THE NUCLEAR POWER CAKE IS CRUMBLING

Two of the major players for new nuclear power in the UK have pulled out.
Both RWE Npower and E.On have announced that they are no longer interested in building new nuclear power stations at Oldbury and in Anglesey. Their joint project 'Horizon Nuclear Power' cites difficulties raising finance.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-17546420
The government says there still remains 'considerable interest', and hopes that alternative potential investors will be found to fill the gap left by these two major companies.
The decision by RWE Npower and E.On, both German firms, can be linked to the demise of nuclear power in Germany, which itself was sparked by the Fukushima nuclear disaster.

JAPAN DOWN TO ONE NUCLEAR POWER STATION IN OPERATION

No 6 unit at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power station  in Japan's Niigata prefecture has been taken offline by TEPCO for maintenance. Just one nuclear plant remains in operation in Japan, on Hokkaido island.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17508657


The Hokkaido nuclear plant is the last of 54 nuclear reactors remaining in operation. It is due to be switched off in May.


Local communities and residents have demanded that reactors are left switched off after maintenance due to safety fears.