World Nuclear News

Italy approves dismantling of Latina plant

Tue, 02 Jun 2020 14:48:56 GMT

Italy's Ministry of Economic Development recently issued a decree authorising Societa Gestione Impianti Nucleari SpA to begin the initial phase of decommissioning the Latina nuclear power plant. The Latina plant is the last of the four Italian nuclear power plants to obtain a decommissioning decree.

Atomenergomash completes components for Bangladesh, India projects

Tue, 02 Jun 2020 14:44:40 GMT

Russia's AEM Technologies has made its first batch of piping valves for Bangladesh's first nuclear power plant, Atomenergomash has announced. Meanwhile, another Atomenergomash subsidiary - OKB Gidropress - has shipped components for the reactor control and protection system for India's Kudankulam 4.

Foundation completed for Hinkley Point C unit 2

Mon, 01 Jun 2020 13:32:24 GMT

Construction of the 49,000-tonne concrete basemat for the nuclear island of the second unit at Hinkley Point C has been completed. EDF Energy said the milestone had coincided with its ambition to spend GBP1.5 billion (USD1.9 billion) with regional businesses in South-West England five years ahead of target.

Euratom Supply Agency marks diamond anniversary

Mon, 01 Jun 2020 15:09:55 GMT

Today marks the 60th anniversary of the continued operations of the Euratom Supply Agency. When the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) was established in 1958, its founding Treaty of Rome recognised the necessity to ensure a regular and equitable supply of nuclear materials to all consumers in the Community.

EU and others 'regret' US decision on Iran sanctions

Mon, 01 Jun 2020 14:22:16 GMT

The European Union plus France, Germany and the UK have said they "deeply regret" the USA's decision to end three sanction waivers covering Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action projects in Iran. Separately, a spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry said the US decision "hampers" international non-proliferation progress.

Nuclear must be part of a post-virus and low-carbon recovery

Mon, 01 Jun 2020 12:03:05 GMT

Investing in nuclear power as part of the post-virus recovery would help stimulate the economy and ease the path towards carbon neutrality, World Nuclear Association said on 29 May, following the ministerial roundtable on Mobilising Investments for Secure and Sustainable Power Systems that was co-hosted earlier that day by the International Energy Agency and the UK government.

Czech state offers to pay 70% of Dukovany unit cost

Fri, 29 May 2020 15:07:59 GMT

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš told reporters in Prague yesterday that the government will provide a loan to ČEZ to cover 70% of the cost of building a new unit at the Dukovany nuclear power plant, with the majority state-owned utility funding the remaining 30%. The project cost is estimated to be about EUR6.0 billion (USD6.7 billion), ČEZ CEO Daniel Beneš told the ČTK news agency, following the press conference.

Assembly of ITER fusion machine gets under way

Fri, 29 May 2020 13:21:30 GMT

The 1250-tonne steel base of the cryostat - which will insulate the magnetic system at cryogenic temperature from the outside environment - has been installed at the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) at Cadarache in south-eastern France. The milestone marks the installation of the first and heaviest component of the ITER fusion machine.

NWMO to begin field studies at Canadian repository site

Thu, 28 May 2020 14:02:35 GMT

The Canadian Radioactive Waste Management Organisation will focus its activities in South Bruce, Ontario on safety and protecting the environment, the organisation said last week in an update to local stakeholders. The NWMO is planning to begin field studies later this year at the potential repository site to determine whether it meets the project's safety requirements.

IAEA equips Belarus with mobile radiation monitoring lab

Thu, 28 May 2020 13:56:45 GMT

The International Atomic Energy Agency has provided Belarus with a mobile laboratory for assessing radiological threats associated with forest fires in the Polessie State Radio-Ecological Reserve, adjacent to the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. Recent fires in the exclusion zone did not lead to a hazardous increase in air-borne radioactive particles.

Uzbekistan unveils low-carbon energy strategy

Thu, 28 May 2020 11:27:42 GMT

The Ministry of Energy of Uzbekistan has announced the development of a national Low-Carbon Energy Strategy with assistance from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and international consulting company Corporate Solutions. Uzbekistan plans to develop alternative energy sources, including solar, hydro and wind, to produce electricity with low-carbon emissions. Uzbekistan also plans to build Central Asia’s first nuclear power plant, to provide the country with "uninterrupted and high-quality electricity on an industrial scale", the ministry said.

European recovery plan omits nuclear

Wed, 27 May 2020 15:38:22 GMT

Foratom said today it "regrets" that the European Commission has ignored the need for nuclear power as a clean, dispatchable and European source of energy in its green recovery plan published today. These three elements are essential, it says, if the EU really wants to decarbonise its economy, create jobs and ensure that citizens, hospitals and businesses have access to the energy they need when they need it.

EDF Energy submits plans for Sizewell C

Wed, 27 May 2020 13:42:22 GMT

EDF Energy announced today it has applied to the Planning Inspectorate for a Development Consent Order to build the Sizewell C nuclear power plant on the Suffolk coast of England. The application, which follows four rounds of public consultation that began in 2012, was deferred for two months "in recognition of the extraordinary circumstances created by the Coronavirus", the French-owned company said.

MPC lid welding passes US regulatory inspection

Wed, 27 May 2020 14:24:52 GMT

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has for the first time accepted a single dry run inspection of multi-purpose canister (MPC) lid welding representing used fuel loading at multiple nuclear power plant sites. The welding dry run was conducted by Holtec International and Exelon Generation in support of Exelon's implementation of Holtec's dry cask storage systems at its Peach Bottom nuclear power plant. The systems are also planned for use at its Limerick, Ginna, Nine Mile Point and Calvert Cliffs plants.

Viewpoint: Pandemic underscores nuclear’s role in sustainable development

Tue, 02 Jun 2020 09:12:48 GMT

A sustainable energy supply is crucial for ensuring stable economic growth and improving social welfare while at the same time preserving the ecosystems we live in, writes Evgeny Pakermanov, president of Rusatom Overseas, a subsidiary of Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom.

In 2020, the world has encountered a new global challenge that has affected a record number of people - the coronavirus pandemic. In a matter of weeks, it caused the biggest social and economic upheaval in decades. From the very start, a joint effort was required to combat both this life-changing infection and its consequences.

Materion to supply coolant for Kairos molten salt reactor

Wed, 27 May 2020 13:12:24 GMT

Kairos Power of the USA has entered into a strategic collaboration with advanced materials supplier Materion Corporation to develop a reliable and cost-effective supply of coolant for its fluoride salt-cooled, high-temperature reactor (KP-FHR). Materion will supply beryllium fluoride, technical consultation, key interfaces and support services.

Slovenian decision on second unit by 2027: minister

Tue, 26 May 2020 15:13:30 GMT

Slovenia will make a decision by 2027 at the latest on whether to build a second nuclear power plant at its existing Krško site, Infrastructure Minister Jernej Vrtovec has said during a visit to the plant site on 22 May. The minister also called for an immediate start on the construction of a storage facility for low and intermediate level radioactive waste and for changes to legislation to speed up infrastructure projects.

Final module installed at Vogtle 3

Tue, 26 May 2020 13:20:32 GMT

The final module - a 750,000 gallon (2.8 million litre) water tank - has been installed at Georgia Power's Vogtle unit 3. The CB-20 module is a major part of the AP1000 reactor's advanced passive safety system.

Decommissioning application submitted for Garoña

Tue, 26 May 2020 14:33:56 GMT

Spanish decommissioning firm Enresa has submitted an application to the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge for the transfer of ownership of the Garoña nuclear power plant and the first phase of its dismantling. The single-unit plant was shut down in mid-December 2012.

Russia commissions floating NPP

Fri, 22 May 2020 14:28:46 GMT

The floating nuclear power plant Akademik Lomonosov has been fully commissioned in Pevek, which is in the Chukotka region of Russia's Far East. The milestone was made official following the approval of Rosenergoatom General Director Andrey Petrov. Rosenergoatom is the operator subsidiary of the state nuclear corporation Rosatom.

Energy Fuels looks to rare earths to enhance White Mesa operations

Fri, 22 May 2020 15:41:03 GMT

Energy Fuels Inc is continuing work on a programme to investigate using the USA's only currently operational conventional uranium mill, White Mesa, to process uranium and thorium-bearing rare earth element (REE) ores and recover uranium while producing REE concentrates.

Atommash completes core barrel for Rooppur-1 RPV

Fri, 22 May 2020 15:18:41 GMT

Atommash, part of the Atomenergomash engineering division of Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom, has completed the core barrel, or shroud, of the reactor vessel for unit 1 of the Rooppur nuclear power plant in Bangladesh.

Ontario supply chain delivers for COVID-19 response

Fri, 22 May 2020 14:37:23 GMT

Bruce Power will be carrying out a second harvest of cobalt-60, which is used to sterilise medical equipment, as part of the company's COVID-19 response, CEO Mike Rencheck said yesterday. An initiative launched three weeks ago to leverage Ontario's nuclear supply chain in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic is already delivering results, he said.

US senators urge extension to uranium import quota

Thu, 21 May 2020 14:36:32 GMT

A bipartisan group of US Senators has called for the Department of Commerce to extend the Russian Suspension Agreement, as recommended by the Nuclear Fuel Working Group.

Small reactors feasible in Puerto Rico, study concludes

Thu, 21 May 2020 14:06:19 GMT

Advanced nuclear reactors can meet Puerto Rico's unique energy needs by complementing renewable sources with zero-emission electricity resilient to extreme natural events, a preliminary feasibility study has concluded. The study - conducted by Puerto Rican-led not-for-profit organisation the Nuclear Alternative Project - was funded by the US Department of Energy.

Ukraine pushes storage facility completion to end-September

Thu, 21 May 2020 12:57:03 GMT

All construction and installation works at the construction site of the Central Spent Fuel Storage Facility at the site of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine is expected to be completed by the end of September. The country’s nuclear power plant operator, Energoatom, announced the new target date following a meeting at the site by its acting president, Petr Kotin, on 15 May in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.

Nuclear regulators examine response to pandemic

Wed, 20 May 2020 11:41:22 GMT

The nuclear sector has reacted quickly and effectively to the unprecedented challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic without compromising safety, security or non-proliferation, panellists in a webinar hosted by the UAE Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation said yesterday. They also considered how to apply lessons learned in the post-pandemic era.

Ukraine passes bill to secure Euratom loan

Wed, 20 May 2020 13:37:08 GMT

The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s upper house of parliament, has adopted a draft law on nuclear safety that enables state-run nuclear power plant operator Energoatom to secure a EUR200 million (USD220 million) loan from Euratom. The parliament said yesterday it had approved "in the second reading and as a whole" draft law №2373 On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine on the Safety of Nuclear Energy Use.

Final Barakah unit completes cold testing

Tue, 19 May 2020 13:51:46 GMT

Cold hydrostatic testing has been completed at Barakah unit 4, the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation has announced. The testing incorporated lessons learned from the previous three Barakah units and is a crucial step towards the completion of unit 4.

US uranium output falls 89% in 2019

Tue, 19 May 2020 15:05:51 GMT

The USA produced a total of 0.17 million pounds U3O8 (65.4 tU) of uranium concentrate from all domestic sources in 2019, according to a newly published annual report from the US Energy Information Administration. This was 89% less than in 2018.