Nuclear Energy

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Hungary-aims-to-extend-life-of-Paks-nuclear-plant

The operator of the Paks nuclear power plant in Hungary has notified the European Union of the country's intention to extend the operating lifetime of the four units to 70 years.

Péter János Horváth, CEO of operator MVM Paksi Atomerömű Zrt, said that in accordance with Euratom regulations the announcement of the extension plan had been made to the EU and "this marks the beginning of the roughly decade-long process" to extend the operating licence by another 20 years.

The existing four units at Paks are VVER-440 reactors that started up between 1982 and 1987 and they produce about half of the country's electricity. Their design lifetime was for 30 years but that was extended in 2005 by 20 years, to between 2032 and 2037.

Horváth said: "This power plant is no longer the same as the one that started operating four decades ago: thanks to continuous developments, renovations, safety-enhancing measures - and not least the responsible, dedicated team of professionals with extraordinary knowledge and experience - this power plant today is already a generation more advanced than it was when it started.

"At the same time, during the process of extending the operating hours, we examine and evaluate each bit of our equipment and systems and, if necessary, replace them, all of course in accordance with international practice, under strict official control, as we have always done. As a result of the operation and maintenance practices developed with maximum commitment to safety and a responsible, good stewardship approach, the Paks nuclear power plant is fully capable of serving Hungary for decades to come."

The company says that the plant has an important role to play in Hungary's energy security as well as helping combat climate change, preventing the release of about 250 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions since it began operating. At a press conference to announce the life extension programme, it was also stressed that as a state-owned company "we consider it a strategic issue to further extend" the operating life of the plant.

The company said that from 2024 it would be holding three year's worth of nuclear fuel at the site. The increase from the two years held previously is intended to "to reduce the uncertainties resulting from the conflict in Ukraine".

According to the official About Hungary, Deputy Director Pál Tóth said the extension would require the completion of some 250 reconstruction projects, and is reported to have said on potential costs that "revamping the electric and control systems would be in the EUR1.5 billion range (USD1.6 billion)". The full implementation plan is expected to be submitted in 2028.

Hungary's existing nuclear reactors at Paks produce about half of its electricity. In addition to the lifetime extension project there is also a project - Paks II - to build new nuclear capacity. It was launched in early 2014 by an intergovernmental agreement between Hungary and Russia for two VVER-1200 reactors to be supplied by Rosatom, with the contract supported by a Russian state loan to finance the majority of the project. The construction licence application was submitted in July 2020 to construct Paks II alongside the existing Paks plant, 100 kilometres southwest of Budapest on the banks of the Danube river. The construction licence was issued in August 2022 with groundworks having started this year and a construction schedule agreed last month.

Safely extending the operating lifetime of existing nuclear power plants was one of the points made by governments and industry in their COP28 pledges to support the tripling of nuclear energy capacity by 2050.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Laurentis-joins-Tractebel-Hatch-SMR-partnership

Ontario Power Generation subsidiary Laurentis Energy Partners is joining forces with Tractebel and Hatch to develop a one-stop shop to support industrial small modular reactor (SMR) clients worldwide.

In August this year, Belgian engineering firm Tractebel and Canadian engineering, project management, and professional services firm Hatch agreed to cooperate on supporting the deployment of SMR technologies in North America and Europe. By collaborating, the two companies said they aim to provide "invaluable expertise" in the field of nuclear engineering and consultancy for nuclear projects.

Laurentis Energy Partners has now signed an agreement to join forces with Tractebel and Hatch

"Together, the three companies will leverage their combined skills, expertise, and experience to support clients looking to develop SMR projects," the partners said in a joint statement. "The partnership approach will ultimately help streamline processes, significantly reducing risks, and ensuring lessons learned are transferred from one project to the next."

"The global energy landscape is changing rapidly," said Laurentis Energy Partners President and CEO Jason Van Wart. "With a growing demand for clean, safe, and reliable electricity, the investments being made in new nuclear development represent significant business potential that extend well beyond the nuclear industry.

"Together with Hatch and Tractebel, we can help heavy industry clients reach climate change goals by leveraging our individual and collective strengths to provide end-to-end solutions that bring nuclear energy projects to life."

"Hatch, Laurentis, and Tractebel's cooperation will be crucial to the construction of SMRs in Europe and in North America," added Tractebel Chief Global Nuclear Officer Denis Dumont. "We are honoured to cooperate with these two major partners that have strong roots in the North American industrial and nuclear markets. Tractebel will bring its international nuclear new build and design authority experience to the alliance."

"We are pleased to collaborate with Laurentis and Tractebel," said Hatch Global Director Nuclear Amar Jolly. "Our collective experience creates a win-win for nuclear and industrial clients interested in leveraging nuclear to decarbonise, as well as for our communities and our climate. We believe that nuclear will be instrumental in the energy transformation and in achieving our global net-zero goals, including the decarbonization of heavy industries."

Tractebel has more than 60 years of nuclear engineering experience in Europe and now globally throughout the entire life cycle of nuclear installations, from design to decommissioning, as well as in industrial applications. Tractebel - a subsidiary of France's Engie - has been collaborating with EDF on the Nuward small modular reactor (SMR) project since 2021.

Hatch offers engineering, consulting, and technology and equipment design, including first-of-a-kind development in the nuclear sector and covers the entire life-cycle of nuclear installations from mining, fuel development, new build, operation, decommissioning and waste management. The company has been involved in supporting the development and evaluation of SMRs for on-grid or off-grid power since 2012. It is working with SMR vendors, utilities, heavy industry, industry regulators, and governments to support their development, licensing and implementation.

Laurentis was established in 2012, under the name Canadian Nuclear Partners, and was renamed Laurentis Energy Partners in January 2020. Based in Canada and with operations in Europe, Laurentis serves customers in energy markets and in health care around the world. Laurentis is currently providing services to a number of SMR clients including Canadian nuclear utilities, Canadian non-nuclear utilities, European utilities, European non-nuclear utilities, and Canadian government departments.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Contractor-selected-for-Pallas-reactor

Following a tender procedure, Spanish construction firm FCC Construcción (FCC) has been contracted to build the Pallas research reactor at the Energy & Health Campus in Petten, the Netherlands.

In January 2023, NRG-Pallas launched a tender procedure for the construction of the Pallas reactor and surrounding buildings under EU public procurement rules. Three pre-qualified candidates were selected to submit offers. The offer from FCC was evaluated as "the most economically advantageous tender", NRG-Pallas said.

"With FCC we have found a partner to construct the new Pallas reactor," said Pallas Programme Director Peter Dijk. "The construction of the Pallas reactor is a unique and complex project, for which collaboration is key. We are convinced that we have found a competent partner in FCC."

"This is an important step to realise the Pallas reactor," said NRG-Pallas CEO Bertholt Leeftink. "The new reactor is in the interest of security of supply of medical isotopes for patients worldwide and important for maintaining the Dutch nuclear knowledge infrastructure."

"For FCC Construcción, participation in the Pallas project is undoubtedly an exceptional opportunity to demonstrate our experience and capacity in designing and executing industrial infrastructures, which have a high degree of specialization, innovation and technology," added FCC Director of Western Europe Yago Mijangos.

The Pallas research reactor is to be built at Petten to replace the existing High Flux Reactor (HFR). The 45 MW HFR started operating in September 1960, since when its use has largely been shifted from nuclear materials testing to fundamental research and the production of medical radioisotopes. The reactor - operated by NRG on behalf of the European Union's Joint Research Centre - has for a long time supplied about 60% of Europe's and 30% of the world's use of medical radioactive sources.

Pallas will be of the "tank-in-pool" type, with a thermal power of around 55 MW, and able to deploy its neutron flux more efficiently and effectively than the HFR.

In May this year, work began on the foundations after the Authority for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection granted a construction licence for the reactor in February.

In September, Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport Ernst Kuipers confirmed full funding has been allocated for the EUR1.68 billion (USD1.79 billion) estimated public investment required for the Pallas reactor.

Construction of the reactor will be able to go ahead if the Dutch parliament does not object to the creation of a new state-owned company and if the European Commission approves the public investment.

"The coming period will be used for all the preparations necessary for the start of the Pallas reactor construction," NRG-Pallas said.

@Emil

I wish to see a better tomorrow through greener choices that more and more people choose. I play my part to make a difference, no matter how small it is compared to something else.

I trust that nuclear energy is one of the choices we can make that take us to a cleaner future.

Even though I'm not subscribed to the Nuclear magazine because I get to read through every thread, I am nonetheless happy every time I see you posting one more nuclear thread.

Maybe we get more chances to make a cleaner difference?

Thank you for your work here!

.

(Did I use the @ user mention correctly?)

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/SMR-concept-project-presented-to-Mongolia-by-Rosat

Russia has presented a concept for constructing a small modular reactor (SMR) in Mongolia, during a session on the sidelines of the UN's COP28 climate change conference.

Mongolia has substantial known uranium resources, but does not currently have nuclear energy. However it has been exploring tentative plans over recent years, with World Nuclear Association saying three possible sites have been under consideration.

During the SMR Day, Rosatom highlighted its small modular reactor project in Yakutia, with commissioning planned in 2028, as well as outlining its plans for floating nuclear power plants, following the Akademik Lomonosov, which has been in commercial operation since 2019.

Kirill Komarov, deputy director general of Rosatom, said: "There are more than 70 small modular reactor projects in the world in the design stage. Rosatom is the only technology company that has moved from words to action ... we are confident that the experience gained in the coming years will allow us to offer our partners around the world the best solutions in the field of SMRs."

Earlier this year, in June, Rosatom and the Mongolian company Dayan Deerkh Energy Ltd signed an agreement on strategic cooperation on the joint implementation of projects in the field of nuclear, wind and hydropower, aimed at ensuring the energy independence of Mongolia.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/enCore-and-Boss-Energy-form-strategic-partnership

enCore Energy of the USA has entered into an agreement with Australia's Boss Energy, through which Boss will acquire a 30% stake in enCore's Alta Mesa in-situ leach (ISL) project in South Texas.

The key terms of the agreement include the creation of a joint venture on Alta Mesa with enCore holding a 70% interest and remaining the project manager, and Boss holding a 30% interest in exchange for a payment of USD60 million. The joint venture company will distribute uranium from production at Alta Mesa on a pro-rata basis to enCore and Boss Energy's ownership interest.

In addition, Boss will make a private placement of USD10 million into enCore shares at a price of USD3.90 per share. The agreement also sees collaboration on the use and joint technological advancement of enCore's proprietary Prompt Fission Neutron (PFN) technology for real-time uranium analysis, for which Boss will receive an exclusive Australian licence.

Also, Boss will lend up to 200,000 pounds of physical uranium at commercial rates to enCore from its strategic stockpile, allowing enCore the flexibility to optimise its contracts and potential spot sales. The loan plus interest of 9% will be repayable in 12 months in cash or uranium.

The transaction is expected to be completed in February 2024, subject to certain customary conditions, including certain regulatory approvals and stock exchange approvals, in addition to Boss Energy completing a financing to fund the cash payments on closing.

Alta Mesa - which enCore acquired from Energy Fuels Inc for USD120 million in February this year - will be enCore's second producing location, planned for production in the first half of 2024 following the recently announced resumption of uranium production at the South Texas Rosita Uranium Processing Plant.

Primary operating capacity at the Alta Mesa Central Processing Plan (CPP) is 1.5 million pounds of U3O8 per year with additional back-end capacity of 0.5 million pounds of U3O8 per year, using feed from remote satellite ion exchange (IX) facilities that can be installed across the approximately 200,000-acre project area or on other projects. This will utilise fully the CPP's existing capacity of 2 million pounds of U3O8 per year. The Alta Mesa Project has 3.41 million pounds at 0.109% U3O8 measured and indicated and 16.97 million pounds at 0.120% U3O8 inferred NI 43-101 compliant resources.

enCore said the transaction provides it with the financial capacity to significantly accelerate its uranium production pipeline across South Texas through the development of multiple satellite operations. In addition, the transaction paves the way for aggressive expansion, consolidation and development of enCore's Dewey Terrace and Dewey-Burdock projects straddling the Wyoming-South Dakota border and enables the company to quicken development of its Gas Hills project in Wyoming.

"The capital received on closing will allow enCore to ramp up both exploration and development drilling not only at Alta Mesa but across our entire US portfolio," said enCore CEO Paul Goranson. "Existing licences, at both the Rosita and Alta Mesa CPPs, enable enCore to more than double the combined production capacity of both CPPs without further permits or license amendments. Deployment of the same satellite IX resin operating process utilised at Rosita will allow the full use of the 2 million pounds of uranium per year processing capacity at Alta Mesa.

"We look forward to collaborating with Boss Energy to advance our proprietary PFN technology, which provides enCore with the tools to analyse uranium data in real time, representing a major advantage in cost and time to install wellfields utilised in the ISL process."

Boss Energy's Managing Director, Duncan Craib, said: "Given the location, grade, scale, growth potential and historic production, the Alta Mesa Project is one of the best ISL projects globally with a near-term pathway to production. It is a project that we have always wanted to be involved in.

"The deal provides Boss Energy an initial low-risk foothold in the pivotal US uranium industry. The US is determined to become more self-sufficient in uranium and Alta Mesa will play a role in that process."

Boss Energy - which has almost completed development of its Honeymoon Uranium Project in South Australia - said that, with the addition of the Alta Mesa Project, the company is "set to become a multi-mine uranium producer" during the first half of 2024.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/TRIGA-International-to-produce-fuel-for-US-microre

TRIGA International - a joint venture between Framatome and General Atomics - has been awarded a contract to fabricate TRIGA-like fuel for the US Department of Energy's (DOE's) Microreactor Applications Research Validation and Evaluation (MARVEL) microreactor.

The contract was awarded through Battelle Energy Alliance LLC (BEA), which operates the Idaho National Lab (INL) - where the MARVEL reactor is planned to be constructed - on behalf of the DOE. The fuel will be fabricated at Framatome's dedicated TRIGA manufacturing facility at CERCA Romans, in France, in line with the schedule of the MARVEL project.

"We thank the DOE and BEA for their confidence in our expertise with the contract award," said François Gauché, vice president of CERCA at Framatome and president of TRIGA International. "We are very excited about the MARVEL project. Our US customer can count on our dedication to the success of this project."

TRIGA - standing for Training, Research, Isotopes General Atomics - reactors are primarily used for student training, research projects and isotope production. These pool-type reactors operate at thermal power levels from less than 0.1 to 16 megawatts, and are pulsed to 22,000 megawatts. More than 66 TRIGA units have been built around the world since 1960, 36 of which remain in operation today. Twelve of the 18 TRIGA reactors in the USA are located at universities, with fuel managed by the DOE through the Research Reactor Infrastructure programme within the Office of Nuclear Energy.

Framatome and General Atomics created the TRIGA International joint venture in 1995 to market TRIGA fuel elements manufactured at CERCA Romans, the only supplier of uranium-zirconium hydride fuel for use in TRIGA-type reactors.

TRIGA-type fuel designs are being explored for new applications beyond university training. The unique properties of TRIGA fuel can be seamlessly transitioned to non-TRIGA plants such as small modular, micro or advanced reactors, Framatome said.

The award of the MARVEL fuel contract follows the restart of the TRIGA programme after nearly 10 years. The CERCA Romans facility resumed operations in December 2021 after completing an USD80 million modernisation project, funded by the DOE and TRIGA International, which began in 2018.

In February 2022, the DOE agreed a nine-year contract with TRIGA International to secure new fuel elements for its TRIGA research reactors. It agreed to purchase 668 new fuel elements over the next nine years with an initial procurement of 55 elements. The first delivery of TRIGA fuel was to Penn State University in September.

MARVEL - a liquid-metal cooled microreactor equipped with Stirling engines - is expected to produce 85 kW (thermal). It is to be constructed at INL's Transient Reactor Test Facility - using off-the-shelf components, which will allow for faster construction - where it will be used to test microreactor applications, evaluate systems for remote monitoring, and develop autonomous control technologies. DOE has said it plans to connect the reactor to the lab's first nuclear microgrid. The reactor could be operational as soon as the end of next year.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/In-Pictures-Hinkley-Point-C-polar-crane-installed

You want to open the source for this.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Second-APR-1400-at-Shin-Hanul-starts-up

Unit 2 of the Shin Hanul nuclear power plant in South Korea has attained a sustained chain reaction for the first time, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) announced. The unit is the second of two APR-1400 reactors at the site, with a further two planned.

The 1350 MWe pressurised water reactor reached first criticality at 7.00am on the 6 December, KHNP said.

Shin Hanul 2 received an operating licence from the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission on 7 September, after which it completed a preliminary inspection by the regulator. The loading of 241 fuel assemblies into the reactor's core was carried out between 11 and 18 September. High-temperature functional tests were subsequently conducted.

With first criticality now achieved, Shin Hanul 2 will undergo performance tests of the power plant system. The reactor is scheduled to start generating electricity on 20 December, contributing to the winter power peak, KHNP said. After major tests at each output stage, it is scheduled to begin full-scale commercial operation in the first half of 2024.

Ground breaking for the first two units at the Shin Hanul (formerly Shin Ulchin) site took place in May 2012. First concrete for unit 1 was poured two months later, with that for unit 2 following in June 2013. Shin Hanul 1 achieved first criticality on 22 May 2022 and was connected to the grid on 9 June last year.

"Shin Hanul unit 1, the same reactor design as Shin Hanul unit 2, began commercial operation in December of last year and has been operating without failure for 365 days to-date," KHNP noted.

Once in operation, Shin Hanul 2 will be South Korea's 28th nuclear power reactor and its 4th operational APR1400 - after Saeul units 1 and 2 (formerly Shin Kori 3 and 4) and Shin Hanul unit 1. Two further APR1400s are under construction as Saeul units 3 and 4, with two more units planned as Shin Hanul units 3 and 4.

Four APR1400 units have been built at the Barakah nuclear power plant in the UAE, three of which are now in operation, with the fourth currently in its commissioning phase.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Chinese-HTR-PM-Demo-begins-commercial-operation

The world’s first modular high temperature gas-cooled reactor nuclear power plant has entered commercial operation, China’s National Energy Administration has announced.

It follows a successful 168-hour demonstration run for the High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor - Pebble-bed Module (HTR-PM) in Shidao Bay (also known as Shidaowan), in Shandong Province, which is currently operating at 2×200 MWt power.

The HTR-PM features two small reactors (each of 250 MWt) that drive a single 210 MWe steam turbine. It uses helium as coolant and graphite as the moderator. Each reactor is loaded with more than 400,000 spherical fuel elements (‘pebbles’), each 60 mm in diameter and containing 7 g of fuel enriched to 8.5%. Each pebble has an outer layer of graphite and contains some 12,000 four-layer ceramic-coated fuel particles dispersed in a graphite matrix. The fuel has high inherent safety characteristics, and has been shown to remain intact and to continue to contain radioactivity at temperatures up to 1620°C - far higher than the temperatures that would be encountered even in extreme accident situations, according to the China Nuclear Energy Association.

First concrete for the demonstration project was poured on December 2012, with the operating permit granted in August 2021 and the plant connected to the grid in December 2021. ​The plant has more than 2200 sets of first-of-a-kind equipment, including more than 660 sets of innovative equipment. The supporting fuel element production line has the largest production capacity in the world.

The project is a collaborative effort involving Tsinghua University as a technical leader, responsible for research and development and main components and systems design, with China Huaneng Group as the owner and operator of the plant, and China National Nuclear Coorporation as the engineering, procurement, and construction contractor and fuel manufacturer. Professor Zuoyi Zhang, director of the Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology at Tsinghua University, is the chief scientist and chief engineer for the project.

HTR-PM is a Generation IV nuclear energy technology and a small modular reactor. Two safety demonstration tests were conducted on the reactor modules, each at a power of 200 MWt, on 13 August and 1 September, respectively.

A Tsinghua spokesperson said: "The normal energy transfer driven by power was stopped during the tests. The measured nuclear power and temperatures within the different reactor structures, described how the reactors were naturally cooled down, without intervention of humans or emergency core cooling systems. The tests confirmed that commercial-scale reactors could be cooled down naturally without emergency core cooling systems for the first time in the world. It is the so-called inherently safe reactor.

"The major purpose of HTR-PM is to co-generate high temperature steam up to 500℃ and electricity. It is cost effective currently in the Chinese market to supply steam and electricity for the petrochemical industry to substitute the burning of natural gas and coal. This breakthrough technology is recognised to play a positive role in optimising energy structure and achieving China's 'dual carbon' goal. Several commercial projects are under preparation in China."

China's National Energy Administration, in announcing the start of commercial operation, said: "The commissioning of the demonstration project is of great significance and has a positive impact on promoting the safe development of nuclear power in our country and improving our country's nuclear power power scientific and technological innovation capabilities."

In an interview last year for World Nuclear Association's World Nuclear Performance Report 2022, Lu Hua Quan, chairman of the Nuclear Research Institute, Huaneng Company, explained: "HTRs have the highest operating temperatures of all existing reactor types, and are also the only reactors that can provide very high-temperature process heat." He said there was export potential, especially to countries and regions where freshwater resources were scarce, adding that "HTRs could in the future provide a source of high-quality high-temperature process heat for various industries, in particular those that are required to limit their carbon emissions".

The HTR-PM follows on from China's HTR-10, a 10 MWt high-temperature gas-cooled experimental reactor at Tsinghua University's Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, which started up in 2000 and reached full power in 2003. Beyond the HTR-PM, China proposes a scaled-up version - HTR-PM600 - with one turbine rated at 650 MWe driven by six reactor modules.

Source: https://www.neimagazine.com/news/newswestinghouse-completes-acquisition-of-tecnatom-11347777

US-based Westinghouse Electric Company has completed 100% acquisition of long-standing partner Tecnatom from Spain’s Endesa after obtaining all regulatory approvals.

Westinghouse first acquired 50% of Tecnatom in 2021 and operated the company jointly with Endesa. Since then, Westinghouse and Tecnatom partnered in support of various projects and commercial opportunities, particularly in inspection services, training and digital solutions. By acquiring the remaining 50%, Westinghouse says it can fully integrate Tecnatom’s resources, capabilities and products, “in order to better serve the installed fleet of nuclear operators and new build opportunities globally”.

Patrick Fragman, Westinghouse President & CEO said the partnership established in 2021 with Endesa “revealed the depth of expertise and potential of Tecnatom teams, complementing exceptionally well the portfolio of Westinghouse's existing activities” He welcomed the full integration of Tecnatom “at a time when our utility and industrial customers require the highest level of expertise and performance to help them successfully operate their existing operations and implement their plans for new capacities”.

Spanish engineering and digital company Tecnatom has provided services to the nuclear sector since 1957. It is a global leader in non-destructive examination (NDE) for the nuclear and aerospace industries and is a unique digital training provider. It will also offer control room simulators and digital products in support of the deployment of Westinghouse AP1000 technology globally.

Source: https://www.neimagazine.com/news/newsengie-agrees-to-extension-of-belgian-reactors-11347887

French power group Engie and the Belgian federal government have finalised an agreement on the extension of unit 4 at the Doel NPP and unit 3 at the Tihange NPP, Doel 4 and Tihange 3, Belgian energy minister Tinne Van der Straeten said on social media platform X. “The deal with Engie has been completed. We have extended the two nuclear power plants that could be extended,” she said. Political discussions will start immediately “The following week, the various legal texts would be approved by the government and sent to the Council of State, so that we are completely on schedule for parliament,” she noted.

The texts will require approval from the entire government and Belgium's supreme administrative court before being sent to parliament and the European Union for final approval. She told Belgian broadcaster VRT that she hoped to complete the legislative process before elections in June.

A spokesperson for Engie told Reuters that the texts were “practically finalised” and now needed to go through the usual political process before a final, definitive signature on the deal was reached.

In July, Engie and the Belgian federal government signed an intermediate agreement defining the terms for extending the operation of Doel 4 and Tihange 3. The agreement aimed to ensure a balanced distribution of risks between the two parties and will also remove uncertainties about future changes in provisions related to the treatment of nuclear waste.

Belgium has seven nuclear power reactors – three at Tihange near Liege and four at Doel near Antwerp. All seven units are pressurised water reactors operated by Electrabel, part of Engie. Apart from Doel 1&2, which are 430 MWe plants, the others have a capacity of approximately 1000 MWe. In March, Belgium's Federal Agency for Nuclear Control (FANC) ruled out extension of the three oldest nuclear plants – Doel 1&2 and Tihange 1. Instead FANC advises depending on Doel 4 and Tihange 3 to avoid power shortages.

Tihange 2 was shut down in January, and Doel 1&2 are due to be disconnected from the grid by 2025 in line with the 2003 nuclear phase-out law. Tihange 2 was the second reactor to close under the phase-out law after Doel 3 closed in September 2022. In January, Engie-Electrabel reluctantly agreed to extend the operating lives of Doel 4 and Tihange 3 by 10 years from 2026 in face of the current energy crisis.

Source: https://www.neimagazine.com/news/newsrussias-bn-800-fast-reactor-prepares-to-burn-minor-actinides-11347674

Public hearings have been held in Russia’s Sverdlovsk region on justification of a licence to use nuclear materials during research to be undertaken by the BN-800 sodium-cooled fast neutron reactor at unit 4 of the Beloyarsk NPP. The materials made available for discussion included a preliminary environmental impact assessment.

This is part of Rosatom’s roadmap for the development of nuclear technologies for the coming century including the possibility of eliminating minor actinides using BN reactors. This would reduce the volume and radio-toxicity of radioactive waste generated during NPP destined for final disposal. The planned research is the first step in the technical implementation of the afterburning of minor actinides using the BN-800 reactor unit and later the development and application of similar technologies at the BN-1200 reactor planned for Beloyarsk unit 5.

Taking part in the hearings were: Vadim Lemekhov, General Designer of Russia’s Breakthrough (Proryv) project, which is intended to demonstrate closed fuel cycle technology; Mikhail Skupov, Deputy Director General of the AA Bochvar Research Institute of Inorganic Materials (VNIIINM); and Artem Kuznetsov design engineer at key design bureau OKBM of Afrikantov. Also present were Andrey Zakhartsev, head of the Zarechny district, deputies of the city Duma (parliament), members of the Public Chamber of Zarechny, residents of the Zarechny urban district and other settlements.

Including those present in the hall and others watching live broadcasts on the Internet, attendees totalled 1,456 people. They heard presentations by experts from the Research Institute of Ecology Problems, the Breakthrough project, Beloyarsk NPP, the Ural Federal University UrFU), and health unit No 32 of the Federal Medical & Biological Agency (FMBA), as well as representatives of the public.

Beloyarsk NPP Director Ivan Sidorov said fast neutron reactors have three huge advantages – they can recycle used nuclear fuel, they can use fuel that utilised uranium tailings from enrichment production, and they can burn minor actinides from the used fuel of other reactors. “In order to realise the third advantage of fast reactors on an industrial scale, we need to conduct research work on the BN-800. The team of highly qualified specialists at the Beloyarsk NPP, which has vast experience in operating fast neutron reactors, will make a key contribution to solving this problem.”

Breakthrough’s Lemekhov emphasised the importance of research to solve the promising problems of nuclear energy on a state and global scale and the indispensability of the BN-800 for this work. Igor Polishchuk, head of Beloyarsk NPP’s Radiation Safety Department, gave assurances that there would be no negative impact on either the population or the environment.

Oleg Tashlykov. Professor for NPPs and renewable energy sources at UrFU, explained that used fuel is highly radioactive because of the major actinides contained in it (uranium and plutonium), the minor actinides (neptunium, americium and curium) and fission products. Long-lived actinides and fission products are considered high-level waste and must be localised and isolated in deep geological formations for hundreds of thousands of years.

Processing can remove plutonium and minor actinides from the used fuel. Transmutation can then destroy transuranic elements (neptunium, plutonium, americium and curium) by fission in a reactor. The most studied transmutation technology involves fast neutron systems. “Recycling actinides in fast reactors provides a significant reduction in the amount of waste and the time needed to reduce radioactivity to the level of natural uranium ore,” he said. “The development of this technology at the BN-800 is an important stage for introducing it on an industrial scale at the BN-1200 reactors planned for serial construction.”

The head of Zarechny Andrey Zakhartsev noted the importance of cooperation between the NPP and the city. Beloyarsk NPP provides significant support for education, culture, sports, landscaping, and social projects, he noted. “The level of support for the Beloyarsk NPP by residents of Zarechny is very high. More than 96% of the population of our urban district have a positive attitude to nuclear energy….We can only welcome the further development of nuclear technology.”

Alexei Yekidin, leading researcher at the Institute of Industrial Ecology of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences and a member of the Public Council of Rosatom, said the event was held in accordance with the regulations. “Perhaps in a thousand years no one will remember the public discussions held in Zarechny in November 2023, but they will always remember the moment, when humanity approached the closure of the nuclear fuel cycle and guaranteed itself energy resources for millennia. Today we are participants in this historical event.”

He added that the research planned at the BN-800 “will bring great benefits for the whole of Russia. As a result, a technology will be created that will reduce the volume and radiotoxicity of radioactive waste and eliminate the need to store isotopes of minor actinides for a long time. It will solve a problem not only for us but also for subsequent generations.”

According to federal law, public discussions are mandatory when conducting a state environmental review of a future nuclear power facility. Their main goal is to give the public complete information about the activities of the facility, and its impact on the environment.

Representatives of the public who took part in the hearings noted the quality of the study of the materials presented and supported the conduct of research work at the No. 4 power unit with the BN-800 Beloyarsk NPP reactor, making sure, that these works satisfy safety requirements, especially environmental ones.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Palisades-SMR-programme-is-under-way-Holtec

Holtec International says it will commission its first two SMR-300 small modular reactor units at the Michigan site by 2030, while it expects to restart the existing shut-down pressurised water reactor unit at the site by the end of 2025.

The company said it is aiming to file a construction permit application for the two Palisades SMRs in 2026 with the first SMR-300 plant targeted for mid-2030, subject to regulatory reviews and oversight.

"Siting the first two SMR-300 units at Palisades eliminates the delays associated with erecting the plant at an undeveloped property and confers the many benefits of synergy that accrue from the presence of a co-located operating plant - including shared infrastructure and operational expertise, enhancements to grid stability, and resource optimisation," Holtec CEO Kris Singh said. "By building at our own site with our own credit and our own at-risk funds, we hope to deliver the dual-unit SMR-300 plant within schedule and budget," he added.

Holtec has been developing its small modular reactor (SMR) unit since 2011. The SMR-300 is a pressurised water reactor producing around 300 MW of electrical power or 1050 MW of thermal power for process applications, and the company says it has undergone several design evolutions, the most recent of which is the incorporation of forced flow capability overlayed on gravity-driven flow in the plant’s primary system.

The addition of booster pumps for normal operations does not change the plant's passive safety features, as the pumps are not relied upon for safe shutdown operations, but makes the uprated plant "more conducive to timely licensing by the NRC [Nuclear Regulatory Commission] and other overseas regulatory authorities", the company said. Holtec International subsidiary SMR, LLC, is involved in pre-licensing interactions with the NRC regarding the previous variant, the SMR-160.

Holtec said its 700-acre Oyster Creek site in Central New Jersey, was another "favoured" location for early SMR-300 deployment, although the company says the focus there will be on hydrogen production: Holtec is part of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub, one of seven hubs recently selected to share USD7 billion in federal funding to accelerate the commercial-scale deployment of low-cost, clean hydrogen.

Repowering Palisades

The Palisades nuclear power plant was shut down by Entergy in May 2022 after 50 years in service. The 805 MWe (net) reactor was defuelled that June, and its sale to Holtec was completed later that same month with decommissioning envisaged for completion in 2041. Holtec subsequently announced plans to repower the unit and in October of this year submitted a filing with the regulator to formally begin the process of seeking reauthorisation of power operations at the plant.

"The existing Palisades plant refurbished with an array of enhancements is on track to be restarted by the end of 2025 and is designed to provide decades of safe and reliable service," the company now says.

Palisades is currently classed by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission as being in "full decommissioning".

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/ENEC-to-evaluate-deployment-of-SMRs-and-microreact

Following the launch of a programme aimed at leveraging its experience in successfully delivering a nuclear power plant project, the UAE's Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) has signed a number of agreements with small modular reactor and micro-reactor vendors to explore opportunities for the commercialisation and global deployment of their designs.

ENEC said its ADVANCE programme - launched on 30 November - is "provisioned to strengthen the UAE's position as a leading nation in delivering climate action by accelerating the global clean energy transition to Net Zero".

The programme will evaluate the latest technologies in the advanced, small modular reactor (SMR) and microreactor categories. In doing so, ENEC will then work with national stakeholders to determine deployment pathways, and with international partners for both technology and project collaboration opportunities.

"The programme will expedite and centralise the UAE's approach to deploying state-of-the-art nuclear technology and boosting value streams through the generation of clean electrons and molecules, strengthening opportunities for users to generate green premiums for their low-carbon end products," ENEC said.

Work to construct four Korean-designed APR-1400 units at the UAE's Barakah site began in 2012. The first three units entered commercial operation in April 2021, March 2022 and February 2023, respectively. The three units at the plant already provide more than 80% of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi's clean electricity consumption, and when complete, the four-unit plant is expected to meet up to 25% of the UAE's total electricity demand.

"With unit 4 of the Barakah plant due to start up in 2024, ENEC is now focused on capitalising on the full value of the UAE's investment in the nuclear energy sector, working closely with key technology companies and energy intensive industry leaders to identify the right technology and meet the growing demand for clean electricity and molecules," ENEC said. "ENEC's technology selection and opportunity for co-investment in technologies, will ensure it remains at the forefront of advanced reactor development and create more attractive, high-value and long-term job opportunities for UAE Nationals."

"The Barakah plant is already the largest single source of clean electricity in the UAE and Arab World," said ENEC CEO Mohamed Al Hammadi. "Now, as we evaluate the leaders in the emerging advanced reactor arena, we will utilise the ADVANCE programme to select the best technologies for our needs here in the UAE, as well as for projects internationally, where we see opportunities for collaboration and co-investment. We look forward to working closely with our global partners to advance the peaceful use of nuclear energy and support the global goal of tripling global nuclear capacity by 2050." Vendor agreements

On the sidelines of the COP28 climate change conference taking place in Dubai, ENEC has since signed a number of agreements with vendors to assess their small and micro reactor designs.

ENEC has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy to explore potential BWRX-300 deployment in the UAE for electricity generation and non-traditional applications, including clean molecule generation, clean hydrogen production, and decarbonising energy-intensive sectors. They will also consider opportunities to collaborate on engineering, workforce, supply chain development supporting projects within the UAE. The MoU includes a potential framework for ENEC to lead a broader regional deployment of BWRX-300 SMRs in the Middle East and Africa.

"As part of the new ENEC ADVANCE programme, ENEC and GE Hitachi will work together to identify ways to advance the deployment of SMRs through this new MoU," Al Hammadi said. "It is a testament to our leading role in the future of clean energy in the region as we explore the integration of advanced nuclear technologies and the use of state-of-the-art SMRs around the world."

ENEC has also signed an MoU with TerraPower, developer of the Natrium sodium fast reactor with a molten salt energy storage system, to explore opportunities for the commercialisation and global deployment of the Natrium technology. The MoU will enable the exploration of the technical design and commercial viability for both electricity generation and non-traditional applications, including hydrogen production.

"Bringing advanced nuclear technologies to market is critical to meeting global decarbonisation targets," said TerraPower President and CEO Chris Levesque. "TerraPower and ENEC are leading the way in deploying nuclear plants, and this agreement allows us to share our expertise and design experience, and explore the opportunity for deployment of Natrium reactors around the world including additional locations in the United States."

Under another MoU, ENEC and Westinghouse will analyse the potential opportunities for technical and commercial deployment of the eVinci microreactor both in the UAE and overseas. The agreement will involve the potential use of ENEC project delivery know-how and experience as well as inclusion of nuclear-graded UAE companies as suppliers within the nation.

"We are very excited to be partnering with ENEC once again, and with this game-changing technology that can be truly transformative to the UAE," said Westinghouse President and CEO Patrick Fragman. "Our eVinci microreactor is an innovative nuclear battery that can deliver decarbonisation and secure energy exactly where it is needed for a wide range of customers and applications."

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Veolia-selects-Siteflow-for-Fukushima-decommission

Radioactive waste management specialist Veolia Nuclear Solutions (VNS) has partnered with French software solution provider Siteflow to enhance the design, execution and functionality of its remotely operated systems within the nuclear industry and other hazardous environments.

Notably, Siteflow will be employed by VNS UK to facilitate the testing of its latest robotic arm - a cutting-edge solution for nuclear maintenance and a future pivotal component in the decommissioning process of Japan's damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

This second robotic arm will build upon the success of its predecessor, already in Japan, with deployment on site scheduled for 2024.

VNS has been actively involved at the Fukushima Daiichi site since October 2014. Its mission includes the design and construction of long-range robotic manipulator systems to inspect, repair leaks, and recover fuel debris from unit 2's containment vessel. After undergoing rigorous testing, VNS's first teleoperated robotic arm - which has a reach of more than 21 metres - arrived at the site last month to deploy radiation sensors in locations inaccessible to humans through narrow openings.

Siteflow, will be employed by VNS to oversee the testing and operation planning for its second, "new generation" robotic arm, which will be used to retrieve physical samples of fuel debris.

"At Veolia, we believe that cutting-edge technology is a great opportunity for ecological transformation," said VNS Deputy Chief Technical Officer Simon Delavalle. "Siteflow, a solution that combines ease of use, speed, and reliability, emerges as a valuable asset. It will guide our engineering teams and operators in effectively developing and operating highly complex equipment at sites like Fukushima and other hazardous locations."

"This partnership with Veolia demonstrates the versatility and adaptability of our solution," said Siteflow Co-Founder and CEO Louis Hauvette. "This is a significant step for us. We continue to discover new use cases, and this one is thrilling! We are very proud that Siteflow is being used on a project that constitutes one of the biggest challenges in the history of the nuclear industry."

Siteflow noted the partnership with VNS UK marks a significant step in its international expansion as it represents its first contract with a British partner since opening its UK office in November last year.

Net zero pledge follows similar declaration signed by 22 countries.

The nuclear energy industry has launched a global campaign that calls for a massive increase in nuclear power and access to financing as part of the fight against climate change.

The Net Zero Nuclear Industry Pledge is part of the Net Zero Nuclear initiative launched in September by the London-based World Nuclear Association and the UAE’s state nuclear company Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (Enec).

The pledge, launched at the Cop28 climate conference in Dubai comes after 22 countries called for nuclear generation capacity to triple by 2050 from a base year of 2020. That pledge was signed at Cop28 on 2 December by countries including the US, Canada, Japan, France, the UK and the UAE.

The industry pledge says nuclear energy has a proven track record of rapid deep decarbonisation and a resilient strategy for achieving net zero should include an increase in the share of electricity provided by nuclear energy. “It therefore needs to grow at a rate faster than the increase in global electricity demand,” the pledge says.

It says nuclear energy capacity should at least triple by 2050 from current level and calls on governments, the World Bank and multilateral development banks to ensure nuclear energy has access to climate finance equal to other clean energy sources.

The Brussels-based nuclear industry group nucleareurope is one of over 100 signatories including nuclear companies, industry groups and utilities.

“Cop28 is a momentous occasion for nuclear,” said nucleareurope director-general Yves Desbazeille. ”For the first time in decades, [EU] member states have joined forces to underline the need for nuclear as a clean source of energy capable of ensuring security of supply.

“This call for a tripling in global nuclear capacity goes hand in hand with the target of 150 GW of nuclear capacity in the EU by 2050 set by the Nuclear Alliance back in May”.

The alliance was set up with 16 European countries that support nuclear power and want policies to support it. Its 150 GW target would be a 50% increase from around up from around 100 GW today.

According to the pledge, the nuclear industry is committed to working with governments, regulators, and other stakeholders to “maximise the contribution from existing operating nuclear power plants and accelerate the pace of new nuclear deployment in a safe, responsible and secure manner”.

Welcoming the pledge, Tom Greatrex, chief executive of the UK Nuclear Industry Association, said: “This pledge from industry shows it is ready to build out nuclear power at scale and pace to hit net zero and secure future energy systems. Governments are committed to ramping up nuclear and we stand ready to help deliver this vital target.”

Guardian newspaper alleges state-backed criminals infiltrated ‘highest echelons’ of nuclear site’s IT systems.

The UK’s nuclear regulator is giving government body tasked with cleaning up the Sellafield nuclear waste site “robust scrutiny” amid concerns that the organisation’s computer systems are not secure enough.

The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) had already placed Sellafield Ltd in “special measures” after failing to meet cyber security standards, but said in a statement on Monday (4 December) that it will continue to hold Sellafield Ltd to account to ensure improvements are made through a range of regulatory action and enforcement.

The ONR said with new leadership in place at Sellafield Ltd, “we have seen positive signs of improvement in recent months but will continue to apply robust regulatory scrutiny as necessary to ensure the ongoing safety of workers and the public”.

It said: “In relation to cyber security, Sellafield Ltd is currently not meeting certain high standards that we require, which is why we have placed them under significantly enhanced attention.

“Some specific matters are subject to an ongoing investigation process, so we are unable to comment further at this time.”

The ONR’s comments came as it was forced to deny claims the site in Cumbria, northwest England, had suffered a serious security breach at the hands of Russia and China-linked hackers.

A report in The Guardian newspaper alleged that state-backed criminals had infiltrated “the highest echelons” of Sellafield’s IT systems and left behind so-called sleeper malware – malicious software that is hidden and later used for spying or carrying out crippling attacks.

Senior staff failed to disclose the hack to the ONR for several years and more generally sought to “cover up” the poor state of cyber security, the Guardian said.

The newspaper raised concerns that highly-sensitive documents may have been accessed and that crucial equipment at the facility – the largest nuclear site in western Europe, where primary activities are nuclear waste processing and storage and nuclear decommissioning. Former activities included nuclear power generation from 1956 to 2003, and nuclear fuel reprocessing from 1952 to 2022.

However, shortly after the report was published, Sellafield Ltd and the ONR insisted there was no record of a successful cyber-attack by state or non-state hackers, and that no sleeper malware had been discovered either.

The regulator said it had “seen no evidence that Sellafield’s systems have been hacked in the way described”. ‘No Records Or Evidence To Suggest Cyber-Attack’

Sellafield Ltd added: “We have no records or evidence to suggest that Sellafield Ltd networks have been successfully attacked.

“Our monitoring systems are robust and we have a high degree of confidence that no such malware exists on our system.

“We have asked The Guardian to provide evidence related to this alleged attack so we can investigate. They have failed to provide this.

“All of our systems and servers have multiple layers of protection.

“Critical networks that enable us to operate safely are isolated from our general IT network, meaning an attack on our IT system would not penetrate these.”

The ONR said in a report in October that Sellafield Ltd had made “limited progress” in ensuring adequate cyber security arrangements due to resource constraints, resulting in the ONR taking enforcement action.

It said Sellafield Ltd is undertaking a comprehensive assurance activity of its cyber security arrangements.

“Upon completion of this analysis, Sellafield Ltd will be expected to act upon these findings to address any identified shortfalls,” the ONR said.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Moon-base-micro-reactor-concept-unveiled-by-Rolls

The results of a UK Space Agency backed research programme have been unveiled by Rolls-Royce, with the company saying it aims to have a micro-reactor ready to send to the Moon by the early 2030s.

The Space Micro-Reactor Concept Model was presented at the UK Space Conference in Belfast. It is the result of GBP2.9 million (USD3.7 million) funding from the UK Space Agency into how nuclear power could be used to support a future Moon base for astronauts.

The work focused in particular on the fuel used, the method of heat trasnfer and the technology to convert the heat into electricity. Rolls-Royce said: "All space missions depend on a power source and, as a self-contained and power-dense solution, a micro-reactor can provide power for the habitation and exploration of a planetary surface, or power and propulsion for spacecraft. Continuous power and efficient propulsion can also provide satellites with more flexible movement to protect and defend key orbits."

It would also be able to provide power "regardless of location, available sunlight, and other environmental conditions", and the company says that, as well as its space applications, the aim is to "create a world-leading power and propulsion capability for multiple markets and operator needs" with commercial and defence applications.

For the space project Rolls-Royce worked with Oxford, Bangor and Loughborough universities, the Welding Institute and the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre.

Paul Bate, CEO of the UK Space Agency, said: "Developing space nuclear power offers a unique chance to support innovative technologies and grow our nuclear, science and space engineering skills base. This innovative research by Rolls-Royce could lay the groundwork for powering continuous human presence on the Moon, while enhancing the wider UK space sector, creating jobs and generating further investment."

Abi Clayton, director of future programmes for Rolls-Royce, said: "The funding ... has enabled crucial research and development of technologies that bring us closer to making the micro-reactor a reality. Our Space Micro-Reactor Concept Model allows us to demonstrate how this technology will bring immense benefits for both space and Earth."

Rolls-Royce has a small modular reactor (SMR) in development - it is called small in comparison with traditional nuclear power plants. It is a 470 MWe design based on a small pressurised water reactor and designed to provide consistent baseload generation for at least 60 years. Micro-reactors are defined as smaller still - the International Atomic Energy Agency has defined them as "designed to generate electrical power typically up to 10 MWe" and their small size and transportability means they are seen as suitable for many new areas and uses, including space.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/KHNP-touts-i-SMR-to-international-audience

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) has used the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, UAE, to launch its new Innovative SMR (i-SMR) technology and its i-SMR powered Smart Net-Zero City model. The company has agreed to cooperate with Indonesian and Jordanian partners to investigate the deployment of i-SMR units.

KHNP said the i-SMR - an integrated pressurised water reactor type nuclear power plant with an electrical output of 170 MWe - is being developed according to a development roadmap, with the goal of completing the standard design by the end of 2025 and obtaining standard design approval in 2028.

"i-SMR, which will be developed with our technology as a sustainable clean energy solution, has excellent safety, economic feasibility, and flexibility," KHNP CEO Hwang Joo-ho said. "SMR Smart Net-Zero City, where i-SMR will be an energy source, is a sustainable city that is expected to significantly reduce consumption costs by up to 30%."

He added: "For countries with aging coal power plants, i-SMR can be a solution to promote the transition to safe and economically beneficial clean energy."

KHNP has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Nusantara Power - a power generation subsidiary of Indonesian Electric Power Corporation (PLN NP) - on mutual cooperation for the introduction and construction of the i-SMR in Indonesia.

Through this MoU, the two companies will cooperate in various fields, including: joint basic research on the economic feasibility and technology for deployment of the i-SMR in Indonesia; development of local specialised technology through R&D cooperation; and collaboration through human/technology exchanges in the nuclear field through the formation of a working group.

"This MoU is an important bridgehead for KHNP to enter the new SMR market in Southeast Asia," Hwang said. "Based on the know-how KHNP has accumulated in the process of operating and constructing nuclear power plants at home and abroad, we will cooperate with PLN NP in decarbonising Indonesia. I look forward to moving towards a strategic partnership in the nuclear energy sector."

KHNP has also signed an MoU on mutual cooperation with the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC) for the deployment of the i-SMR in Jordan.

The two organisations agreed to cooperate in comprehensive technology and information exchange on the i-SMR and to jointly conduct a feasibility study.

Jordan is currently considering the introduction of SMRs after 2030 in preparation of expected increased electricity demand. It is preparing for a bidding process, with the goal of selecting a preferred SMR vendor after 2024.

"Through this joint cooperation with KHNP, we look forward to evaluating the feasibility of deploying i-SMRs for electricity production and desalination in Jordan," said JAEC Chairman Khaled Toukan.

KHNP said it expects this MoU will not only build a close cooperative relationship with JAEC, but "will also serve as an opportunity to take a step forward in entering the overseas SMR business".

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/ENEC-and-Kazatomprom-sign-commerical-uranium-contr

Kazakhstan’s Kazatomprom has signed its first commercial uranium fuel supply contract with the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC), for the United Arab Emirates' Barakah nuclear power plant.

The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the United Nations' COP28 climate change conference taking place in Dubai, during the official visit of Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev (pictured centre, above).

Kazatomprom said in a statement announcing the contract that it "will serve as a new impetus for cooperation between nuclear companies of both countries, and will also open a new country in the sales geography of Kazatomprom", adding: "The scope and commercial terms of the contract are confidential and commercially sensitive and are not subject to public disclosure."

ENEC's CEO Mohamed Al Hammadi said: "ENEC has a comprehensive strategy for fuel management at Barakah, signing contracts back in 2012 with a number of global suppliers to ensure a sustainable and secure fuel supply. Signing this agreement with Kazatomprom, Kazakhstan, as the largest uranium producer globally, is strategically important for ENEC in further diversifying and securing fuel supplies. With a significant positive shift in many nations to include civil nuclear energy as part of their energy mix, security of supply for fuel is paramount. Adding Kazamtomprom only boosts our roster of fuel partners further, ensuring a sustainable fuel supply for the generation of clean, 24/7 electricity, and our plans for generation of clean heat, steam and clean molecules like hydrogen, to decarbonise energy-intensive and heavy industry in the UAE and oversees."

Kazatomprom CEO Meirzhan Yussupov said: "We are proud that the first ever commercial contract between Kazatomprom and ENEC will mark the beginning of valuable and promising cooperation between our companies. We are excited to add the UAE to the nations to whom we supply, and appreciate the recognition of Kazatomprom with its exceptional supply track record and sustainable market reputation as a part of the UAE’s energy security and net-zero agenda. We hope our partnership will only strengthen in the future resulting in new contracts for the reliable supplies of natural uranium for the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant."

Work to construct four Korean-designed APR-1400 units at Barakah began in 2012. The first unit started up and was connected to the grid in August 2020 and began commercial operation in April 2021; unit 2 was grid-connected in September 2021 and began commercial operation in March 2022; unit 3 entered commercial operation in February this year and unit 4 received its operating licence last month, clearing the way for commissioning and commercial operation of the unit.

The three units at the plant already operating provided more than 80% of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi's clean electricity consumption in December 2022, ENEC said, and when complete, the four-unit plant is expected to meet up to 25% of the UAE's electricity demand.

ENEC says that is now looking to to "capitalise on the expertise it has gained to look at opportunities for further large-scale plant development, advanced reactors, R&D and clean molecules, heat and steam generation, both in the UAE and through investments and partnerships overseas".

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Zaporizhzhia-nuclear-plant-suffers-eighth-power-bl

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (ZNPP) lost off-site power for the first time since May, and had to rely on emergency diesel generators for nearly five hours at the weekend, prompting renewed safety concerns amid the on-going war.

The six-reactor plant, which is on the front line and has been under the control of Russian military forces since early March 2022, lost its connection to its last remaining back-up 330kV line at 22:26 on Friday "due to an external grid fault". Five hours later, at 03:32 on Saturday, it also lost the main 750kV line, with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) saying "the cause appeared to be in the outside grid far away" from the plant.

According to the IAEA: "As a result, the site’s 20 diesel generators automatically started operating. ZNPP staff then reduced the number in operation to eight diesel generators, enough to ensure that the plant’s six reactors - all of which are shut down - have enough power for essential cooling."

The main 750kV line was restored shortly after 08:08 on Saturday. According to a report by Russia's Tass news agency, Renat Karchaa, adviser to Rosenergoatom's CEO, said the 330 kV line "is tentatively expected to be restored by 5 December" adding "there are no threats and risks for nuclear security".

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said: "The most recent external power outage is yet another reminder about the precarious nuclear safety and security situation at the plant, which can be affected by events far away from the site itself. The IAEA continues to do everything it can to help prevent a nuclear accident. I also call on all parties not to take any action that could further endanger the plant."

The IAEA said that one of the four coolant pumps at unit 4 was interrupted during the power loss and it is now "being brought from semi-hot shutdown back to hot shutdown to produce heating and steam for the site and the nearby town of Energodar where most plant staff live". The other five units remain in cold shutdown.

Energoatom, the Ukrainian operators of the plant before the Russian military took control of it, warned that all units need to be in cold shutdown to minimise risk, in line with the regulatory orders issued by Ukraine's nuclear regulator earlier this year. The IAEA has also in the past urged the current operators of the plant to explore alternative methods of providing the steam and heating, so all the reactors can be in cold shutdown.

Source: https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/pressreleases/iaea-mission-finds-effective-management-of-spent-fuel-and-radioactive-waste-in-the-netherlands-for-current-needs

The Netherlands has established an effective programme for managing its spent fuel and radioactive waste for its current needs, according to an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) review mission. The Government of the Netherlands, the Authority for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection (ANVS) and the Central Organization of Radioactive Waste (COVRA) have demonstrated a commitment to safety, innovation and openness.

The Integrated Review Service for Radioactive Waste and Spent Fuel Management, Decommissioning and Remediation (ARTEMIS) review team concluded a ten-day mission to the Netherlands on 28 November. The mission was requested by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management to support the Netherlands’ obligations under a European Union directive for independent reviews of national frameworks and programmes for managing radioactive waste and spent fuel.

The ARTEMIS team considered the findings from the June 2023 Integrated Regulatory Review Service, which assessed the country’s overall nuclear regulatory framework. Together, the two reviews comprehensively evaluated the Netherlands’ legal and governmental framework and regulatory infrastructure for nuclear safety and waste management.

The Netherlands’ policy on radioactive waste is connected to the country’s policy on radiation protection, which protects individuals, society and the environment against the risks of exposure to ionizing radiation. The Netherlands has one central storage facility for radioactive waste (COVRA), one nuclear power reactor in operation, one nuclear power plant in safe shutdown, two research reactors and one enrichment plant. By 2040, two new nuclear power plants, a research reactor and an installation for medical isotope production are expected to start operation.

Spent fuel from the Netherlands’ Borssele nuclear power plant is reprocessed in France, and the radioactive waste generated during this process is returned to the Netherlands for storage at COVRA. The spent fuel from the research reactors is directly stored at COVRA.

“The Netherlands established a waste management system that provides for the safe management of radioactive waste based on the current activities,” said Janez Perko, ARTEMIS Team Leader and Senior Researcher at the Belgian Nuclear Research Centre SCK CEN.

The ARTEMIS review team noted that the Netherlands is committed to continuous improvement for the safe management of radioactive waste and spent fuel. The team also identified recommendations, including:

• The Government should enhance the national policy and strategy related to disposal.
• The ANVS should enhance the regulatory framework concerning waste characterization.
• COVRA should proceed from the existing waste specifications to waste acceptance criteria for the management of radioactive waste.

"The mission team has provided us with useful and constructive recommendations that will really help us in the Netherlands to further improve our radioactive waste management policy,” said Vivianne Heijnen, the State Secretary for Infrastructure and Water Management, responsible for nuclear safety and radiation protection in the Dutch government. “We are currently updating our National Programme on Radioactive Waste, and this process will benefit from incorporating the ARTEMIS review mission’s suggestions. In the updated Programme, we will also launch a roadmap that will be a good basis to further implement the suggestions from the ARTEMIS review mission, for example, about final disposal and dismantling.”

The ARTEMIS review team comprised six experts from Belgium, Canada, Finland, France, Germany and Romania, and three IAEA staff members and one observer from the European Commission.

“I am confident that recommended improvements related to the safe management of radioactive waste and spent fuel, such as an enhanced policy and strategy, will be considered and implemented,” said Hildegarde Vandenhove, IAEA Director of the Division of Radiation, Transport and Waste Safety.

The final report from the review will be provided to the Government of the Netherlands in two months.

About ARTEMIS

ARTEMIS is an integrated expert review service for radioactive waste and spent fuel management, decommissioning and remediation programmes. This service is intended for facility operators and organizations responsible for radioactive waste management, as well as for regulators, national policy makers and other decision makers.

The IAEA Safety Standards provide a robust framework of fundamental principles, requirements and guidance to ensure safety. They reflect an international consensus and serve as a global reference for protecting people and the environment from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation. IAEA documents, such as Nuclear Energy Series publications, are also included in the review basis. They include practical examples to be used by owners and operators of utilities, implementing organizations, academia and government officials in Member States, among others.

Source: https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/pressreleases/iaea-sees-operational-safety-commitment-at-bohunice-nuclear-power-plant-in-slovakia-encourages-continued-improvement

An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of experts stated that the operator of Units 3 and 4 of the Bohunice Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in Slovakia has demonstrated a commitment to operational safety. The team also encouraged the operator to continue improvements in areas such as the implementation of its leadership academy and maintenance work.

The Operational Safety Review Team (OSART) concluded an 18-day mission to the Bohunice NPP on 23 November. The mission, which focused on the plant’s two units, was carried out at the request of the Government of Slovakia.

OSART missions aim to improve operational safety by independently assessing safety performance against the IAEA’s safety standards, by proposing recommendations and, where appropriate, suggestions for improvement. Safety is an essential element during commissioning and the subsequent safe operation of a nuclear power plant.

The plant, owned by Slovenské Elektrárne (SE), is located close to the city of Trnava, Slovakia, 80 kilometres from the Slovakian capital Bratislava. Unit 3 started commercial operation in 1984, and Unit 4 in 1985. Bohunice’s Unit 1 and 2 are in permanent shutdown. The two operating 500 megawatt electrical (MW(e)) pressurized water reactors (VVER 440/V213) are amongst five operating nuclear power reactors in Slovakia - three more units are operated at Mochovce NPP. Nuclear power currently contributes over 60 per cent of the country's electricity. This figure is expected to rise, as Slovakia is commissioning an additional reactor.

The 13-member team comprised experts from Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, France, Germany, Slovenia, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, as well as two IAEA officials.

“We observed that the plant’s senior leadership team held safety as a priority and pushed for improvement in all areas,” said team leader John Duguid, Senior Nuclear Safety Officer at the IAEA. “The team also proposed areas in which improvements can be made to further elevate the plant’s safety performance.”

The team identified good practices to be shared with the nuclear industry globally, including:

• The use of advanced and innovative firefighting equipment.
• The use of individual specialist dosimetry software for the investigation of contamination in the Radiation Controlled Area of the plant.
• The implementation of a “Radiological Forecast Application” (ESTE), which is a classification tool used for on-line early classification of emergency events, including automatic reporting of the recommended public protection measures.

The mission provided recommendations and suggestions to further improve operational safety, including that:

• The plant should improve implementation of the processes related to plant modification and status control to ensure plant safety.
• The plant should improve implementation of the processes related to plant ageing to ensure plant safety.
• The plant should improve its preparation, control and implementation of maintenance activities to ensure equipment reliability and personnel safety.

The review team also acknowledged the plant’s initiative to establish a leadership academy and encouraged the operator to further pursue this initiative.

"The OSART mission enabled an in-depth assessment of the site and an enriching sharing of the best global practices thanks to the team’s combined expertise,” said Peter Farkaš, Director of NPP Bohunice. “The recommendations and suggestions will help us ensure a continuous improvement of the plant’s operational safety.”

The team provided a draft report of the mission to the plant management. They will have the opportunity to make factual comments on the draft. These comments will be reviewed by the IAEA and the final report will be submitted to the Government of Slovakia within three months.

Background

General information about OSART missions can be found on the IAEA website. An OSART mission is designed as a review of programmes and activities essential to operational safety. It is not a regulatory inspection, nor is it a design review or a substitute for an exhaustive assessment of the plant’s overall safety status.

Follow up missions are standard components of the OSART programme and are typically conducted within two years of the initial mission.

The IAEA Safety Standards provide a robust framework of fundamental principles, requirements, and guidance to ensure safety. They reflect an international consensus and serve as a global reference for protecting people and the environment from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation.

Agreement will enable exploration of technical design and commercial viability.

Bill Gates’ advanced nuclear reactor company TerraPower and the United Arab Emirates’ state-owned nuclear company Enec said on Monday (4 December) they have agreed to study the potential commercialisation and global deployment of TerraPower’s Natrium technology.

The memorandum of understanding comes as the UAE is considering plans to expand its nuclear energy capacity, and a pledge by over 20 nations at the Cop28 climate conference in Dubai to triple nuclear deployment this decade to fight climate change.

“For the UAE, we’re looking for a future for the clean electrons and molecules that will be brought to reality by advanced reactors,” said Enec chief executive officer Mohamed Al Hammadi during the signing ceremony.

“Bringing advanced nuclear technologies to market is critical to meeting global decarbonisation targets,” said TerraPower president and chief executive officer Chris Levesque.

Gates, founder and chairman of TerraPower, also attended the signing ceremony.

TerraPower said the MOU will enable the exploration of the technical design and commercial viability for both electricity generation and non-traditional applications including hydrogen production.

TerraPower’s Natrium reactor and energy storage system is an advanced reactor that the company says could pave the way for the next generation of nuclear energy. It is a 345 MW Generation IV sodium fast reactor that features a molten salt energy storage system that can boost power up to 500 MW for over five hours. This allows the plant to offer 24/7 carbon-free energy, while providing flexible, dispatchable power that can scale up or down based on electricity demand.

The first Natrium plant is being developed in the US near a retiring coal plant in Kemmerer, Wyoming, and is expected to enter operation within a decade, making it one of the fastest and lowest-cost paths to clean energy.

The Natrium, and other advanced reactors, need advanced fuel and the US government and TerraPower are investing in the production of high assay low enriched uranium (Haleu) requirements.

The Need For Non-Russian Haleu

Haleu is an essential advanced nuclear fuel required for the development of most next-generation reactor designs. It is needed for 90% of advanced reactor designs selected for funding under the US Department of Energy’s advanced reactor demonstration programme.

Centrus Energy recently began enrichment operations at its American Centrifuge Plant in Piketon, Ohio, as it approaches production of Haleu, breaking an existing Russian monopoly.

Centrus has signed an agreement with TerraPower to significantly expand their collaboration aimed at establishing a Haleu supply for TerraPower’s Natrium.

TerraPower said last year that the Natrium plant proposed Wyoming could be delayed at least two years because of a lack of advanced fuel sources outside Russia.

TerraPower said Russia was the only commercial source of the more highly enriched Haleu the Natrium nuclear power plant requires, but sourcing from there was no longer an option.

The fact that Russia has a monopoly on Haleu has long been a concern for Washington. Only Tenex, which is part of Russian state-owned nuclear energy company Rosatom, sells Haleu commercially at the moment.

The UAE is bullish about nuclear. It has a strong civil nuclear programme that has already seen the start of commercial operation of three units at the Barakah nuclear power station, with plans for a fourth and final unit to come online in 2024.