• University of Sheffield researchers have shown that glass could be a better method for long-term storage, transport and disposal of intermediate level nuclear waste. ILW makes up more than three quarters of the volume of material destined for geological disposal in the UK (One of the present preferred methods is to encapsulate ILW in specially-formulated cement). Studies have found that turning this kind of waste into glass could be a better method for its eventual disposal. HLW is already processed using vitrification. Until now, this method has not been considered suitable for ILW because the technology was not developed to handle large quantities of waste composed from a variety of different materials.
• Joint stock company Polotsk-Steklovolokno, a maker of glass fiber and glass fiber products in Belarus, is informing the market about the termination of maintenance procedures and a start-up of the glass melting furnace No.3 which will allow the company to meet customers’ demands of products to the maximum extent.
• West Africa Zircon (SL) Ltd. is presently engaged in mining and processing of zircon ore in Lungi, Kaffu-Bullom Chiefdom, Port Loko District, and Pampana, Kolifa Rowala Chiefdom in the Tonkolili District, Northern Province of Sierra Leone. In conformity with the Sierra Leone Environmental Protection Agency Act 2008 and the supplementary EPA Act 2010, West Africa Zircon (SL) Ltd.’s project needs to be planned and implemented in a manner that minimizes potential negative environmental and social impacts and accentuates positive impacts. This is expected to be achieved through the ESIA Process that CEMMATS Group Ltd was contracted to undertake. The ESIA report to the Environmental Protection Agency-Sierra Leone will be presented to the affected and/or interested stakeholders during public disclosure sessions for discussion.