Nuclear Law Insights & Articles

A new approach to risk management in nuclear energy

Mark Vickers recently posted an article on risk management for new nuclear in the UK, highlighting the high-risk environment of new nuclear build (and other major infrastructure projects) that characterises these projects as ‘VUCA’ (volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous). Whilst recognising that insurance has a role to play in risk management, in this article Mark Tetley calls for […]

07/10/2019

Wholesale Energy Prices: March – June 2019

Crude Oil Having eclipsed the $70/bbl mark at one stage, the Brent contract fell back to finish the second quarter 8% down, as fears of an US-Iran war eased for at least for the time being. Nevertheless, the Persian Gulf remains a tinderbox, one which could cause crude oil prices, and petroleum product prices in particular, […]

Brexit and Euratom: Summary as of 1st October

Brexit developments are rapid and subject to significant change at very short notice. This summary reflects the position as we understand it at 1st October 2019. Leaving Euratom: An afterthought to Brexit The debates that led to the referendum decision to exit the European Union scarcely featured the parallel Euratom Treaty. The first news that the […]

The Prerequisites for Nuclear Energy in Australia: An Analysis of the Inquiry So Far

A couple of months ago, we reflected on the announcement that the Australian Parliament was to hold an Inquiry into the prerequisites for nuclear energy in Australia. We are now two months into the four-month inquiry and submissions have now closed, although the hearings continue. We report here on the progress to date. To date, over 250 submissions have […]

Department for International Trade Issues Fresh Information for Exporters Ahead of Brexit

The Department for International Trade has sent through further guidance with a view to getting businesses ready to export post-Brexit. A step-by-step guide has been released with a view to ensuring businesses will continue to be able to send goods from the UK to the EU. A Brexit imports and exports helpline has also been launched, offering advice on: […]

The Geological Disposal of Radioactive Waste in England: Recent Developments

There have been two recent changes in the quest to find a permanent site for the geological disposal of higher activity radioactive waste. Written Ministerial Statement In a written statement to Parliamenton 17 October, the Minister for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy, NadhimZahawi, designated the National Policy Statement (NPS) for Geological DisposalInfrastructure, following its laying before parliament […]

ESG criteria increasingly significant for infrastructure investments

Environmental, social (or sustainable) and governance (ESG) criteria are a set of standards for a company’s operations that socially conscious investors use to screen potential investments. Why is ESG important? The importance of such standards as critical criteria influencing key decisions made by investors in energy infrastructure assets has been apparent for a considerable time. […]

Climate Science Objectives: The Background to the Ongoing UN Conference of the Parties (‘Cop 25’)

The UK’s legislative commitment to achieve Net Zero Greenhouse Gas ‘GHG’ emissions by 2050 came into force on 27 June 2019. This was a world leading commitment, and is already having a ripple effect, along with the latest climate science, in prompting other legislatures to consider what is possible, and necessary. On 28 November 2019, […]

“The Prerequisites for Nuclear Energy”: Australian Parliament Announces New Energy Inquiry

Australia’s stance on civil domestic nuclear power has taken asurprising turn in recent days, with the announcement by the Energy Minister ofa federal government inquiry into the “prerequisitesfor nuclear energy in Australia”. Australia is the world’s third largest uranium producer (afterKazakhstan and Canada) but has traditionally steeredclear of introducing nuclear as anenergy source, instead relying on its reserves of […]

“The Prerequisites for Nuclear Energy in Australia”: A Brief Analysis of the House Standing Committee’s Findings

In August we reported that the Australian Parliament’s cross-party House Standing Committee on the Environment and Energy was undertaking an inquiry into the “prerequisites for nuclear energy in Australia”. After nine country-wide public hearings and 309 submissions, the Committee has now published its findings: Not without your approval: a way forward for nuclear technology in Australia. The meat […]

The Ongoing Battle Between Dirty and Clean Energy in China: Looking Ahead

In this article we examine China’s apparent reluctance to abandon coal-fired power, amid mounting international pressure to lead in tackling climate change. In the course of building a large coal plant every two weeks, China has been on the receiving end of strong criticism from around the world for ignoring the message put forward by […]

Wholesale Energy Prices: October – December 2019

In thisarticle, Dominic Whittome covers recent changes to wholesale energy prices. Oil Crude prices climbed amid deepening geo-politicalconcern in the Middle East. As well as heightened Iran-US tensions in the Gulf,political instability in Iraq and Libya has risen sharply amid the splinteringof militia groups and rise in terrorism in both producing countries. After athree year […]

Ship Pollution, IMO, MARPOL, and Cooking Oil: Environmental Protection

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has militated for the protection of the environment from the harmful effects of fuel emissions originating from shipping traffic since the 1960s. The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) was enacted in 1973. Regulations in MARPOL Annex VI dealing specifically with air pollution from ships were enacted in […]

UAE Ready to Start-Up Its First Nuclear Reactor

The first unitof the Barakah nuclear power plant in the United Arab Emirates has received itsoperating licence from the UAE’s Federal Office of Nuclear Regulation (FANR)and commenced loading its first charge of nuclear fuel. The start-up has beeneagerly awaited, as is was originally planned for 2017. The reasons for thosedelays have now been overcome and […]

NEC: Unconventional Pricing for Compensation Events?

This is thefirst of a series of articles on the NEC standard form of contract. The premise indeveloping the NEC standard form was to create a user-friendly contract, whichprovides clarity and simplicity through the use of simple language. The question is whether it achievesthis. Judging by the confusionfrequently seen in regard to the pricing of […]

Yuanda v. Multiplex [2020] EWHC 468 (TCC): Construction Law Implications

This case examines the basis under which a main contractor, which in this case is Multiplex Construction Europe Limited (“Multiplex”), would be entitled to enforce payment under a performance bond or, alternatively put, whether an injunction against the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited (the “Bank”) postponing exercise of the right, warrants continuation. Deliberation […]