Britain and Japan have signed a framework civil nuclear co-operation pact, agreeing to collaborate on nuclear safety regulations. The agreement reflects Japan's concern for independent, competent, and rigorous regulation of nuclear safety and of enhanced emergency preparedness.
According to the results of Gallup's annual Environment survey, conducted earlier this month, the majority of Americans continue to favor nuclear energy as a source of electricity for the United States. Since the inception of the survey, the range of support for the nuclear industry had ranged from a low of 46 percent in 2001 to a high of 62 percent in 2010.
One year after the Fukushima incident, the World Energy Council has issued a report on the current status and the future of the nuclear industry.
In a demonstration of the current administration's commitment to promote the United States nuclear industry, the Department of Energy announced a new funding initiative for manufacturing small modular nuclear reactors in the US.
2011 was a challenging year for investment in the uranium industry. However, the new year offers fresh opportunity to build on some positive news that began to gain traction in the latter half of 2011.
The Resource Investing News survey suggests that despite challenges in the uranium market in early 2011, uranium has displayed an improving sentiment. Following the earthquake and tsunami in March, uranium investment has gained interest with takeover bids for junior explorer Hathor by Cameco and Rio Tinto.
The results will be of importance for investors and nuclear industry stakeholders as the United Kingdom generates approximately 15.7 percent of its total electricity from nuclear power and in October 2010 the government permitted the construction for up to 8 nuclear power stations to be built.
Increased political support against nuclear power has gathered some momentum in Switzerland, just as Germany may be discovering that increased financial and social costs for replacing nuclear power with a source of secure base load electricity plants might be less palatable.
Versant Partners reported on the Russian uranium sector making efforts to safer nuclear power.
The potential outlook for both the uranium mining and nuclear industries suggest a muted positive context by some analysts that could be worth noting for investors. In an exclusive interview with Uranium Investing News, Mikhail Safin, Equity Research Analyst at Renaissance Capital explained, “in the uranium mining industry currently we are observing the consequences of the accident in Fukushima."
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