Nuclear Energy

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Czech

Plans for small modular reactors (SMRs) in the Czech Republic are to be included in State Energy Policy and Spatial Development Policy of the Czech Republic after a minister-led working group examining their potential outlined numerous potential sites and called for the start of construction in the first half of the 2030s.

Jozef Síkela, Czech Minister of Industry and Trade, speaking the day after final bids were received for the construction of a new unit at the Dukovany nuclear plant, said: "Small and medium-sized reactors will be a great addition to the modern power system of the Czech Republic, both in terms of electricity and heat generation. Our vision is for SMRs to complement large nuclear units from 2030s-40s onwards. In this way, we will capitalise on the unique know-how of our nuclear industry. The approved roadmap will provide investors with a certainty, so that they can prepare sites and subsequently make investment decisions.

"This will give Czech companies the opportunity to participate in supply chains of Czech and foreign projects in the future, to look for partners abroad and play an important role in the development of this promising field."

The government approved the working group's Czech SMR Roadmap - Applicability and Contribution to the Economy document, which sets out the framework for SMRs' potential in the Czech Republic and suggests sites, possible investor models and legislative changes. The roadmap also includes information on the various design options, with the ministry's statement noting that among those interested in cooperating with Czech companies were Rolls-Royce SMR and GE Hitachi, whose designs were said to be the "most advanced in the development of a functional SMR".

It considers the progress of Czech SMR projects but suggests they are at a "very early stage of development", and suggests the government continues to back them through other programmes designed to support research and development rather than as the initial wave of SMRs. However, the report does raise the question of to what extent "foreign designs will be available if the high demand indicated by for instance neighbouring Poland materialises (sources hint at plans for 79 reactors from GE Hitachi, up to 8 GW from Rolls-Royce SMR and others)".

In terms of potential sites, the Roadmap includes 45 in total - the existing nuclear power plants Temelin and Dukovany and adds "promising locations include current coal-fired power plants, e.g. Dětmarovice and Tisováplus".

Deputy Industry Minister Petr Třešňák said: "Due to their size and power output, these reactors can be a suitable replacement for coal-fired power plants which are being phased out. Apart from current nuclear sites, which were primarily intended for the construction of classic nuclear reactors, SMRs can be sited on other locations. These need to be identified and prepared in time."

The ministry said of SMRs that "the next five to ten years will be key in terms of their marketability, with corresponding business opportunities" and that, as with other energy projects, will require some form of state aid and the "Czech government advocates for a level playing field for nuclear energy development at the European level, particularly in the area of EU policies and programmes, financing, and market design".

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/South-Ukrainian-plant-s-unit-1-gets-10-year-extens

The State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine (SNRIU) has said unit 1 of the South Ukraine nuclear power plant can operate safely for a further 10 years.

It said that inspection surveys and other checks had led it to conclude that "power unit No.1 of the South Ukraine NPP meets the requirements for nuclear and radiation safety" and they "recognise the reasonable possibility of safe operation ... at the capacity levels specified in the project until 2 December 2033".

Operator Energoatom's President Petro Kotin said: "We have received confirmation of the possibility of further safe operation of this power unit for another 10 years, during which nuclear and radiation safety, protection of personnel, population and the environment are guaranteed. The uniqueness of this event is that, for the first time in Ukraine, all the necessary procedures and examinations to obtain the appropriate conclusion were carried out in accordance with Western standards and without a long shutdown of the power unit."

Instead of the previous practice of shutting a power unit down for between 200 to 250 days, he said: "This time, we went through all the necessary procedures to extend the life ... while maintaining generation and providing electricity to our citizens. The implementation of such global practice by Energoatom specialists and SNRIU experts significantly increased the efficiency and quality of our work."

The 950 MWe VVER unit entered commercial operation in 1983. The original design lifetime of the Russian reactors was 30 years, with Ukraine opting for 10-year extensions. South Ukraine's unit 1 had a 10-year extension to its operating licence issued in 2013, which was due to expire in December.

Ukraine has 15 reactors - including the six at Zaporizhzhia which have been under Russian military control since early March 2022 - whose combined capacity generates about half of its electricity. The country is looking to the West for new nuclear capacity, large and small, including an agreement with Westinghouse to build nine AP1000 reactors at established sites.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Cold-testing-completed-at-first-Zhangzhou-unit

Cold hydrostatic testing has been completed at unit 1 of the Zhangzhou nuclear power plant in China's Fujian province, the first of two Hualong One reactors under construction at the site. The tests mark the first time the reactor systems are operated together with the auxiliary systems.

Cold functional tests are carried out to confirm whether components and systems important to safety are properly installed and ready to operate in a cold condition. The main purpose of these tests is to verify the leak-tightness of the primary circuit and components - such as pressure vessels, pipelines and valves of both the nuclear and conventional islands - and to clean the main circulation pipes.

China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) announced that the final test - in which the pressure in the primary loop is held at 22.3 MPa for 10 minutes - was successfully completed on 31 October.

"The successful test of the installation quality of related equipment pipelines means that the unit has fully entered the commissioning stage after completion of installation," CNNC said. "At the same time, it has also laid a solid foundation for the follow-up hot test, fuel loading and grid-connected power generation of the unit."

China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment issued construction licences for Zhangzhou units 1 and 2 on 9 October 2019 to CNNC-Guodian Zhangzhou Energy Company, the owner of the Zhangzhou nuclear power project, which was created by CNNC (51%) and China Guodian Corporation (49%) in 2011. Construction of unit 1 began one week after the issuance of the construction licence, with that of unit 2 starting in September 2020. The units are scheduled to enter commercial operation in 2024 and 2025, respectively.

CNNC said Zhangzhou unit 1 is the first Hualong One batch construction project. The first two demonstration units of CNNC's version of the Hualong One design at the Fuqing plant in Fujian province have both already started up. Unit 5 entered commercial operation on 30 January 2021, with unit 6 following on 25 March 2022. CNNC is also building two Hualong Ones as units 3 and 4 of the Changjiang plant, in Hainan province, construction of which began in March 2021 and December 2021, respectively.

Source: https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/hosting-a-nuclear-facility-mayors-discuss-role-of-community-engagement

Engaging local stakeholders through transparent and open dialogue is pivotal for the success of nuclear projects. Engagement requires time, trust-building and adaptability as expectations evolve. In many places, communities that initially expressed scepticism or opposition have become advocates because of this engagement and better understanding of what it means to host a nuclear facility.

“The nuclear industry in Canada provides tens of thousands of high paying jobs, provides medical isotopes around the globe and, for Ontario, generates a significant amount of reliable, affordable, low carbon electricity,” said Adrian Foster, Mayor of Clarington in Canada. “As a host community, we enable all of these benefits, and we take pride in that.”

The IAEA recently hosted a meeting in Vienna that brought together leaders of nuclear facility host communities, representatives of facility operators, safety authorities and government officials from some 50 countries to share experiences in fostering positive relationships with local stakeholders. A group of host community representatives also met with IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, who recognized the need for open engagement with stakeholders if low carbon nuclear energy is to achieve its potential in the clean energy transition.

Nuclear energy stands on a robust technical and safety foundation, but misconceptions and concerns persist, particularly about nuclear waste. The IAEA supports countries in their efforts to engage stakeholders in activities that span the nuclear fuel cycle, from uranium mining to nuclear power plant construction and decommissioning, up to waste management, through publications, conferences, expert missions and technical meetings as well as the Safety Standards.

Mayor Rebecca Casper of Idaho Falls in the United States of America, home to the Idaho National Laboratory, highlighted how an initially fraught public dialogue has positively evolved over time.

“A dialogue that was formed through distrust and even some anger has transformed into one that is now based on collaboration over improving future outcomes,” Caspar said. “The form of engagement also has changed from press releases and ad-hoc public meetings to a schedule of regular, face-to-face meetings and forums. I believe regular interaction facilitates ongoing attention and understanding as problems emerge or plans change.”

Countries initiating nuclear power programmes also contributed to the discussion, including Lilian Matu of the Kenya Nuclear Power and Energy Agency. “In Kenya, the local communities have different languages, cultures and norms that lead to communication barriers,” Matu said. “Hence, it is important to undertake a contextual analysis of the community before any engagement and understand their languages, interests, beliefs and perceptions.”

Participants also noted the important distinctions between hosting research reactors and nuclear power reactors or radioactive waste facilities, as each of them has different purposes, opportunities and risks. Casper compared discussions about waste storage versus new technologies and their potential economic and environmental benefits. “It can be much easier to create a public dialogue that is based on future opportunity than one based on measured risk,” she said.

Fabian Sjoberg is Mayor of Östhammar, which hosts both nuclear power reactors and the future spent fuel repository in Sweden. “Östhammar is in favour of hosting nuclear facilities because we are, and have always been, an industrial municipality. For most people, the nuclear industry in our municipality is like any other industry,” Sjoberg said.

However, establishing a nuclear facility such as geological repository for spent fuel takes time, and it is something final that will stay in the community forever, bringing additional challenges for local engagement and outreach.

“Some may say that the progress is slow, but if so, it is because the nuclear community, engineers and scientists, are taking every precaution to do this right,” said Olena Mykolaichuk, Head of the IAEA's Division of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology. “The perception may be that nothing happens because we don’t know what to do, but the truth is different: it happens slowly because we do know what we are doing.”

National support is crucial for host communities, and formal associations can facilitate this, promoting knowledge exchange and cooperation among host communities. Associations, such as the Canadian Association of Nuclear Host Communities and the US Energy Communities Alliance, provide valuable insights, connections to national leaders, and avenues for positive changes in laws and regulations, according to participants.

Sjoberg, who also serves as Vice Chair of the Group of European Municipalities with Nuclear Facilities in Europe, emphasized the importance of municipalities conducting their own studies and research. “Doing this in a way that strengthens the process requires external funding for the municipality,” he said. “But without the support and engagement from the local government and listening to its citizens, it’s impossible to have a successful process, and the time will instead be spent handling upset communities.”

The October meeting was the latest effort by the IAEA to support national initiatives to strengthen stakeholder engagement and outreach related to nuclear power programmes. Last April, the Agency hosted a first-of-a-kind workshop on reimagining nuclear energy. It brought together more than 60 participants from 32 countries including from academia, government and industry to explore creative and innovative ways to engage stakeholders on nuclear energy, which provides a quarter of all low carbon electricity.

“Meetings like this provide a platform for sharing experiences and discussing challenges in different countries but also for constructive thought evaluation on what is working, what is not and how best to improve,” Matu said.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/SMR-power-plant-proposed-in-Norway

Norsk Kjernekraft has submitted a proposal to Norway's Ministry of Oil and Energy for an assessment into the construction of a power plant based on multiple small modular reactors (SMRs) in the municipalities of Aure and Heim. The company said it marks the first formal step towards the possible construction of the country's first nuclear power plant.

According to the preliminary plan, the plant will be located in a common industrial area in the border area between Aure and Heim. Other areas in the municipalities may also be relevant, Norsk Kjernekraft noted. The plant is planned to consist of several SMRs, which together will produce around 12.5 TWh of electricity annually, if the plant is realised in its entirety. This corresponds to an increase in Norway's power production of about 8%.

Norsk Kjernekraft entered into an agreement of intent earlier this year on the investigation of nuclear power with several municipalities, including Aure and Heim.

In June, the company signed a letter of intent with TVO Nuclear Services - a consulting company wholly owned by Finnish utility Teollisuuden Voima Oyj - to jointly investigate the deployment of SMRs in Norway. The cooperation included the assessment of the suitability and effectiveness of the development of nuclear power in the Norwegian municipalities of Aure, Heim, Narvik and Vardø.

Aure and Heim, together with Norsk Kjernekraft, have now found a suitable area, where the plant is planned "to ensure that the municipality's greenhouse gas emissions are reduced, while at the same time further green industry can be established".

Once the proposal for the plant has been approved by the Ministry of Oil and Energy, an environmental impact assessment can start. Norsk Kjernekraft said it was planning a transparent process with the public, with particular involvement of the local population.

If the impact assessment shows that the facility can be built within acceptable limits, licensing processes will follow in accordance with Norwegian laws and regulations, and finally construction will begin. The company noted that several important milestones must be reached before major investments and final decisions can be made.

"Aure and Heim are in the running, and with political will and acceptance among the citizens, we can have nuclear power in place in 10 years, depending on how quickly the authorities process the application," said Norsk Kjernekraft CEO Jonny Hesthammer. "Half of Norway's total energy consumption is still fossil fuels. The power plant planned in Aure and Heim will thus contribute to significant electrification and emission reductions. With good maintenance, the plant can last up to a hundred years. It will therefore be able to deliver cheap electricity to the inhabitants for many decades after it has been paid off."

Norsk Kjernekraft aims to build, own and operate SMR power plants in Norway in collaboration with power-intensive industry. It says it will prepare licence applications in accordance with national regulations and international standards. It will follow the International Atomic Energy Agency's approach for milestones, and focus on what creates value in the early phase. Financing will take place in collaboration with capital-strong industry and solid financial players.

In July, Norsk Kjernekraft and Denmark's Seaborg signed a letter of intent to investigate the deployment of Seaborg's compact molten salt reactor in Norway.

However, the Norwegian company has said it intends to initially establish SMRs based on conventional technology.

• Source: https://www.nu.nl/tweede-kamerverkiezingen-2023/6287092/wel-of-geen-kerncentrale-in-nederland-zo-denken-partijen-over-het-klimaat.html
• Zonder paywall: https://archive.ph/2023.11.03-065818/https://www.nu.nl/tweede-kamerverkiezingen-2023/6287092/wel-of-geen-kerncentrale-in-nederland-zo-denken-partijen-over-het-klimaat.html

In aanloop naar de Tweede Kamerverkiezingen duikt NU.nl in de verkiezingsprogramma's van politieke partijen. Deze keer kijken we naar het klimaat. Over de doelen, kernenergie en de verduurzaming van de industrie.

De Nederlandse zomers worden in de toekomst droger en een stuk heter. Bij een opwarming van de aarde van 2 graden zullen hittegolven nog extremer worden. De zomerhitte kan dan tot 45 graden reiken. Op dit moment is het in Nederland al 2,3 graden warmer dan rond 1900.

Het is een van de vele gevolgen van klimaatverandering. De laatste jaren zijn steeds meer partijen ervan doordrongen dat het probleem serieus moet worden aangepakt. Alleen PVV en FVD laten een ander geluid horen. Die partijen stellen dat klimaatverandering van alle tijden is en willen een streep door al het klimaatbeleid halen.

Ook JA21 wil geen miljarden euro's besteden aan maatregelen die de opwarming van de aarde tegengaan. De partij ontkent klimaatverandering niet, maar vindt het verstandiger om je als land aan te passen aan de gevolgen in plaats van miljarden uit te geven aan het voorkomen van de gevolgen. Dat wordt klimaatadaptatie genoemd.

JA21 is niet de enige partij die meer wil investeren in klimaatadaptatie. Het punt komt in alle verkiezingsprogramma's terug. Dus ook bij partijen die focussen op het voorkomen van klimaatverandering.

Hoe ambitieus moeten de klimaatdoelen zijn?

Europa moet in 2050 als eerste continent klimaatneutraal zijn. De EU-lidstaten, waaronder Nederland, hebben deze afspraak vier jaar geleden gemaakt. Om dit doel te halen, heeft het vorige kabinet ingezet op ten minste 55 procent CO2-reductie in 2030.

VVD, CDA en ChristenUnie (CU) onderschrijven deze doelen. Van andere partijen mag het ambitieuzer. Zo willen GL-PvdA, D66 en Volt in 2040 al klimaatneutraal zijn. De Partij voor de Dieren (PvdD) wil dit zelfs in 2030 al voor elkaar boksen.

SGP en BBB willen ook aan een klimaatneutrale samenleving werken, maar zich niet blindstaren op jaartallen. Ze willen met "gezond verstand" klimaatbeleid voeren.

NSC heeft het in het verkiezingsprogramma niet over de doelen voor 2030 en 2050. De partij van Pieter Omtzigt houdt zich "aan het klimaatakkoord van Parijs om de economie klimaatneutraal te maken".

In dat akkoord hebben bijna tweehonderd landen afgesproken de opwarming van de aarde tot 2 graden te beperken en te streven naar maximaal 1,5 graden.

Kernenergie, windmolens en zonneparken of een mix?

Om de opwarming van de aarde te beperken, moet de CO2-uitstoot omlaag. Fossiele brandstoffen (kolen, olie en gas) veroorzaken veel van deze uitstoot. De meeste partijen willen dan ook stoppen met het gebruik ervan.

Inmiddels zijn er heel wat partijen die willen investeren in kernenergie, met VVD en JA21 voorop. Ook NSC, PVV, BBB, D66, CDA, ChristenUnie, Volt, FVD en SGP zijn voorstander van kernenergie.

GL-PvdA ziet zonne- en windenergie (met name op zee) als de toekomst. PvdD zet hier ook op in, maar wil de meeste winst halen uit besparing.

Meer wind op zee komt zo'n beetje voor in alle verkiezingsprogramma's en krijgt van vrijwel alle partijen de voorkeur boven wind op land. Er zijn maar een paar partijen die daar echt het belang van inzien, zoals Volt en D66. BBB wil helemaal geen nieuwe windmolens. Niet op land en niet op zee.

Over zonne-energie lopen de meningen niet sterk uiteen. Bijna alle partijen zijn er voorstander van, maar willen het liefst dat de panelen op grote daken worden gelegd en niet langer in het groen.

Klimaatsceptische partijen, zoals JA21, willen niet per se stoppen met fossiele energie als kolen en gas. Ook BBB en SGP willen niet zomaar alle kolencentrales sluiten. Dat kan pas als de leveringszekerheid is verzekerd door andere vormen van energie, zoals kernenergie.

Wat willen partijen met industrie als Tata?

Voor een klimaatneutrale samenleving moeten veel sectoren verduurzamen. Dat roept bij PvdD, GL-PvdA, Volt en CU de vraag op welke industrie in de toekomst bij Nederland past.

Als bedrijven als Tata Steel willen blijven, moeten ze verduurzamen. Als het aan deze partijen ligt, kan de industrie daarvoor wel steun krijgen van de overheid. Maar alleen als dat echt nodig is en als de ondernemingen passen in de groene economie. Ook vinden de partijen dat de bedrijven een klimaatplan met bindende afspraken moeten maken.

PvdD en Volt hebben op dit vlak de radicaalste standpunten. Zo wil PvdD over zeven jaar al een klimaatneutrale samenleving en moet de industrie dan dus ook 100 procent groen zijn. Volt wil de meest vervuilende bedrijven sluiten tot ze duurzaam zijn.

De VVD staat er anders in. De partij wil fabrieken behouden en vindt dat verduurzaming prima kan samengaan met economische groei. Bedrijven die willen vergroenen kunnen op subsidie rekenen. De partij wil daar net als CDA afspraken over maken met het bedrijfsleven. D66 wil bedrijven ook steun geven, maar vindt dat ze het geld moeten terugbetalen als ze zich niet aan de afspraken houden.

SP wil de rekening bij de bedrijven neerleggen en ze geen subsidies geven.

Opsomming van andere opvallende standpunten:

• Voor gaswinning op de Noordzee: VVD, ChristenUnie, SGP, JA21, NSC en PVV.
• Tegen diepzeemijnbouw: GL-PvdA, PvdD, D66 en ChristenUnie.
• Goedkoop ov: GL-PvdA en D66 pleiten voor één bedrag per maand. PvdD wil een prijsverlaging van 50 procent. SP, ChristenUnie, PvdD en SGP willen de btw op ov afschaffen.
• Vliegbelasting: GL-PvdA, SP (alleen voor veelvliegers), PvdD, D66, SGP en ChristenUnie.
• Schiphol mag (onder voorwaarden) verder groeien: VVD, BBB, PVV, FVD en JA21.
• (Richting) een verbod op privévluchten: GL-PvdA, SP, Volt, PvdD en ChristenUnie.
• (Op termijn) een verbod op korteafstandsvluchten: GL-PvdA, Volt, PvdD, D66, ChristenUnie en NSC.

• Source: https://www.telegraaf.nl/watuzegt/1405850962/keten-je-vast-aan-shell-plak-je-vast-aan-de-stoep-bij-nrc-eis-kernenergie
• Zonder paywall: https://archive.ph/NivW8

Het is misplaatst om compleet verschillende onderwerpen langs één politieke links/rechts-as te willen leggen, en op ieder standpunt een sticker links of rechts te plakken. Homo-emancipatie wordt in dat links/rechts-sjabloon meestal links gevonden, maar in de keuze tussen Israël (waar je openlijk homo kunt zijn) en Arabische landen (waar ze homo’s van de flat gooien) wordt het links gevonden om vóór de Arabische landen te zijn. Prioriteit voor klimaatbeleid geldt als links, tot tranen bewogen, maar als er zich een oplossing voordoet, kernenergie, is het opeens links om met misplaatste ambtelijke bezwaren te komen.

Nu kun je je tegen ongerijmdheden verzetten, maar je krijgt toch niet veranderd dat mensen bij bijvoorbeeld GL hun hele wereldbeeld baseren op één strijd: die tegen de éne grote vijand: het kolonialistische, seksistische, kapitalistische complex. Laten we daarom als handreiking proberen het gesprek met onze GL’se landgenoten te voeren zonder hun wereldbeeld ter discussie te stellen, en gebruikmakend van hun eigen idioom. Daar gaan we.

Deze week verscheen er een paginagrote advertentie van de allergrootste boosdoener die er is, de kapitalistische multinational Shell, die leeft van de fossiele brandstoffen die onze planeet en onze kleinkinderen te gronde richten; een grotere tegenstander is niet denkbaar. Ook verscheen er een hoofdredactioneel commentaar van NRC, krant van D66-corpsballen. Het hoeft niet te verbazen dat de rechtse krant en het kapitalistische Shell tot dezelfde conclusie komen.

Windparken

De advertentie van Shell stelt paginagroot: „Iedereen kent Shell van olie en gas. Intussen bouwen we mee aan 4 windparken op de Noordzee. Samen zijn ze goed voor bijna 10% van de stroom die Nederland nodig heeft.” NRC had op 28 oktober een hoofdredactioneel commentaar tegen kernenergie met de conclusie: „Kernenergie kan de vaart halen uit andere ontwikkelingen, zoals zonne- en windenergie, het verminderen van de energieconsumptie, of uit cruciale hervormingen in bijvoorbeeld landbouw en transport.”

Eerst Shell. Waarom zou een bedrijf dat leeft van de olie en gas enthousiast zijn over windenergie, maar geen woord wijden aan kernenergie? Dat vloeit simpelweg voort uit hun commerciële belangen. De verklaring is ’intermittency’, het fenomeen dat windmolens en zonnepanelen alleen energie leveren als het waait of de zon schijnt, een klein deel van de tijd. Al zet je de Noordzee helemaal vol windmolens en alle natuur vol zonnepanelen, toch zul je voor de volle capaciteit fossiele brandstoffen nodig houden, want als het ’s avonds windstil is heb je energie nodig. Dus windmolens verkleinen de afzetmarkt van Shell misschien iets, maar tasten het bedrijf niet fundamenteel aan.

Bij kernenergie ligt het anders. Er zijn eenmalige kosten gemoeid met aanleggen, maar als de centrale er een keer staat levert die onafgebroken energie, en is het uitzetten van de centrale omdat de wind waait onnodig en onverstandig. Dus kerncentrales maken inderdaad zowel fossiele brandstoffen als windmolens minder rendabel. Je gaat geen 40 miljard belastinggeld in elektriciteitsnetten voor windmolens op zee stoppen als dezelfde energie tegen lage variabele kosten uit zacht snorrende kerncentrales kan komen. Het bezwaar van Shell tegen kernenergie is dat het wél een oplossing is, daarom zijn ze er tegen. Ze zijn vóór windmolens omdat die geen structurele oplossing vormen. Dus strijders tegen het grootkapitaal: het is cynisch en rechts van Shell om deze strijd tegen kernenergie te voeren!

Sinistere redenering

Een zelfde sinistere redenering lees je bij NRC, vaste krant op de borreltafel bij heren met sigarenrook op hun revers. De krant zegt het zonder gêne: het nadeel van kernenergie is dat het zo goed werkt dat je dan geen windmolens meer nodig hebt (’het kan politieke luiheid in de hand werken’). Ieder normaal mens ziet dat juist als voordeel: dan kunnen de walvissen en zeevogels weer vrij leven, dan zie je, denkend aan Holland, weer rijen oneindig ijle populieren als hoge pluimen aan de einder staan. Dan gebruiken we zo min mogelijk schaarse ruimte om energie op te wekken. Maar de windmolensector heeft enorme economische belangen, en kan met steun van D66 alle kosten voor dit onrendabele product via belastingen op de burgers afwentelen. NRC heeft gelijk, je moet kiezen: nog veel massaler uitbouwen van de windmolenparken, zoals NRC en Shell bepleiten, of een paar kerncentrales bijbouwen.

Kortom: laat alles wat links is: Amnesty International, Extinction Rebellion, Greenpeace, de NPO, alle milieu-organisaties, alle linkse politieke partijen, SP, PvdA/GL, PvdD, de krachten bundelen voor die ene grote strijd. Laat links strijden tegen de neoliberalen van NRC, en de grootkapitalisten van Shell, en strijden vóór de aanleg van kerncentrales.

Tot dusver in het GroenLinks-idioom. Het is en blijft, geen misverstand, onzinnig om op alle politieke opvattingen links/rechts-stickertjes te willen plakken. Maar áls je zo nodig alles wil vertalen naar één grote links/rechts-strijd, zelfs dan is het logisch om de keuze precies de andere kant op te maken. Keten je vast aan Shell, plak je vast aan de stoep bij NRC, eis kernenergie!

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Urenco-to-expand-UK-tails-plant

Following a "rigorous procurement process", US engineering firm Bechtel has been selected by uranium enrichment services provider Urenco to support the expansion of the Tails Management Facility (TMF) at its site in Capenhurst, UK.

The TMF in Capenhurst - the only one of its kind in the UK – stores low concentration uranium 'tails' - the by-product of uranium enrichment - for further use, or conversion to a chemically stable form for disposal.

Bechtel will provide front end engineering and design (FEED) services for the expansion project. This will enable Urenco to convert more tails of depleted uranium hexafluoride for safe storage and produce hydrogen fluoride for use in refrigerants, pharmaceuticals and more. Cavendish Nuclear - a UK subsidiary of Babcock International group - will support Bechtel as its subconsultant.

"We're delighted to partner with Bechtel as we look forward to expanding our TMF in the UK and positioning ourselves more widely to increase capacity in the nuclear fuel supply chain," said Urenco Chief Technical Officer Chris Chater.

Urenco noted that there is currently no shortage of enriched fuel in the industry. However, it said the company is "planning for the future as more governments put stable policy frameworks in place that are in favour of nuclear energy - and we grow our customer base".

Michelle De Franca, Bechtel's managing director of infrastructure in the UK and Ireland added: "Urenco shares our commitment to achieving a sustainable net-zero carbon future. We look forward to supporting them as they increase production of clean nuclear fuel that's essential for the energy transition."

Urenco's board approved the construction of the TMF facility at Capenhurst, comprising a tails deconversion facility and a number of associated storage, maintenance and residue processing facilities, in 2009. In 2010, Urenco received regulatory and planning approval to build the facility. By March 2014, the company was anticipating operations to begin by the end of 2015. This date was subsequently revised to 2017 and then to 2018, after construction delays. A ceremony was held in June 2019 to mark the official opening of the TMF. It is operated by Urenco subsidiary Urenco ChemPlants.

Urenco operates plants in Germany, the Netherlands, the UK and the USA using its own centrifuge technology to enrich uranium for the use as a nuclear fuel for civil power generation.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Constellation-Energy-completes-South-Texas-acquisi

Constellation completed its acquisition of NRG Energy Inc's 44% stake in the two-unit South Texas Project plant after receiving final approval from the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

The Baltimore-based company agreed in June to purchase NRG's stake in the plant - also known as STP - for USD1.75 billion. The plant is co-owned by CPS Energy (40%) and Austin Energy (16%), and operated by South Texas Project Nuclear Operating Company.

Growing its nuclear fleet is at the heart of Constellation's growth strategy, the company's president Joe Dominguez said. "As the world is waking up to the immense value of nuclear power to address the climate crisis and maintain energy security, Constellation will continue to look for opportunities to expand our ownership of assets like STP."

Constellation describes itself as the USA's largest producer of clean, carbon-free energy with annual output that is nearly 90% carbon-free, with hydro, wind and solar facilities as well as the nation's largest nuclear fleet.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) announced on 31 October that it had approved the transfer of licences for South Texas Project units 1 and 2, and its associated spent fuel storage facility, from NRG South Texas to Constellation Energy Generation, after concluding that "Constellation was financially qualified to be a licensed owner and would continue to provide reasonable assurance that funds will be available to eventually decommission the plant". The regulator noted that there is a hearing request currently pending before the commission.

STP's co-owners - CPS and Austin Energy - in July jointly filed a motion with the NRC seeking to dismiss or place on hold the licence transfer pending the outcome of a lawsuit brought against NRG by CPS, in which CPS claimed a "right of first refusal" over the sale.

Constellation said it was "working to reach a favourable resolution for all parties in the related litigation pending in Matagorda County, Texas".

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Second-Belarus-unit-enters-commercial-operation

The second unit of the Belarusian nuclear power plant was put into commercial operation on 1 November. Together with the first unit the new nuclear power plant will provide about 40% of the country's electricity needs.

The first power unit - also a Russian VVER-1200 reactor - was connected to the grid in November 2020 and, the energy ministry says, the plant will produce about 18.5 TWh of electricity per year, equivalent to 4.5 billion cubic metres of natural gas, with an annual effect on the country's economy of about USD550 million.

Rosatom said that since the second unit was synchronised with the network in May, and brought to its design capacity in June, it has generated more than 2 TWh of electricity. It also said that "according to contractual obligations, from this moment on, Rosatom assumes responsibility for the operability of the unit’s equipment during the warranty period".

Vitaly Polyanin, vice-president of ASE JSC and project director for the construction of the Belarusian NPP, said: "The successful and timely implementation of the nuclear power plant construction project became possible thanks to the joint, well-coordinated work of Russian and Belarusian specialists. I am confident that our nuclear power plant in Belarus will become an example for many potential foreign partners of Rosatom. Today, the construction of VVER-1200 power units is already under way in Bangladesh, Hungary, Egypt, Turkey and China."

The Belarus nuclear power plant is located in Ostrovet in the Grodno region. A general contract for the construction was signed in 2011, with first concrete in November 2013. Construction of unit 2 began in May 2014. There are now six VVER-1200 reactors in operation in total, with four in Russia.

On Tuesday, the President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, held a government meeting to receive a report on the completion of the plant's construction. He said that the country had suffered from the Chernobyl accident and "that is why we have such strict requirements - the safety of our plant is the number one issue".

He added that Belarus had raised the issue of compensation because of delays in commissioning of the nuclear power plant and "a contract is a contract", saying "there is no need to hide it, there is nothing extraordinary, we raised this issue as the deadlines were not met ... they offered us options in terms of the price for fresh nuclear fuel at the level of Russian domestic prices and also in terms of the warranty period (for five years for the main units)".

In response, Rosatom said in a statement it maintained a "close and collaborative partnership with our Belarusian counterparts, jointly addressing any challenges" and "currently, we are pleased to report that there are no unresolved issues".

It added: "When considering potential adjustments to the project timeline, it is imperative to account for the unique circumstances surrounding the construction of the Belarus nuclear power plant. These circumstances include the unprecedented challenges posed by the global pandemic and the complex geopolitical environment, with heightened sanction risks. It’s worth noting that this project marked Belarus’s inaugural venture into nuclear energy. Throughout the entire process, our topmost priority has been to ensure safety, and we have never wavered in our commitment to meet the highest safety standards.

"The operational lifespan of a nuclear power plant is several decades, approximately 80 years, encompassing the subsequent decommissioning phase. Given the intricacies and longevity of this project, it is customary for us to collaborate with our partners to establish mutually beneficial terms. Our well-established trust-based relationship with the Belarusian customer prevents us from divulging specific details related to the project’s commercial aspects."

According to the official Belarus Belta news agency, Deputy Prime Minister Piotr Parkhomchik, chairman of the acceptance commission, signed the certificate on Wednesday showing the unit had been accepted for commercial operation. Energy Minister Viktor Karakevich said all the routine testing and steps to commission the second unit had been fully completed on 14 October. The Emergencies Ministry had granted its operating licence on 24 October.

Redeveloping sites could be next step in clean energy transformation.

Existing coal plants can provide key benefits and opportunities that make them “a compelling option” for the deployment of nuclear generation, but prominent issues around perceived risk and nuclear waste management need to be resolved, a report concludes.

The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) report, From Coal to Nuclear: A Practical Guide for Developing Nuclear Energy Facilities in Coal Plant Communities, says repurposing a coal plant’s infrastructure could be an option to help sustain coal communities while providing a carbon-free source of generation through nuclear power.

It outlines the process for determining if locations are suitable for development, factors to consider when selecting the reactor type, and regulatory considerations including water and transmission rights.

From a technical perspective, issues such as perceived risk and nuclear waste management can be overcome, and many advanced reactor designs address these concerns, the report says. But “it is something that must be understood and evaluated when making the business decision to deploy nuclear”.

“Since coal communities have had experience with power generation, this shared experience can be a good point for the owner-operator and local stakeholders to start a conversation,” the report says.

Power plant closures can adversely impact local communities that benefit from the facility through jobs and tax revenue. Until recently, newly constructed natural gas-fired power units often replaced decommissioned coal plants, but governments are encouraging the redevelopment of the sites for other forms of low- or zero-carbon power generation.

According to the report, nuclear power is key to bringing emissions targets within reach for many countries. With the retirement of more coal plants, redeveloping these sites to deploy new nuclear generation could be the next step in the clean energy transformation.

Since 2000, more than 90 GW of US coal units have been retired, driven in large part by efforts to meet decarbonisation goals. By 2050, coal plants across 2,400 sites in 79 countries are expected to retire, representing 1,000 GW.

There are several advantages to repowering an existing coal site for new generation, including existing transmission infrastructure and interconnection permits that may be able to be reused, modified, or extended. Many such sites have access to well-developed transportation infrastructure and existing utility connections for buildings. Existing environmental permits for a coal facility may be modifiable.

Key Findings Focus On Water, Land And Transmission

The report says many current sites offer the advantage of access to a large daily water withdrawal and water discharge allowance. In the US, the right to withdraw water is under more scrutiny, and there are reputational and permitting advantages to modifying existing water withdrawal and discharge permits rather than undergoing the permitting process in a new area.

In its key findings, the report says water, land and transmission availability are the greatest resources available from an existing coal plant for the development and deployment of a nuclear plant. It says reuse of infrastructure, such as the balance of plant or the turbine cycle of the coal plant, should include a thorough review of all technical aspects of the system, structures, and components to make sure they meet all technical and licensing requirements for nuclear deployment.

A March 2023 report by the Washington-based Bipartisan Policy Center thinktank said nearly one-fourth of the current US coal-fired fleet is scheduled to retire by 2029, providing opportunities to use existing infrastructure for small modular reactors and reduce construction costs by 17% to 35%,

The report said there are a number of challenges to address. Coal plant retirement and SMR operation dates must be aligned for a smooth workforce transition and to prevent existing transmission and water infrastructure from being used by another project.

TerraPower, a company co-founded by Bill Gates, has already said it plans to deploy its Natrium SMR at a retiring coal site in Wyoming.

During a visit to a closed-down coal-fired plant in Glasgow, West Virginia, in January, Gates said he was looking for more sites as he steps up efforts to deploy the Natrium reactor technology.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/TerraPower-expands-cooperation-with-Japan-on-fast

TerraPower of the USA and the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and Mitsubishi FBR Systems (MFBR) have agreed to expand their existing memorandum of understanding, signed in January 2022, on the development of sodium-cooled fast reactors.

In the strategic roadmap for fast reactor development adopted by Japan's Cabinet in December 2018, a policy was defined to assess the efficacy of various types of fast reactors to be developed following a technological competition among private-sector corporations. The roadmap was subsequently revised by the Cabinet decision in December 2022, at which time two decisions were taken: firstly, to select a sodium-cooled fast reactor as the target of the conceptual design of the demonstration reactor, set to get under way in fiscal 2024; and secondly, to select a manufacturer to serve as the core company in charge of the fast reactor's design and requisite R&D which would proceed with technology development in accordance with the goals and policy directions established by the government.

In July this year, MHI was selected by the Japanese government to lead the conceptual design of a demonstration 650 MWe pool-type, sodium-cooled fast reactor that is to enter operation in the 2040s. MHI will oversee both the conceptual design as well as research and development for the reactor in partnership with MFBR. It is hoped that the concept will be finalised by around 2030.

TerraPower and the Japanese partners have now expanded their MoU to allow them to explore the opportunity to collaborate on a common reactor design concept, based on Japan's demonstration programme and TerraPower's existing technologies. The MoU has been revised to include an increase in size of the Natrium design for enhanced cost competitiveness, and metal fuel safety.

TerraPower has been selected by the US Department of Energy to receive cost-shared funding through the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program to test, licence and build an advanced reactor by 2030. The company has selected Kemmerer in Wyoming as the preferred site for the Natrium nuclear power plant demonstration project, which will feature a 345 MWe sodium-cooled fast reactor with a molten salt-based energy storage system. The storage technology can temporarily boost the system's output to 500 MWe when needed, enabling the plant to follow daily electric load changes and integrate seamlessly with fluctuating renewable resources.

"We are thrilled to expand our collaboration with JAEA as Japan works to bring advanced nuclear reactors to market," said TerraPower President and CEO Chris Levesque. "In order to achieve our climate goals, countries across the world are going to need to deploy advanced reactors starting in the 2030's, and this agreement will help us evaluate the design opportunities for large-scale Natrium plants that can support Japan's carbon targets."

Fast neutron reactors offer the prospect of vastly more efficient use of uranium resources than in conventional power reactors, as well as the ability to burn actinides. Fast reactors have operated in various countries since the 1950s, with some producing electricity commercially.

JAEA has a history of operating sodium-cooled fast reactors, such as Monju in Fukui Prefecture and the Joyo experimental fast reactor in Ibaraki Prefecture. However, the development of fast reactors in Japan has been halted since the government decided to decommission Monju in 2016, following a series of problems, including leakage of sodium coolant in 1995.

"JAEA will play a role as one of the organisations in the strategic roadmap for fast reactor development," said JAEA President Masanori Koguchi. "For effective development, we believe that international cooperation is one of the key issues. We will promote Japan-US collaboration on fast reactor development through this expanded MoU."

MHI Executive Vice President Akihiko Kato said: "MHI group, as the core company in charge of design and development of the Japanese demonstration fast reactor, will steadily proceed in accordance with the strategic roadmap. We would like to contribute to fast reactor development cooperation between the US and Japan by utilising the technology and experience we have cultivated over many years."

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Sendai-units-to-operate-for-another-20-years

Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) has approved the operation of units 1 and 2 at Kyushu Electric Power Company's Sendai nuclear power plant beyond 40 years. Under incoming legislation, the units may be able to operate beyond 60 years.

Sendai 1 and 2 - both 890 MWe pressurised water reactors - will have been in operation for 40 years on 3 July 2024 and 27 November 2025, respectively. Under regulations which came into force in July 2013, Japanese reactors have a nominal operating period of 40 years - extensions may be granted once only and are limited to a maximum of 20 years, contingent on exacting safety requirements.

Kyushu carried out special inspections starting in October 2021 to confirm the integrity of the reactor vessels of both units and found no issues likely to cause problems if the operating period was to be extended to 60 years.

The utility subsequently applied to the NRA on 12 October 2022 to extend the operation of the two Sendai units to 60 years. Amendments were made to the application on 13 September and 6 October this year.

With the NRA's approval, Sendai unit 1 will now be able to continue operating until July 2044, while unit 2 can run until November 2045.

Following the March 2011 accident at the Fukushima Daiichi plant, unit 1 of the Sendai plant, in Kagoshima prefecture, was the first reactor to be restarted, in August 2015, after new regulatory standards came into effect in July 2013. It was followed by Sendai 2 in October that year.

There are now a total of six Japanese reactors that have been approved for operation beyond 40 years. These include Mihama unit 3 and Takahama units 1 and 2, which have all restarted, as well as Tokai 2, which has not yet resumed operation.

On 21 December last year, the NRA approved a draft of a new rule that would allow the reactors to be operated for more than the current limit of 60 years. Under the amendment, the operators of reactors in use for 30 years or longer must formulate a long-term reactor management plan and gain approval from the regulator at least once every 10 years if they are to continue to operate. The new policy will effectively extend the period reactors can remain in operation beyond 60 years by excluding the time they spent offline for inspections from the total service life.

The legislation was approved by Japan's Cabinet in February and enacted in May 2023. It comes into effect in June 2025. Under the new policy - which describes nuclear power as "a power source that contributes to energy security and has a high decarbonisation effect" - Japan will maximise the use of existing reactors by restarting as many of them as possible and prolonging the operating life of aging ones beyond the current 60-year limit. The government also said the country will develop advanced reactors to replace those that are decommissioned.

Burgers en bedrijven die toekomst zien in kernenergie kunnen lid worden van de eerste coöperatie voor kernenergie in Nederland. De Atoomcoöperatie wil overheid en ontwikkelaars helpen bij het realiseren van kerncentrales en Small Modular Reactors (SMR's).

De coöperatie die deze dinsdag officieel werd gelanceerd in Amsterdam wil het draagvlak voor kernenergie onder burgers vergroten en de ontwikkeling van kernenergie in Nederland versnellen. “Als je ziet wat de totale opgave is voor duurzame energie in Nederland, dan zie ik die niet een-twee-drie vervuld met zon en wind. Dus moet je ook een stap naar voren durven zetten”, zegt medeoprichter Wim Fleuren. “Wij willen die stap zo snel mogelijk zetten omdat de aanloop te lang duurt.”

De Atoomcoöperatie gaat daaraan bijdragen door voorlichting en informatievoorziening. “Je moet de mensen voorlichten, informatie geven. Wat is kernafval en wat doe je ermee. Het verhaal van Greenpeace is niet het hele verhaal. Je moet de tijd nemen om mensen mee te nemen. Dat is een van de kerntaken van de coöperatie.” Volgens Fleuren is de weerstand tegen kernenergie in Nederland minder groot dan nu wordt gedacht. “Wij willen vooral de voorstanders van kernenergie een stem geven. Die kunnen nu nergens terecht.”

Joint venture

Maar de belangrijkste functie van de coöperatie is het opzetten van een bedrijf dat kernenergie in Nederland gaat ontwikkelen. “Wij willen gewoon een SMR ergens neerzetten”, zegt Fleuren. “Als je dat als coöperatie doet heb je meer draagvlak.” De Atoomcoöperatie wil daarvoor samen met een groot energiebedrijf dat al ervaring heeft met kernenergie een joint venture vormen. “Die joint venture gaat vergunningen aanvragen, een locatie kopen en een opdracht verstrekken om een kerncentrale te bouwen. De leden van de Atoomcoöperatie bepalen wat het beleid wordt van die joint venture. En hoe meer burgers zich bij onze coöperatie aansluiten, hoe meer inspraak we hebben.”

Leden

Inschrijving voor de coöperatie was al eerder gestart en leverde tot nu toe tweehonderd leden op. Dat zijn vooralsnog alleen particulieren. Bedrijven kunnen zich ook aansluiten, bijvoorbeeld in de persoon van de directeur. “Coöperatief ondernemen in de energie is in Nederland wel de beste methode. Maar wij zien dat wel breder dan alleen burgers. Wij willen ook samenwerken met de cluster-zes-bedrijven en het groot-, midden- en kleinbedrijf”, licht Fleuren toe. Clusterzesbedrijven zijn bedrijven die niet gevestigd zijn in één van de vijf industriële clusters van Nederland. “Bedrijven hebben veel meer problemen met energie dan burgers.”

Leden van de coöperatie kunnen de atoomstroom tegen kostprijs krijgen. “En omdat we er zelf in investeren weten we ook zeker dat we niet meer betalen dan de stroom waard is. Ik heb de vestzak en de broekzak in hetzelfde pak zitten.” Hoeveel de stroom gaat kosten moet allemaal nog uitgerekend worden, maar atoomstroom hoeft volgens Fleuren niet duurder te zijn dan zonnestroom.

Volgens Fleuren is de Atoomcoöperatie de eerste coöperatie voor kernenergie ter wereld. “Er zijn al veel energiecoöperaties in Nederland waarin mensen mede- eigenaar kunnen worden van een windpark of een zonneweide. Maar nergens in de wereld bestaat zo'n coöperatie voor kernenergie.” Wel bestaat er in de VS een coöperatie die de atoomstroom verkoopt van een kerncentrale, maar ze zijn daar geen eigenaar van. De twee energiebedrijven die in Nederland de markt op gingen met elektriciteit van kerncentrales redden het allebei niet. Atoomstroom dat in 2008 het levenslicht zag, werd overvleugeld door zusterbedrijf Budget Energie. Het merk verdween uiteindelijk in 2016 van de markt. Opvolger Kernion, die in 2021 werd opgericht, hield het nog geen jaar uit. In 2022 deed het de leveringsvergunning over aan NewEnergy BV.

SMR

Nu al doet de Atoomcoöperatie mee aan een regionaal project in Limburg voor de eventuele bouw van een SMR. Daarvoor neemt de coöperatie deel aan de Alliantie voor kernenergie waaraan alle grote Limburgse bedrijven deelnemen inclusief Chemelot. De Alliantie doet nu locatieonderzoek waar een SMR zou kunnen komen. En ook in andere provincies zijn er mogelijkheden. Zo is Noord-Holland aan het nadenken over de rol van kernenergie in de provincie en heeft de Atoomcoöperatie bij de Stichting kernenergie made in twente (Kermit) “de eerste teen in het water gestoken”. “Dat is allemaal nog heel erg verkennend”, zegt Fleuren. “In beide gevallen zetten we ons belangeloos in om een kleine, modulaire reactor in de regio mogelijk te maken. Op dit moment investeren we nog niet in deze projecten.”

Volgens Fleuren is er behoorlijk wat animo onder bedrijven maar zijn ze terughoudend als het gaat om het publiekelijk te maken dat ze kernenergie als oplossing zien. “Stel je voor dat Tata Steel zou zeggen we willen een kerncentrale bouwen om zelf waterstof mee te maken. Dat is een moeilijk verhaal. Dat gaat pas lukken als kernenergie geaccepteerd is. Het stigma is enorm. Als dat doorbroken kan worden zijn we een grote stap verder.”

Lidmaatschap van de Atoomcoöperatie kost €23,50 per jaar. Dat bedrag is gekozen omdat omdat het correspondeert met de splijtbare isotoop van uranium: U-235. Of zich de komende tijd veel geïnteresseerden zullen melden, weet Fleuren niet. “Het kan zijn dat we over een jaar zeggen, dit was niet zo'n goed idee. We gaan gewoon beginnen en we zien wel waar het schip strandt. We willen vooral de voorstanders van kernenergie een stem geven. Die kunnen nu nergens terecht.”

Three-unit facility in New York state being decommissioned.

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has granted a request by Holtec Decommissioning International (HDI) to revise the emergency preparedness plan for the Indian Point nuclear power station.

The revision reflects the reduced risk of a radiological emergency at the site, which is being decommissioned, and removes the requirement that HDI maintain a 10-mile emergency planning zone around the facility.

HDI, a subsidiary of Florida-based Holtec International, acquired the three-unit nuclear power station in Buchanan, New York state, from Entergy in May 2021 for accelerated decommissioning.

The company recently completed moving all of Indian Point’s spent nuclear fuel to dry storage, significantly reducing the facility’s risks.

According to the NRC, the revisions to the emergency preparedness plan were needed for HDI to establish and maintain an adequate level of radiological emergency preparedness during decommissioning.

These exemptions are consistent with NRC actions at other commercial nuclear power plants undergoing decommissioning. The agency noted that it has issued such exemptions to 19 decommissioning plants since 1987.

Prague considering up to four new nuclear reactors.

The Czech Republic has established a solid basis for the safe management of radioactive waste and spent fuel, but should consider an in-depth review of the potential financial impact of its plans for an expanded nuclear power programme, an International Atomic Energy Agency review has concluded.

The review team said Prague should also consider undertaking a review of the potential impact of radioactive waste and spent fuel from additional nuclear power reactors.

It said the Czech Radioactive Waste Repository Authority (Surao), should consider improving plans and resources for engagement with potential host communities for a deep geological repository. This would ensure “sustained and effective engagement” beyond the site selection phase.

The Czech Republic operates six nuclear power reactors at two nuclear power stations in the country’s south: four units at Dukovany and two at Temelín.

The government has begun a tender for a new unit in Dukovany and is also evaluating the possible construction of one more unit at Dukovany and one or two new units in Temelín.

The company overseeing the project to build the new plants at Dukovany announced on Tuesday (31 October) it had received final bids from three companies: US-based Westinghouse, France’s EDF and South Korea’s Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP).

The Czech Republic is also preparing a policy for deploying small and medium-sized reactors to reduce carbon emissions in industrial sectors and district heating.

After storage in pools for seven to 10 years, spent fuel is kept in dry storage facilities at the nuclear station sites. There is a shallow land repository for low-level radioactive waste from both stations at the Dukovany site. The government plans to commission a deep geological repository for spent fuel and shortlisted four possible sites in 2020.

There is a repository for low and intermediate-level waste from medical and industrial use in a former limestone mine, Richard, near Litomerice in the north of the Czech Republic. Another repository for waste from health, industry and research sectors containing naturally occurring radionuclides can be found near Jachymov in the northwest of the country.

Sizewell C aims to power its water desalination plant with zero carbon electricity from Sizewell B in a further move to make construction of the nuclear plant in Suffolk as green as possible.

The temporary desalination facility will ensure the Sizewell C project has the water it needs until a new water main provides a permanent supply in the early 2030s.

Desalination will become an important future technology in the UK as the effects of climate change put greater strain on water supplies in rivers and reservoirs.

To reduce the impact of the plant on the local environment, Sizewell C is in discussions with EDF Energy Nuclear Generation Limited to agree a supply of zero carbon electricity from neighbouring power station, Sizewell B.

This will reduce the need to run the desalination plant using electricity from the grid or from generators and will help reduce the amount of carbon emissions produced during construction.

The project is continuing its discussions with the region’s water companies about building a mains pipeline to provide the power station with a permanent water supply.

This new supply will provide more water than Sizewell C needs to operate so it will benefit other users in the community.

Julia Pyke, co-managing director of Sizewell C said:

“This is another demonstration of our commitment to reduce the impacts of construction and to provide lasting benefits to East Suffolk. Our desalination plant will run on clean energy and combined with our long-term plan for water, will help build a more resilient supply in the East of England. It will also allow us to gain experience and skills in a technology which will become more widely used as we deal with the consequences of climate change.”

Sizewell C is proposing a series of other measures to reduce carbon emissions during and after construction of the power station.

These include operating a fleet of hydrogen buses to take thousands of workers to and from the main development site near Leiston.

The project recently announced the purchase of four buses from Wrightbus in Ballymena as part of pilot project to test the vehicles.

Sizewell C is also developing a Direct Air Capture facility in Lowestoft which will extract carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

The new nuclear power station is already set to be one of the biggest Net Zero projects in the UK. Using a water supply powered by zero carbon electricity means Sizewell C can go even further in developing the clean technologies of tomorrow.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Cameco-increases-2023-revenue-outlook

Substantial uranium spot price improvements have contributed to higher average realised prices, CEO Tim Gitzel said in the company's third-quarter results announcement which also includes updates on the progress of the first shipment of its share of 2023 production from Inkai in Kazakhstan and news of a new senior appointment to head its UK subsidiary.

"Our third quarter financial performance continues to demonstrate the benefits of our strategic decisions and the significant, positive momentum we are experiencing in the nuclear energy industry," Gitzel said.

"We have again increased our consolidated revenue outlook for 2023, which is driven by higher average realised prices as a result of substantial uranium spot price improvements. Gross profits have also improved as our uranium average unit cost of sales decreased from last year as we continue the transition back to our tier-one production cost structure."

A global increase in support for nuclear as a source of clean, secure and low-cost energy, coupled with the geopolitical uncertainty from Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the coup in Niger, has intensified supply concerns, he said, while in the short term, supply chain issues and inflation risks are causing production challenges for current operators. "Compared to previous price cycles, the market does not have the inventory or secondary supplies to absorb market shocks," he added.

The company's production of 3.0 million pounds U3O8 (1154 tU) was 50% higher than the same quarter last year. Production for the nine months to 30 September, at 11.9 million pounds U3O8, was 80% higher year-on-year.

"With improving market fundamentals," the company said, it has now increased its consolidated revenue outlook for 2023 to between CAD2.43 billion and CAD2.58 billion (previously CAD2.38 billion and CAD2.53 billion).

Uranium in transit

Cameco also provided an update on shipments of uranium from its Inkai joint venture in Kazakhstan. The first shipment of 2023 - containing around two thirds of the Canadian company's share of Inkai's 2023 production - is expected to arrive before the end of 2023. A second shipment with the remaining volume of Cameco's 2023 production is expected to depart before the end of the year and arrive in early 2024.

The uranium is being shipped via the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, which was developed by Cameco's joint venture partner Kazatomprom in 2018 and does not rely on Russian railway lines or ports. The company said it has inventory, long-term purchase agreements and loan arrangements in place that it can draw on to mitigate the risk of delays to transportation.

UK appointment

The company has also announced the appointment of Dominic Kieran as Global Managing Director of its wholly owned subsidiary Cameco UK Ltd. Kieran, a former CEO of Babcock International subsidiary Babcock Nuclear, said: "I am looking forward to working with an excellent team to advance Cameco’s vision of energising a clean-air world. The transition to a clean and secure energy world is our imperative and I look forward to helping this transition with Cameco."

According to Companies House, an executive agency of the British government responsible for registering company information, Cameco UK Ltd was incorporated in April.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Moltex-announces-waste-recycling-breakthrough

Laboratory experiments carried out using simulated fuel have substantially derisked the Waste To Stable Salt - or WATSS - process, and experiments using real used fuel are currently ongoing.

WATSS is part of a suite of reactor technologies that are being developed by Moltex Energy Canada that can be deployed individually or jointly: the Stable Salt Reactor - Wasteburner (SSR-W), a fast reactor that uses recycled nuclear waste as fuel; the WATSS recycling process; and GridReserve thermal energy storage tanks. Together, these allow the generation of inexpensive electricity that can be dispatched as needed, complementing intermitent renewable sources such as wind and solar, the company says.

The experiments in Moltex's own uranium-licensed laboratory were carried out using simulated fuel made of uranium dioxide and cerium oxide proportional to levels found in used nuclear fuel: the use of cerium oxide as an analogue to transuranic oxides is supported by literature and thermodynamic modelling. Building from these studies, experiments in secure hot cells at Canadian Nuclear Laboratories facilities are now under way, using "real" used fuel from Candu reactors.

"These important experiments not only demonstrate the viability of our waste recycling technology but also reaffirm our unwavering commitment to developing clean energy solutions that combat climate change," Moltex CEO Rory O'Sullivan said.

The company is also currently in discussions with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) to formalise a service agreement to help facilitate a bilateral dialogue on its used fuel recycling design.

CNSC completed the first phase of the pre-licensing vendor design review of the SSR-W in 2021, and the design has now reached a technology readiness level that "inspires confidence in its feasibility and economic viability", allowing the technical team to reallocate resources towards optimising the WATSS process, Moltex said. This strategic refocus is supported by Moltex partners AtkinsRéalis and IDOM, it added.

The company said it is planning to deploy the first WATSS unit at the Point Lepreau site in New Brunswick, where it has also plans to deploy the first SSR-W by the early 2030s. NB Power's existing Candu reactor at Point Lepreau is expected to retire around 2040.

"Waste recycling is poised to be a game-changer in the nuclear industry, offering a cost-effective and socially acceptable solution to reducing global waste stockpiles prior to final disposal," it said.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Construction-under-way-of-new-Dutch-radwaste-facil

Work has begun on the Multifunctional Storage Building (MOG) - a new storage building for low and intermediate-level waste - in Nieuwdorp, in the municipality of Borssele, in the Netherlands, the Central Organisation for Radioactive Waste (Covra) announced.

The order to begin construction of the MOG was given and the first bored pile was driven into the ground on 22 September, Covra said. All 438 bored piles for the MOG have now all been installed.

Covra applied to the Authority for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection (ANVS) in August 2022 for a permit change under the Nuclear Energy Act to construct the MOG facility. Among the documents submitted by Covra along with the permit application were an environmental impact assessment (EIA) and a supplement to its safety report. ANVS granted the final permit to Covra in June this year. Covra subsequently applied for and obtained a building permit from the municipality of Borssele.

Completion of the new storage building - plans for which were announced by Covra in March 2021 - is expected in 2025.

The new storage building is mainly intended for the storage of historical radioactive waste that is currently stored on the site of medical isotope producer NRG in Petten. Future decommissioning waste from nuclear installations in the Netherlands will also be placed in the MOG. The current processing and storage at Covra is not yet suitable for this, Covra said. The new building - designed for the storage of drums of radioactive waste in special stackable storage containers - will provide sufficient storage capacity until 2050.

The 2400-square-metre MOG will have a repacking area where drums with radioactive waste will be packed from the transport container into the storage container. These stackable storage containers will also be used for final storage. Covra said the building will also be made suitable for waste that it currently receives and which could possibly be processed and packaged in a different way in the future with a view to disposal.

MOG - designed for a lifespan of at least 100 years - will be able to accommodate 4000 cubic metres of radioactive waste. The building has been designed in such a way that the storage capacity can easily be expanded later.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/X-energy,-Ares-drop-merger-plan

Small modular reactor (SMR) and advanced fuel technology developer X-Energy Reactor Company - known as X-energy - and Ares Acquisition Corporation (AAC) have "mutually agreed to terminate their previously announced business combination agreement, effective immediately".

In December last year, X-energy and AAC - a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company affiliated with global alternative investment manager Ares Management Corporation - entered into a definitive business combination agreement. The combination was set to establish X-energy as a publicly traded company, a move that was expected to accelerate the company's growth strategy.

At that time, the business combination ascribed a pre-money equity value of approximately USD2 billion to X-energy, the companies said. The transaction, which had been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies and by members of X-Energy, was expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2023 subject to closing conditions including the approval of AAC shareholders and the receipt of governmental and regulatory approvals.

In June, X-energy and AAC announced a strategic update to their business combination agreement that revises the valuation of the transaction. Under the amended terms, X-energy's pre-money equity value was revised to USD1.8 billion. In September, Ares increased its total investment to USD80 million through a USD50 million PIPE investment on top of the USD30 million initial investment it announced last December.

However, in a joint statement the companies have now said: "Over the course of 2023, X-energy received strong interest from potential investors. However, given challenging market conditions, peer-company trading performance and a balancing of the benefits and drawbacks of becoming a publicly traded company under current circumstances, X-energy and AAC jointly determined that it was the best course of action at this time not to proceed with their previously announced transaction."

They added that an investment vehicle affiliated with Ares Management Corporation has agreed to make a private investment into X-energy "in order to support X-energy's continued growth as a private company".

"In view of the termination of the Business Combination Agreement, AAC determined that it will not be able to consummate an initial business combination within the time period required by its amended and restated memorandum and articles of association," the statement said. "As such, AAC intends to dissolve and liquidate in accordance with the provisions of the articles."

X-energy is the developer of the Xe-100 pebble bed high-temperature gas reactor, capable of a thermal output of 200 MW (or 80 MW electrical). It uses fuel made from robust TRISO (tri-structural isotropic) fuel particles which are able to withstand extremely high temperatures without melting. Optimised as a four-unit plant delivering 320 MWe, the reactor can provide baseload power to an electricity system or use its thermal output to support industrial applications with high pressure, high temperature steam.

In January this year, X-energy announced a strategic investment of USD25 million from South Korea's DL E&C and Doosan Enerbility. The investment was made in a private round of financing pursuant to X-energy's previously announced Series C-2 investment round to support the advancement of the global deployment of its Xe-100 SMR.

"The X-energy team will continue to make critical progress toward our long-term objectives," said X-energy CEO Clay Sell. "Looking ahead, we will continue to execute against our strategy that capitalises on our proprietary clean energy technology, competitive advantages and strategic relationships to the benefit of our customers and stakeholders around the world."

NuScale Power was the first SMR developer to undergo a business combination to accelerate the commercialisation of its technology. In May 2022, it merged with Spring Valley Acquisition Corp to create the world's first publicly traded SMR technology provider.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Argentina-s-SMR-CNEA-and-Nucleoelectrica-sign-agre

The National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA) and Nucleoeléctrica Argentina have signed a framework agreement for technical assistance for the country's CAREM small modular reactor project.

The technical assistance framework agreement was signed by CNEA president Adriana Serquis and Nucleoeléctrica President José Luis Antúnez and will have a two-year duration, extendable by mutual agreement, and provides a general framework for contracts for CAREM plant developments.

CNEA said the framework covers studies, analysis and calculations for CAREM development, supervision in engineering expertise, technical documentation such as equipment specifications and "advice on control measures, good practices and lessons learned; risk and opportunity analysis; determine training needs and eventually provide them, and advice on licensing issues".

Specific areas likely to benefit from the agreement will be "instrumentation and control, mechanical engineering, electromechanical assembly, pre-commissioning and commissioning, programming, radiation protection, commissioning and operation, simulations, electrical system and thermohydraulics".

The first contract within the framework agreement has also been signed "for the provision of technical assistance services in engineering to support the forecasts of design, construction, commissioning operation, operation and maintenance of CAREM nuclear power plants".

CNEA said the aim of the contract was for CAREM to take advantage of, and learn from, the experience that Nucleoeléctrica (NA-SA) "has been gathering both in operation and maintenance of Argentine plants, as well as in engineering during the completion and commissioning processes of the Atucha 2 plant and life extension of the Embalse plant".

CNEA's Serquis said the framework agreement "enhances the capabilities of the CAREM project, because it adds the capabilities of NA-SA. The state company will participate in the start-up, training of operators and many other aspects that are necessary for this project to become a reality".

Nucleoeléctrica's Antúnez said: "Nucleoeléctrica Argentina was born from CNEA and this agreement has great relevance, because we are helping to realise something that would have been a dream 50 years ago, which is the first reactor designed and built entirely in Argentina. This is proof of the maturity of the Argentine nuclear sector."

First concrete was poured for the prototype reactor in February 2014, marking the official start of its construction, however the project was suspended on a number of occasions, including from November 2019 for two years before restarting. In October 2022 CNEA said that civil construction works were expected to be finished by 2024, with initial criticality expected by the end of 2027.

The CAREM name is taken from Central ARgentina de Elementos Modulares. The 32 MWe prototype is Argentina's first domestically designed and developed nuclear power unit. At least 70% of the components and related services for CAREM-25 are to be sourced from Argentine companies. The commercial model ultimately envisaged by CNEA as the basis of a multi-reactor plant would have a higher power of between 100 and 120 MWe.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Cameco-announces-supply-contract-at-Beijing-uraniu

The supply agreement with China Nuclear International Corporation was finalised earlier this year, Cameco said. The 2023 International Natural Uranium Industry Development Forum also included updates on China's domestic uranium efforts.

The terms and details of the agreement with the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) subsidiary are commercially confidential and will not be disclosed publicly, Cameco said. The contract volumes are reflected in the 215 million pounds U3O8 (82,699 tU) the Canadian company reported having under long-term contracts as of 27 April and its reported average annual delivery volumes of 28 million pounds per year from 2023 through 2027 (as of 30 June this year), it added.

"China is counting on nuclear energy to play a major role in its commitment to achieve net-zero emissions, and CNNC is a large and growing part of that effort," Cameco President and CEO Tim Gitzel said. "Cameco is very pleased to continue increasing our contribution toward the attainment of China's important climate goals."

The International Natural Uranium Industry Development Forum, hosted by the China Mining Association and co-sponsored by the China Nuclear Society and China Uranium Industry Co, Ltd, took place on 28 October and was attended by some 300 delegates from around the world, including government officials and experts as well as representatives from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the China Atomic Energy Authority.

In a virtual address to the forum's opening session, IAEA Deputy Director General Liu Hua said the forum demonstrated "responsibility and commitment" from China.

"Today, as carbon peaking and carbon neutrality have become widely recognised, countries are working together to promote the rapid development of global nuclear energy and jointly address the challenges of climate change. The global economic recovery and energy security have placed higher demands on the sustainable development of nuclear energy. Establishing a global uranium resource partnership is crucial to ensuring the security, stability, and reliable supply of uranium resources needed for the development of nuclear energy worldwide, which is particularly important for the healthy development of nuclear energy," Liu said.

Liu's words were reported by the Global Times.

China has been developing its uranium industry for more than 60 years, but new resources identified over the past decade account for one-third of its total confirmed reserves today, Chen Junli, president of China Nuclear Uranium Co, said. As well as establishing a "complete industrial chain" from exploration through to mining, refining and processing of uranium, it has developed a natural uranium supply system that combines domestic development, overseas growth, international trade and strategic reserves, he said.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Zoning-permit-issued-for-new-Dukovany-nuclear-unit

The application for a zoning decision for up to two new nuclear power units at Dukovany in the Czech Republic was submitted in 2021 and ČEZ says the approval by the Ministry of Industry and Trade is a "key milestone".

The permit application was submitted in June 2021 to the Construction Department of the Municipal Office in Třebíč and ČEZ said that there had been six deadline extensions requested by the department before a change in the country's Building Act led to the administrative proceedings being transferred to the Ministry of Industry and Trade in July 2022.

Tomáš Pleskač, Director of ČEZ's New Energy Division, said: "The complex authorisation process of the new nuclear power plant project at Dukovany, one of the largest projects in Czech history, has advanced to the next stage. The issuance of the current decision is a significant step forward in the project. We have already received a positive opinion on the Environmental Impact Assessment and a permit for locating the nuclear power plant from the State Office for Nuclear Safety and authorisation for constructing the nuclear power plant from the Ministry of Industry and Trade."

Daniel Beneš, Chairman and CEO of ČEZ, said: "This step marks the successful completion of another milestone in the preparation schedule. At the same time, it is also a clear signal to all bidders in the current tender for the construction of new nuclear power plants that the permitting process is being implemented."

The issuance of the zoning permit comes the day before the deadline for submission of final bids from US company Westinghouse, France's EDF and South Korea's Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power for a new unit, which is due to be built next to the existing power plant and will replace part of its output in the future.

Four VVER-440 units are currently in operation at the Dukovany site, which began operating between 1985 and 1987. Two VVER-1000 units are in operation at Temelín, which came into operation in 2000 and 2002. Past Czech energy policy has proposed two new units at each of the two existing sites. There are also developing plans for small modular reactors in the country in an area near the existing Temelín plant. The Czech Republic gets about 34% of its electricity from its nuclear power plants.

Contracts could be finalised within next year and new unit ready for trial operation in 2036.

The company overseeing the project to build new nuclear power plants at the Dukovany site in the Czech Republic announced on Tuesday (31 October) it had received final bids from three companies.

Elektrárna Dukovany II (Edu II), a wholly owned subsidiary of state utility ČEZ, said it had received final bids for the construction of a new nuclear power plant at Dukovany from US-based Westinghouse, France’s EDF and South Korea’s Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP). All three submitted initial bids in November 2022.

Edu II said the suppliers had submitted a binding bid for Dukovany-5 and non-binding bids for a further three units. Those units would be Dukovany-6 and two additional units at the Temelín site, Temelín-3 and -4.

Westinghouse and EDF both said in statements that their bids propose construction of one unit at Dukovany with the potential for a second unit there and two additional units at Temelín.

Both companies are proposing Generation III+ reactor technology – Westinghouse its AP1000 and EDF its EPR1200. KHNP’s proposed technology is likely to be the APR1400.

Companies had until 11:00 on 31 October to submit their bids.

China and Russia Excluded

State-owned companies from China and Russia were excluded from bidding on security grounds.

Edu II will now evaluate the bids from “economic, commercial, and technical points of view” and submit an evaluation report to the Ministry of Industry and Trade and then to the Czech government for final approval.

Contracts could be finalised within the next year and Dukovany-5 ready for trial operation in 2036.

The new unit will be built next to the existing power station and will eventually replace some of the existing facility’s capacity when older units are retired. The first of four existing units at Dukovany began commercial operation in 1985.

The Czech Republic has six commercially operational reactor units: four Russia-designed VVER-440 units at Dukovany and two larger VVER-1000 units at Temelín. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, in 2022 the six units provided 36.7% of the country’s electricity production.

Construction of a first new unit at Dukovany could begin in 2029. The industry ministry has said it would be the biggest investment in the modern history of the Czech Republic, costing around €6bn ($6.7bn).

A second new unit at Dukovany has a target operation date not earlier than the mid-2040s. This would coincide with the retirements of the existing Dukovany VVERs.

ČEZ has also said it is planning to deploy small modular reactors with the first to go online in 2032 at Temelín. It said in March it had tentatively identified two preferred sites for additional units.

According to ČEZ, support for the development of nuclear energy in the Czech Republic has increased by 7% over the past year to 72%, the highest since 1993. The high support is mainly due to the current energy crisis, the company said.