CND Press Digest: Friday 13th September 2024

Posted: 13th September 2024

Arms Control

CND Vice-Chair Sophie Bolt has an excellent letter published in today’s the Financial Times, responding to an opinion piece by former NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller on nuclear arms control.

Ukraine

Keir Starmer is en route to Washington, where he and Joe Biden are expected to announce the lifting of restrictions on long-range Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine - allowing Kiev to strike targets in Russia.
The Guardian, BBC, and Graphic News with explainers on the Storm Shadow.
Predictable pro-Storm Shadow arguments from the Telegraph’s Hamish de Bretton-Gordon.
Nuclear safety, security and safeguards in Ukraine: UK national statement to IAEA Board, September 2024. UK Ambassador to the IAEA Corinne Kitsell’s statement to the International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors meeting on Ukraine.

Nukes in Britain

MoD: The biggest dry dock in Devonport, known as 9 Dock, has reopened today following a major refurbishment project worth £200 million completed under a contract with Babcock International Group. At an opening ceremony in Plymouth, Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry Maria Eagle MP announced that 9 Dock and Devonport are pivotal to the government’s triple-lock nuclear guarantee to deliver our next generation, Continuous-At-Sea Nuclear Deterrent.

Global Nukes

World Nuclear News: More than 200 Russian nuclear submarines have been dismantled, says Rosatom. Rosatom has said that its work to resolve nuclear legacy issues in Russia’s Far East has been successful, including the dismantling of dozens of decommissioned nuclear-powered submarines. In total, the state nuclear corporation said, 202 Russian nuclear-powered submarines decommissioned before 2022 have been dismantled, including 82 from the country’s Far East. It added that all used nuclear fuel has been removed from the region. The reactor compartments of the dismantled nuclear submarines have been placed in specially constructed containers in a secure site on land, and are subject to radiation monitoring and maintenance, such as checking the condition of the anti-corrosion protective coating, the company said.

Nuclear Testing

Defense News: What if Russia resumes nuclear tests? A former US arms-control negotiator outlines the options.

UK Nuclear Power

World Nuclear News: The defueling of the first of two advanced gas-cooled reactors at the Hinkley Point B nuclear power plant in Somerset, the UK, has been completed. The Hinkley Point B plant was first synchronised to the electricity grid in February 1976. The plant generated more than 311 terawatt-hours of electricity before it was permanently shut down in August 2022, when it moved into its defuelling phase.

Fukushima

South China Morning Post: Japan’s plan to reuse Fukushima soil for infrastructure gains IAEA support despite concerns. The IAEA claims the soil meets safety standards, but critics argue spreading the contamination is dangerous and could lead to increased cancer risks.

Nuclear Power

NATO / Europe

Politico: NATO’s Jens Stoltenberg will be new Munich Security Conference chief.

AUKUS/ Indo-Pacific

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: UK Ambassador to the IAEA Corinne Kitsell’s statement on behalf of Australia, the UK and the US to the International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors on IAEA safeguards and AUKUS.
The Telegraph: North Korea has for the first time revealed images of the facility that produces fuel for its nuclear bombs. The regime on Friday offered a rare glimpse into a clandestine factory that makes weapons-grade uranium just days after Kim Jong-un vowed to “exponentially” increase the size of the country’s nuclear arsenal. The authoritarian leader was pictured for the first time ever inspecting such a site. Official photos showed him walking between rows of tall, grey centrifuges while conversing with senior officials.
More on North Korea’s nuclear weapons from the BBC, France 24, Al Jazeera, and Reuters.

Best,

Pádraig McCarrick

Press and Communications Officer

Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament