Nuclear Energy

Michigan reactor could become first in country to be returned to service after shutdown.

The US Department of Energy has announced a conditional commitment of up to $1.52bn (€1.4bn) for a loan guarantee to Holtec Palisades to finance the restoration and resumption of service of the Palisades nuclear power station in Covert Township, Michigan.

The project, which is conditional on various regulatory approvals, aims to bring the station’s single reactor unit back into commercial operation by the end of 2025 and keep it operating until at least 2051.

If finalised, Palisades would be the first recommissioning of a shutdown nuclear power plant in the US.

Last year, the state of Michigan’s budget included $150m to support the restart of the Palisades, but that money depended on federal support for the restart.

Florida-based Holtec bought Palisades from previous owner Entergy in 2022 to decommission the 805-MW pressurised water reactor facility, which had struggled to compete with natural gas-fired plants and renewable energy.

The plant shut about 10 days earlier than expected in May 2022, after discovery of a problem with a control rod drive seal.

Holtec initially planned to repurpose the 174-hectare site but the Biden administration’s $6bn of aid for upgrading nuclear facilities in the US led the company to reconsider its plans.

“Holtec is committed to helping the nuclear and energy industries meet challenges and find solutions,” a Holtec spokesperson said.

Restart ‘Will Support High-Paying Jobs’

“Repowering Palisades helps ensure we have enough reliable, around-the-clock electricity to keep the lights on for Michigan families and small businesses while also helping mitigate climate change through safe, reliable, and carbon-free generation.”

The DOE said the Palisades project highlights president Joe Biden’s ‘Investing in America’ agenda to “support good-paying, high-quality job opportunities in communities across the country while also expanding access to affordable clean energy resources”.

The project is expected to support or retain up to 600 jobs in Michigan – many of them filled by workers who have been at the plant for more than 20 years. In addition to the workers supported by the facility’s restart, if finalised, the loan guarantee would support more than 1,000 jobs during the facility’s regularly scheduled refueling and maintenance periods every 18 months, the DOE said.

Holtec said in October 2023 that it had formally begun the process of seeking federal reauthorisation to restart Palisades.

In September 2023 Holtec signed a long-term power purchase agreement with Wolverine Power Cooperative to buy power from Palisades.

According to the agreement, Wolverine Power Cooperative, a not-for-profit energy provider to the rural communities across Michigan, is committing to purchase up to two-thirds of the power generated by Palisades for its Michigan-based member rural electric cooperatives.

The agreement also contained a contract expansion provision to include up to two small modular reactors that Holtec intends to build and commission at the site.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/First-zeolite-skip-removed-from-Sellafield-pond

The first of 237 zeolite skips has been removed from Sellafield's First Generation Magnox Storage Pond, which has been prioritised for clean-up by the UK's Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.

The First Generation Magnox Storage Pond (FGMSP) was constructed in the 1950s to store, cool and prepare used Magnox nuclear fuel for recycling into new fuel.

During the FGMSP's 26-year operating lifetime it processed approximately 27,000 tonnes of fuel - almost 2.5 million fuel rods. Used nuclear fuel from the UK's nine Magnox stations, along with Magnox fuel from both Italy and Japan was held in the FGMSP. The pond holds some 14,000 cubic metres of contaminated water, in which is stored Magnox used nuclear fuel, radioactive sludge, miscellaneous nuclear wastes and skips. The plan is to progressively retrieve and treat the radiological inventory residing in the facility, reducing the on-going risk posed by its storage and then reducing the inherent hazard posed by the materials.

Zeolites were placed into the pond in the 1970s and 80s to help absorb radiation and make the facility safer for personnel. They now need to be removed as part of the pond clean-up programme. The zeolite skips account for one-quarter of the total number of skips in the pond.

In the process of removing the first Zeolite skip, the teams involved have recorded two other "landmark successes", Sellafield Ltd noted. "They're the first to put a nuclear waste product into a new British-made storage container, known as a self-shielded box. And the first to consign a self-shielded box to Sellafield's new Interim Storage Facility."

"This is a fantastic achievement and a real step forward for us," said Carl Carruthers, head of legacy ponds for Sellafield Ltd. "Removing zeolite skips from the pond and transferring them to safer storage reduces risk and hazard on the site. It also frees up space in the pond which makes our sludge removal and clean-up work easier. The 29-tonne self-shielded boxes are built in the UK by Goodwin International via a contract with Westinghouse."

David Redpath, NDA group performance assurance director, added: "This accomplishment is not only a first for Sellafield, but a world's first for the nuclear industry. It is a true testament to the hard work and commitment of all those involved. The implementation of this new capability is a key step in reducing the hazard posed by the legacy ponds and demonstrates the strong collaboration between Sellafield and its supply chain."

Once waste is placed inside the self-shielded boxes, it is checked regularly using remote cameras in the box lid. Eventually, the zeolites will be removed from the boxes and encapsulated, ready for consignment to the UK's Geological Disposal Facility.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Chamber-calls-for-Western-Australia-to-overturn-ur

Restarting uranium mining in Western Australia could create up to 9000 jobs and produce uranium worth more than AUD1 billion a year, a 12-month inquiry by the state's Chamber of Commerce and Industry has found. It recommends that the state overturn its ban on uranium mining to unlock significant economic benefits.

Western Australia is home to a "considerable share" of Australia's uranium but cannot capitalise on this, due to the state government's 2017 ban on uranium mining, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia (CCIWA) notes in its report. The ban conditionally excludes four uranium projects that had already received ministerial approval from the previous government: Wiluna, Kintyre, Mulga Rock and Yeelirrie.

South Australia and the Northern Territory currently allow uranium to be mined and exported, proving the industry is safe and sustainable, the CCIWA said. Last year South Australia produced around 5,469 tU: Western Australia has capacity to produce an estimated 8,000 tonnes per year, it added.

Other Australian states have been able to capitalise on increasing uranium demand and prices that have "skyrocketed" over the past year or so because of a global shift towards nuclear power in countries like China, France, India, Japan, South Korea, the United States and the UK, CCIWA Chief Economist Aaron Morey said. "WA has the technical skills and know-how to reignite the uranium mining industry as well as the export infrastructure to get it to market," he added.

He also said attitudes were changing thanks to advances in technology and an understanding of the role nuclear energy could play in reducing global emissions. "The ban on new uranium mines in WA was driven by environmental, health and safety concerns, but these concerns are not significantly different to those faced by any mining operation. WA is a mining state with a reputation for safety and world's best practice. We have a strong regulatory framework, existing infrastructure and all the skills needed to safely mine and export uranium," he added, noting that uranium exports are also bound by Australian legislation to ensure they are only used for energy production and not in the development of nuclear weapons. "If South Australia and the Northern Territory can do it, there's no reason why WA can't."

Citing last year's COP28 Summit, where 22 countries signed a ministerial declaration recognising the need to triple global nuclear energy by 2050, Morey said uranium demand will continue to be high, while "supply constraints look set to worsen". Allowing uranium mining in Western Australia would harness an opportunity to supply to countries already using nuclear power, he said, adding "If they don't buy uranium from WA, they'll simply buy it elsewhere".

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Serbian-president-s-appeal-as-country-aims-to-get

Serbia is seeking support from other countries on nuclear know-how and financing towards its goal of getting 1200 MW of capacity from small modular reactors, President Aleksandar Vučić told the Nuclear Energy Summit.

Vučić noted that since the break up of the former Yugoslavia, Serbia has not had any experience of nuclear energy, and he welcomed the summit as a chance "to discuss big plans, big things for the future but we don't know how to implement it".

Arriving for the summit he said: "Today it is important that we understand how far behind we are and how we made wrong decisions in the previous 35 and 40 years. The importance attached to this summit indicates to us how much electricity we will lack in the future. To simplify it - without nuclear energy we we will not be able to survive the arrival of artificial intelligence or electric cars."

And addressing fellow leaders and government representatives, he said: "We have three problems. Number one, is that we don't have know-how about the use of nuclear energy and we don't know exactly where to get it. Number two is how are we going to finance all these projects. And I can tell you in advance, that we are very much interested in getting at least four SMRs (small modular reactors) that can replace 1200 megawatts.

"We don't know how to do it, how to finance it, because it costs about EUR7.5 billion up to EUR 8 billion (USD8.7 billion). Anyway, we are ready to participate significantly but we need to have some sort of support from leading countries of the European Union.

"Number three, it means that we also need to get a change of mindset for our people, which is not easy, but we are ready to do it, which means we'll not only adjust, but will have to change, the overall legislative framework, and we'll do it."

The reference to the need for law changes being required is because the construction of nuclear power plants, nuclear fuel production plants and plants for used nuclear fuel processing for nuclear power plants has been forbidden since 1989, predating the breakup of the former Yugoslavia.

He added that he would "like to get a lot of help, particularly know-how for my country" and invited the summit co-host, International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, to visit Belgrade "as soon as possible".

Nuclear medicine

The Nuclear Energy Summit, held in Belgium on 21 March, has been followed this week by the Atomexpo event in Sochi, Russia, with Rosatom Health Technologies and Serbia's health ministry concluding a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of nuclear medicine.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Work-to-expand-Dutch-enrichment-plant-begins

Uranium enrichment services provider Urenco has broken ground on an expansion of its plant in Almelo in the Netherlands. The move came as the company signed a new long-term supply contract with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power.

Urenco announced plans in December last year to increase capacity at its Almelo plant by 15% in response to new commitments from customers. The project will see multiple new centrifuge cascades added to an existing plant at the site, adding about 750 tonnes of SWU per year. The first new cascades are scheduled to come online around 2027.

A ceremony was held on 25 March to mark the start of work on the capacity expansion at Almelo.

This is the third major investment to be approved under Urenco's capacity programme to strengthen the nuclear fuel supply chain worldwide. Earlier in 2023, Urenco approved its first expansion project at its plant in Eunice, New Mexico - the only operating commercial uranium enrichment facility in North America - providing an additional capacity of 700 tonnes of SWU per year. The first new cascades are due online in 2025. The plant currently has a production capacity of 4600 tSWU per year.

At its site in Gronau, Germany, the company is re-fitting an existing space with more modern centrifuge technology which will enhance the capacity of the plant.

"Urenco takes the needs of the market incredibly seriously," said Urenco Almelo Managing Director Ad Louter. "This project will help deliver 1.6 million SWU in total alongside other projects happening at our sites in Germany and the USA. Energy security and decarbonisation have never been so important as they are today, and we are in a time of great change for nuclear without which it will be impossible to meet ambitious climate targets."

Urenco said its capacity programme "is a mid to long-term plan to refurbish and extend" enrichment capacity at all four of its sites. "It comes as more countries and utility companies turn to nuclear for the first time, or seek to extend and/or diversify fuel supplies for existing nuclear operations," it added.

Korean contract

Urenco announced it has signed a new contract for the long-term supply of enrichment services with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), operator of South Korea's nuclear power plants, which generate more than 34% of the country's total electricity.

A contract signing ceremony took place in Brussels on 22 March, with KHNP's President and CEO Jooho Whang and Urenco's Chief Commercial Officer Laurent Odeh.

Urenco has been supplying enriched uranium to KHNP since 1993. It said the new contract "will further improve long-term fuel supply stability".

"KHNP aims to build a number of new nuclear power plants at home and abroad, and cooperation with reliable partners such as Urenco will be very important as demand for nuclear power increases internationally," Whang said.

"We are delighted to reaffirm our strong working relationship with KHNP and look forward to playing our part in helping to achieve its energy vision for Korea - as well as contributing to its climate change goals," Laurent said. "Urenco is committed to meeting increased demand for enrichment services with flexible, resilient and sustainable operations."

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Agreements-Burkina-Faso,-Nicaragua-and-Kazakhstan

Russia's Rosatom has signed agreements relating to developing nuclear medicine centres in Nicaragua and Kazakhstan, and also a memorandum of understanding with Burkina Faso which includes potential nuclear energy projects.

The agreements were signed at the Atomexpo 2024 international forum, which is currently taking place in Sochi.

Rosatom Director General Alexei Likhachev and Burkina Faso's Energy Minister Yacouba Zabre Guba signed a roadmap which "outlines concrete steps for both sides to build the West African country's peaceful nuclear workforce, develop nuclear infrastructure and create a positive public opinion regarding nuclear energy in Burkina Faso. Based on the results of the formation of an international legal framework for cooperation, the parties intend to work on the issue of implementing nuclear generation projects and non-energy applications of radiation technologies in agriculture and medicine in Burkina Faso".

The roadmap signed by Rosatom Health Technologies Director General Igor Obrubov and Nicaragua's Health Minister Oscar Vazquez, covered a joint project to build a nuclear medicine centre, specialising in the diagnosis and treatment of patients, in particular those with cancer, and also covers cooperation in health worker training.

Vazquez said: "Rosatom’s competence in creating specialised medical infrastructure facilities gives every reason to be confident in the effective implementation of our joint project ... (and) will allow us to reach a qualitatively new level in the diagnosis and treatment of socially significant diseases and expand access to modern nuclear medicine technologies for doctors and patients in Nicaragua."

Obrubov said Rosatom's activities "include the production of isotopes and the production of radiopharmaceuticals, the development and production of high-tech medical equipment, and the construction of medical infrastructure facilities. We are pleased to assist citizens of the Republic of Nicaragua".

Obrubov also signed a memorandum of understanding alongside Zhanar Ospanova, Health Minister of the Zhambyl region of Kazakhstan to implement joint projects relating to the development of nuclear medicine.

Ospanova said: "Given that Rosatom has significant experience and competencies in implementing projects in the field of nuclear medicine, I am confident that our joint work will make significant progress in the diagnosis and treatment of socially significant diseases, in particular oncology. This interaction has the most important goal - to expand access for doctors and patients to the most modern technologies to preserve and improve health."

This year's Atomexpo is the 13th staging of the business and exhibition event, which is supported by Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Laser-enrichment-company-declines-HALEU-opportunit

Global Laser Enrichment has decided not to submit a proposal in response to a US Department of Energy request for the acquisition of high-assay low-enriched uranium enrichment, its 51%-owner Silex Systems has announced. The company has also received regulatory approval to load uranium hexafluoride for the start of testing to demonstrate the technology it plans to use in its enrichment facility at Paducah in Kentucky.

In January, the Department of Energy (DOE) issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for uranium enrichment services to help establish a reliable domestic supply of fuels using high-assay low-enriched uranium, or HALEU. Enriched to between 5% and 20% U-235, HALEU fuel is used by many of the advanced reactor designs that are currently under development, but is not currently commercially available from US-based suppliers.

Global Laser Enrichment LLC (GLE) is the exclusive global licensee of the SILEX laser-based uranium enrichment technology which was originally developed by Australian company Silex. It is 49%-owned by Canadian company Cameco, which is the commercial lead for the GLE project and holds an option to attain a majority interest of 75%.

GLE is working towards demonstration of the SILEX technology at its Test Loop pilot facility in Wilmington, North Carolina. It is also progressing activities to commercial-scale deployment at the Paducah Laser Enrichment Facility (PLEF), which is underpinned by a 2016 agreement for the sale to GLE of some 200,000 tonnes of depleted uranium hexafluoride from the DOE to provide feedstock for the production of natural UF6.

In addition to the production of natural grade UF6 (containing 0.7% uranium-235) from the processing of depleted uranium, the multipurpose plant has two further commercialisation options: the production of enriched uranium from natural UF6 to supply enriched uranium fuel for existing reactors; and the production of HALEU.

According to Silex, GLE's evaluation has determined that the RFP "does not warrant GLE changing from its first commercial priority" of producing natural UF6. This would seem to be in line with Cameco's latest Management’s discussion and analysis (MD&A) document, published in February, in which the company said "our view is that re-enriching US government inventories of depleted uranium tails into a commercial source of uranium and conversion is GLE's lowest-risk path to the market", adding that the agreement with the DOE to upgrade depleted uranium tails left over from historic enrichment operations "may help address the growing supply gap for Western nuclear fuel supplies and services" - PLEF's planned annual output of up to 5 million pounds of U3O8 (1923 tU) would place it in the top ten global uranium mines in terms of production volumes.

GLE is "currently awaiting details" on a potential USD100 million funding opportunity from DOE to support novel enrichment technology, which is expected to be published this year, Silex said. It also noted that the US Consolidated Appropriations Act 2024, which has now been signed into law, includes USD2.7 billion of funding - contingent on a US government ban on imports of nuclear fuel from Russia - which is expected to provide support for production of both low-enriched uranium and HALEU.

"We continue to encourage the DOE to move expeditiously to publish all available funding opportunities to create a competitive, diverse US fuel supply chain and to enable the cessation of reliance on Russian-sourced nuclear fuel," Silex said.

Technology readiness testing go-ahead

Separately, Silex has announced that the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has completed an inspection of GLE's Test Loop pilot demonstration facility and operational safety programmes in Wilmington, North Carolina, providing the approval for GLE to load UF6 feed material in preparation for the start of TRL-6 enrichment testing.

TRL-6 is the sixth of nine internationally recognised technology readiness levels used to assess the maturity of a technology. TRL-6 confirms large-scale system performance under relevant conditions (pilot-scale demonstration).

The NRC review and approval of the Test Loop facility and operations clears the way for the final preparations for TRL-6 enrichment testing, which is expected to begin in the second quarter of this year, Silex said. GLE anticipates completing the technology demonstration project this year. "Subject to the successful completion of the TRL-6 pilot demonstration project, industry and government support, a feasibility assessment for the Paducah Laser Enrichment Facility, suitable market conditions, and other factors, this preserves the option to commence commercial operations at the planned PLEF in Kentucky as early as 2028," the company added.

Nairobi hails ‘significant progress’ in development of infrastructure.

Kenya has unveiled plans for the development of a nuclear power programme over the next five years that would see it allocate $83m (€76m) by 2027 towards the cost of its first nuclear research reactor.

The Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NUPEA), the state agency leading the country’s nuclear power programme, said the research reactor could be commissioned between 2030 and 2034 and would be a stepping stone towards full commercial nuclear power production.

It said the initial five-year budget for the overall nuclear programme is $273m. This would include nuclear infrastructure development, stakeholder engagement, research and innovation, energy capacity development and a research reactor programme.

In January Kenya said it had made significant progress in the development of nuclear infrastructure for the research reactor.

The African nation has been planning a commercial nuclear station for several years as part of its ambition to move to clean energy and increase energy generation as demand rises in the nation of more than 55 million – a number that is growing by about 2% a year.

In 2022 it was reported that the government had picked Kilifi and Kwale as the two sites best suited for nuclear energy. Kilifi is on the coast about 70 km north of Mombasa. Kwale is inland to the southwest of Mombasa.

Seoul is bullish on nuclear power and is planning to build new reactors at home and abroad.

Urenco, the Anglo-German-Dutch provider of uranium enrichment services, has signed a new contract for the long-term supply of enrichment services with the operator of South Korea’s nuclear power plants.

The company said in a statement that the agreement with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power company (KHNP) would help to provide a “secure, diverse and reliable supply” of nuclear fuel to South Korea, which has 26 nuclear plants in commercial operation and two under construction.

“The agreement with the KHNP, with whom Urenco has worked since 1993, will see us remain a major supplier for them well into the next decade,” Urenco said.

KHNP’s president and chief executive officer Jooho Wang said KHNP is aiming to build a number of new nuclear power plants at home and abroad, and cooperation with reliable partners such as Urenco will be “very important as demand for nuclear power increases internationally”.

In December 2023, Urenco approved an investment aimed at expanding the production capacity of its existing plant in Almelo, the Netherlands.

According to Urenco, the expansion is a response to an expected long-term increase in customer demand as more countries and utilities turn to nuclear power for the first time or seek to extend and diversify fuel supplies for existing nuclear reactor fleets.

The expansion marked the third investment under Urenco's capacity programme.

South Korera’s president Yoon Suk Yeol has pledged to revive the country’s nuclear power industry by promising about $2.4bn (€2.2bn) investment in nuclear projects and extending $750m in financing.

Yoon has also vowed to boost the country’s technological capability for small modular reactors (SMR) and introduce the country’s first SMR model, the i-SMR, by 2028.

Former president Moon Jae-in’s policy had been to retire the country’s commercial reactors, which supply about 30% of its electricity generation, and refrain from building new ones.

Final investment decision for two reactors due this year.

The company developing the Sizewell C nuclear power station project in the UK has bought the freehold of the land earmarked for the planned facility for an undisclosed sum.

Sizewell C said the deal – involving 895 (362 hectares) acres of land – paves the way for the company to apply for a nuclear site licence for the site on the Suffolk coast in southeast England once the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) completes a safety assessment, it said.

Sizewell C is majority-owned by the UK government – which is investing £2.5bn (€2.9bn, $3.1bn) in the project – with its development partner EDF Energy a minority stakeholder at just under 50%.

A final investment decision (FID) on the plans is due later this year. An FID is the last main outstanding issue to be resolved before construction of the planned facility, which will have two France-supplied EPR units of about 1,630 MW each, can begin.

Preliminary works such as surveying and early-stage earthworks has already begun for the project.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Investment-announced-to-boost-UK-nuclear-workforce

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced a package of public and private investment to reinforce the country's nuclear workforce and support 40,000 expected new jobs in its defence and civil nuclear industry.

The government said it is partnering with industry - including BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, EDF and Babcock - to invest at least GBP763 million (USD965 million) by 2030 in skills, jobs and education. The investment will create more than 8000 career opportunities to help the sector fill 40,000 new jobs by the end of the decade – and will support plans to double the number of nuclear apprentices and graduates and quadruple the number of specialist science and nuclear fission PhDs.

"Domestic nuclear capability is vital to our national defence and energy security, underpinning our nuclear deterrent and securing cheaper, more reliable energy for UK consumers," the government said. "The nuclear industry is growing rapidly, requiring 50% more highly skilled workers in the next ten years – and we need to train a new generation of British talent."

Sunak also announced the creation of a Barrow Transformation Fund, with the government committing an immediate GBP20 million and a further minimum of GBP20 million annually over the next 10 years to make Barrow, in Cumbria, "an even more attractive place to live, work, and build a nuclear career".

Building on these new investments, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps has published the government's Defence Nuclear Enterprise Command Paper, setting out for the first time the full breadth of activity to sustain and modernise the UK's continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent.

"Safeguarding the future of our nuclear deterrent and nuclear energy industry is a critical national endeavour," Sunak said. "In a more dangerous and contested world, the UK's continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent is more vital than ever. And nuclear delivers cheaper, cleaner home-grown energy for consumers.

"That's why we are investing in Barrow, the home of UK submarines, and in the jobs and skills of the future in the thriving British nuclear industry. Today we usher in the next generation of our nuclear enterprise, which will keep us safe, keep our energy secure, and keep our bills down for good."

David Lockwood, CEO Babcock International and member of the Nuclear Skills Executive Council added: "This is a fantastic opportunity for the UK to deliver a stronger nuclear industry that will contribute to the resilience of the UK's independent deterrent and will support the UK's energy security ambitions and net-zero targets."

"EDF welcomes the joint commitments announced today and looks forward to working with government and industry to help deliver the great opportunities for people who choose to work in the nuclear sector," said Simone Rossi, CEO of EDF in the UK and member of the Nuclear Skills Executive Council. "EDF has been at the heart of the UK's nuclear energy sector for over 15 years and in 2024 is hiring a further 1000 people into its UK nuclear family - in operations, construction, engineering support and many other exciting roles. The majority of these will be apprentices and graduates, as well as those with relevant skills from other industries.

"As we have learned in recent years there is an urgent need to attract, train and inspire the next generation of people who can design, build, operate and decommission existing and new nuclear facilities. We are excited to be part of this national endeavour."

The UK's energy strategy unveiled in April last year set the target for eight new reactors plus small modular reactors to produce 24 GWe capacity by 2050, meeting about 25% of the UK's projected electricity demand. The UK currently generates about 15% of its electricity from about 6.5 GW of nuclear capacity. The first new nuclear capacity in the UK for about 30 years is being built by EDF at Hinkley Point C - two EPRs producing 3.2 GW of electricity - with a final investment decision expected soon on a similar sized project at Sizewell C. The UK's nuclear industry is expected to need 123,000 people by 2030.

The government said the investment in nuclear skills - which includes GBP350 million from the government and more than GBP400 million from industry - will create some 5000 new apprenticeships in the next four years. It will also drive private investment and create job opportunities for everyone from specialist scientists and engineers, to welders and electricians, to project managers and Royal Navy submariners.

Welcoming the new funding to boost nuclear skills and jobs, Tom Greatrex, Chief Executive of the Nuclear Industry Association, said: "This is a very welcome investment which will help ensure we have enough people with the right skills to ramp up nuclear capacity to the levels needed for energy security. It is a great opportunity for the government and industry to work together to attract workers into an exciting and cutting-edge sector that will play a vital role in the UK's journey to net-zero.

"Meeting the UK's ambitious nuclear targets will require a huge ramp up in all parts of the workforce from engineering to construction so it is important we attract and train the next generation of nuclear workers so that we keep pace with other countries that are doing the same. The industry, which is match-funding the government's investment, stands ready to do all it can to support in that endeavour."

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Permit-issued-for-dismantling-of-Isar-2

Germany's PreussenElektra has received approval from the Bavarian State Ministry for the Environment and Consumer Protection for the dismantling of the Isar 2 nuclear power plant.

The Isar 2 plant - comprising a single 1400 MWe pressurised water reactor - was one of Germany's last three nuclear power plants to be shut down on 15 April last year. PreussenElektra - which is responsible for the decommissioning of eight nuclear power plants in Germany - had already submitted the application to decommission and dismantle the plant in July 2019.

Since the shutdown of Isar 2, all 193 fuel elements have been removed from the reactor pressure vessel and placed in the plant's fuel storage pool. In addition, the primary cooling circuit was decontaminated at the beginning of this year. The first dismantling work will be the dismantling of the main coolant pumps. In addition, the main coolant lines will be separated from the reactor pressure vessel in order to begin the first major dismantling project, the dismantling of the reactor pressure vessel internals.

On 21 March, the Bavarian State Ministry for the Environment and Consumer Protection granted the necessary approval for dismantling of the plant to begin in accordance with Germany's Atomic Energy Act.

Isar 2 was the last of the PreussenElektra plants to cease operations. The Brokdorf and Grohnde plants were shut down on 31 December 2021. With the already decommissioned Isar 1, Stade, Unterweser and Würgassen plants, all of PreussenElektra's nuclear facilities are now in various phases of decommissioning and dismantling.

"Seven of our eight power plant blocks are now being dismantled," said PreussenElektra CEO Guido Knott. "With the knowledge from these dismantling projects and our fleet-optimised approach, we will ensure that the dismantling at the Essenbach site will be completed by the end of the 2030s and that the power plant site will be available for new uses."

Dismantling of Isar 1 is progressing according to plan, the company noted. Every year around 2500 tonnes of material is dismantled and disposed of there. The dismantling of the plant's systems is about half complete.

Before it was shut down, Isar 2 plant covered about 18% of Bavaria's electricity production, the ministry noted. With a net output of more than 1400 MWe, it was the most powerful nuclear power plant in Germany and one of only two plants in the world that produced more than 400 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity. In addition to Isar 2, there are four other nuclear power plants currently being dismantled across Bavaria: Isar 1, Grafenrheinfeld and Gundremmingen Blocks B and C.

In August 2011, the 13th amendment of the Nuclear Power Act came into effect, which underlined the political will to phase out nuclear power in Germany.

"The shutdown of the last nuclear power plants in April 2023 was wrong," Bavaria's Environment Minister Thorsten Glauber said whilst announcing the granting of the dismantling permit for Isar 2. "We have always advocated allowing the nuclear power plants to temporarily continue to operate as a climate-friendly bridge.

"Given the current global challenges, we need every kilowatt hour of energy that we can generate ourselves. With Isar 2 it would still be possible to produce affordable and CO2-free electricity in Bavaria. It is incomprehensible why the federal government does not want to accept this and instead relies primarily on more coal. With Isar 2, the federal government has one of the world's safest and most reliable nuclear power plants without the need to dismantle a plant in its prime after only 35 years of operation. That's like retiring a perfectly healthy 50-year-old. It is dishonest to import nuclear power from abroad and at the same time shut down the nuclear power plants in Germany, as the federal government is doing."

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/South-Africa-aims-to-be-global-supplier-of-HTR-fue

As well as preparing to issue a Request for Proposals for 2500 MW of new nuclear "this calendar year", the Nuclear Energy Summit was told that South Africa is developing its Pebble Bed Modular Reactor technology and "deserves the opportunity to implement the complete nuclear fuel cycle for peaceful uses".

Tokozile Xasa, South Africa's ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Union, gave an outline of South Africa's nuclear energy ambitions at the international summit organised jointly by the International Atomic Energy Agency and Belgium.

She said that while South Africa has 93% access to electricity, there are 600 million people on the African continent that do not, and South Africa believes that "if we are to eradicate poverty, unemployment, and inequality in Africa, we need to get rid of energy poverty and guarantee energy security".

As part of its diversified energy mix nuclear has a role, she said, with the Koeberg nuclear power plant, the only operating nuclear power plant in Africa, set to have its life extended by a further 20 years. The Request for Proposals for 2500 MWe of nuclear new build - which had originally been due to be issued this month - would be "issued to the market within this calendar year", she added.

In the light of the continent's rich resources, including uranium, "South Africa intends on leveraging on the beneficiation of these resources to produce feedstock for Africa's nuclear power plants whilst developing its own Pebble Bed Modular Reactor technology as a strategic project considering all required approvals. Based on our track record of producing Pebble Bed fuel, South Africa further intends on leveraging its natural resources to become a global supplier of a High Temperature Reactor fuel, followed by a Multipurpose Reactor technology envisaged for commercial deployment beyond 2030".

South Africa’s Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa) is also currently working on a feasibility study on a new reactor to succeed the SAFARI-1 research reactor which has been operating for 58 years. The Multipurpose Reactor is envisaged by Necsa as having a power level of 20-30 MWe with irradiation facilities for material testing and isotope production as well as beam line facilities.

Xasa added: "Given all these realities, we firmly believe that in order to obtain all the potential economic benefits from nuclear and to achieve a self-sufficiency goal, South Africa deserves an opportunity to implement the complete nuclear fuel cycle for peaceful uses in line with our nuclear energy policy."

South Africa published a draft Integrated Resource Plan (IRP 2023) in January including different combinations of nuclear, renewables, clean coal and gas to provide security of supply as well as supporting carbon reduction commitments, with final policy decisions to "be taken on the basis of a longterm decarbonisation trajectory" while improving South Africa's competitiveness and economic growth.

South Africa's Pebble Bed Modular Reactor was to have been a small-scale high-temperature reactor using graphite-coated spherical uranium oxycarbide tristructural isotropic (TRISO) fuel, with helium as the coolant, able to supply process heat as well as generating electricity. The nature of the fuel in particular gives the reactor a high degree of passive safety, exploiting inherent safety characteristics depending on the physical properties of the system without the need for intervention.

Based on well-proved German technology, South Africa had been working on the PBMR project since 1993, however, in 2010 the government formally announced its decision no longer to invest in the project, which was then placed under 'care and maintenance' to protect its intellectual property and assets. Former chairman of the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation, Kelvin Kemm, chairman and CEO of Stratek Global, told World Nuclear News last year that with the legacy and experience of the PBMR project, its High Temperature Modular Reactor (HTMR-100) could see a first-of-a-kind 35 MWe unit built within five years.

The Nuclear Energy Summit - which the organisers described as the first of its kind - saw leaders and representatives from 32 countries backing a joint declaration setting out actions needed to achieve the necessary expansion of nuclear capacity to tackle climate change and boost energy security.

Four-reactor nuclear station in UAE is first in Arab World.

Unit 4 of the Barakah nuclear power station in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been successfully connected to the national grid and has started generating electricity for the first time, owner Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (Enec) announced.

Enec said the operation was completed on 23 March and has brought the four-unit Barakah nuclear station, the first in the Arab world, closer to its goal to meet 25% of the UAE’s electricity needs.

According to the company, grid connection means Barakah-4 is nearing the start of commercial operation, with the unit set to undergo a process of gradually raising power levels which will be accompanied by a series of testing.

Barakah-4 is the fourth South Korea-supplied APR1400 at the Barakah station, on the Persian Gulf coast west of the city of Abu Dhabi. Units 1, 2, and 3 are all commercially operational.

Once the testing is complete and commercial operations begin, Unit 4 will raise Barakah’s total electricity generation capacity to 5,600 MW, expected to deliver more than 40 TWh of electricity per year.

Barakah-4 was loaded with fuel in late December 2023 and was initially started up on 1 March 2024.

Enec said that each unit has been connected to the grid more efficiently than the preceding one, as institutional knowledge and experience are applied to each subsequent unit.

“Unit 3 was delivered four months faster than the Unit 2 schedule, and five months faster than the Unit 1 schedule, demonstrating the significant benefit of building multiple units within a phased timeline,” said a statement.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/France-awards-grants-for-molten-salt-reactor-R-D

Molten salt reactor developers Thorizon and Stellaria, both in consortium with Orano, have been selected by the French government to receive funding through the France 2030 national investment plan.

Launched by President Emmanuel Macron in October 2021, the France 2030 re-industrialisation plan is endowed with EUR54 billion (USD58 billion) in funding schemes to be deployed over five years. In February 2022, Macron said EUR1 billion will be made available through the plan for France's Nuward small modular reactor (SMR) project and "innovative reactors to close the fuel cycle and produce less waste". He said he had set "an ambitious goal" to construct a first prototype in France by 2030.

Following a call for projects, Thorizon of the Netherlands has now announced that it is being granted EUR10 million in funding under France 2030.

Thorizon - a spin-off from NRG, which operates the High Flux Reactor in Petten - is developing a 250 MWt/100 MWe molten salt reactor (MSR), targeted at large industrial customers and utilities. Thorizon aims to construct a pilot reactor system before 2035.

MSRs use molten fluoride salts as primary coolant, at low pressure. They may operate with epithermal or fast neutron spectrums, and with a variety of fuels. Much of the interest today in reviving the MSR concept relates to using thorium (to breed fissile uranium-233), where an initial source of fissile material such as plutonium-239 needs to be provided. There are a number of different MSR design concepts, and a number of interesting challenges in the commercialisation of many, especially with thorium.

The molten salt fuel adopted by Thorizon uses a combination of long-lived elements from reprocessed used nuclear fuel and thorium. The reactor will be able to recycle long-lived waste from existing nuclear facilities.

"In addition to the [France 2030] grant, the programme provides access to expertise in nuclear research, European legislation, and business development," Thorizon said. "With the subsidy, Thorizon intends to accelerate its ambition to develop a small modular reactor based on molten salt, using nuclear waste from conventional nuclear plants as an important fuel source."

Amsterdam-based Thorizon earlier this year opened a second location in Lyon, France.

"Historically, France has been the centre of nuclear expertise in the world," noted Thorizon CEO Kiki Lauwers. "It is therefore important for us to also have a physical presence there. Especially since we collaborate with the French company Orano, a recognised international operator in the field of nuclear materials, in particular through the recycling of nuclear materials into new fuel for a facility like ours. Together with them, we want to make nuclear energy more circular."

In addition to Orano, and French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), two research institutes in Lille, French consultancy firm Oakridge, the engineering company Tractebel, NRG-Pallas in Petten, and Differ in Eindhoven are also part of the project.

Last month, Thorizon announced it had signed a strategic partnership agreement with French ultra-compact molten salt fast neutron reactor developer Naarea to advance the development of MSRs in Europe.

Meanwhile, French chloride molten salt reactor developer Stellaria - a spin-off from the CEA - has also announced funding from France 2030.

The reactor proposed by Stellaria and its partners CEA, Technip Energies and Schneider Electric will be very compact - measuring 4 cubic metres - and will be able to use a diversified range of nuclear fuels (uranium, plutonium, MOX, minor actinides, even thorium). The reactor, which Stellaria says is "the world's first fast neutron reactor capable of renewing 100% of its fuel in its core during operation" - will produce 250 MWt/110 MWe.

It said the consortium with Orano "enables the necessary acceleration of synchronised R&D between fuels and reactors".

Together with its partners, Stellaria aims to commission its first reactor in 2033, and series reactors as early as 2035.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Kenya-agency-outlines-nuclear-development-plans

Kenya's Nuclear Power and Energy Agency has launched a strategic plan that will guide the development of its nuclear power programme over the next five years as it prepares to build its first nuclear power plant.

The Nuclear Power and Energy Agency's (NuPEA) 2023-2027 Strategic Plan identifies six key result areas from six strategic issues: nuclear infrastructure development; stakeholder engagement and advocacy; energy research and innovation; energy capacity development; research reactor programme and institutional sustainability. It builds on the agency's 2020-2025 Strategic Plan, the successful implementation of which led to the progression of the country’s nuclear power development programme to phase II of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Milestone Approach following a review by international experts, NuPEA Chairman Ezra Odhiambo said in his Foreword to the plan.

The 2023-2027 Strategic Plan has been developed through a participatory process which included consultation with internal and external stakeholders, and takes into account Kenya's national development agenda outlined in policy documents including Kenya's Constitution, Vision 2030, Medium Term Plan IV, the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, Kenya National Spatial Plan and Climate Change Policy Goals and Intended Nationally Determined Contribution. Situational analysis, reviews of the implementation of the 2020-2025 Strategic Plan, and environmental analysis also contributed to the new plan.

NuPEA’s proposed roadmap and strategy for nuclear power infrastructure development sees the construction and commissioning of the country's first nuclear power plant by 2034, while a research reactor - KNRR - is to be commissioned by the early 2030s. The counties of Kilifi and Kwale have been identified as potential hosts for the power plant, while land has been set aside at the Konza Technopolis technology hub, 64 km south of Nairobi, for the research reactor.

NuPEA says it is aiming for the "construction and commissioning of the first nuclear power plant by 2034". The roadmap in the strategic plan suggests site preparations for the power plant beginning in 2029 with construction starting in 2030-2031.

"Today marks the beginning of yet another journey towards the development of the nuclear power programme in Kenya as Nuclear Power and Energy Agency launches its Strategic Plan 2023-2027," NuPEA said. "During this period, the Agency is committed to implement/execute the strategies to ensure the country is ready to commence the construction of the first nuclear power plant. In energy research and development and capacity building, the Agency has identified nuclear energy research, nuclear research reactor, human and institutional capacity development, establishment of an energy research center as key strategic issues for this plan period."

NuPEA estimates that it will need around KES36.2 billion (USD 273 million) to implement the initiatives set out in the plan.

Speaking during the launch event in Nairobi on 18 March, NuPEA Director for Planning and Strategy Winnie Ndubai said the vision developed by the agency also includes the coordination of research and development for the energy and petroleum sector as well as the coordination of capacity building. "Our vision is to provide sustainable, affordable and clean energy solutions, and those energy solutions will be provided not just through the nuclear power which will be a baseload and clean source of energy in our power mix, but also clean energy solutions will come through innovative research that will bring up new ideas and new techologies within the energy sector," she said.

NuPEA was established in 2019 to promote and implement Kenya's nuclear power programme, superseding the Kenya Nuclear Electricity Board which was established in 2012.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Korea-gears-up-for-advanced-reactor-development

South Korea's Ministry of Science & ICT (MSIT) has signed a memorandum of understanding with eight Korean companies to cooperate on the development of next-generation nuclear reactors.

"While nuclear power is emerging as a core strategic technology due to the global climate crisis and reorganisation of the energy supply chain, competition for next-generation nuclear reactors such as small modular reactors (SMRs) and non-light water reactors is intensifying worldwide as market demand for nuclear power generation diversifies," the ministry said. "Accordingly, the government has been actively promoting the securing of core technologies for the development of next-generation nuclear reactors, but in order to flexibly respond to rapidly changing market demand and successfully utilise the results of research and development so far, active participation and investment from the private sector is also necessary."

A ceremony was held on 20 March in Seoul to mark the signing of the MoU between MSIT and the eight private companies: Century, Daewoo Engineering & Construction, Doosan Energy, HD Korea Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, Hyundai Engineering, Hyundai Engineering & Construction, POSCO E&C and Samsung Heavy Industries.

The ministry said the MoU is expected to serve as a foundation for disseminating the results accumulated through government-led research and development to the private sector and promoting private-led technology development, demonstration and commercialisation.

Through the MoU, the government and companies have confirmed their commitment to developing next-generation nuclear reactors, including the Korean-designed SMART SMR, molten salt reactors, high-temperature gas reactors and sodium-cooled fast reactors. They have also agreed to continue close cooperation for joint technology development, technology transfer, acquisition of licences, and human resource training. A public-private consultative body is also expected to be operated to efficiently implement the MoU.

"In order to become a global leader in the nuclear energy market, which is rapidly being reorganised centring on next-generation nuclear reactors, the role of private companies that can respond quickly and flexibly is paramount," said First Vice Minister of Science and ICT Lee Chang-yoon.

"Based on the public-private cooperation MoU, we will spare no effort in providing the necessary support for our companies to develop into top-tier next-generation nuclear reactor companies, such as transferring technology owned by government-funded research institutes, supporting licensing, and establishing a research association.”

President Yoon Suk-yeol, who took office in May 2022, vowed to reverse former President Moon Jae-in's policy of phasing out nuclear power, a policy which was brought in after he assumed office in 2017, and followed the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi accident in Japan.

In July 2022, the South Korean government laid out a new energy policy that aims to maintain nuclear's share of the country's energy mix at a minimum of 30% by 2030. It also calls for the construction of units 3 and 4 at the Shin Hanul nuclear power plant to resume after design work was suspended in 2017 due to uncertainties about government policy on the construction of new reactors.

The new policy also aims to strengthen exports of new energy industries and "capitalise on them as growth engines". It sets the goal of exporting 10 nuclear power plants by 2030, as well as the development of a Korean SMR design.

The following month, the Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy signed an MoU with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, Doosan Enerbility and nuclear energy equipment and materials manufacturers with the aim of revitalising South Korea's nuclear industry. The MoU aims to improve the competitiveness of the nuclear industry ecosystem through shared growth, working together to contribute to carbon neutrality, responding to the energy crisis and stabilisation of power supply.

Collaboration could include use of silicon-carbide cladding for reactors.

The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (Enec) has signed an agreement with US-based nuclear technology company General Atomics (GA) to explore opportunities to cooperate on the use of advanced technologies and materials for nuclear energy supply.

Enec said in a statement that as part of the agreement Enec and GA Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) will investigate the potential for collaboration, including the use of GA-EMS’ SiGA silicon-carbide cladding for nuclear reactor applications and Fast Modular Reactor (FMR) designs.

Silicon carbide cladding is intended to improve the safety and affordability of existing light-water reactors while minimising outage time, said the statement.

According to GA, its silicon-carbide cladding can withstand temperatures of 1,700°C, more than twice that sustained by metal cladding used in current reactor cores.

The innovative fuel rods are expected to be commercially deployed in the mid-2020s.The SiGa fuel cladding is to be used for the 50-MW high-temperature helium-cooled GA-EMS FMR design which is targeted for demonstration in the early 2030s and has received development support from the US government.

Enec said it is looking for ways to grow the United Arab Emirates’ nuclear energy sector drawing on its experience of deploying four South Korean APR1400 pressurised water reactor units at the Barakah nuclear power station.

The company said it is evaluating various projects, from large nuclear reactors to smaller ones, intended to generate clean energy, including electricity, heat, and hydrogen.

Enec said it is now “well positioned” to use its knowledge in building big nuclear plants and looks to expand into new ventures in the UAE and overseas “to lead the reemergence of new nuclear projects globally.”

“We look forward to working with General Atomics to identify areas of potential collaboration to drive progress within the international nuclear energy industry,” said Mohamed Al Hammadi, chief executive officer of Enec.

European Commission president calls for discipline from sector and outlines key tasks ahead.

The future of the nuclear power industry is “hardly assured” and key tasks lie ahead if the sector is to make a substantial contribution to climate neutrality objectives, including the main one of securing new investments, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has said.

In a speech to the inaugural Nuclear Energy Summit in Brussels in which she backed nuclear and outlined the role in can play in the energy transition, Von der Leyen said the reality today in most markets is “a slow but steady decline in nuclear’s market share”.

She said nuclear accounts for 9% of the world’s electricity mix, down from 18% in 1988.

In the EU, nuclear power is still the largest single source of electricity generation with a 22% share, she said, but that share is substantially below the levels reached in the 1990s, when nuclear power generated one-third of Europe's electricity.

“Key tasks lie ahead if nuclear is to make a substantial contribution to climate neutrality objectives,” Von der Leyen told the summit, co-hosted by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Belgian prime minister Alexander de Croo,.

“The main one is to secure new investments. Support is needed from governments to ensure that financing is available and that nuclear’s contribution to electricity security is properly valued and remunerated.”

Her comments came as world leaders at the summit adopted a declaration that promised efforts to unlock the full potential of nuclear energy including access to competitive financing for lifetime extensions, new nuclear plants and the early deployment of advanced reactors, including small modular reactors (SMRs) worldwide.

‘A Lot Of Work To Do’ On Financing

IAEA director-general Rafael Grossi told NucNet at the 21 March summit that there is “a lot of work to do” with markets on financing.

“We need to facilitate access to nuclear energy for those lagging behind, we have a lot of work to do on financing internationally and nationally,” he said.

The IAEA has said that although they have relatively low and stable operating costs, nuclear power plant projects can be a challenge, considering that capital costs are high and usually combined with very large project sizes. This means that the scale of financing required for even a single project is substantial.

The IAEA said the financing of nuclear power projects has become more challenging in the last three decades with nuclear operators exposed to price and demand risk, which increases the overall risk of new projects and the difficulty of obtaining financing.

“To encourage nuclear development despite these difficulties, innovative approaches to financing and support policies are being pursued, including partial investment or loan guarantees from the government,” the IAEA said.

Von der Leyen called for discipline from the nuclear power industry, saying the future of nuclear depends on its ability to deliver on time and on budget.

“Far too often, the realisation of nuclear power plants has resulted in significant additional costs and overruns,” she said.

Another task is to look at new opportunities for nuclear such as providing decarbonised heat or clean hydrogen. These can help cut emissions from industry, which will be critical to reaching climate goals.

Von der Leyen backed life extensions for existing nuclear plants. She said countries need to consider their options carefully before they forego a readily available source of low emission electricity.

“The final task is to innovate,” Von der Leyen said. “Innovation in nuclear technologies is a very dynamic space, particularly for nuclear power technologies such as small modular reactors.”

She said: “Small modular reactors are a promising technology and there is a race underway. The race is among leading countries and companies to prove this technology and bring it to the market.”

‘Let’s Go For It’ On Small Modular Reactors

According to Von der Leyen, more than 80 SMR projects around the world are moving forward and several EU member states have expressed a strong interest in SMRs. “So, let's go for it,” she said.

Voon der Leyen told the summit “I am here because I believe that in countries that are open to the technology, nuclear technology can play an important role in the clean energy transition”.

She said that after the global energy crisis caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, many countries are looking again at the potential role that nuclear might play.

This is because nuclear power worldwide is the second largest source of low-emission electricity after hydropower and to safeguard energy security, countries are looking to reduce their dependence on imported fossil fuels.

Nuclear also helps ensure competitiveness, Von der Leyen said. “Nuclear power can provide a reliable anchor for electricity prices.”

This renewed interest comes at a pivotal moment. “Most pathways to net zero keep a place open for nuclear power,” she said. “And if I look at the International Energy Agency’s 2050 scenario, for example, nuclear power, nuclear capacity has more than to double till 2050, while renewables, of course, take the most of the work of decarbonising global electricity supply.”

She said European Commission projections show that renewable energy sources complemented by nuclear energy will be the backbone of the EU power production by 2050.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/ERA-applies-to-renew-Jabiluka-lease

Energy Resources of Australia Limited says it has lodged an application to renew the lease in Australia's Northern Territory but says it has no plans to develop the high-grade uranium deposit. The deposit's Mirarr Traditional Owners have said they oppose both the renewal and development of the lease, which is surrounded by the World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park.

Energy Resources of Australia Limited (ERA) has a long-term care and maintenance agreement with the Mirarr Traditional Owners that includes a veto over development of Jabiluka unless approved by the Mirarr. Renewing the lease - which is due to expire in August - extends this arrangement and is the best way to preserve this veto, and Jabiluka's cultural heritage, CEO Brad Welsh said.

"ERA has protected the cultural heritage at Jabiluka for almost two decades under a long-term agreement with the Mirarr Traditional Owners that also includes a veto right over any future development. The agreement and veto right only remain in place if the lease is renewed," Welsh said.

The Jabiluka uranium deposit was discovered in the early 1970s and, with resources of more than 130,000 tU3O8 (110,240 tU), is one of the world's largest high-grade uranium deposits. Jabiluka is also a site of international cultural heritage significance, containing extensive rock art galleries of World Heritage significance as well as sacred sites and the archaeological site of the oldest known human occupation in Australia.

A mining lease was granted in 1982. ERA purchased the Jabiluka lease from Pancontinental in 1991, and some development work began with the construction of an access decline excavation around the orebody, but mining was subsequently deferred and in 2005, the Mirarr and ERA formally agreed that mining may only proceed with the written consent of the Mirarr Traditional Owners.

ERA Independent Non-Executive Director and former Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister Ken Wyatt said the application for the lease renewal protects the rights of the Mirarr to control the future of the site. "The best way to preserve the veto right is to renew the MLN1Jabiluka lease," he added.

The Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation, which represents the Mirarr Traditional Owners, has publicly expressed its intention to oppose both the renewal and development of the Jabiluka Mineral Lease, and say the Traditional Owners "remain concerned about ERA's capacity to deliver on their commitments in Kakadu National Park": the company is currently rehabilitating the former Ranger uranium mine after more than 35 years of uranium production operations came to an end in January 2021, and recently said it will need to raise further funds this year to cover the work.

"ERA's announcement today that it has applied for an extension of the Jabiluka Mineral Lease does nothing to improve the Mirarr's confidence in the mining company or its capacity to clean up properly at the former uranium mining site at Ranger," the corporation said.

CEO of the Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation Thalia van den Boogaard said the Mirarr Traditional Owners would now seek formal protection of Jabiluka's cultural heritage and called on the Australian and Northern Territory governments as well as ERA to support this. "We've heard very encouraging words from this company when they assured us Ranger would be cleaned up by January 2026 and look how wrong that turned out to be. We don't doubt their sincerity, but we gravely doubt their capacity," she said.

ERA is majority owned by Rio Tinto.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Canadian-township-signs-potential-repository-hosti

The agreement between the Township of Ignace and Canada's Nuclear Waste Management Organization outlines the community's role and potential benefits, and is the next step in the ongoing process to select a site for a repository for the nation's used nuclear fuel.

The Ignace Council unanimously passed a resolution on 18 March to allow Mayor Kim Baigrie to sign the potential hosting agreement for the Deep Geologic Repository (DGR) with the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO).

"We are proudly the first community in this willingness process to be out of the gate with NWMO by signing this historic agreement for the Township of Ignace," Baigrie said. "We certainly understand that the signing of this agreement does not mean that we are going to host a DGR or that we have decided as a community on our willingness to host a DGR. What it means is that we now have an accurate, clear, concise and signed agreement with NWMO of the economic and social components that we must consider as we decide to move forward on willingness."

The agreement is the "next logical step" in the process of staying engaged and advancing the willingness process.

The agreement will allow the Township to facilitate the DGR by building capacities to enable it to undertake tasks that will be assigned to it through the regulatory process to host the project. The new agreement is similar to, and will replace, the current Multi-Year Funding Agreement between the Township and NWMO but will provide more direct benefits to the community through the complete life cycle of the DGR project, the council said.

The NWMO launched the process to select a suitable site for the DGR for Canada's used nuclear fuel in 2010. The selected site must have the support of "informed and willing" hosts, and some 22 communities expressed interest in taking part in the process. In 2020, the NWMO announced that it had narrowed down the potential host site to two areas: the Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation (WLON)-Ignace area; and the Saugeen Ojibway Nation-South Bruce area. Both are in Ontario.

The council said it expects to make a final decision "in mid-2024". It noted that the Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation "will also have its own willingness process and the Township of Ignace respects that their decision will also be required to proceed".

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Industry-ready-to-help-deliver-governmental-nuclea

Alongside the declaration adopted by governments at the inaugural Nuclear Energy Summit, held in Brussels on 21 March, global nuclear industry associations have set out the industry's commitment to supporting government objectives to expand nuclear energy capacity worldwide to achieve climate and energy security goals.

The Nuclear Energy Summit - hosted by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Belgium government - is the highest-level meeting to date exclusively focused on nuclear energy, bringing together heads of state and ministers from around 30 countries, as well as industry leaders and other stakeholders.

This event builds on the unprecedented support shown for nuclear energy at COP28 in Dubai, where governments and the nuclear industry pledged to triple global nuclear energy capacity by 2050, and nuclear energy was included in the first global stocktake (the process for countries and stakeholders to chart progress towards meeting the goals of the 2015 Paris Agreement).

The full text of the industry statement - jointly issued by the Canadian Nuclear Association, the Japan Atomic Industrial Forum, the Korea Atomic Industrial Forum, the USA's Nuclear Energy Institute, Nucleareurope, the UK's Nuclear Industry Association and World Nuclear Association - is as follows:

"We applaud the convening of the first ever summit of heads of state on nuclear energy by the Prime Minister of Belgium and the Director General of the IAEA, and we welcome the commitment of the national leaders assembled to the development and deployment of nuclear energy to fight climate change, provide energy security, and drive sustainable economic development. We stand ready to work alongside governments to deliver the required nuclear capacity to meet the challenges ahead of us.

Nuclear energy makes a unique and irreplaceable contribution to our global energy needs with:

• Always-on, clean, reliable, and affordable energy for electricity production and to decarbonise hard to abate sectors to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement.
• Low-carbon electricity with a high energy density on a compact footprint, thereby reducing habitat and biodiversity loss.
• Long asset life to ensure clean energy production for decades to come, thereby reducing utilization of critical minerals.
• High-quality long-term jobs that drive economic growth.
• Energy security against geopolitical, economic, and social challenges.

We note the unprecedented support shown at COP28 for nuclear energy through government and industry declarations to triple nuclear energy worldwide by 2050 and nuclear energy's inclusion in the first global stocktake. This expansion is necessary to achieve climate and energy security goals and will require substantial investments across industry in new projects, new capabilities, and a new skilled workforce.

The global nuclear industry is committed to supporting these objectives through the continued operation of the existing nuclear energy facilities and construction of new facilities, as well as the development of infrastructure and related technologies.

However, for industry to do its part to deliver on these ambitions, governments must:

• Establish the right conditions through consistent and coherent long-term policies that facilitate fleet deployment of nuclear technologies,
• Provide clarity to investors on the funding and investment recovery mechanisms available for nuclear projects,
• Ensure ready access to national and international climate finance mechanisms for nuclear development,
• Ensure that multilateral financial institutions include nuclear energy in their investment portfolios, and
• Clearly and unambiguously label nuclear energy and the associated fuel cycle as a sustainable investment.
• Promote development of the supply chain commensurate with expansion targets and continue investment in nuclear research.

A robust and durable policy framework provides the best possible blueprint for de-risking investments in nuclear energy, reducing costs and accelerating deployment. With this certainty, the nuclear industry can invest in the people, capability and infrastructure needed to execute the ambitious target set out by the governments present today.

The industry stands ready to work in close partnership with governments to unlock the potential of nuclear energy and innovation, while ensuring nuclear safety and security, through commercially driven expansion, and realise the full potential of nuclear technology for our economies, our societies, and our planet.

This is the time to turn plans into action and seize the historic opportunity before us."

Speaking from the event, World Nuclear Association Director General Sama Bilbao y León, said: "This meeting builds upon the good work at COP28, where we saw 25 governments come together and pledge a tripling of global nuclear capacity.

"Today, we welcome the commitment of the national leaders here in Brussels and from around the world, that are shaping energy and industrial policies to accelerate the development and deployment of nuclear energy – as a vital tool for decarbonisation and energy security, but also as a driver for human progress and sustainable economic development. As an industry we are here ready to meet the challenge and turn policies into projects to deliver the necessary nuclear energy expansion."

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Leaders-back-nuclear-at-summit

Leaders and representatives from 32 countries at the Nuclear Energy Summit backed measures in areas such as financing, technological innovation, regulatory cooperation and workforce training to enable the expansion of nuclear capacity to tackle climate change and boost energy security.

The summit of nuclear-backing countries was jointly organised by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Belgium, where it was held. In his opening remarks, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi noted that it had taken 70 years since US President Eisenhower's Atoms for Peace United Nations speech for the first nuclear energy summit at the level of national leaders to be held.

He said that with the need for clean energy, "this is a global effort, the world needs us to get our act together" and ensure that international financial institutions can finance nuclear and increase nuclear energy capacity "in a safe, secure and non-proliferation way". He said "COP28 made it clear: to be pro-environment is to be pro-nuclear" and the summit "shows the nuclear taboo is over, starting a new chapter for nuclear commitment".

Belgium's Prime Minister Alexander de Croo noted his country's change of policy - from closing nuclear plants to extending operation - and said it was increasingly recognised that nuclear had to be part of the mix, with renewables, if the net-zero goals were going to be met.

In a series of speeches from the leaders attending, the need for energy security and carbon-free energy was frequently referenced, with International Energy Agency Director Fatih Birol saying that "without the support of nuclear power, we have no chance to reach our climate targets on time".

Extracts from the summit declaration

"We, the leaders of countries operating nuclear power plants, or expanding or embarking on or exploring the option of nuclear power ... reaffirm our strong commitment to nuclear energy as a key component of our global strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from both power and industrial sectors, ensure energy security, enhance energy resilience, and promote long-term sustainable development and clean energy transition.

"We are determined to do our utmost to fulfil this commitment through our active and direct engagement, in particular by enhancing cooperation with countries that opt to develop civil nuclear capacities in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in a nationally determined manner, including for transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems, in a just, orderly and equitable manner, accelerating action in this critical decade, so as to achieve net-zero by mid-21st century in keeping with the science, as outlined in the First Global Stocktake of the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference."

The declaration adds: "We commit to work to fully unlock the potential of nuclear energy by taking measures such as enabling conditions to support and competitively finance the lifetime extension of existing nuclear reactors, the construction of new nuclear power plants and the early deployment of advanced reactors, including small modular reactors, worldwide while maintaining the highest levels of safety and security, in accordance with respective national regulations and circumstances. In this drive for more clean energy and innovation, we commit to support all countries, especially emerging nuclear ones, in their capacities and efforts to add nuclear energy to their energy mixes consistent with their different national needs, priorities, pathways, and approaches and create a more open, fair, balanced and inclusive environment for their development of nuclear energy, including its non-electrical applications, and to continue effectively implementing safeguards, consistent with Member States’ national legislation and respective international obligations.

"We are committed to continuing our drive for technological innovation, further improving the operational performance, safety and economics of nuclear power plants, enhancing the resilience and security of global nuclear energy industrial and supply chains. We reaffirm our commitment to ensuring safe, secure and sustainable spent nuclear fuel management, radioactive waste management and disposal, in particular deep geological disposal, and decommissioning, including decommissioning by design. We call for an intensified collective effort on ensuring the security of energy supply and resilience of individual, regional, and multinational clean energy resources.

"We are committed to creating a fair and open global market environment for nuclear power development to promote exchanges and cooperation among countries. We encourage nuclear regulators to enhance cooperation to enable timely deployment of advanced reactors, including small modular reactors. We emphasise the value of coordinated cooperation in nuclear fuel supply, nuclear power equipment manufacturing and resource security to ensure the stability of the nuclear energy industrial and supply chains."

"We support enhancing efforts to facilitate mobilisation of public investments, where appropriate, and private investments towards additional nuclear power projects. We emphasise that concrete measures in support of nuclear energy may include, as appropriate, tools such as direct public financing, guarantees to debt and equity providers, schemes to share revenue and pricing risks. We call for greater inclusion of nuclear energy in the Environmental, Social, and Governance policies in the international financial system ... we invite multinational development banks, international financial institutions and regional bodies that have the mandate to do so to consider strengthening their support for financing nuclear energy projects and to support the establishment of a financial level playing field for all zero emission sources of energy generation."

"To ensure the future availability of skilled nuclear sector professionals, we need to contribute further to nuclear education and research, and we consider of the utmost importance to train and retain a large and motivated workforce. Investment in skills, including re-skilling, through education and research is critical for the sector through the whole value chain."

What leaders said

The leaders and representatives of the countries attending the summit each gave short speeches. Here are some of the messages those attending heard.

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, noted there were different views on nuclear within the European Union, and said the future was not assured for nuclear, citing a falling share of electricity generation in the EU since the 1990s. But she said it should play a crucial role given the urgency of tackling the climate challenge. She added that, assuming safety was assured, countries thinking of closing their existing nuclear power plants rather than extending their lifetimes should "consider their options carefully before foregoing a readily available source of low-emission electricity". She also urged innovation, noting a global "race" involving countries and companies backing small modular reactors, saying "let's go for it".

Romania's President Klaus Iohannis said the country was determined to develop its nuclear energy programme with both large scale and small modular reactors and to become a regional leader, while Bulgaria's Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov noted his country's 50 years of experience in nuclear energy and said investment in new nuclear was a cornerstone for its future plans.

Serbia's President Aleksandar Vučić congratulated the organisers for holding a summit which was "much more important than many meetings and gatherings bureaucratically organised just to see each other and not to do things". He said his country wanted to build three or four small modular reactors and would like to get the know-how to do so and also have support for finding a way to finance them - "as much help as possible".

The Chinese President's Special Envoy Vice Premier Zhong Guoqing, said China had 55 nuclear energy units in operation with 36 under construction and was assisting many other countries, all contributing to tackling global climate change. He said that it was a global issue, and said it was crucial to double down on safety and security and also "to oppose politicisation of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy".

Croatia's Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said nuclear energy was crucial to achieve the net-zero goal and called for new nuclear financing to come from the European Investment Bank and other similar organisations, while Czech Republic Prime Minister Petr Fiala noted the benefits of long-term operation of existing plants for energy security, costs and climate targets and said "international cooperation will bring all of us bigger benefits".

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban said nuclear was the only way of generating electricity which was cheap, safe, sustainable and reliable. His country has continued with its plans for the Russian-built Paks II nuclear power plant project and noted that companies from a number of countries in Europe, and the USA, were involved in the project. He said it was in everyone's interests to "prevent nuclear energy" becoming a "hostage of geopolitical hypocrisy and ideological debate".

FInland's Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said his country's next steps for nuclear included district heating, hydrogen production and a deep geological disposal site for radioactive waste, while the Netherlands' Prime Minister Mark Rutte said that for many years people had reservations about nuclear but views have changed, with the war in Ukraine "acting as an accelerator ... never before has it been so obvious that for the transition to succeed we need every source".

Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico said his government was planning to construct 1200 MW of new capacity and would be inviting the world's companies to bid for the contracts. Slovenia's Prime Minister Robert Golob said public support for nuclear energy in his country was now above 65% - "it has never been higher". He said that financing was needed from multilateral banks at affordable rates, and also investment was needed in a new skilled workforce. He said global warming was the biggest threat and "we need to act immediately".

French President Emmanuel Macron, whose country has large-scale nuclear expansion plans, welcomed the alliance for new nuclear, saying nuclear energy was the only way to reconcile the need to reduce emissions, create jobs and boost energy security. He added that many countries wanted to electrify mobility "but if the electricity is produced by fossil fuels it is a stupid move". He said there was a need to combine improving energy efficiency, and increase renewables as well as new nuclear.

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar said nuclear was prioritised within the country's power and climate change policy areas. He also said small modular reactors hold the promise of bringing nuclear energy to remote or hard to reach areas.

Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the Akkuyu nuclear power plant would meet 10% of the country's electricity demand when completed and the plan is for more large plants and SMRs. He also backed IAEA efforts to stop an accident happening at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. For Japan, Masahiro Komura, Parliamentary vice minister for foreign affairs, said it was essential to introduce clean energy to the greatest possible extent and to devise strategies to get more investment to enhance the use of nuclear energy.

For the USA, John Podesta Senior Advisor to the President for Clean Energy, Innovation and Implementation, said the summit was a 21st Century update for the Atoms for Peace vision, and referenced the commitment by countries at COP28 to triple nuclear energy capacity by 2050, which he said means 200 GW of new nuclear capacity in the USA. He said a start had already been made and added that the country would also aim to help tackle the climate crisis by helping other countries across the world "build safe, secure, reliable, nuclear power".

Which countries signed the declaration

Argentina, Armenia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Finland, France, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Sweden, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, UK, and the USA.

Industry support for the summit

A number of industry representative groups issued a joint statement in which they welcomed the outcome of the summit, and "the commitment of the national leaders assembled to the development and deployment of nuclear energy to fight climate change, provide energy security, and drive sustainable economic development. We stand ready to work alongside governments to deliver the required nuclear capacity to meet the challenges ahead of us".

The statement from the groups - World Nuclear Association, Canadian Nuclear Association, Japan Atomic Industrial Forum, Korea Atomic Industrial Forum, Nuclear Energy Institute, Nucleareurope, and Nuclear Industry Association - said that industry needed governments to provide long-term policies and clarity for potential investors, as well as ensuring ready access to national and international climate finance mechanisms for nuclear deployment, and "promote development of the supply chain commensurate with expansion targets and continue investment in nuclear research".

World Nuclear Association Director General Sama Bilbao y León, said: “This meeting builds upon the good work at COP28, where we saw 25 governments come together and pledge a tripling of global nuclear capacity. As an industry we are here ready to meet the challenge and turn policies into projects to deliver the necessary nuclear energy expansion.”

What happens next?

A number of speakers at the event looked forward to similar future summits to continue to drive forward the initiative. De Croo and Grossi both said that the next summit would not necessarily need to be held in Belgium, and said it was unlikely to be an annual event, but the summit declaration concluded by saying: "We welcome and support the IAEA in convening, in cooperation with a Member State, another Nuclear Energy Summit in due course to maintain the momentum and continue building support for nuclear energy to decarbonise our world."

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Google,-Microsoft-and-Nucor-team-up-on-clean-energ

North American steel manufacturer Nucor Corporation and US tech giants Google and Microsoft Corporation are to work together across the electricity ecosystem to develop new business models and aggregate their demand for advanced clean electricity technologies, including advanced nuclear.

These models, they say, will be designed to accelerate the development of first-of-a-kind and early commercial projects, including advanced nuclear, next-generation geothermal, clean hydrogen, long-duration energy storage and others.

As a first step, the companies will issue a Request for Information in several US regions for potential projects in need of offtake, and encourage technology providers, developers, investors, utilities and others to get involved.

By developing new commercial structures and aggregating demand from three of the world's largest energy buyers, this approach aims to reduce the risks for utilities and developers considering early commercial projects and enable the investments that are needed - ultimately helping to bring these projects online by the early 2030s and reducing technology costs through repeated deployment.

The companies will initially focus on proving out the demand aggregation and procurement model through advanced technology pilot projects in the USA. The companies will pilot a project delivery framework focused on three enabling levers for early commercial projects: signing offtake agreements for technologies that are still early on the cost curve; bringing a clear customer voice to policymakers and other stakeholders on broader long-term ecosystem improvements; and developing new enabling tariff structures in partnership with energy providers and utilities.

In addition to supporting innovative technologies that can help decarbonise electricity systems worldwide, the partners say this demand aggregation model will bring clear benefits to large energy buyers. Pooling demand enables buyers to offtake larger volumes of carbon-free electricity from a portfolio of plants, reducing project-specific development risk, and enables procurement efficiencies and shared learnings.

To ensure that the project delivery framework that they develop is transparent and scalable, Google, Microsoft and Nucor will share their lessons learned and the roadmap from their first pilot projects, and encourage other companies to consider how they can also support advanced clean electricity projects.

In May last year, Nucor signed a memorandum of understanding with NuScale Power to explore the deployment of NuScale's VOYGR small modular nuclear reactor (SMR) power plants at Nucor's scrap-based Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) steel mills. In addition, NuScale is studying the feasibility of siting a manufacturing facility for NuScale Power Modules near a Nucor facility. In April 2022, Nucor - with operating facilities in the USA, Canada and Mexico - committed to a USD15 million private investment in public equity in NuScale Power.

In 2022, Constellation Energy announced it was collaborating with Microsoft on the development of an energy matching technology using real-time, data-driven carbon accounting solution and hour-by-hour regional tracking to match customer needs with local carbon-free energy sources. Last year, Microsoft agreed a new hourly energy-matching agreement with Constellation that harnesses the environmental attributes of nuclear to put the data centre in Boydton, Virginia "very close" to the goal of 100% carbon-free operation.

Microsoft has also signed an agreement with fusion energy developer Helion Energy for the provision of electricity from its first fusion power plant.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Canadian-partnership-for-microreactor-deployment

Prodigy Clean Energy and Des Nëdhé Group - an Indigenous Economic Development Corporation - have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop opportunities to power remote mines and communities in Canada using Prodigy microreactor Transportable Nuclear Power Plants.

Under the memorandum of understanding (MoU), Prodigy and Des Nëdhé will explore potential Transportable Nuclear Power Plant (TNPPs) projects, and engage with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis across Canada, identifying ways in which Indigenous Peoples could have ownership in TNPP new builds, and how an Indigenous workforce could take a leading role in TNPP commercialisation and strategic infrastructure development.

"This collaboration represents a significant step forward in increasing opportunities for economic reconciliation, and expanding Indigenous leadership in Canada's clean energy transition," Prodigy said.

According to Prodigy, "The potential for innovation and growth in the North is limitless. Boasting nearly 40% of Canada's land mass, thousands of kilometres of rugged coastline and meandering rivers, vast reserves of metals and minerals, rich Indigenous culture and traditions, and some of the best spots in the world to watch the Northern lights, remote regions of Canada and the North are ripe for economic development."

However, it added: "‍The missing piece needed to actualise Northern industrial growth is abundant supply of clean and affordable energy ... Poor energy infrastructure and subsequent limited access to essential services and resources have created a cycle of disenfranchisement for generations - and more recently, climate-affected changes to the environment increasingly threaten Indigenous cultural traditions and opportunities for sustainable local economies."

Montreal-based Prodigy said that deploying microreactor TNPPs will "not only revolutionise the Northern energy landscape, but also catalyse economic reconciliation by supplanting historic reliance on diesel."

The Prodigy Microreactor Power Station TNPP, which can integrate different types of microreactors, would be manufactured, outfitted, and partially commissioned in a shipyard, then transported to site for installation either on land or in a marine (shoreside) setting. Prodigy is collaborating with Westinghouse to develop a TNPP outfitted with the Westinghouse eVinci microreactor.

The eVinci microreactor is described as a "small battery" for decentralised generation markets and for microgrids, such as remote communities, remote industrial mines and critical infrastructure. The nominal 5 MWe heat pipe reactor, which has a heat capability of 14 MWt, features a design that Westinghouse says provides competitive and resilient power as well as superior reliability with minimal maintenance. The Prodigy Microreactor Power Station can integrate a single or multiple eVinci microreactors.

Mathias Trojer, president and CEO of Prodigy Clean Energy, said: "Prodigy's microreactor TNPP offers a near-term solution to transition remote locations off of diesel. Meeting Indigenous Peoples' requirements for TNPP design and energy delivery, and ensuring maximal participation of Indigenous groups as part of our technology development and commercialisation programmes, are cornerstone to our success. We are privileged to partner with Des Nëdhé to put these objectives into action."

"Ensuring a secure, carbon-free, and affordable electricity and heat supply for all of Canada is crucial, and SMRs will play a significant role," said Sean Willy, Des Nëdhé Group president and CEO. "Des Nëdhé is proud to partner with Prodigy, as their TNPP technologies address many of the upfront concerns that Indigenous groups have when considering a potential SMR project. This includes minimising the environmental impact and reducing the project life cycle complexity and cost, when compared to a traditional site-constructed SMR. The end use opportunity for TNPPs across remote industrial and residential power in Canada is very significant."