transmission: 2-speed auto

Power: 571bhp

Torque: 650Nm

Price: Dh431,800

Specs – Panamera
Engine: 3-litre V6 with 100kW electric motor

Transmission: 2-speed auto

Power: 455bhp

Torque: 700Nm

Price: from Dh431,800

MATCH INFO

England 2
Cahill (3'), Kane (39')

Nigeria 1
Iwobi (47')

The specs: 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLE

Price, base / as tested Dh274,000 (estimate)

Engine 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder

Gearbox  Nine-speed automatic

Power 245hp @ 4,200rpm

Torque 500Nm @ 1,600rpm

Fuel economy, combined 6.4L / 100km

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma

When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Emirates exiles

Will Wilson is not the first player to have attained high-class representative honours after first learning to play rugby on the playing fields of UAE.

Jonny Macdonald
Abu Dhabi-born and raised, the current Jebel Ali Dragons assistant coach was selected to play for Scotland at the Hong Kong Sevens in 2011.

Jordan Onojaife
Having started rugby by chance when the Jumeirah College team were short of players, he later won the World Under 20 Championship with England.

Devante Onojaife
Followed older brother Jordan into England age-group rugby, as well as the pro game at Northampton Saints, but recently switched allegiance to Scotland.

How it works

A $10 hand-powered LED light and battery bank

Device is operated by hand cranking it at any time during the day or night 

The charge is stored inside a battery

The ratio is that for every minute you crank, it provides 10 minutes light on the brightest mode

A full hand wound charge is of 16.5minutes 

This gives 1.1 hours of light on high mode or 2.5 hours of light on low mode

When more light is needed, it can be recharged by winding again

The larger version costs between $18-20 and generates more than 15 hours of light with a 45-minute charge

No limit on how many times you can charge

 

Donating your hair

    •    Your hair should be least 30 cms long, as some of the hair is lost during manufacturing of the wigs.
    •    Clean, dry hair in good condition (no split ends) from any gender, and of any natural colour, is required.
    •    Straight, wavy, curly, permed or chemically straightened is permitted.
    •    Dyed hair must be of a natural colour
 

 

Our legal consultant

Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.