SPED - January 2011 - SPED in the UK & Ireland

My planned Anglo-American Christmas visit did not happen because of the severe weather, but nevertheless a good time was had by all in our circle.  I hope the same applies to you, the SPED member readers.

The Irish political scene is in turmoil which cannot help their economy.  The UK’s political resignations are minor by comparison.

UK Process News

Imperial College, the leading UK technical university, has announced a research project in support of a $70m CO2 storage project in Qatar.  The research is geared to assessing how the gas will react with carbonate rock.

Petrofac has announced a huge expansion to the UK’s LNG storage.  But it will not be operable until 2016.

Still no news on the long awaited announcement of more nuclear generating capacity for the UK.  But work is now well advanced on a $600m Evaporator plant to enable the vitrification process of nuclear waste.

Buncefield which was the largest peacetime explosion in Europe was caused by an overfill.  This continues to stimulate debate on the safety philosophy to be employed.  Overfill detection equipment is now fitted and the emphasis has swung from risk based approaches to an instance on standards and compliance.  It is said that the US still relies on observant operators as directed in API2350.  If you have never seen the Buncefield pictures send me an email and I will be pleased to forward them.

The UK government is putting lots of funds into apprenticeships.  I have spent some of this month trying to set the road map for this source of talent to progressively develop to the standard for professional engineers.