Nuclear Energy

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/First-Light-Fusion-hails-success-of-initial-test-i

The UK's First Light Fusion has become the first private fusion company to conduct an experiment on the Sandia National Laboratories 'Z Machine' in New Mexico USA. The experiment set a new pressure record for quartz.

Nuclear fusion is the process by which two light nuclei combine to form a single heavier nucleus, releasing a large amount of energy. First Light is pursuing a form of inertial confinement fusion called projectile fusion, which creates the extreme temperatures and pressures required to achieve fusion by compressing a target containing fusion fuel using a projectile travelling at a tremendous speed. This differs from approaches pursued by other mainstream fusion companies in that it does not involve using complex, energy-intensive, expensive lasers, or magnets.

Oxford-based First Light leveraged the vast power of Sandia's Z Machine for the first time last month to fire a projectile at its unique amplifier technology.

The Z Machine is the most powerful pulsed power facility in the world. With a peak power of 80 trillion watts, it electromagnetically launches projectiles to higher velocities than any other facility in the world. These are used to impact samples of material, testing their properties at extreme pressures.

Funded by the US Department of Energy, Sandia allows the Z Machine to be used for multiple high-energy density research fields in stockpile stewardship science and other forms of energy generation. It fires around 200 shots per year.

First Light - which has been granted three 'shots' on the Z Machine - is focusing on exploring the limits of its unique amplifier technology. Access to the Z Machine allows First Light access to pressure regimes that simply are not possible anywhere else in the world, including on its own pulsed power machine, Machine 3, one the largest machines of its kind in Europe.

First Light's successful first experiment set a new pressure record for quartz at Sandia's facility, raising it from 1.5 terapascal (TPa) to 1.85 TPa, while also maintaining the sample conditions required for high precision measurements.

The company said the test proved its target technology works across driver platforms and specifically on the most powerful pulsed power machine in the world. This, it said, validates that the core technology scales in line with simulations and highlights the experimental capability of First Light's team.

It plans to fire its next shot on the Z Machine at the end of this year.

"We are delighted to report that our first shot on the Z Machine was a resounding success - breaking the pressure record for the facility and further validating the value of First Light's unique amplifier technology," said Nick Hawker, founder and CEO of First Light Fusion. "Our ongoing partnership with Sandia and access to its state-of-the-art Z Machine enables us to test our unique amplifier technology at pressures we can't access anywhere else in the world.

"Testing at higher pressures is incredibly important as we seek to push the limits of what our amplifiers can do. We look forward to breaking the pressure record again later this year."

Daniel Sinars, director Sandia's Pulsed Power Sciences Center, added: "These joint experiments were conducted as part of Sandia's Z Fundamental Science Program, which permits potential academic and industry collaborators to propose basic science experiments on the Z Machine. Proposals undergo a competitive review process involving non-Sandia referees and we typically award about 14 shots annually.

"This proposal was intended to advance our knowledge of the response of quartz at high pressures, which is important because quartz is a standard window material used on many materials experiments on Z, NIF, and Omega. Getting a successful result on this first-ever experiment is a testament to the joint team's excellent experimental design and careful attention to its execution. Continued success along these lines could lead to new platforms for stockpile stewardship materials experiments on Z."

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/BN-600-reactor-at-Beloyarsk-aims-to-get-new-life-e

Rosenergoatom is to seek approval to extend the life of the BN-600 fast neutron reactor following an inspection of the condition of the reactor vessel, heat exchanger supports and other equipment.

Russian nuclear regulator Rostekhnadzor extended the operating licence for the fast reactor - unit 3 of the Beloyarsk nuclear power plant in the Sverdlovsk district - by a further five years in 2020. The unit began operating in 1981 and a large-scale modernisation programme had been under way from 2009 before the first extension. At the time, in 2020, Rosenergoatom said further investment work would be completed by 2024 to allow for a licence extension to 2040.

It has since completed a number of important upgrades to the safety of buildings, structures, and systems, including replacement of steam generator modules and pumping units and the aim is to submit documents to Rostekhnadzor this month, with an expectation of them being checked within a year and a decision made about a new licence.

Rosenergoatom Director General Alexander Shutikov said: "Power unit No.3 is strategically important for us. It tests technical solutions for future fast reactors - we irradiate fuel elements there both for the BREST-OD-300 reactor plant (a fast reactor with lead coolant, which is currently being built in Seversk), and for the BN-1200, which is planned to be introduced at the Beloyarsk nuclear power plant."

Director of the Beloyarsk plant, Ivan Sidorov, said that in the next two scheduled maintenance rounds "we will replace the remaining steam generator modules and feed pumps, and modernise the diesel generator sets. This work will allow us to safely and efficiently generate electricity for the residents of the Sverdlovsk region for many years".

Rosenergoatom, which is part of Rosatom, says that extending the life of the unit could allow the generation of an additional 60 billion kWh of electricity. The sodium-cooled BN-series fast reactors are part of Rosatom's Proryv, or 'Breakthrough', project to develop fast reactors with a closed fuel cycle whose mixed oxide (MOX) fuel will be reprocessed and recycled. In addition to the BN-600 reactor, the 789 MWe BN-800 fast neutron reactor - constructed as Beloyarsk unit 4 - entered commercial operation in October 2016. This is essentially a demonstration unit for fuel and design features for the larger BN-1200 being planned for the same plant.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Updated-study-extends-Niger-mine-life

An updated feasibility study for Global Atomic's Dasa project has more than doubled the mine life with uranium production increasing by 55%. The company has also announced its fourth offtake agreement for the mine, where processing operations are expected to begin in late 2025 or early 2026.

The Dasa Project is defined in three phases. The 2024 Feasibility Study replaces the previous Phase 1 Feasibility Study, completed in late 2021. The new study extends mine life from 12 to 23 years, and includes a 50% increase in mineral reserves - the economically mineable part of the mineral resource - to 73 million pounds U3O8 (28,079 tU). Uranium production increases by 55% to 68.1 million pounds.

The company updated the mineral resource estimate for the project in May last year, when the conversion of resources from the inferred category saw indicated resources increase 50% to 109.3 million pounds U3O8.

Global Atomic President and CEO Stephen Roman said the new study has identified "significant improvements" in the project. "The payback period estimated in the 2024 study is expected to be 2.5 years, including recovery of amounts already spent," he said, adding that these estimated returns are "conservative", with opportunities to add value. "For example, there are 51.4 million pounds of Inferred Resources grading at 5,243 ppm in the Dasa deposit that could be converted to the Indicated category and brought into the mine plan," he said. "We expect to have full project financing in place soon and are on track for plant construction to commence in the second half of 2024 and plant commissioning to occur at the end of 2025."

Underground development of the mine began in late 2022, but was suspended following a military coup in the country the following year. Global Atomic continued to open up underground ore access and development of mine infrastructure, as well as site preparation for the processing plant, during a period of sanctions against the country that followed, developing an alternate shipping route through Togo and Burkina Faso for necessary supplies. Niger's neighboring ECOWAS nations lifted sanctions on Niger on 24 February this year, including reopening Niger's historic primary trade route to ocean shipping channels through the port of Cotonou in Benin.

"The government sees the Dasa Mine as playing a significant role in revitalising the central Agadez region of Niger," the company said.

New off-take agreement

Global Atomic also said it has finalised a Letter of Intent (LOI) for the sale of uranium from Dasa to a "strategic Europe-based nuclear power utility", subject to the successful conclusion of a purchase-sale contract. The LOI is "priced close to current market prices escalating each year".

The LOI represents the supply of 260,000 pounds U3O8 over a three-year delivery window beginning in 2026, and is the fourth such agreement signed by the company. It brings the company's total current committed volume up to 9.5 million pounds U3O8, representing revenue of up to USD770 million at current market levels, Global Atomic said.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/First-uranium-shipped-from-enCore-s-Rosita-plant

EnCore Energy Corp has announced the first shipment of uranium from its Rosita Central Processing Plant in South Texas, which was returned to operation in November last year. The company also announced the signing of its fifth long-term supply contract.

The restart of the Rosita plant - which last produced yellowcake in 2008 - is the first step in enCore's South Texas in-situ leach uranium production pipeline strategy. The plant - about 60 miles from Corpus Christi, Texas - has undergone refurbishment since enCore acquired it in 2021. It has a capacity of 800,000 pounds U3O8 (308 tU) per year and is designed to process uranium feed from multiple satellite operations in the South Texas area.

EnCore said the initial shipment of uranium from the Rosita plant is expected to be delivered to a conversion facility next week. "This is followed by delivery of uranium to the utility customer under our sales contracts," enCore added.

The company has now executed its fifth commercial uranium sales contract, with a fourth US utility with deliveries between 2026 and 2032. enCore said the terms of the contract reflect the spot price at the time of delivery subject to pricing collars that ensure its revenue stream and allow for potential upside.

With this latest contract, enCore's existing commitment has increased to 4.25 million pounds U3O8 through to 2032, which it says is well under 50% of its planned production.

"This contracting will assure continuous revenue to support enCore's longer range growth plans along with steady production increases as a key component of enCore's production strategy," the company said.

In 2021, enCore announced two term supply agreements, one with UG USA and one with a US utility. In 2022, it announced a third term supply agreement with a US utility. It announced a fourth sales agreement with another US utility in February 2023.

enCore noted that three of the contracts provide the optionality to extend with an additional 1.65 million pounds U3O8 to 2032.

"To support our production pipeline and development plans, enCore has implemented a uranium sales strategy providing the company with a base level of projected income while preserving significant ability to realise opportunities in the spot market," enCore said. "This strategy assures that enCore will have committed sales to support the capital necessary for construction of new projects, while maintaining flexibility to be opportunistic as market conditions continue to change in favorable ways."

EnCore's utility contracts are all spot related with minimum floor and maximum ceiling prices that are adjusted upward annually for inflation. Minimum floor prices are set at such levels to provide the company with a comfortable margin over its expected costs of operations in Texas, while giving it participation in anticipated escalations of the price of uranium.

EnCore said it will "continue to assess opportunities to secure future term agreements that will support its continued project and production growth strategies".

"With Rosita under way, we are now moving aggressively to re-start the Alta Mesa Plant which we expect will commence production as planned in Q2/2024," said enCore CEO Paul Goranson.

Educational programmes

EnCore has also announced the launch of two programmes - the Education Society and Get the Edge from Education Scholarships - to help develop future leaders in its sector from the communities where it operates.

The Education Society is designed to provide youth with a variety of educational tools to develop future leaders in the sector by focusing on sustainable and transferable skills that benefit both the industry and communities where it operates.

The Get the Edge from Education Scholarship Programmes are designed to provide financial assistance to students who demonstrate exceptional academic achievements, leadership potential, and a commitment to making a positive impact in their communities.

The two scholarship programmes will be available to students residing in counties in proximity to enCore projects and to immediate family members of the enCore team.

"One key challenge of this industry is the age gap between the people we have now, and the people we need in the future," Goranson said. "We also see the impact we can have on our local communities who need job opportunities to keep our youth in their home communities.

"The Education Society is our way of providing educational opportunities and crucial economic growth in the communities where we operate and is our privilege to develop minds, enrich lives, and create a brighter future for our youth."

Texas company restarted operations to capitalise on rising prices.

Uranium producer Encore Energy said on Tuesday (5 March) it expects to deliver the first shipment of yellowcake from its restarted Rosita central processing plant in South Texas next week.

Yellowcake, or U3O8, is a type of uranium concentrate powder used to produce fuel for nuclear power reactors.

Encore is one of a number of mining companies that have restarted operations as the price of nuclear fuel have increased, driven by renewed interest in nuclear energy.

The Corpus Christi, Texas-based company restarted uranium production at its Rosita plant in November last year and is licensed to produce 800,000 pounds of uranium ore annually.

Uranium prices, now standing around $95/lb, have doubled from around $50/lb over the past year as top producers cut output targets as they failed to ramp up production despite reopening mothballed mines and a gap between supply and demand emerged.

Encore expects to deliver the initial shipment to a conversion facility in the week of March 11 before delivering the uranium to a utility customer under sales contracts.

The company also said it entered into a fifth commercial uranium sales contract with deliveries from 2026 to 2032.

“With Rosita underway, we are now moving aggressively to re-start the Alta Mesa Plant, which we expect will commence production as planned in Q2/2024,” said Encore chief executive officer Paul Goranson.

The company said future projects in its production pipeline include the Dewey-Burdock project in South Dakota and the Gas Hills project in Wyoming, along with significant uranium resource endowments in New Mexico.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/IAEA-s-Grossi-holds-talks-with-Rosatom-chiefs-in-S

International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi has discussed nuclear safety and security at Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He also held talks with Rosatom's director general and Russian diplomatic and military representatives.

The Russian President's media service's transcript of the opening of the meeting quotes Putin as saying Russia is an "undisputed leader" in terms of cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA): "We do not only operate, but also actively develop, the nuclear energy sector and consider it to be the environmentally-friendly kind of energy. We are doing everything to increase security at nuclear power facilities."

He added: "As you know, we are doing quite a lot of work in this regard in the international arena, and with your help and support we are implementing numerous projects in many countries around the world ... we are ready for further work in all these areas, we are grateful for your reciprocal steps to strengthen our joint work and, of course, we are ready to discuss any issues that you consider relevant. I know that you have particularly sensitive and important issues on the agenda of our meeting today, and we, of course, are ready to discuss them and do everything to ensure security at any point where we are somehow involved to nuclear energy."

He also noted a range of different Russian nuclear energy developments - including small modular reactors, a nuclear fleet and floating nuclear power plants - and said "all of this is in great demand ... and we are ready to share our developments with all our interested partners".

The published transcript of the opening remarks quote Grossi as saying "it's very important for me to be here. We first talked in St Petersburg a year and a half ago ... it seems to me that everything that has happened since then further demonstrates the timeliness of this conversation. I agree, these are very important times, there are challenges, and we will discuss these challenges".

He also posted on the social media platform X, calling it an "important exchange with the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin in Sochi, on the nuclear safety and security of #ZNPP (Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant) and other non-proliferation global challenges".

Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom said the first meeting during Grossi's visit took place with Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev, the head of nuclear regulator Rostechnadzor Alexander Trembitsky, the Permanent Representative to the international organisations in Vienna Mikhail Ulyanov and representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Russian Armed Forces and the National Guard.

A Rosatom statement said: "During the consultations, a wide range of issues was addressed, including those pertaining to prospective tracks of nuclear energy development in Russia and worldwide. The main emphasis of the talks was placed on the issues relating to ensuring nuclear safety and security of the Zaporizhzhia plant ... Alexey Likhachev outlined measures being taken by the Russian side to ensure safe operation ... he also touched upon certain aspects of interaction with the IAEA experts at the plant."

It said that Grossi had talked about his recent visit to the Zaporizhzhia plant and "the parties confirmed their agreement to continue contacts".

Grossi visited Kiev and met Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky last month, ahead of his most recent visit to the six-unit Zaporizhzhia plant, which is the largest in Europe, and which has been under Russian military control since early March 2022. It is on the frontline of Ukrainian and Russian forces. In a report to the IAEA board of governors earlier this week, Grossi said the safety and security situation at the plant remained precarious.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/UK-government-buys-Wylfa-and-Oldbury-nuclear-sites

An agreement to buy the Hitachi-owned sites for new nuclear at Wylfa in north Wales and Oldbury-on-Severn in southwest England has been reached for GBP160 million (USD203 million), Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has announced.

The two sites are expected to be prioritised for new nuclear as the UK seeks to expand nuclear energy capacity. Hunt, delivering the annual Budget speech to Parliament, said the purchase had been made "given the importance of securing nuclear sites for the success of the nuclear programme".

The UK government aims to grow nuclear energy capacity to 24 GW by 2050, with a fleet of small modular reactors (SMRs) a key part of that strategy. Last year, the government and the new Great British Nuclear arms-length body set up to help deliver that extra capacity began the selection process for which SMR technology to use. In October, EDF, GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy, Holtec, NuScale Power, Rolls Royce SMR and Westinghouse were invited to bid for UK government contracts in the next stage of the process.

Hunt said that as well as seeking a site for a new GW-scale nuclear plant, "the government is now moving to the next stage of the SMR process, with six companies invited to submit their initial tender responses by June this year". He added that "no decisions have been taken on projects".

In an interview with World Nuclear News in January, Great British Nuclear Chairman Simon Bowen said that they were looking to get access to the existing earmarked nuclear sites in the country "like Oldbury, Wylfa, Heysham, Hartlepool and the others ... those are recognised nuclear sites which we can build on at scale - the SMR programme is all about scale and getting as quickly as we can to deliver on energy security and on the journey to net-zero".

The Horizon Project was to develop two UK Advanced Boiling Water Reactor units at Wylfa Newydd with the intention to develop Hitachi's nuclear business in the UK but it decided to suspend the project in January 2019, from the viewpoint of its "economic rationality as a private company" because it was clear that further time was needed to decide on a financing structure for the project, and the conditions for building and operating the nuclear power plants.

Tom Greatrex, CEO of the UK's Nuclear Industry Association, said: "This is a pivotal moment for the future of nuclear in the UK and should mark the beginning of new projects at these sites. Wylfa is one of the very best sites for new nuclear anywhere in Europe and there is great promise for a series of SMRs at Oldbury. The success of ramping up nuclear capacity for energy security and net zero rests a great deal on whether we develop at these sites and others."

Source: https://www.neimagazine.com/news/newsbechtel-awards-first-contracts-for-polands-npp-11576533

US-based Bechtel, which is overseeing the design and construction of Poland’s first NPP alongside Westinghouse Electric Company, has awarded its first procurement contracts for the construction.

In November 2022 the Polish government selected the Westinghouse AP1000 reactor technology for construction of the plant at the Lubiatowo-Kopalino site in the Choczewo municipality. In May 2023, an agreement was signed defining a plan for delivery of the plant by Westinghouse, Bechtel and Polish utility Polskie Elektrownie Jadrowe (PEJ). Poland’s Ministry of Climate & Environment in July issued a decision-in-principle for PEJ to construct the plant. Financing for the project has yet to be arranged.

Bechtel said the selected companies represent a range of industries and include translation, logistics, and technical services, laying the foundation for enduring partnerships between Bechtel and Polish suppliers. The contracts will go to the following suppliers:

• Energoproject-Katowice (EPK), a design and engineering company that will provide services for codes and standards, environmental permitting strategy, and supporting permitting documentation.
• Prochem – a Poland-based company that will be provided opportunities for supporting documentation.
• Summa Linguae Technologies – a company that builds technology-enabled solutions to help companies with multi-lingual data challenges. Summa Linguae S.A. will support translation services.

Jared DeMeritt, Bechtel project manager, said, “Bechtel has been at the forefront of delivering nuclear power for 70 years, and one of the most important lessons we have learned is that partnerships at the local level are critical to a project’s success.”

Margaret Jackson, Bechtel’s Supply Chain Manager for the Poland nuclear project described the potential reach of the project as extraordinary. “This project paves the way for future collaborations. We look forward to securing additional partnerships with Polish suppliers to support this important work,” she said.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Team-Holtec-partners-with-British-firms-to-advance

South Korea's Hyundai Engineering & Construction, the USA's Holtec International and British construction company Balfour Beatty and engineering firm Mott McDonald have agreed to cooperate on Holtec's bid to construct a small modular reactor in the UK.

The UK government has plans to expand nuclear energy capacity to 24 GW by 2050, with a fleet of SMRs a key part of that strategy. Last year, the government and the new Great British Nuclear (GBN) arms-length body set up to help deliver that extra capacity began the selection process for which SMR technology to use. In October, EDF, GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy, Holtec, NuScale Power, Rolls Royce SMR and Westinghouse were invited to bid for UK government contracts in the next stage of the process.

"We are at the final stages now of preparing and getting the approvals for the invitation to submit an initial tender document," GBN chairman Simon Bowen told WNN in January. "This is the next stage where all six companies will engage with our contractual documentation in terms of how we think it should be structured. They'll submit the responses in their initial tender, we will then go through a process to down-select to around about four with the aim to be placing contracts later in the year."

Hyundai E&C and Holtec - referred to as Team Holtec - have now signed an agreement with Balfour Beatty and Mott McDonald to jointly participate in the UK SMR technology competition.

The agreement was signed on 5 March at the Korean Embassy in London in the presence of Korean Ambassador to the UK Yeo-cheol Yoon and John Whittingdale, Britain's special envoy for trade to Korea.

Although specific details about the agreement were not disclosed, Hyundai E&C said the partners "will seek close cooperation in submitting bids for GBN's SMR technology selection project, improving market competitiveness for the final investment selection of SMR deployment in the UK, and establishing strategic partnerships for the future deployment of the first SMR reactor".

"Based on this agreement, Hyundai E&C plans to expand the foundation for its entry into the UK SMR business and at the same time further solidify the foundation for its entry into the global SMR business based on its unrivaled technological capabilities and strong mutual trust," it added.

Balfour Beatty announced in December 2022 that it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Holtec Britain - a subsidiary of Holtec International - to support the planning advancement for the construction of Holtec's SMR-160 in the UK. Under that MoU, Balfour Beatty will act as the main UK construction partner and collaborate with Hyundai E&C on the civil construction and installation of the mechanical, electrical and heating, ventilation and cooling systems as well as the equipment required for Holtec's SMRs.

In December last year, Mott MacDonald was appointed as the delivery partner for the Generic Design Assessment (GDA) of Holtec's larger SMR-300 in the UK. Having successfully supported Holtec Britain in securing GBP30 million (USD38 million) of grant funding from the UK government's Future Nuclear Enabling Fund for the GDA, Mott MacDonald is now providing safety, engineering, environmental, and regulatory support to Holtec Britain throughout the process.

In November 2021, Holtec and Hyundai E&C signed a teaming agreement under which Hyundai E&C will perform the detailed design of the balance of plant and prepare the full plant construction specification for the SMR-160, which Holtec has been developing since 2010. The Korean company will also develop the integrated 3D plant model for construction using its Building Information Modelling management process. The partnership also provides for project delivery rights for Hyundai, subject to certain provisions. In October 2022, the two companies agreed to accelerate the programme to complete the balance of plant design of the remaining systems and structures for the SMR-160.

Holtec's 160 MWe SMR is a pressurised light-water reactor using low-enriched uranium fuel. The design has completed the first phase of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission's three-phase pre-licensing vendor design review and is undergoing pre-licensing activities with the US NRC. Holtec has also applied for a Generic Design Assessment of the SMR-160 in the UK. Among the countries it is being considered is Ukraine, with a cooperation agreement signed earlier this year with a target date of supplying power by March 2029, and potentially up to 20 SMRs eventually across the country.

Source: https://www.neimagazine.com/news/newsyoung-generation-protests-at-planned-closure-of-spains-almaraz-npp-11576514

The Salvemos Almaraz (Save Almaraz) initiative promoted by the Spanish Nuclear Youth Network has received some support during a meeting in Madrid bringing together more than 70 representatives of European (ENS-YGN) and international (IYNC) young nuclear networks, from 27 different nationalities. The initiative aims to protest against the closure of unit 1 of the Almaraz NPP planned for 2027.

In January, Spain’s Council of Ministers approved the seventh General Plan for Radioactive Waste (PGRR - Plan General de Residuos Radiactivos), proposed by the Ministry for Ecological Transition & Demographic Challenge, which sets the roadmap for treatment of wastes from NPPs. This plan, approval of which was delayed for some years, is essential to support Spain’s nuclear phase out plans. Spain now intends to close its five operating plants starting in 2027 with a completion date of 2035.

Spain currently has seven operating reactors at five NPPs. These include two pressurised water reactors (PWRs) at Almarez NPP (Extremadura), two PWRs at Ascó NPP (Tarragona), one boiling water reactor at Cofrentes NPP (Valencia), one PWR at Vandellós NPP (Tarragona) and one PWR at Trillo NPP (Guadalajara). Together they generate around 20% of Spain’s electricity. The closure will begin Almaraz 1 in November 2027 followed by unit 2 in October 2028. Then Ascó, Cofrentes, Vandellós and Trillo will close in sequence by 2035.

The deadline for reversing the closure decision on Almaraz 1and extending its operation beyond 2027 is 2024. Life extension implies the purchase of more fuel stocks, new reviews of equipment, components and systems, the extension of the individualised temporary storage facility for the management of used fue, which requires time.

The Almaraz plant generates more than 16 TWh a year and represents 7% of the energy produced in Spain. Moreover, the plant has invested more than €600m ($650m) in the maintenance and equipment upgrades in the last decade. World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) has placed Almaraz in its highest category worldwide in view of its high standards of safety and operation.

Jóvenes Nucleares, an association that groups together young professionals and students from the Spanish nuclear sector, believes that the closure plan established in the National Integrated Energy & Climate Plan (PNIEC) must be reconsidered. The issue was discussed during the Madrid event, which was organised by Jóvenes Nucleares, a commission of the Spanish Nuclear Society. Attendees agreed on the importance of keeping Spanish NPPs in operation.

Source: https://www.neimagazine.com/news/newsrosatom-to-build-second-npp-in-turkiye-at-sinop-11575111

The Turkish government has decided that Rosatom will build the country’s second NPP, Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev told the State Duma (Russia’s lower house of parliament). The announcement was broadcast on the website of the lower house. “President [Taiip Revzhip] Erdogan publicly announced that a political decision had been made to transfer another site to us,” Likhachev noted. Now we are studying the details. Most likely, it will be a site called Sinop.”

Likhachev also confirmed that unit 1 of the Akkuyu NPP should begin operation in 2025. At the end of November 2023, the Deputy Director for the Construction of the Nuclear Power Plant Dmitry Romanets said unit 1 will be put into operation in July 2025. Earlier that month, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak had said that Russia and Türkiye were ready to expand cooperation in the field of small NPPs. He noted that Russia was interested in the construction of a new station in the Black Sea province of Sinop as well as in the construction of low-power NPPs and the use of non-energy nuclear technologies.

Earlier Japan had agreed to build a plant in Sinop. The project was agreed by the Japanese and Turkish governments in 2013. A consortium led by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries had been conducting a feasibility study until March 2018 for the construction of a four-unit 4500MWe plant in the province of Sinop in Türkiye’s Black Sea region. However, Japan pulled out of the project later that year.

Source: https://www.neimagazine.com/news/newsus-nrc-to-issue-proposed-rule-on-advanced-reactor-licensing-11576702

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has directed staff to publish a proposed rule and draft guidance to establish a licensing process for commercial nuclear power plants that is “risk-informed, performance-based, and technology-inclusive”. This is the first regulatory framework developed for advanced technologies and designs that includes non-light-water reactors.

"The NRC is proposing a rule that will transform the way the agency reviews new reactor applications, while continuing to fulfil our mission to assure the safety of the public," said NRC Chair Christopher Hanson. "This proposed rule leverages significantly more risk insights than our existing regulatory framework in making safety determinations. Applicants can use our existing regulations today, but this proposed rule will provide future nuclear developers a clear, additional pathway for licensing."

The proposed rule, to be published in the Federal Register in about six months, will create a new Part 53 section under the NRC's regulations (10 Code of Federal Regulations) as an alternative to the existing, large light water reactor licensing approaches under Parts 50 and 52. The rule, in meeting the requirements of the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernisation Act, will give plant designers and plant operators flexibility in determining how their nuclear power plant will meet safety criteria.

The rule sets out criteria in areas including reactor siting requirements; analysing potential accidents; defining safety functions; categorising structures, systems, and components; addressing construction and manufacturing requirements; providing defence in depth; and protecting the public and plant workers during normal operations. The proposed rule also modifies agency regulations for operator licensing, employee fitness-for-duty, physical security and site access authorisation.

The staff's effort to develop the proposed rule began in 2020. The staff conducted extensive public engagement with 21 rounds of public review and comment on preliminary rule language. The staff held 24 public meetings with stakeholders as well as 16 public meetings with NRC's independent advisory group, the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards. NRC says the staff will seek feedback from the public when it issues the proposed rule and draft guidance later this year.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/SKB-begins-construction-of-Forsmark-geology-buildi

Sweden's radioactive waste management company Svensk Kärnbränslehantering AB (SKB) has announced the breaking of ground for its new geology building, which will be a centre for the collection and evaluation of data from surveys and site monitoring on the Forsmark peninsula.

SKB said the new geology building will be "of great importance for the upcoming major construction projects in Forsmark".

Several of SKB's operations are currently located on the Forsmark Peninsula in Östhammar's municipality, including SFR, the final repository for low and intermediate-level waste, the capacity of which is to be expanded. The final repository for used nuclear fuel from Swedish nuclear power plants is also to be built there.

The geology building - being built by contractor Veidekke - will have two floors, cover about 2000 square metres and, among other things, house a workshop for the survey activities, a storage place for drill cores and field equipment, a chemistry laboratory, modern office spaces and changing rooms. The property is designed with appropriate gates for vehicles and equipment as well as adjacent outdoor staging areas.

"Great consideration is given to sustainability in the construction of the building, among other things, green concrete with lower carbon dioxide emissions will be used," SKB noted. "The frame and facade will consist of wood and the building will have a so-called sedum roof, a roof with living plants on top of the waterproofing layer. The possibility of electric car charging will also be available."

"We have seen a need to future-proof our premises for upcoming large projects and then it is important for us to build in a sustainable way with consideration for the environment both in construction technology and material selection," said SKB CEO Stefan Engdahl.

He added: "Now the construction phase begins for what we call our green centre on the Forsmark peninsula. As our operations expand, as the expansion of SFR and entrepreneurs establish themselves in the area, several of our operations will be moved to the new premises in the geology building."

Norwegian construction firm Veidekke signed an agreement with SKB in October 2023 to build the geology building under a turnkey contract. The order value totalled about SEK55 million (USD5.3 million).

Construction of the building is expected to be completed in the spring of 2025. During the following summer, existing equipment will then be moved over from the old premises and operations are planned to start in August of the same year.

The SFR repository is situated 60 metres below the bottom of the Baltic Sea and began operations in 1988. The facility comprises four 160-metre-long rock vaults and a chamber in the bedrock with a 50-metre-high concrete silo for the most radioactive waste. Two parallel kilometre-long access tunnels link the facility to the surface. The facility currently has a total final disposal capacity of about 63,000 cubic metres of waste. SKB plans to start work in autumn 2024 to triple the size of the repository, to about 180,000 cubic metres, by excavating six new rock vaults, 240-275 metres long.

SKB submitted applications to build Sweden's first nuclear fuel repository and an encapsulation plant to SSM in March 2011. In January 2022, Sweden's Minister of Climate and Environment announced that construction of the final repository for used nuclear fuel in Forsmark and the associated fuel encapsulation plant in Oskarshamn can proceed. The repository will be used for the disposal of 6000 capsules with a total of 12,000 tonnes of radioactive waste at a depth of about 500 metres.

De Tweede Kamer wil dat het kabinet plannen maakt voor de bouw van vier grote kerncentrales in plaats van twee. Een meerderheid stemde voor een motie van VVD-Kamerlid Silvio Erkens hierover.

Kernenergie wordt gezien als schone energiebron omdat kerncentrales weinig CO2 uitstoten. En wind- en zonne-energie zijn onvoldoende voor de Nederlandse energievraag. Daarom vindt een brede meerderheid van PVV, VVD, BBB, Denk, Volt, CDA, ChristenUnie, SGP, FvD en JA21 dat er meer in kernenergie moet worden geïnvesteerd.

De twee extra kerncentrales moeten volgens het voorstel vanaf 2040 energie kunnen gaan leveren. Waar ze moeten komen, spreekt de Kamer niet uit. Het kabinet heeft de opdracht gekregen dat te onderzoeken.

Het huidige kabinet besloot eind 2022 om twee nieuwe grote centrales te bouwen in Borssele. Met een versnelde aanpak kunnen die in 2035 klaar zijn. Die centrales zouden 9 tot 13 procent van de totale elektriciteit moeten gaan leveren.

Draagvlak

De keuze viel op Borssele omdat daar al een kerncentrale staat en er draagvlak is bij de bevolking en bij omliggende gemeenten en de provincie Zeeland. Het nieuwe kabinet zou er een knoop over moeten doorhakken.

Eemshaven werd als mogelijke locatie van het lijstje afgevoerd, mede door de gevolgen van de gaswinning en te weinig draagvlak. En de Maasvlakte, waar ook naar werd gekeken, wil het demissionaire kabinet reserveren voor waterstofinstallaties.

Of deze locaties weer in beeld komen voor de twee extra kerncentrales moet een volgend kabinet bepalen.

Van taboe tot populair onderwerp

Tijdens de verkiezingscampagne was al te merken dat steeds meer politieke partijen voor kernenergie kiezen in plaats van het aanwijzen van nieuwe windmolenparken. Het onderwerp is niet langer een taboe en VVD-Kamerlid Erkens sprak zelfs van "een nucleaire renaissance".

D66-leider Rob Jetten liet in de campagne weten dat zijn partij niet langer een felle tegenstander van kernenergie is, maar het juist ziet als een van de oplossingen voor het klimaatprobleem.

Jetten bereidt namens het demissionaire kabinet de bouw van twee grote kerncentrales voor. Zijn partij stemde vandaag overigens tegen nog twee extra centrales. Dat vindt de partij aan een nieuw kabinet.

Source: https://www.neimagazine.com/news/newsdoe-awards-integrated-tank-disposition-contract-at-the-hanford-site-11572589

The US Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Environmental Management (EM) has awarded the Hanford Integrated Tank Disposition Contract (ITDC) to Hanford Tank Waste Operations & Closure (H2C) of Lynchburg, Virginia, for work to be performed at the Hanford Site in southeastern Washington state. H2C is a newly formed limited liability company comprising BWXT Technical Services Group, Amentum Environment & Energy, and Fluor Federal Services.

The Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity contract will have a maximum value of $45 billion over a 10-year ordering period. The contract includes requirements for meaningful work to be performed by small businesses and will promote community engagement, including support to site reindustrialisation by the local community. Submission of a community commitment plan to DOE is required. Work to be performed under the new Hanford ITDC will include, but not be limited to the following:

• Operation of tank farm facilities, including single-shell tank waste retrieval and closure;
• Design, construction, and operation of waste receiving facilities and treatment capabilities;
• Operation of the Waste Treatment and Immobilisation Plant; and
• Core functions such as project management; environment, safety, health, and quality; security and emergency services; and business performance requirements.

For more than 30 years, EM has remained focused on addressing the environmental legacy of nuclear weapons development and nuclear energy research during World War II and Cold War.

Hanford is home to 177 underground waste storage tanks: 149 single-shell tanks (SST), and 28 double-shell tanks (DST), ranging from 55,000 to 1.265m gallons in capacity. Those tanks are organised into 18 different groups called farms. Currently, the site's underground tanks store approximately 56m gallons of radioactive and chemical waste. The overall mission of single-shell tank farm retrieval consists of safely retrieving tank waste from ageing SSTs and transferring waste into newer, more robust double-shell tanks until it can be treated, immobilised and placed in long-term storage.

Construction of DSTs began in 1968. Each DST has a carbon-steel inner tank with a separate steel liner surrounding it to prevent leaks to the environment. The tank liners are separated by an air space of about 30 inches, equipped with a leak-detection system. As part of the Hanford Tank Integrity Program, a team of engineers, supported by a group of independent experts, regularly reviews pertinent information regarding construction and operation of Hanford’s waste-storage tanks. These experts monitor the integrity of the tanks by examining waste chemistries, corrosion rates, storage histories and changing conditions. Periodic tank inspections are performed with ultrasonic testing, visual inspection and waste sampling.

A critical part of managing the waste relates to the amount of available storage space in the tanks. Hanford’s 242-A Evaporator is critical to managing tank space. The evaporator takes in waste from the DST system and boils it. The water vapour from the boiling waste is collected, condensed, filtered, and sent to another Hanford facility for treatment, resulting in a reduced volume of tank waste. The remaining concentrated waste is transferred back to a DST. The 242-A Evaporator is the workhorse that frees up space in the DSTs and allows for waste to be transferred from the older SSTs to the newer DSTs.

Preparations to retrieve radioactive and chemical waste from another group of large underground tanks at the Hanford Site are gaining momentum. DOE recently drilled an opening through the thick concrete top of Tank A-106 to provide access for waste retrieval equipment.

Within the next year, workers will begin retrieving waste from six older single-shell tanks in the A Tank Farm, one of 18 farms at Hanford that received waste generated during plutonium production. Crews will transfer the waste to a newer double-shell tank for safe storage until it is treated.

Workers also recently installed a pump in Tank A-101, the first tank in A Farm scheduled for retrieval. Soon workers will install two more large pieces of equipment in the tank to break down waste during retrieval operations. Waste retrieval in A Farm is scheduled to start in the summer of 2024. The A Farm tanks were built in the mid-1950s, and store waste generated by plutonium processing at the nearby Plutonium Uranium Extraction Plant during the Cold War era.

Hanford’s C Farm, with 16 underground tanks, was the first tank farm to be completely retrieved, five years ago. Retrieval of one tank in the S Farm was completed in 2007. Workers are retrieving waste from the last of the four tanks in the AX Farm.

As part of an agreement regulating Hanford cleanup, crews must remove at least 99% of the waste in every tank on the Site, or at least as much waste as can be removed based on available technology. The final for the tank farm waste is treatment at the Waste Treatment & Immobilisation Plant.

Source: https://www.neimagazine.com/news/newsus-doe-issues-draft-eis-to-boost-domestic-haleu-production-11572556

The US Department of Energy (DOE) has released a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) analysing the potential impacts of the Department’s proposed action to acquire high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU). The US Administration is committed to securing a domestic supply of HALEUwhich is required by most US small and advanced reactor designs. HALEU is not currently available from domestic suppliers, which could significantly impact the deployment of new design reactors.

DOE is seeking public comment on the draft EIS, which evaluates the impacts of DOE’s plans to acquire HALEU for use in commercial nuclear energy production or demonstration projects, as well as establish commercial production of HALEU in the USA.

“Establishing a secure, domestic HALEU supply is an important step in demonstrating and commercialising advanced nuclear reactors, which are key to meeting the Biden-Harris Administration’s clean energy goals by 2035,” said US Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy Dr Kathryn Huff. “Public feedback on the draft EIS will strengthen the process and help ensure we’re considering all the environmental effects of commercial HALEU production.”

The Energy Act of 2020 directs DOE to establish and carry out a programme to support the availability of HALEU for civilian, domestic research, development, demonstration, and commercial use. The proposed action of this draft EIS focuses on the acquisition of HALEU produced by commercial entities using enrichment technology and making it available for commercial use or demonstration projects. DOE will host three virtual public hearings to share information on the process used to analyse the proposed action and alternatives, gather oral comments and feedback on the draft EIS, and enhance opportunities for public participation.

Source: https://www.neimagazine.com/news/newsiaea-confirms-tritium-levels-below-japans-operational-limit-in-recent-treated-water-release-from-fukushima-11572538

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) experts have confirmed that the tritium concentration in the fourth batch of diluted ALPS (Advanced Liquid Processing System) treated water, which Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) has begun discharging from the Fukushima Daiichi NPP, is far below the Japan’s operational limit.

Experts stationed at the IAEA’s office at the Fukushima site took samples after the treated water was diluted with seawater in the discharge facilities. The IAEA’s independent on-site analysis confirmed that the tritium concentration is far below the operational limit of 1,500 becquerels per litre.

Japan is discharging the ALPS treated water from the Fukushima in batches. The previous three batches – a total of 23,400 cubic metres of water – were also confirmed by the IAEA to have contained tritium concentrations far below operational limits.

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi will visit Japan later in March to review the status of the water discharge, as part of his commitment to be there before, during and after the discharge that began in August last year.

The IAEA’s comprehensive report issued in July 2023 found Japan’s plan for handling the treated water to be consistent with international safety standards and that the release as planned would have a negligible radiological impact to people and the environment.

Site: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Vistra-completes-Energy-Harbor-acquisition

The acquisition sees Vistra become the owner of the second-largest competitive nuclear fleet in the USA and the largest competitive power generator in the country.

The combined company's installed generation capacity of around 41,000 MWe includes four nuclear facilities totalling more than 6,400 MWe, generating enough zero-carbon baseload electricity to power 3.2 million homes according to Vistra. It also lays claim to the second-largest energy storage capacity in the country at 1,020 MWe, including the world's largest battery energy storage facility, and a growing portfolio of solar assets, including some 340 MWe already online.

Energy Harbor's nuclear fleet comprises the two-unit Beaver Valley nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania, as well as the single-unit Davis-Besse and Perry plants in Ohio. Vistra operates the Comanche Peak plant and its used fuel storage facilities in Texas.

"Today's closing represents our commitment to leading a responsible transformation of the country's energy supply to greener energy sources through the expansion of our zero-carbon generation portfolio while continuing to prioritise reliable and affordable electricity for the customers we serve," Vistra President and CEO Jim Burke said. "We now own the second-largest competitive nuclear fleet in the US, complementing our existing reliable, flexible, and dispatchable generation assets and our leading retail business."

Texas-based Vistra announced in March that it had executed a definitive agreement with Energy Harbor Corporation on the transaction to combine Energy Harbor's nuclear and retail businesses with Vistra's nuclear and retail businesses and Vistra Zero renewables and storage projects under a newly-formed subsidiary holding company. The new subsidiary, Vistra Vision, will continue to be operated on an integrated basis with the company's dispatchable and reliable fossil fleet, now known as Vistra Tradition.

The combined company's headquarters will be in Irving, Texas.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/AFCONE-and-DeepGeo-launch-African-nuclear-funding

The African Commission on Nuclear Energy and DeepGeo have signed a partnership agreement which could see multinational deep geological repositories hosted in Africa, with a proportion of the income used to facilitate nuclear energy deployment.

The African Nuclear Energy Funding Initiative agreement will see DeepGeo introduced to African financial institutions and gain enhanced access to African decision-makers, while the African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE) "will benefit from a portion of the future proceeds (from any deep geological repository) and will immediately start work on establishing a template for regional nuclear governance that will facilitate nuclear energy deployment and the use of shared fuel-cycle facilities across the continent".

The provision of deep geological repositories for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste has been seen as a way of smoothing the path to new nuclear, but as DeepGeo says: "Until now few countries have been willing to host these facilities and previous initiatives have failed to gain the necessary public acceptance." The US-based company says it is working with "several African governments that have expressed potential willingness to host such facilities".

The partnership agreement aims to support the development of African financial institutions and their ability to invest in nuclear energy projects and "the goal is to eventually achieve nuclear autonomy for Africa, supporting regional nuclear fuel-cycle facilities, research and medical facilities and a domestic supply chain".

AFCONE Executive Secretary Enobot Agboraw said the agreement "offers the chance for African nations to leapfrog the established nuclear status quo, to collaborate as equal partners, and to take the development of nuclear power in Africa into their own hands".

DeepGeo President Link Murray said: "We are incredibly grateful and humbled to be able to support AFCONE in its historic mission to bring affordable, clean nuclear energy to Africa. We are honoured to be invited to participate in AFCONE's vision of peace, power, prosperity."

The agreement includes an example of possible financing, suggesting that a "conservative" estimate of an annual intake of 2000 tonnes of used nuclear fuel, priced at USD1 million per tonne, could generate annual income of USD2 billion, facilitating a 1% royalty payment to AFCONE of USD20 million, an investment of 20% of annual revenue - USD400 million - into a DeepGeo Trust for an African Nuclear Bank and a similar annual amount to a trust for general African Economic Development and "a one time equity grant to AFCONE of 5% of DeepGeo's African subsidiaries, made upon customer cumulative intake of 4000 tonnes would provide endowment capital to AFCONE".

The agreement also states that the parties will "encourage African newcomer/embarking countries to develop their nuclear power programmes using a multilateral approach ... which would entail common regulatory frameworks, joint development of infrastructure issues and sustainability requirements, capacity development, joint ownership and joint operation. This will reduce financial risk, facilitate financing, reduce political and proliferation risks, and expedite the completion of the projects. The Parties will promote public awareness, capacity building, community and stakeholder engagement, realising that obtaining a social licence is necessary for the successful implementation of nuclear projects."

The first phase of the plan is to: establish a taskforce of leading global regulators and legal experts to work to develop a regionally harmonised framework for nuclear governance and regulation; begin a project to harmonise regulations for the back-end of the fuel cycle and to create a joint team within 30 days to undertake outreach to potential customers and funders "with the goal that, within a year's time, it would enable DeepGeo to provide capital in support of building African nuclear energy infrastructure".

The African Union established AFCONE in November 2010, following the entry into force of the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (The Treaty of Pelindaba) in July 2009, which required the parties to establish a commission for the purpose of ensuring states' compliance with their treaty obligations and promoting peaceful nuclear cooperation, both regionally and internationally. The headquarters of AFCONE is in Pretoria, South Africa. AFCONE is financed by States Parties assessed contributions, as well as extrabudgetary funding.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Talen-sells-carbon-free-data-centre-to-Amazon-clou

Talen Energy Corporation has announced the sale of its 960 MW Cumulus data centre campus in northeast Pennsylvania to Amazon Web Services, with a long-term agreement to provide power from Talen's Susquehanna nuclear power plant.

The Cumulus campus is directly connected to the two-unit nuclear power plant. The data centre's four substations have a total potential 960 MW of redundant capacity, including 200 MW that is currently associated with the Nautilus cryptocurrency facility, in which Talen will retain its 75% interest. A further 240 MW of redundant capacity for data centres is expected to be ready this year. The campus features a "robust and redundant" fibre network.

In addition to the USD650 million for the sale of all of Cumulus's tangible and intangible assets - which is to be paid in stages (USD350 million on closing and USD300 million to be released on the attainment of development milestones later this year), Talen will receive additional revenue from Amazon Web Services (AWS) related to sales of Susquehanna's energy to the grid.

AWS plans to develop a 960 MW data centre at the site and has minimum contractual power commitments ramping up in 120 MW increments over several years, starting in 2025. Each step up in capacity commitment is at a fixed price for an initial 10 years, after which it will be based on a fixed margin above prevailing prices. AWS will have a one-time option to cap commitments at 480 MW and has two 10-year extension options, which are tied to the renewals of the two nuclear units' licences in 2042 and 2044.

"We are pleased today to have sold our Cumulus data centre campus, unlocking significant value for Talen," said Talen President and CEO Mac McFarland. "This transaction provides an attractive return on Talen's investment and vision in building Cumulus, and creates value through the sale of clean carbon-free power from our top-decile Susquehanna nuclear plant."

"Power demand is growing for the first time in years, and AI and data centres are at the heart of that growth," McFarland said. "Data from the International Energy Agency suggests that energy demand from data centres, AI and cryptocurrencies could more than double over the next three years." In the US alone, studies suggest that could mean an extra 38 GWe of additional demand by 2028, he said. "Reliable power is scarce - and reliable, carbon-free power even more so."

The transaction will benefit the wider community by creating jobs and catalysing economic development as well as strengthening the Susquehanna plant itself as a major employer and significant tax payer, McFarland said.

Amazon subsidiary AWS describes itself as the world's most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud, offering some 200 services for a wide range of technologies, industries and use cases.

The Susquehanna plant, in Salem Township, comprises two boiling water reactors and is 90%-owned and operated by Talen subsisidiary Susquehanna Nuclear, LLC. Allegheny Electric owns 10% of the 2475 MWe plant.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Viaro-partners-with-Newcleo-to-decarbonise-oil-and

Innovative reactor developer Newcleo and London-based independent upstream energy company Viaro Energy Limited have signed a memorandum of understanding outlining a framework for planned collaborative activities to deploy Newcleo's lead-cooled fast reactors to decarbonise Viaro's oil and gas sites.

Following the completion of feasibility studies, the companies plan to establish a joint venture for the deployment of UK-headquartered Newcleo's 200 MWe lead-cooled fast reactors (LFRs) at chosen sites within Viaro's portfolio, assessing both existing assets and prospective acquisitions in which Viaro is currently engaged.

"The technology will contribute to net-zero goals by maximising the benefits of advanced modular reactors for cogeneration, combined heat and power and off-grid application," the companies said.

Viaro has also directly invested in Newcleo by way of acquiring shares in its latest capital raise.

Newcleo's proposed small modular LFRs would use MOX fuel. Newcleo is planning a 30 MWe lead-cooled fast neutron test reactor in France in 2030, with a 200 MWe first-of-a-kind commercial unit planned for the UK in 2032. In June 2022, Newcleo announced it had contracted France's Orano for feasibility studies on the establishment of a MOX production plant.

"This is an exciting partnership and demonstrates the potential for Newcleo's technology to support industrial decarbonisation," said Newcleo Chairman and CEO Stefano Buono. "The transition to net-zero will only be achieved by decarbonising not only the energy, transport and heat sectors but also energy intensive and 'hard to abate' heavy industries.

"Our technology means that, for the first time, nuclear reactors will provide decentralised, baseload, low-carbon energy to customers with enhanced safety and security of supply. Viaro's pragmatic and forward-looking approach will help them to blaze a trail towards lower-carbon operations in the oil and gas sector and we are delighted to be partnering with them and to provide energy solutions to make their aims a reality."

Viaro Energy CEO Francesco Mazzagatti added: "The partnership with Newcleo is a major milestone in our strategy to exemplify the only economically viable approach to the energy transition by investing in both energy security and long-term net-zero goals.

"We are proud to spearhead decarbonisation efforts in the oil and gas sector through the implementation of Newcleo's clean nuclear energy technology into our operations."

Europe’s nuclear operators trying to reduce dependency on Russia.

French nuclear fuel cycle company Orano has signed a contract with the Czech electric utility ČEZ for the supply of uranium enrichment services.

The enriched uranium, once transformed into fuel, will be used in its Dukovany nuclear power station. The signing took place today during a trip by France’s president Emmanuel Macron to the Czech Republic to strengthen bilateral cooperation, particularly in civil nuclear power.

The contract follows a long-term agreement on conversion and enrichment services signed late 2023 for the Temelín nuclear power station. Orano said the contract allows ČEZ to secure its supply of nuclear fuel in Europe.

A number of European nuclear operators have been moving to reduce their dependency on Russia for nuclear fuel and conversion and enrichment services.

ČEZ, one of Europe’s leading energy producers, operates six nuclear reactors at Dukovany and Temelín which supply 36% of the Czech Republic’s electricity needs.

The Czech government plans a vast nuclear programme with the construction of new units over the next decade.

Source: https://www.neimagazine.com/news/newsrussias-brest-od-300-reactor-scheduled-for-physical-launch-in-2026-11572160

The physical launch Russia’s BREST-OD-300 lead-cooled fast reactor in Seversk will be in 2026, with grid connection planned for the first half of 2027, according to Rosatom Director General Alexei Likhachev.

The Brest-OD-300 is under construction at the Siberian Chemical Plant (SCC part of Rosatom fuel company TVEL) as part of the pilot demonstration power complex (ODEK - Opitno Demonstratsionovo Energo-Kompleksa), which is part of the Breakthrough (Proryv) project intended to demonstrate closed fuel cycle technology. SCC has been responsible for implementing the ODEK project since 2011 which will also include a module for fabrication and refabrication of nuclear fuel (MFR) and a module for reprocessing irradiated fuel. The MFR is already almost completed and planned for commissioning this year. Construction of the reprocessing unit is planned for 2025-2026 for commissioning in 2030.

The experience of design, construction, commissioning and operation of ODEK will pave the way for construction of an industrial energy complex (PEK - PromiishlennovoEnergoKompleksa) based on a larger lead-cooled fast neutron reactor BR-1200 with a capacity of 1,200 MW.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Fuel-loading-begins-at-Indian-fast-breeder-reactor?feed=feed

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi witnessed the start of fuel loading at the 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu. Fast breeder reactors form the second stage of India's three-stage nuclear programme.

The Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) has been developed by BHAVINI (Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited), a government enterprise under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) which was set up in 2003 to focus on fast breeder reactors. Construction of the PFBR began in 2004, with an original expected completion date of 2010.

India has adopted a three-stage nuclear power programme, with the long-term goal of deploying a thorium-based closed nuclear fuel cycle. The first stage involves the use of pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWRs), fuelled by natural uranium, and light water reactors. The second stage involves reprocessing used fuel from the first stage to recover the plutonium to fuel FBRs. In stage 3, Advanced Heavy Water Reactors (AHWRs) will burn thorium-plutonium fuels and breed fissile uranium-233.

The PFBR will initially use a core of uranium-plutonium mixed oxide (MOX) fuel, surrounded by a uranium-238 'blanket', with plans to use a blanket of uranium and thorium to "breed" plutonium and U-233 for use as driver fuels for AHWRs.

"In line with the true spirit of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, PFBR has been fully designed and constructed indigenously by BHAVINI with significant contribution from more than 200 Indian industries including MSMEs," the DAE said. "Once commissioned, India will only be the second country after Russia to have a commercial operating Fast Breeder Reactor."

Aatmanirbhar Bharat translates to 'self-reliant India'. MSMEs are micro, small and medium enterprises.

The DAE describes the PFBR as an "advanced third generation reactor with inherent passive safety features" which, since it recycles material recovered from used fuel from the first stage of the programme, "offers great advantage in terms of significant reduction in nuclear waste generated, thereby avoiding the need for large geological disposal facilities".

"Upon completion of the core loading, the first approach to criticality will be achieved, leading to generation of power subsequently," it added.

In January, Modi formally dedicated to the nation the Demonstration Fast Reactor Fuel Reprocessing Plant at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (ICGAR) in Kalpakkam, a precursor to large-scale plants for the reprocessing of fast reactor fuel, and in February, he visited the Kakrapar plant in Gujarat for the dedication of the first two Indian-designed and built 700 MWe PHWRs. The second of those units - Kakrapar 4 - was connected to the grid just days later.

A fast breeder test reactor has been in operation at IGCAR since 1985, although it did not reach its full 40 MWt design capacity until 2022.

"The growth of the Indian nuclear power programme is imperative to meet the twin goals of energy security and sustainable development," the DAE said. "As a responsible nuclear power with advanced technology, India remains committed to expand peaceful applications of nuclear technology, both in power and non-power sector, while ensuring the security of nuclear and radiological materials."

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Grossi-hopes-nuclear-summit-can-agree-new-financin

International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi says one aim of the forthcoming Nuclear Energy Summit for heads of state is to see what "international cooperation mechanisms we can agree" to accelerate the provision of new nuclear in line with the COP28 declaration in December.

Grossi, speaking in a media conference following his report to the Board of Governors of the IAEA, was asked about the aims of the summit, the first such one for heads of state and government, being held in Brussels later this month.

He said "the summit is very important, it indicates how big the change is when it comes to the global discussion on nuclear energy". It had taken 28 UN climate conferences, Grossi added, until the countries taking part in the COP28 gathering had agreed that the provision of nuclear energy should be accelerated as part of a mix with renewables and every low-carbon source of energy.

"The fact that you are now having for the first time in history a summit of heads of state and government on nuclear is not to applaud this, it is to get together and to see what can be done to accelerate it, to carry out this acceleration. It is not an easy thing - you need the financing mechanisms for example, which are not easy," he said in the response to a question from the Chinese media.

"China is a powerful country. It can finance, but many other countries have problems and they still need more nuclear and want more nuclear. So what are the international cooperation mechanisms that we can agree at that level of heads of state and government so that this is accelerated. We have very high expectations of this summit."

His comments about Nuclear Energy Summit 2024 - which is being held on 21 March in Brussels and which he will co-chair with Belgium's Prime Minister Alexander De Croo - came after an interview with the London-based Financial Times in which he said he wanted to see multilateral lenders such as the World Bank and Asian Development Bank funding new nuclear projects, suggesting that past policies to not finance new nuclear was now "out of step" with most of their member countries.

Earlier, in his report to the IAEA Board of Governors, Grossi said the situation at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant "continued to be very precarious", noting that IAEA inspectors at the plant had heard frequent explosions from the site in recent days, and he called for "maximum restraint and strict observance" of the UN-agreed safety principles such as neither side firing at, or from, the nuclear power plant.

He also gave updates on a variety of IAEA initiatives, such as tackling microplastics in marine environments, expanding cancer treatment technology and facilities and also Atoms4Food, which seeks to target food safety and control. He said many member states were backing it, which "gives me confidence we will soon be able to begin its implementation".

Grossi also highlighted the work the IAEA was doing with monitoring Japan's discharge of the ALPS treated water at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant and, on future deployment of small modular reactors, he said the various working groups involved in the Nuclear Harmonisation and Standardisation Initiative were aiming to finalise their reports by the end of 2024.

He also gave updates on the nuclear programme in Iran, calling on the country to "cooperate fully and unambiguously with the agency", and North Korea, saying there were signs of a site remaining occupied and prepared to support a new nuclear test, which "would be a cause for serious concern ... the Agency continues to maintain its enhanced readiness to play its essential role in verifying the DPRK’s nuclear programme".

In terms of foreign trips he has planned, he said he would be visiting Russia, Iraq and Syria in the next two weeks - with the visit to Damascus aiming "to re-establish a meaningful, constructive dialogue and process to facilitate the clarification of remaining issues from the past".