Nuclear Law Insights & Articles

Covid-19 Immigration Law Update as at 29th April

Measures taken to fightthe spread of COVID-19 have affected almost every aspect of life both in the UKand internationally. The UK immigration system is not immune from thesemeasures, in particular given the wide travel restrictions and lockdown. The Home Office has a dedicated section of its website for immigration issues related to COVID-19. This article is a […]

07/10/2020

Small Module Reactors: A Brief overview of their purpose, use to date and advantages, Part 1

When a country is deciding on whether it should implement anew nuclear power programme, or expand an existing one, it will need to consider which type of reactor to acquire. Much like any consumer choice, there are a number of factors which come into play. Questions need to be asked such as how much will […]

Covid-19 & Immigration Law: Further Press Release From the Home Office

Today’s Press Release from the Home Office is copied below: Overseas nationals who cannot return home due to the coronavirus pandemic will be able to extend their visa until the end of July to give them peace of mind that they can stay in the UK until they are able to return home safely. The […]

The Judgment of the German Constitutional Court of 5th May: Manna From Heaven for Eurosceptics or a Mere Storm in a Teacup, Part I

On 5th May a storm broke out in European legal and political circles:Germany’s most senior judges had dared to overrule a Judgement of the EuropeanCourt of Justice. Not only had the Bundesverfassungsgericht, Germany’s highestCourt, had the gall to state that the European Court had exceeded its powersbut it also ruled that the European Central Bank […]

Wholesale Energy Prices: Oil, Natural Gas and Electricity as at 1st June

In this article, Dominic Whittome covers recent changes to wholesale energy prices. Oil Crude prices halved as the oil market experienced an output surge and a collapse in global demand. So great was the imbalance that West Texas Intermediate momentarily traded at negative prices, below $30/bbl at one point. The International Energy Agency is now […]

The Judgment of the German Constitutional Court of 5th May: Manna From Heaven for Eurosceptics or a Mere Storm in a Teacup, Part II

Prior to commenting on theRuling of the EUCJ of 11 December 2018 and the reaction of the BvfG whichfollowed on 5th May 2020, it is appropriate to discuss the basis of theirmutual relationship and the roles the two play in relation to each other. Theseare at the heart of the narrative. Once the relationship is […]

German Court’s May 5th Judgment: Boon or Bust for Eurosceptics?

On 5th May 2020, the Second Senate of the BvfG returned its verdict and granted the constitutional complaints of the claimants against the PSPP (C 2BvR 859/15, 2BvR 980/16, 2BvR2006/15, 2BvR 1651/15) in a 100-page, painstakingly detailed judgement. Pronouncing itself against the findings of the EUCJ, it ruled that the GermanGovernment and the second Chamber […]

Small Modular Reactors: A Brief Overview of Their Purpose, Use to Date and Advantages, Part II

In the last article in this series we looked at the design and deployment basics of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). In this piece we will be looking at SMR financing and in particular the prospect of them being deployed in the UK. Background to SMR Financing As a generality, new nuclear power plants (NNP) are […]

The Nec Standard Form of Contract and Its Application to Project Managers

In this, the second ina series of articles on the NEC standard form of contract, we again look at asituation where the NEC standard form attempts to be user-friendly but:   uses non-explicit language to describe obligations placed upon the Project Manager does not provide a solution in the case of default by the Project […]

Covid-19: Impact on the Worldwide Nuclear Market

It is very clear we are not out of the COVID-19 woods just yet. With the UK formally in the steepest recession in its history, New Zealand back in partial lockdown and spikes being seen across Europe, never mind the dreadful toll being seen across the Americas, the impact on trade will be far reaching […]

Trading in the Nuclear Industry: Trends and Challenges:

Whilst trading in the nuclear industry has its challenges, it is nonetheless an industry with many positives. Demand for Precision Whether it be the offering of services, delivery of engineering design or the supply of components, the requirement is invariably to meet exact standards, which is not easy when presented with an excruciatingly long delivery […]

Covid-19 and Employment Law: Helping Get Employees Back to Work and Back to Business

This article is written further to the webinar Employment Law webinar that we hosted on Wednesday 30th September. There has never been a more important time for employers to re-assess the employment relationship. Furlough leave is coming to an end and the new Job Support Scheme is already causing worry. Many employees are returning to […]

Wholesale Energy Prices: Oil, Natural Gas and Electricity as at October 2020

In this article, Dominic Whittome covers recent changes to wholesale energy prices. Oil Oil markets rebounded. Brent prices rose over 20% at one point although the spot contract gave up some of its gains recently as worries over the 2nd wave pandemic weighed on the market. In the background, geo-political and upstream investment concerns over […]

Costs to Businesses & Households of New Funding Arrangements at Hinkley Point: Part II

Various cost scenarios can be run, based on projected compounding rates of inflation and forward base-load electricity prices. However, here is a snapshot of the ‘net present cost’ in 1st April 2020 ‘money of the day’ can be calculated simply, if just to give the reader ‘a feel’ of the cost of the arrangements. The calculation […]

Nec – Taking Sides – a Look at the Need for Project Manager Impartiality

This is the third in a series of articles on the NEC standard form of contract, this time dealing with the requirement for Project Manager impartiality. The NEC standard form stipulates that the main contributors to the Project shall behave in a particular manner. This is contained within Clause 10.1, which states: “The Employer, the […]

Dairy Producer Organisations – to Be, or Not to Be?

That is indeed the question. Shakespeare asks whether it is nobler to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or to take arms against a sea of troubles to end them. You might well ask the same questions about Dairy Producer Organisations (DPOs). The opportunity to form DPOs has been available to farmers since […]