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Sunday 9 October 2011, 23:14

ATLANTA (AP) -- Four generators that power emergency systems at nuclear plants have failed when needed since April, an unusual cluster that has attracted the attention of federal inspectors and could prompt the industry to re-examine its maintenance plans.

The diesel generators serve the crucial function of supplying electricity to cooling systems that prevent a nuclear plant's hot, radioactive fuel from overheating, melting and potentially releasing radiation into the environment. That worst-case scenario happened this year when the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant in Japan lost all backup power for its cooling systems after an earthquake and tsunami.

Three diesel generators failed after tornadoes ripped across Alabama and knocked out electric lines serving the Tennessee Valley Authority's Browns Ferry nuclear plant in April. Two failed because of mechanical problems and one was unavailable because of planned maintenance.

Another generator failed at the North Anna plant in Virginia following an August earthquake. Generators have not worked when needed in at least a dozen other instances since 1997 because of mechanical failures or because they were offline for maintenance, according to an Associated Press review of reports compiled by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

At a minimum, the failures have prompted NRC inspectors to increase their scrutiny at plants where the problems happened. Beyond that, industry officials and academics say the incidents could lead the NRC to formally warn nuclear plant operators about the recent failures and prompt utilities to reevaluate what can disable a generator. Some think these experiences may factor into upcoming rules the NRC will issue in response to the crisis in Japan.

But the loss of all emergency power -- including the diesels -- is a crisis. That happened on March 11 when an earthquake and tsunami disabled all the diesel generators at the Japanese plant. Three of its six reactors suffered meltdowns. The facility was rocked by explosions and released radiation requiring the evacuation of roughly 100,000 people.

In U.S., an average of roughly one diesel generator has failed when needed each yr since 1997. Govt researchers who examined diesel generator failures in the U.S. from 1997 to 2003 calculated the average odds that a diesel generator would fail to work at some point during an eight-hour run were slightly greater than 2 - 3%, depending on which database was analyzed.

Even at low odds, a generator failure can turn serious when combined with other problems, notably human error.

Prominent example is in March 20, 1990, accident that cut off electricity for less than an hour at Plant Vogtle, roughly 25 miles southeast of Augusta, near Georgia-South Carolina line. At the time, plant workers had just installed fresh nuclear fuel into the Unit 1 reactor. One of two lines supplying the reactor with power from the electrical grid was offline for maintenance. So was one of the reactor's two diesel generators.

A poorly supervised delivery truck driver backed his truck into a pole, knocking out the sole source of grid electricity to the Unit 1 reactor. The available diesel generator turned on, then quit. Plant workers restarted it, but it failed again. Workers finally bypassed parts of the diesel's electrical controls, forcing it to run. Temperatures inside the reactor rose from 90 degrees to 136 degrees until power was restored, but the accident did not become more serious. No radiation was released.

The recent failures in the Southeast came in a tight cluster.

Tornadoes tearing across the region on April 27 broke electric transmission lines, causing a loss of grid energy at Browns Ferry in Alabama. One of the eight diesel generators serving the three reactors was undergoing maintenance. The remaining generators immediately started, supplying the plant with emergency power.

The following day, plant operators noticed a small hydraulic oil leak on one of those emergency generators, according to reports that the TVA filed with the NRC. The leak went from roughly a drop a minute to a steady spray. As the electricity from the generator fluctuated, plant staff shut it down. Two reactors briefly lost their cooling systems, although no damage occurred.

Another generator failed on May 2. TVA officials blame, malfunction on equipment that was not properly set.

NRC inspectors at the plant say they are waiting on more information before taking additional action.

A fourth failure happened when the largest earthquake to strike Virginia in 117 years rattled the North Anna Power Station. The reactor lost offsite power and its emergency diesel generators automatically started. Less than an hour later, plant operators shut down one generator because it was leaking coolant, said Gerald McCoy, an NRC branch chief who oversees federal inspectors at the plant.

Dominion Virginia Power says the problem was caused by an incorrectly installed gasket that eventually created the coolant leak, utility spokesman Richard Zuercher said. The power company and NRC officials are still examining the incident.

Experts say no single factor appears to connect the four failures. Nathan Ives, a senior manager of advisory services at Ernst & Young, said the incidents could prompt the nuclear industry to re-examine the kinds of component failures that can disable a generator. Reports show that TVA officials had not previously considered that a component blamed for one failure at the Browns Ferry plant could disable the entire generator.

teeth53 ( Date: 30-Sep-2011 23:37) Posted:

In Japan, pump problem can't work, can point finger at earth quake, tsunami and, here how..?.

Singaporean can't even point finger at..?. Human disaster of d un-forgivable, oso pump can't work..!!! lucky oni Fire and not radiation....40 k/m covering S'pore!, 40 km is not enuff to shield whatever medic shield is bot.

Japan finds rice needing thorough radiation test

Japan finds rice needing thorough radiation test

Radioactive caesium of 500 becquerels per kg was found in a sample of the pre-harvested rice in Nihonmatsu city, in Fukushima Prefecture, 56 km (35 miles) east of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant which was crippled by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, triggering the world's worst nuclear disaster in 25 years. (teeth53 thot: Once in 25 yr is more then enuff to wipe off...everything here)

Effects of Radiation on the Human Body | Effects of Nuclear Weapons ...

Effects of Radiation on the Human Body, including hair, brain, thyroid, blood, heart, Gastrointestinal (GI) Tract , and Reproductive Tract.

www.atomicarchive.com/Effects/radeffects.shtml

x 0

Sept 6, Thurs - Euro 3 big exchange, (DAX, CAC40 and lead by FTSE 100) is going to close @2% plus plus.

FTSE 100

5,231.28

+129.11

+2.53%

Meanwhile DOW trading in cautious mode on job data report. DOW is looking for inspiration from Euro.

Stocks waver, with all eyes on Europe

Dow

10,991.11

+51.16

+0.47%

teeth53 ( Date: 06-Oct-2011 22:43) Posted:

http://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/European-stocks-climb-on-debt-apf-2816440162.html?x=0

Interest rate stay put did't tank any of the three big Euro stocks exchange. (Dax, CAC-40 and FTSE-100)

Europe is preparing a big plan to shore up its banks gave European stocks another lift Thursday, while U.S. markets were more cautious ahead of key jobs figures, starting with England.

Bank of England pumps economy with £75 billion of new cash

teeth53 ( Date: 06-Oct-2011 17:58) Posted:

http://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/World-stocks-rise-hopes-bank-rsg-2816117828.html?x=0

Thurs Oct 6, world stocks rose for a 2nd day,

On Wed, Oct 5, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Berlin was ready to recapitalise its banks if needed, adding to pledges by European finance ministers to safeguard banks in the face of mounting impact / concerns about a Greek default.

On Thurs, Euro Banking Authority, mid-way through a two-day crisis meeting to assess the potential hit of mass sovereign restructurings, is re-examining the strength of the region's banks.

Investors are focusing on euro zone and UK central bank policy meetings for hints on future monetary easing.

Majority of analysts predicted Euro Central Bank (ECB) will refrain at least till next mth from cutting interest rates and Bank of England from pumping more money into the economy. But there are those in both mkts who see a risk of such moves already on Thurs. ECB is expected to take further steps to help banks.

Hopes for near-term policy measures (both from politicians and central banks), are helping investors to take a break from a sell-off triggered by growing concerns about damage to d banks from any Greek sovereign default.

" Significant talk of bank recapitalisation is certainly the driving factor behind positive sentiment,"

teeth53 thot: Mkt sentiment is turning better with Germany on d dirver seat and better then expected job result fron U.S, so is Ah Ben speech : " Do whatever it can to..."

x 0

Banks merge is in their interest, in their countries (PIIGS). Greece had done it, like OUB merged with UOB.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-14706094

Greece's 2nd and 3rd biggest banks, Eurobank EFG and Alpha Bank, have announced that they are to merge.

In a statement, they said that their merger would, " play a vital role in the economic recovery of Greece" .

victortan ( Date: 06-Oct-2011 19:20) Posted:

Say if you are weak, and i am strong, do you think i want to merge with you. Do you think we should merge with Malaysia, which is not as rich as us. You think so simple, then all crises will be solved overnight.I think to have a euroi bond is better, but as again, the rich countries will lose out, unless they are convince that without doing this they will lost big time.

teeth53 ( Date: 06-Oct-2011 19:14) Posted:

A more solid way is by way of weak banks to merge with strong banks, follow up by EU Finance Ministry to give incentice for merging.

Oni this way can Greece and to certain extend to PIIGS, on longer term solution to solving it debts woes.

German, England and France, EU Central Banks (ECB) must take this lead. IMF will back it up.

Solid good news and recommendation from me.

Best Regards. teeth5

x 0

http://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/European-stocks-climb-on-debt-apf-2816440162.html?x=0

Interest rate stay put did't tank any of the three big Euro stocks exchange. (Dax, CAC-40 and FTSE-100)

Europe is preparing a big plan to shore up its banks gave European stocks another lift Thursday, while U.S. markets were more cautious ahead of key jobs figures, starting with England.

Bank of England pumps economy with £75 billion of new cash

teeth53 ( Date: 06-Oct-2011 17:58) Posted:

http://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/World-stocks-rise-hopes-bank-rsg-2816117828.html?x=0

Thurs Oct 6, world stocks rose for a 2nd day,

On Wed, Oct 5, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Berlin was ready to recapitalise its banks if needed, adding to pledges by European finance ministers to safeguard banks in the face of mounting impact / concerns about a Greek default.

On Thurs, Euro Banking Authority, mid-way through a two-day crisis meeting to assess the potential hit of mass sovereign restructurings, is re-examining the strength of the region's banks.

Investors are focusing on euro zone and UK central bank policy meetings for hints on future monetary easing.

Majority of analysts predicted Euro Central Bank (ECB) will refrain at least till next mth from cutting interest rates and Bank of England from pumping more money into the economy. But there are those in both mkts who see a risk of such moves already on Thurs. ECB is expected to take further steps to help banks.

Hopes for near-term policy measures (both from politicians and central banks), are helping investors to take a break from a sell-off triggered by growing concerns about damage to d banks from any Greek sovereign default.

" Significant talk of bank recapitalisation is certainly the driving factor behind positive sentiment,"

teeth53 thot: Mkt sentiment is turning better with Germany on d dirver seat and better then expected job result fron U.S, so is Ah Ben speech : " Do whatever it can to..."

teeth53 ( Date: 06-Oct-2011 09:34) Posted:

Short term speculation by pump and dump, is to allow, to clear their positiom after buying on Monday which mkt is down, mkt sentiment in Euro is temporary in mode swing, takimg into count their news into their oredi badly battled stocks and thou...Germany is in the driver seat.

Greece solution is some way to go....

x 0

A more solid way is by way of weak banks to merge with strong banks, follow up by EU Finance Ministry to give incentice for merging.

Oni this way can Greece and to certain extend to PIIGS, on longer term solution to solving it debts woes.

German, England and France, EU Central Banks (ECB) must take this lead. IMF will back it up.

Solid good news and recommendation from me.

Best Regards. teeth53

teeth53 ( Date: 06-Oct-2011 18:33) Posted:

A solid way is for banks merging for weaker / weakest banks in Euro zone. Beside recap$ if necessary.

Wish n not hope EU banks owners receive this msg. So is EU zone Finance Ministry.

This will even be better news then recapitalisation. :))

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A solid way is for banks merging for weaker / weakest banks in Euro zone. Beside recap$ if necessary.

Wish n not hope EU banks owners receive this msg. So is EU zone Finance Ministry.

This will even be better news then recapitalisation. :))

x 0

http://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/World-stocks-rise-hopes-bank-rsg-2816117828.html?x=0

Thurs Oct 6, world stocks rose for a 2nd day,

On Wed, Oct 5, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Berlin was ready to recapitalise its banks if needed, adding to pledges by European finance ministers to safeguard banks in the face of mounting impact / concerns about a Greek default.

On Thurs, Euro Banking Authority, mid-way through a two-day crisis meeting to assess the potential hit of mass sovereign restructurings, is re-examining the strength of the region's banks.

Investors are focusing on euro zone and UK central bank policy meetings for hints on future monetary easing.

Majority of analysts predicted Euro Central Bank (ECB) will refrain at least till next mth from cutting interest rates and Bank of England from pumping more money into the economy. But there are those in both mkts who see a risk of such moves already on Thurs. ECB is expected to take further steps to help banks.

Hopes for near-term policy measures (both from politicians and central banks), are helping investors to take a break from a sell-off triggered by growing concerns about damage to d banks from any Greek sovereign default.

" Significant talk of bank recapitalisation is certainly the driving factor behind positive sentiment,"

teeth53 thot: Mkt sentiment is turning better with Germany on d dirver seat and better then expected job result fron U.S, so is Ah Ben speech : " Do whatever it can to..."

teeth53 ( Date: 06-Oct-2011 09:34) Posted:

Short term speculation by pump and dump, is to allow, to clear their positiom after buying on Monday which mkt is down, mkt sentiment in Euro is temporary in mode swing, takimg into count their news into their oredi badly battled stocks and thou...Germany is in the driver seat.

Greece solution is some way to go....

louis001 ( Date: 06-Oct-2011 08:57) Posted:

Basically, playing with future hope and current fear using different story lines...

(BT)ITALY was downgraded. Greek civil servants went on strike. And yet, European markets rallied on hopes of bank recapitalisation and an unexpected surge on Wall Street late Tuesday.

(NY/AP)Stocks rose sharply for a second straight day Wednesday on signs that the U.S. economy grew in September and that European officials are moving to support the region's struggling banks.

x 0

Short term speculation by pump and dump, is to allow, to clear their positiom after buying on Monday which mkt is down, mkt sentiment in Euro is temporary in mode swing, takimg into count their news into their oredi badly battled stocks and thou...Germany is in the driver seat.

Greece solution is some way to go....

louis001 ( Date: 06-Oct-2011 08:57) Posted:

Basically, playing with future hope and current fear using different story lines...

(BT)ITALY was downgraded. Greek civil servants went on strike. And yet, European markets rallied on hopes of bank recapitalisation and an unexpected surge on Wall Street late Tuesday.

(NY/AP)Stocks rose sharply for a second straight day Wednesday on signs that the U.S. economy grew in September and that European officials are moving to support the region's struggling banks.

Salute ( Date: 06-Oct-2011 08:35) Posted:

manupilation starts again. today's BT, In " Europe shrugs off bad new" . M stanley minimising mass investors fear over the present downtrending. Just wonder how much or how the collect those responds

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Yup, yup...totally in bearish condition, unless he fly off to euro and speak. LOL. I want to implement QE3 :))

iPunter ( Date: 04-Oct-2011 23:35) Posted:

Benny speaking the obvious will not change the market condition... Smiley

teeth53 ( Date: 04-Oct-2011 23:33) Posted:

Euro look more and more powerful then DOW for now...Ah Ben speak - still red lehh.

EURO powerful spirit possession in progress till NOv 2011.

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Euro look more and more powerful then DOW for now...Ah Ben speak - still red lehh.

EURO powerful spirit possession in progress till NOv 2011.

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Ah Ben speaking, by whatever mean to stay afloat, as Greece prepared to wait till Nov for bail out by Euro.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-04/bernanke-says-federal-reserve-ready-to-take-further-action-to-spur-growth.html

Aug 2, US-living on borrow time from debt disaster

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For me. I had oredi run very fast on recent losses even if it has to fall. Oni shortist win again.

Confirm most stocks will battle in red ink, gap down again for tomorro Sept 5 (Wed) trading.

iPunter ( Date: 04-Oct-2011 22:47) Posted:

When it comes up a bit, many will be ready to dump...

At this stage, few will want to stay in the market... Smiley

teeth53 ( Date: 04-Oct-2011 22:42) Posted:

Many players still believe in what goes down, sure can come up. Sure a matter of time..soon or later?.

Do respect the market. In every way, market don give any respect to players.

Oredi Greece said they can wait for d bail out.

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More »Deutsche Bank issues profit warning and S& P 500 is oso showing our STI a very good example.

Europe bank fears rattle world markets

Sept 5 (tomorro morning - our banks is going to lead STI red, red again)

Mkt play is now very much on sentiment then on their core value and or in their valuation. Cheaper becoming cheap...cheap oso by then many players got burnt. :((

x 0

Many players still believe in what goes down, sure can come up. Sure a matter of time..soon or later?.

Do respect the market. In every way, market don give any respect to players.

Oredi Greece said they can wait for d bail out.

x 0

Me too, then there's other like STXOSV oso chasing after YZJ px - YZJ direct competitor.

louis001 ( Date: 04-Oct-2011 21:47) Posted:

if history is repeating itself right before our eyes, than some people are waiting at around 0.40 range to strike...and 2-yr from now YZJ will go upwards to near $2 again?....HUAT HUAT AHHH....LOL...

krisluke ( Date: 04-Oct-2011 21:34) Posted:

YangziJiang: -4.9% at $0.780 taking its fall since August to 46%, a level where mgt has started buying back shares. Fri, the company bought 1m shares at $0.89 and Mon bought 2m shares at $0.84. AmFraser, which has a Buy rating and $1.60 fair value, says it expects YZJ to continue to purchase shares, as it did during the 2008 depths (bought 228.2m shares between $0.27-$0.46).

Add that history is repeating itself right before our eyes as jittery investors sell off the stock 18% in the last one wk. Expectations of Rmb4b of profits have not changed. YZJ as a business has certainly not lost 18% of its intrinsic value in the last week alone. Considers YZJ's 2011F P/B at 1.2X a steal given its ROE of 30%, while 2011F div yield of 7.8% looks likely to rise as YZJ continues to buy back shares.

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Now recently starting from 0.89 (1m), now 0.84 (2m), Total now is 3million oni.

Last time bot over 228 million shr. This time, how much shr will they buying up?.

Still got some way to go...

teeth53 ( Date: 04-Oct-2011 21:46) Posted:

Hope. We can benefit from ur continous posting, hope to be info when YZJ boy back some or more then 200 million shr. Perhap can consider buying then...thk Qs.

krisluke ( Date: 04-Oct-2011 21:34) Posted:

YangziJiang: -4.9% at $0.780 taking its fall since August to 46%, a level where mgt has started buying back shares. Fri, the company bought 1m shares at $0.89 and Mon bought 2m shares at $0.84. AmFraser, which has a Buy rating and $1.60 fair value, says it expects YZJ to continue to purchase shares, as it did during the 2008 depths (bought 228.2m shares between $0.27-$0.46).

Add that history is repeating itself right before our eyes as jittery investors sell off the stock 18% in the last one wk. Expectations of Rmb4b of profits have not changed. YZJ as a business has certainly not lost 18% of its intrinsic value in the last week alone. Considers YZJ's 2011F P/B at 1.2X a steal given its ROE of 30%, while 2011F div yield of 7.8% looks likely to rise as YZJ continues to buy back shares.

x 0

Hope. We can benefit from ur continous posting, hope to be info when YZJ boy back some or more then 200 million shr. Perhap can consider buying then...thk Qs.

krisluke ( Date: 04-Oct-2011 21:34) Posted:

YangziJiang: -4.9% at $0.780 taking its fall since August to 46%, a level where mgt has started buying back shares. Fri, the company bought 1m shares at $0.89 and Mon bought 2m shares at $0.84. AmFraser, which has a Buy rating and $1.60 fair value, says it expects YZJ to continue to purchase shares, as it did during the 2008 depths (bought 228.2m shares between $0.27-$0.46).

Add that history is repeating itself right before our eyes as jittery investors sell off the stock 18% in the last one wk. Expectations of Rmb4b of profits have not changed. YZJ as a business has certainly not lost 18% of its intrinsic value in the last week alone. Considers YZJ's 2011F P/B at 1.2X a steal given its ROE of 30%, while 2011F div yield of 7.8% looks likely to rise as YZJ continues to buy back shares.

x 0

index.htm?iid=Popular

Stocks: 'Can't escape that fear factor' By CNNMoney staff October 4, 2011: DOW 110pt by 1.1%

Oil 75.80 -1.81 -2.33%

teeth53 thot: oil px down. Good for world comsumer economy, oso confirm economy is slowing down.

teeth53 ( Date: 04-Oct-2011 20:31) Posted:

Deutsche Bank issued a profit warning on Tuesday, saying that it could no longer reach its full-year target amid market turbulence caused by the deepening debt crisis … More »Deutsche Bank issues profit warning

while is U.S. stock futures are falling sharply ahead of Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's testimony b4 Congress on the outlook for the U.S. economy.

Stocks fell broadly Monday after Greece said it will not be able to make budget cuts it agreed to as part of a deal to receive emergency loans, raising new concerns about Europe's financial system. Monday's declines pushed the benchmark S& P 500 index to the edge of a bear market — a 20% decline from its recent high.

teeth53 thot: look like a 20% hair cut is the norm for this remaining wk. (Sept 5-Wed, 6-Thurs and 7-Fri) :((, as Greece is about to extend their problem into mth of Nov, 2011.

x 0

Like that can say almost all stk is rotten or isit rotting?.

Mkt play is now very much on sentiment then on their core value and or in their valuation. Cheaper becoming cheap...:(( cheap oso by then many players got burnt.

coolbunny ( Date: 04-Oct-2011 17:52) Posted:

S$0.55 rotten apple......................

x 0

Hi wisebone, " Hope - Euro Crisis ends soon"

teeth53 thot: Ur hope need to extend to NOV, 2011 liao.

Deutsche Bank issued a profit warning on Tuesday, saying that it could no longer reach its full-year target amid market turbulence caused by the deepening debt crisis … More »Deutsche Bank issues profit warning

while in U.S. stk futures R falling sharply ahead of Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's testimony b4 Congress on outlook for d U.S. economy.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE (AP)

Greece's int'l debt inspectors had originally been expected to recommend last mth that the country receive euro8 bil ($11 bil) tranche of a euro110 billion bailout package. But the inspectors' review of Greek reforms was suspended for several weeks amid talk of missed targets.

Greece can wait until mid-Nov for bailout loans, previously said it would start running out of money in mid-October if it didn't get the bailout loans.

teeth53: Isit Greece's problem going to extend this debt into mth of Nov?.

Effects of Radiation on the Human Body | Effects of Nuclear Weapons ...

http://money.cnn.com/2011/10/04/markets/premarkets/index.htm?iid=Popular

Stocks: 'Can't escape that fear factor' By CNNMoney staff October 4, 2011: DOW 110pt by 1.1% Oil 75.80 -1.81 -2.33%

Greece can wait until mid-Nov for bailout loans, previously said it would start running out of money in mid-October if it didn't get the bailout loans.

Stocks: 'Can't escape that fear factor' By CNNMoney staff October 4, 2011: DOW 110pt by 1.1%

Oil 75.80 -1.81 -2.33%