Nuclear Law Insights & Articles

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. […]

07/10/2019

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 […]