business

Toshiba eyes nuclear power alliance

21 Comments

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© 2012 AFP

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

21 Comments
Login to comment

Toshiba (and other technology/equipment providers) would do well to launch a communications program to educate the public (you and I) on the world-class advancements and improved security/safety features of the components they provide for nuclear power companies. It's one of Japan's most lucrative exports (along with high-speed rail) and sought-after "expertise" up to and including the experiences at Fukushima.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

LOL @ TOSHIBA. Even GE admitted nuclear defeat, buddy! Time to boycott Toshiba for the foolishness.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

NichikoloheAug. 15, 2012 - 10:50AM JST

Toshiba (and other technology/equipment providers) would do well to launch a communications program to educate the public (you and I) on the world-class advancements and improved security/safety features of the components they provide for nuclear power companies. It's one of Japan's most lucrative exports (along with high-speed rail) and sought-after "expertise" up to and including the experiences at Fukushima.

They have but are constantly drowned out by fools with clear political agendas. I doubt people realize the new ESBWR, Gen3+ ABWR, and pebble bed designs are about a hundred times less likely to have any core problems, and even if they do they are able to manage many times more heat generation than the increase in power. People tend to only see the reactors built before the 80s, when radical changes were implemented to prevent many of the issues that plagued Fukushima.

Toshiba selling a minority stake is two fold:

1) It will likely be bought by a Chinese company, and a "new venture" between Westinghouse and that Chinese company will be formed to make reactors in China (horrible, horrible idea that will cause larger problems than chernobyl)

2) Has nothing to do with nuclear power and everything to do with wanting cash to offset losses in other sectors. Nuclear is one of their most profitable sectors, so I don't see any reason other than fast cash.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Nobody is even building nuclear plants anymore because they're too expensive.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Thomas Anderson:

" Nobody is even building nuclear plants anymore because they're too expensive. "

Are you joking? 60 nuclear power plants are currently being constructed in 15 countries world-wide, including many neighbours of Japan (Korea, China, Taiwan, Indonesia, etc.)

It is only the decadent, PC-infested Western countries that the political activists have managed to push the governments into refusing this important energy source.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Are you joking? 60 nuclear power plants are currently being constructed in 15 countries world-wide, including many neighbours of Japan (Korea, China, Taiwan, Indonesia, etc.)

Yes, and who pays for them? The government. And who pays for the nuclear waste? The government. And who pays in case there's an accident? Again, the government.

People aren't building nuclear plants not because of politics. People aren't building them because it doesn't make any financial sense.

It is only the decadent, PC-infested Western countries that the political activists have managed to push the governments into refusing this important energy source.

AHAHAHAHA. So you think countries like China have higher standards? LOL. Sure buddy.

Look, even GE, one of the leaders of nuclear, is admitting that nuclear is "difficult to justify" since it's a "wind, solar and gas world".

I believe the new reactor in Finland, the Olkiluoto Nuclear Power Plant is costing them more than 6.6 million Euro ($8.1 million), afters delays after delays (it's not even finished yet...)? Yes, nuclear is so cheap and affordable...

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Sorry, that should say 6.6 billion Euro, not million... ($8.1 billion)

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Well actually, if there ever was an accident involving the Toshiba's reactor, then I'm pretty sure that Toshiba and Japan will have to compensate for the damages caused by the accident.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Thomas AndersonAug. 15, 2012 - 06:37PM JST

Look, even GE, one of the leaders of nuclear, is admitting that nuclear is "difficult to justify" since it's a "wind, solar and gas world".

We are talking about Toshiba here, not GE, as Toshiba bought out GE's majority stake in Westinghouse many years ago. Of course they don't want nuclear, it would cut into their gas turbine sales.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Thomas Anderson:

" Nobody is even building nuclear plants anymore "

I simply pointed out that claim of yours is false. No huffing and puffing needed.

60 plants are under construction, and many more are planned. Nothing about "nobody is building them anymore".

0 ( +1 / -1 )

basroil

We are talking about Toshiba here, not GE, as Toshiba bought out GE's majority stake in Westinghouse many years ago. Of course they don't want nuclear, it would cut into their gas turbine sales.

And we're talking about the cost of nuclear plants. Your point?

WilliB

60 plants are under construction, and many more are planned. Nothing about "nobody is building them anymore".

Again, the question is who? Obviously saying "nobody" was hyperbolic, I didn't mean it literally. After all I did mention the new nuclear plant in Finland. But perhaps no private corporation is building nuclear plants on their own. The number of nuclear plants are naturally decreasing, not increasing.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Ever wonder why all those countries that you mentioned tend to be very corrupt? Perhaps nuclear and democracy don't mix...

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Thomas AndersonAug. 15, 2012 - 10:23PM JST

Again, the question is who? Obviously saying "nobody" was hyperbolic, I didn't mean it literally. After all I did mention the new nuclear plant in Finland. But perhaps no private corporation is building nuclear plants on their own. The number of nuclear plants are naturally decreasing, not increasing.

Almost all purchasing companies are private, and most aren't building entire plants, but many are adding reactors or replacing old ones. While the number of active plants has been fairly stable (until Japan went crazy and shot itself in the foot), the power provided has steadily increased. While 300-500 was the norm 40 years ago, modern plants are in the 1200-1400MW range, and Toshiba takes advantage of that improvement by selling both the new reactors and decommissioning services through Westinghouse. Westinghouse has been one of the most stable and highest profit sectors for Toshiba, and selling the minority stake has nothing to do with nuclear and everything to do with needing the money to avoid a large net loss due to other sectors like solar and TVs.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Almost all purchasing companies are private

Well of course they are, but they are heavily subsidized by the government. Do you think that private corporations alone can pay for and manage nuclear plants? And nuclear waste? And nuclear accidents? Probably not.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

WOW! China buying those shares, what a lovely thought...

Why, countries want to keep on using those old school reactors? Maybe to be able to make bombs from the materials that go through those reactors. This IS why we don't see Thorium fueled reactors in mainstream use today.

I've said it before and I'll say THORIUM will solve two problems.

1.It will power Japan for the best Yen to watt return with the least land use and cleanest power per watt when you take EVERY single factor into consideration. Solar, wind and tide power do more damage then you think.

2.You can't make or harvest nuclear weapons grade materials from Thorium based reactors.

and there's more reasons...

A system by design that when it fails actually shuts its self down. Look it up people. The only reason it doesn't exist in any real form today is because it can't be used to make a nuclear bomb so it was largely ignored during the Manhattan project and in the development of nuclear power stations that followed. Those HUGE contracts that builders of the current old tech reactors like GE and the even BIGGER waste disposal contracts to handle the 97% waste left over after the spent fuel rods are done is another set of reasons. Those are BIG $$$,$$$,$$$,$$$ contracts that would fissle out (sorry, couldn't resist that one) if Thorium reactors started to pop up every where.

Just think about how big oil companies and auto makers joined together to stalled battery technology so the cars would continue to use oil and the status quo assembly line would not need to be retooled. There were electric cars over 80 years ago and then nothing really until just recently. Why? The first electric car was built in 1828.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historyoftheelectricvehicle

Patent squatting and buy outs held battery technology back. The same sort of lobbist rule hold true for Thorium.

Here are a few links but you'll find many more online. PUSH for THORIUM as a safer, cleaner power source!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thorium

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquidfluoridethorium_reactor

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thoriumfuelcycle

http://www.gizmag.com/thorium-nuclear-power/18204/

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

As Time magazine rightly stated in March, "Nuclear power is expanding only in places where taxpayers and ratepayers can be compelled to foot the bill." China is building 27 -- or more than 40 percent -- of the 65 units officially under construction around the world. Even there, though, nuclear is fading as an energy option. While China has invested the equivalent of about $10 billion per year into nuclear power in recent years, in 2010 it spent twice as much on wind energy alone and some $54.5 billion on all renewables combined.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

I've said it before and I'll say THORIUM will solve two problems.

Thorium reactors don't even exist, even after decades of government research.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Thomas AndersonAug. 16, 2012 - 02:12PM JST

Thorium reactors don't even exist, even after decades of government research.

There are no "commercial" ones, but there were "research" ones including a 300MW plant in Germany (russian built so not quite up to standards) and the 1956 BORAX IV experiment. Westinghouse had some designs for Thorium cycle, and any MOX certified reactor cores can safely run Thorium MOX after minor adjustments (mainly control system adjustments).

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites