WCA September 2012

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Industry news
Wire & Cable ASIA – September/October 2012 12
Japan has begun the process of
getting its nuclear energy sector back
online, starting with two nuclear
reactors at Oi in Fukushima.
The work follows a directive to Kansai
Electric Power from Japanese PM
Yoshihiko Noda, with the aim to avoid
power shortages during the summer.
Each Oi nuclear plant has a capacity of
1,180MW energy and the restart could
reduce LNG usage by 180,000t per
month, as reported by Reuters.
Oil analyst Alex Yap is reported to have
told Reuters that the restarting of
nuclear reactors will make a huge
impact in reducing oil demand, which
is expected to rise in the next few
months when power demand is higher.
While many remain sceptical of nuclear
reactors in the wake of the earthquake
and subsequent tsunami damage,
Japan has already drawn plans to
bring up more reactors in the near
future – the two Hokkaido Electric
Power Co reactors in Tomari, northern
Japan and the No.2 reactor at the
Shika station operated by Hokuriku
Electric Power Co in western Japan
are expected to be restarted soon.
Japan has 50 nuclear reactors, all of
which have been offline since May
2011. Nuclear energy accounts for a
third of Japan’s energy needs.
Hokuriku Electric Power Co – Japan
Website:
Japan to restart nuclear plants after tsunami
Iran has announced the discovery of new copper mines with 7 million tons of
proven reserves, significantly increasing the country’s copper reserves.
“Numerous mines have been discovered in the exploration drillings and
Iran’s copper reserves have increased from 14 million tons to 21 million
tons,” Ali Mohammadi, manager of Iran’s Sarcheshmeh Copper Complex,
told the press. He added that Iran plans to carry out over 200,000 metres of
exploratory drilling in the current Iranian year.
Iran owns three per cent of the world’s copper reservoirs and is the largest
copper producer in the Middle East. The country produced 235,000 tons of
copper during the last Iranian year (ending March 2012).
Managing director of the National Iranian Copper Industries Company
Ardeshir Saad Mohammadi said that NICICo plans to set up two plants for
producing copper concentrate before the end of the current Iranian year. He
estimated that the total amount of copper ore processing from mines
amounted to 124 million tons last year and will rise to 200 million tons this
year.
National Iranian Copper Industries Company – Iran
Website:
Iran increases copper reserves