Nuclear Energy

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Construction-of-containment-completed-of-Taipingli

The concreting has been completed of the outer dome of the containment building of unit 1 at the Taipingling nuclear power plant. China General Nuclear (CGN) said it marks the completion of the main structure of unit 1, the first of six Hualong One units planned at the site in China's Guangdong province.

The Hualong One design features a double-layered containment structure. The main function of the containment building is to ensure the integrity and leak tightness of the reactor building, and it plays a key role in the containment of radioactive substances.

The inner steel safety dome - measuring 45 metres in diameter and almost 14 metres in height, and weighing about 225 tonnes - was installed at Taipingling 1 in December 2021.

CGN noted the outer containment of Taipingling unit 1 comprises three parts: the cylinder structure, the external water tank and the hemispherical dome structure.

The outer dome - measuring 55 metres in diameter, 13 metres in height and weighing about 420 tonnes - was subsequently installed over the inner one.

The company has now announced that the concreting of the outer dome was completed on May 30. "This pouring is to cap the hemispherical dome structure, which will further improve the safety and sealing of the unit after completion," it said.

"At present, the construction of the Taipingling nuclear power project is progressing steadily," CGN said, adding that unit 1 was in the critical stage before the hot functional test, and unit 2 at the peak of installation. The two units of the first phase of the project are expected to be put into operation and generate electricity in 2025.

The Taipingling plant will eventually have six Hualong One reactors. The construction of the first and second units began in 2019 and 2020, respectively. Construction of the second phase of the plant - units 3 and 4 - was approved by China's State Council on 29 December 2023.

CGN has constructed two demonstration Hualong One units as units 3 and 4 of its Fangchenggang plant in the Guangxi Autonomous Region. Unit 3 entered commercial operation on 25 March last year, whilst unit 4 started commercial operation last month.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/USA-announces-new-cooperation-to-support-Ghana-SMR

The signature of two key arrangements facilitated by the US Foundational Infrastructure for the Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology (FIRST) Program to advance deployment of a small modular reactor (SMR) in Ghana and establish the country as a regional SMR hub were announced at the Africa Nuclear Business Platform meeting in Accra on May 28.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) and contractual arrangements for the provision of a NuScale Energy Exploration (E2) Centre and related services at the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) were signed by GAEC, Kazakhstan-based intergovernmental science organisation the International Science and Technology Center and NuScale.

NuScale's E2 Centres use computer modelling within a control room simulator for a VOYGR-12 SMR power plant to give users a hands-on opportunity to apply nuclear science and engineering principles through simulated, real-world nuclear power plant operation scenarios. Four E2 Centres have opened in the USA, and international E2 Centres have been opened in Bucharest in Romania and Seoul in South Korea.

The deployment of an E2 Centre in Ghana would be a first for the African continent and would provide a key tool for preparing the workforce for SMR deployment in Ghana and beyond, according to the US Embassy in Ghana. It will also establish Ghana as a regional educational and training hub for the next stage of safe and secure civil nuclear deployments in Africa, consistent with International Atomic Energy Agency’s Milestones Approach and nonproliferation standards, the embassy said.

A MoU for a regional welding certification programme between GAEC and the International Science and Technology Center will provide essential training and a unique skillset to enable Ghanaian technicians to qualify for construction jobs in the nuclear energy sector. Funded by the FIRST Program, this certification programme will help to establish Ghana as part of a safe and secure SMR supply chain in the region.

The Government of Ghana, through Nuclear Power Ghana, is also working on a cooperation agreement with project developer Regnum Technology Group LLC to develop an "industrial enclave" using a NuScale SMR nuclear power plant as its main source of energy, the embassy said. "The US government strongly supports the deployment of NuScale's technology through Regnum Technology Group as a project developer in Ghana and looks forward to seeing the conclusion of this agreement," it added.

"The United States is also currently in negotiations with Ghana for a peaceful nuclear cooperation agreement (or 123 agreement) and looks forward to concluding negotiations to enable closer cooperation in this important field."

A cooperation agreement is needed before the USA can trade nuclear goods and services with Ghana: these are known as 123 Agreements after the paragraph of the USA's 1954 Atomic Energy Act under which they are required.

The announcements build on a 2022 strategic collaboration between the USA, Japan and Ghana to support the deployment of SMRs in Ghana and build jobs through workforce development to support future SMR supply chain needs.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/EDF-completes-GE-Steam-Power-acquisition

The transaction includes the manufacturing of conventional island equipment for new nuclear power plants as well as related maintenance and upgrade activities for existing nuclear plants outside of the Americas. EDF's acquisition of the business - at that time, known as GE Steam Power - was first announced in early 2022 and the final agreement signed that November.

EDF Group said the transaction will allow it to acquire key technologies and skills for the nuclear industry and European energy security. Employing around 3,300 people, Arabelle Solutions will supply equipment for new nuclear power plants and will also maintain and upgrade equipment in existing nuclear power plants. Its steam turbines will be used in particular in the EPR, EPR2 and SMR (small modular reactor) reactor series, the company said.

"This acquisition supports the relaunch of nuclear reactor construction, which Europe needs in order to decarbonise its economy and ensure its energy sovereignty, with a fully autonomous European industrial sector," EDF Chairman and CEO Luc Rémont said. "Arabelle Solutions will strengthen our industrial expertise in the nuclear value chain alongside Framatome."

Framatome CEO Bernard Fontana has been appointed chairman of Arabelle Solutions's board. Frédéric Wiscart is its CEO.

GE Vernova, which was spun off from GE earlier this year, retains a services-focused Steam Power business, including services for more than 100 gigawatts of nuclear turbine islands in the Americas region. It also retains GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy, and said it remains committed to the nuclear sector and continues to invest in next-generation technology.

CEO Scott Strazik said completion of the transaction was an important milestone for the company. "Going forward, GE Vernova plans to continue to be a best-in-class services partner for our other Steam Power customers and is focused on advancing the future of nuclear power with our small modular reactor technology," he said.

French President Emmanuel Macron chose GE Steam Power's Belfort manufacturing site in eastern France to announce plans for a new reactor building programme in early 2022. On Friday, he welcomed the announcement on X: "This is a commitment that I made in Belfort: EDF is taking over the nuclear activities of General Electric from today, in particular the manufacturing of Arabelle turbines. A big step for our energy sovereignty."

Financial terms for the transaction have not been disclosed.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/New-nuclear-included-in-draft-Korean-energy-plan

South Korea could construct up to three large new nuclear power reactors as well as a small modular reactor by 2038, according to a draft long-term energy plan released by the country's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE).

According to the draft of the 11th Basic Electricity Supply and Demand Plan, South Korea's demand for electricity will increase to 129.3 GW by 2038 - an increase of more than 30% from 2023, with growth mainly being driven by demand from the semiconductor and data centre industries.

Under the draft plan, the portion of carbon-free energy sources in the country's energy mix will increase from about 40% in 2023 to 70% by 2038. It says the proportion of electricity generated by nuclear power in 2030 will be 31.8%, increasing to 35.6% in 2038. The country's 26 reactors currently provide about one-third of its electricity. Meanwhile, the proportion from renewable sources will increase from 7.9% in 2023 to reach 21.6% in 2031 and 32.9% by 2038. Hydrogen and ammonia will account for some 5.5% of total power generation by 2038.

Meanwhile, the proportion generated from coal-fired plants - which currently account for around one-third of Korea's electricity generation - will drop to 17.4% in 2030 and 10.3% in 2038.

"Considering the appropriate reserve ratio (22%), the facilities needed by 2038 are 157.8 GW, and considering the renewable energy supply outlook (120 GW in 2038, 13 GW based on effective capacity), the confirmed facilities are 147.2 GW," the ministry said. "Therefore, an additional 10.6 GW of power generation facilities are needed. This 10.6 GW is planned to be covered by large-scale nuclear power plants, SMRs and LNG cogeneration."

It added: "In particular, in the case of large nuclear power plants, it is expected that a construction period of 167 months (13 years and 11 months) will be required, including the period for securing land, etc., so the facility plan was prepared based on the assumption that entry will be possible after 2037."

The ministry said that from 2037-38, 4.4 GW of new facilities are expected to be needed. Assuming that APR1400 units are built, "arithmetically, up to three units can be built, but it is recommended that the government consult with the project operator to derive the optimal plan by comprehensively considering the schedule, cost, etc., such as securing the site for the construction period until 2038".

In addition, to meet electricity demand from 2035-36, it says 2.2 GW of new facilities are expected to be needed. "During this period, 0.7 GW is allocated for the commercialisation demonstration of small modular reactors (SMRs) currently under development."

"The 11th Basic Electricity Plan focused on composing a power mix that prioritises the stability of power supply, is economically and socially acceptable, and accelerates the transition to carbon-free power sources in order to achieve the Nationally Determined Contribution [under the Paris climate agreement]", the ministry said. "By reducing the country's dependence on overseas fossil fuels, the plan will contribute to enhancing energy security."

The draft plan will be finalised after due environmental assessment, public hearings and consultations with ministries concerned before being adopted.

President Yoon Suk-yeol, who took office in May 2020, vowed to reverse former President Moon Jae-in's policy of phasing out nuclear power, a policy which was brought in after he assumed office in 2017, and followed the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi accident in Japan.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Framatome,-TerraPower-announce-plans-for-HALEU-met

Framatome and TerraPower have agreed to design and develop a high-assay low enriched uranium (HALEU) metallisation pilot plant at Framatome's nuclear fuel manufacturing facility in Richland, Washington.

Metallisation is a crucial part of the deconversion process to turn enriched uranium hexafluoride - UF6 - into a form that can be used to fabricate HALEU fuel for advanced reactors. The pilot line is currently under construction and will demonstrate Framatome's capability to convert uranium dioxide into HALEU metal.

Framatome said the pilot line will initiate "a long-term collaboration to supply metal feedstock" and help Terrapower to develop a domestic supply chain for HALEU in the USA.

"This agreement advances fuel technologies for the nuclear energy industry and working pragmatically with TerraPower builds the trust and confidence our customers count on," said Ala Alzaben, senior vice president for North America Fuel at Framatome.

TerraPower's Natrium advanced nuclear power technology features a 345 MWe sodium-cooled fast reactor with a molten salt-based energy storage system. A Natrium demonstration plant is to be constructed near a retiring coal facility at Kemmerer in Wyoming.

A strong domestic fuel supply chain is crucial for the wide-scale deployment of advanced nuclear energy solutions, which are needed to meet clean energy targets and provide reliable, baseload energy, TerraPower President and CEO Chris Levesque said. "This investment by TerraPower into Framatome's pilot plant is a critical step in bringing advanced reactors like the Natrium technology to market," he added.

The USA's current commercial nuclear fuel cycle is based on reactor fuel that is enriched to no more than 5% U-235, also known as low-enriched uranium, or LEU. HALEU - enriched to between 5% and 20% - will be used by many of the advanced reactor technologies that are currently under development, but there is as yet no US domestic commercial source of HALEU available to fuel them.

A HALEU fuel cycle will need new enrichment facilities, transportation solutions, and conversion and deconversion facilities, but without a clear demand signal private fuel cycle companies cannot commit the required capital to build out the necessary infrastructure. This led to what has been described as a 'chicken and egg' problem threatening to delay the deployment of advanced reactors and small modular reactors.

The US Department of Energy (DOE) is pursuing various pathways to produce HALEU through its HALEU Availability Program (HAP), authorised by the Energy Act of 2020 to meet the pressing need for the material, and the Inflation Reduction Act - signed into law in 2022 - included a USD700 million support package. Framatome has applied for DOE funding under the HAP Deconversion and Metallisation Request for Proposals.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/RWE-permitted-to-dismantle-Gundremmingen-plant

German utility RWE announced it has received the third and final licence from the Bavarian State Ministry for the Environment and Consumer Protection to decommission and dismantle the former Gundremmingen nuclear power plant.

The 1284 MWe Gundremmingen B boiling water reactor (BWR) in southern Germany was disconnected from the grid on 31 December 2017 after 33 years of operation. Gundremmingen C - a 1288 MWe BWR - permanently shut down on 31 December 2021.

The licence for dismantling unit B according to the Atomic Energy Act was granted by the Bavarian State Ministry of the Environment and Consumer Protection in March 2019; the licence for dismantling unit C in May 2021.

"Since then, several thousand tonnes of material have been removed from the two reactor buildings, processed and mostly returned to the recycling cycle," RWE said. "The third permit that has now been granted covers the dismantling of all plant components that were not the subject of the previous permits."

RWE said the Bavarian State Ministry for the Environment and Consumer Protection issued the final licence on 28 May.

"This means that all the prerequisites for the dismantling target set for the mid/late 2030s, namely the release of the plant from nuclear regulatory supervision, are now in place," the company said.

"The granting of the permit enables us to continue the immediate dismantling in accordance with the current Atomic Energy Act and is an important milestone in our dismantling project," said Gundremmingen Plant Manager Heiko Ringel. "The rapid and safe dismantling is guaranteed by a highly-motivated and technically experienced team made up of our own staff and partner companies.

"All work is subject to monitoring by the supervisory authority, which accompanies and supervises the dismantling with the support of various independent experts. Plant safety, occupational safety and health protection have the highest priority in all activities."

In December 2021, RWE awarded a contract to Westinghouse to dismantle the two reactors at the Gundremmingen plant. Under the contract, Westinghouse will dismantle and pack the reactor pressure vessels, including the associated internals, the fuel element storage racks and adjacent concrete shielding structures in units B and C of the Gundremmingen plant. The work is expected to be completed in 2030.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Contract-for-refurbishment-of-Loviisa-turbines

Finnish utility Fortum has awarded a contract to Doosan Škoda Power to modernise the low-pressure turbines at its Loviisa nuclear power plant as part of lifetime extension-related investments. The modernisation of the turbines will also increase the total capacity of the Loviisa power plant by about 38 MWe.

The Loviisa plant - comprising two VVER-440 type pressurised water reactors - was the first nuclear power plant in Finland and currently provides more than 10% of the country's electricity. Loviisa unit 1 began commercial operation in 1977, with unit 2 following in 1981. In February 2023, the Finnish government granted Fortum an extension to the operating licence for the two-units, allowing the Loviisa plant to continue generating power until the end of 2050.

The modernisation of the low-pressure turbines will start in 2026 and will be carried out in conjunction with the normal annual outages. The project will involve the replacement of eight low-pressure turbine housings and their internal parts. The project will significantly improve the efficiency of the turbine plant's electricity production without increasing the thermal output of the reactor.

It will result in an increase in the total capacity of the plant of about 38 MWe from the plant's current capacity of 1014 MWe and will raise the expected generation from plant over the course of the new licence period from 170 TWh to 177 TWh.

"Extending the lifetime of the power plant is a major investment with a positive impact - both economically and in terms of employment," said Sasu Valkamo, senior vice president of the Loviisa plant. "Modernising the low-pressure turbines is our first significant investment in preparation for the lifetime extension. Our aim is for the power plant to operate during the new operating licence period just as stably, reliably and safely as it has so far.

"Doosan Škoda Power is a seasoned turbine supplier, and we have good experiences working with them. In our previous modernisation project, Doosan Škoda Power also supplied us with high-pressure turbines."

"Fortum is our long-term customer and we are very proud to be part of this new important modernisation project at the Loviisa nuclear power plant," added Radek Trněný, Head of Sales Nuclear at Doosan Škoda Power, a Czech subsidiary of South Korea's Doosan Group. "Nuclear power is a strategic segment for us, and this contract is further confirmation that we are on the right track."

Over the past five years, Fortum has invested some EUR200 million (USD217 million) in refurbishing the Loviisa plant. The company estimates that investments related to the continuation of operations and the lifetime extension will amount to approximately EUR1 billion by 2050.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Critical-Design-Review-for-Argentina-s-CAREM-small

The Critical Design Review for Argentina's CAREM small modular reactor should be completed within 60 days, the new president of the National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA), Germán Guido Lavalle, has said.

Lavalle, in an interview with EconoJournal, said that having a review of the CAREM reactor was a normal occurrence in innovative projects and "the group of experts has already been defined and they are starting to work ... we gave them a maximum period of 60 consecutive days, I hope it is less. The group of experts has to identify those aspects that require a review or redesign, in particular the most innovative aspects of the reactor".

Asked what impact the review might have on the work already taking place, he said that it would not impact the civil works and would be focused on the engineering systems, "basically the things that go inside the reactor which are not yet manufactured ... the review can say 'look it's worth making this modification, doing these measurements, or doing these tests'". He added that he understood the responsibility involved in investing public funds and in ensuring the project comes to fruition. He said that the project could be open to private sector funding if a potential partner wanted to join the project

There have been questions raised about funding for nuclear projects in Argentina since the election of President Javier Milei in December with a plan to boost the country's economy by cutting government spending and rebalancing the state's finances, including by privatising some state entities. According to a Reuters report of an interview with previous CNEA head, Adriana Serquis, earlier this month, the organisation's budget had been held at 2023 levels, despite annual inflation at times nearing 300% and this had led to some suppliers and contractors being forced to halt work on the CAREM construction.

In his EconoJournal interview, Lavalle said that the entire public sector was in a similar situation of having 2023 budgets because congress had yet to approve a 2024 budget, and said discussions were continuing with the economy minister, with some "favourable messages" received. He said that the RA-10 multipurpose reactor and the Argentine Proton Therapy Centre projects were also priorities, and highlighted the potential for technology company spin-offs from CNEA's work, saying "all large universities or science and technology organisations put a lot of focus on this, understanding that it generates not only money for the institution but a good return for society to have these companies and have them succeed".

In October last year, the National Atomic Energy Commission and Nucleoeléctrica Argentina signed a framework agreement for technical assistance for the country's CAREM project. 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 in 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.

When it is up and running, RA-10 will have the capacity to cover 20% of world demand for the radioisotope molybdenum-99, from which technetium is obtained, and it will also be possible to produce other radioisotopes that are not made in the country, such as lutetium, used to treat prostate cancer and other pathologies. The new facility will allow the targets that are irradiated in the RA-10 reactor to be processed on an industrial scale and obtain sustained production of both radioisotopes and, in export terms, will put the country on a similar level to the Netherlands, Belgium, South Africa, Russia and Australia.

Almost precisely 11 months ago, I started this Lemmy community as a way for people on nuclear reddit to find a new home. That didn't exactly turnout the way I thought. But despite that, today we're the biggest nuclear energy Lemmy community around!

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Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/US-companies-to-work-on-lowering-nuclear-investmen

Duke Energy, Amazon, Google, Microsoft and Nucor have signed agreements on proposed tariffs that would lower the costs of investing in clean energy technologies like new nuclear as they explore new and innovative approaches to support carbon-free energy generation and help utilities serve the future energy needs of large businesses in North Carolina and South Carolina.

Memorandums of understanding signed earlier this month were announced during the White House Summit on Domestic Nuclear Deployment, which took place on 29 May. In those agreements, the companies proposed developing new rate structures, Accelerating Clean Energy (ACE) tariffs, designed specifically to lower the long-term costs of investing in clean energy technologies like new nuclear and long-duration storage through early commitments.

ACE tariffs would enable large customers like Amazon, Google, Microsoft and Nucor to directly support carbon-free energy generation investments through innovative financing structures and contributions that address project risk to lower costs of emerging technologies, Duke Energy said. They would "facilitate beneficial on-site generation at customer facilities, participation in load flexibility programmes and investments in clean energy assets", it added.

The ACE framework also would include a Clean Transition Tariff which would match clean-energy generation and customer load to accelerate overall grid decarbonisation.

These agreements allow for tailored customer solutions to meet large-scale energy needs, as well as enabling "innovative multi-industry risk-sharing" for new carbon-free energy generation, Duke said.

"In this new era of large-scale energy demand, Duke Energy is committed to working with our regulators and customers to find innovative and responsible ways to satisfy the growing need for more and cleaner energy," Duke Energy SVP Pricing and Customer Solutions Lon Huber said. "With the help of companies like Amazon, Google, Microsoft and Nucor, we can accelerate our service of large customer needs and the transition to cleaner energy, while reducing financial risks and supporting economic development in our communities."

Earlier this year, steel manufacturer Nucor together with Google and Microsoft announced plans to develop new business models and aggregate their demand for advanced clean electricity technologies, including advanced nuclear, and issued a Request for Information (RFI) to identify specific projects to engage with. According to the RFI timeline, they anticipate notifying projects of intent to proceed with commercial discussions in mid-June and complete a first round of power purchase agreements during the first quarter of 2025. Nucor has also been exploring possible deployment of NuScale Power's VOYGR small modular nuclear reactor (SMR) power plants at or near some of its facilities.

Duke Energy's generating fleet includes 11 nuclear reactors at six power stations across the Carolinas with a total generating capacity of 10,773 MWe. The company last year filed an Integrated Resource Plan which recommended extending the lives of existing nuclear power plants as well as building two new SMRs by 2035 as the most prudent way forward for North and South Carolina.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/KEPCO,-ENEC-to-jointly-promote-overseas-nuclear-pr

Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) of the UAE and Korea Electric Power Cooperation (KEPCO) have signed a memorandum of understanding to bolster research and investment opportunities in nuclear energy in third countries.

The MoU was signed on May 29 in Seoul by ENEC Managing Director and CEO Mohamed Al Hammadi and KEPCO President and CEO Dong-Cheol Kim. The signing was witnessed by South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed AL Nahyan.

"This partnership marks the next step in the two nations' collaboration to spearhead nuclear energy development in other countries by providing the relevant expertise to accelerate the deployment of this crucial source of clean baseload electricity," ENEC said. It added that the partners "will explore co-investing in the establishment of nuclear energy plants globally and seek to address the instrumental role nuclear energy plays in addressing climate change and achieving net-zero targets".

The latest agreement, ENEC said, builds on its and KEPCO's expertise in various fields, including "the efficient, safety and quality-led development and implementation of nuclear energy plants, and the significant transmission and distribution infrastructure required to integrate into national grids".

KEPCO noted that the global nuclear power plant market has recently started changing from "a pure construction project (EPC) method, in which ordering countries build nuclear power plants with their own resources, to a method that requires operators to participate in a certain level of financing".

"Accordingly, the ability to raise financial resources is emerging as one of the key factors for business success. If we combine the strengths of Korea and the UAE, which can carry out profitable nuclear power projects through this MoU, we will be able to secure a differentiated comparative advantage over competing countries in the global nuclear power plant market," it said.

KEPCO President Kim Dong-cheol said: "As the overseas nuclear power plant export business is a national competition ... a trustworthy partner like the UAE is absolutely necessary in the fierce overseas nuclear power plant export competition. With the signing of this MoU, we will do our best to create a success story for the second nuclear power plant export."

Under a USD20 billion deal announced in December 2009, four Korean-designed APR1400 reactors have been built at the Barakah site in the UAE by a consortium led by KEPCO. First concrete for Barakah 1 was poured in July 2012, while that for units 2-4 was poured in April 2013, September 2014 and July 2015, respectively. Unit 1 began commercial operation in April 2021, unit 2 in March 2022 and unit 3 in February 2023. Unit 4 was connected to the grid in March this year and is scheduled to enter commercial operation later in 2024.

ENEC said the Barakah plant is the flagship project of the UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Programme, with the company "now focused on exploring opportunities in the UAE and overseas in large-scale plants, SMRs and advanced reactors, related clean technologies such as hydrogen generation and R&D to maximise the full value of the expertise developed in nuclear mega project programme delivery, capacity building and technology deployment".

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/White-House-holds-summit-on-US-nuclear-energy-depl

The US Administration announced the formation of a new working group to look at ways to reduce nuclear construction project risks, a programme to deploy advanced reactors to power multiple military sites in the USA and the release of a new primer on the enhanced safety of advanced nuclear reactors.

According to a White House statement, the Summit on Domestic Nuclear Deployment on 29 May was held to highlight "the collective progress being made from across the public and private sectors". It drew attention to actions taken by the current Administration to reduce reliance on Russian uranium for civil nuclear fuel, and build the nuclear fuel supply chain, the multi-country declaration at COP28 to triple nuclear energy capacity globally by 2050 as well as work on developing new reactor designs and extending the service lives of existing nuclear reactors and growing the momentum behind new deployments.

"Recognising the importance of both the existing US nuclear fleet and continued build out of large nuclear power plants, the US is also taking steps to mitigate project risks associated with large nuclear builds and position US industry to support an aggressive deployment target," the White House said.

The Nuclear Power Project Management and Delivery working group announced by the Administration will draw on "leading experts from across the nuclear and megaproject construction industry" to help identify opportunities to proactively mitigate sources of cost and schedule overrun risk, the White House said. Working group members will come from federal government entities, including the White House Office of Domestic Climate Policy, the White House Office of Clean Energy Innovation & Implementation, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and the Department of Energy (DOE). It will engage stakeholders including project developers, engineering, procurement and construction firms, utilities, investors, labour organisations, academics, and NGOs, "which will each offer individual views on how to help further the Administration’s goal of delivering an efficient and cost-effective deployment of clean, reliable nuclear energy and ensuring that learnings translate to cost savings for future construction and deployment".

Military reactor deployment

Small modular reactors (SMRs) and microreactors can provide defence installations with energy that is resilient to challenges such as physical or cyberattacks, extreme weather, or pandemic biothreats that can disrupt commercial energy networks. The US Army is exploring the deployment of advanced reactors to help meet its energy needs and "will soon release a Request for Information to inform a deployment programme for advanced reactors to power multiple Army sites in the United States", the White House said.

The Army's effort - alongside two current defence reactor programmes, the Department of the Air Force microreactor pathfinder at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska, and the Office of the Secretary of Defense Strategic Capabilities Office Project Pele prototype transportable microreactor project - "will help inform the regulatory and supply chain pathways that will pave the path for additional deployments of advanced nuclear technology to provide clean, reliable energy for federal installations and other critical infrastructure".

Taking action

The White House also highlighted the release by the DOE of a new primer highlighting the expected enhanced safety of advanced nuclear reactors including passive core cooling capabilities and advanced fuel designs, and the release by Idaho National Laboratory of a new advanced nuclear reactor capital cost reduction pathway tool to help developers and stakeholders to assess cost drivers for new projects.

The US Administration said it "notes the completion" of Vogtle units 3 and 4 - the first new reactors built in the USA in more than 30 years, which it said had been made possible by DOE financing and support, including loan guarantees for the construction of the units. It said the government "will continue to take action to enable first movers to deploy advanced and innovative technologies" building on actions that have already been taken. These include steps to "revive and revitalise" existing nuclear, such as a USD1.5 billion conditional loan commitment to support Holtec Palisades' efforts to restart the Palisades nuclear power plant in Michigan, the DOE's Civil Nuclear Credit programme which is helping to fund the life extension of the Diablo Canyon plant in California, and the production tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act which is supporting the continued operation of existing nuclear power plants.

The White House also highlighted steps it is taking to support the demonstration and deployment of new nuclear technologies, including the DOE’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program, and a Congressional appropriations package providing USD800 million to fund up to two Gen III+ SMR demonstration projects, the implementation of which is to be announced later this year. It also highlighted the work that being done by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission to streamline the licensing process for building new reactors and life extensions and capacity expansions of existing reactors, and initiatives to develop the nuclear supply chai and workforce, including the recently signed Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act.

"Taken together, these actions represent the largest sustained push to accelerate civil nuclear deployment in the United States in nearly five decades," the White House said.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Toshiba-teams-up-with-local-firms-for-Polish-plant

Japan's Toshiba has signed a memorandum of understanding with two Polish companies to explore collaboration in equipment supply and maintenance services for Poland's first nuclear power plant.

The MoU was signed between Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions (Toshiba ESS) and its affiliate Toshiba International (Europe) Ltd (TIL) and Rockfin sp zoo - a manufacturer of auxiliary equipment for steam turbines and generators - and EthosEnergy Poland SA - a provider of maintenance services.

Toshiba ESS and TIL recently initiated another step to advance the project and establish a supply chain in Poland by closing collaborative arrangements with Rockfin and EthosEnergy. Toshiba said the next step forward will include detailed discussions between the four parties on the scope of collaboration.

"We are delighted to announce the signing of an MoU with Rockfin and EthosEnergy, and in doing so creating a strong potential collaboration for Poland's first nuclear project," said Shinya Fujitsuka, director and vice president of Toshiba ESS. "We are dedicated to contributing to energy sustainability, enhanced energy security, and to protecting the global environment through our nuclear energy business."

Toshiba ESS said it has "a wealth of experience and advanced technical capabilities in the nuclear domain", including plant construction and maintenance, and support for plant restarts, decommissioning, and dismantlement. The company is also engaged in fuel cycle management and the development of future energy sources, including next-generation and fast reactors. Toshiba - known for its expertise in steam turbines and generators for nuclear power plants, as well as primary cycle systems for nuclear reactors - was involved in the Vogtle project in the USA and the Barakah project in the UAE.

"We are proud to announce that we have signed an MoU with Toshiba ESS," Rockfin said. "This partnership is a significant step forward in the implementation of the new Polish AP1000 nuclear project in Lubiatowo-Kopalina.

"This collaboration highlights our shared commitment to innovation and excellence in the nuclear sector. We are excited to leverage our combined strengths to drive significant progress and deliver sustainable energy solutions for Poland's future."

Rockfin noted that it recently supplied auxiliary turbine equipment to the Hinkley Point C project in the UK and the Akkuyu project in Turkey.

In November 2022, the then Polish government selected the Westinghouse AP1000 reactor technology for construction at the Lubiatowo-Kopalino site in the Choczewo municipality in Pomerania in northern Poland. An agreement setting a plan for the delivery of the plant was signed in May last year by Westinghouse, Bechtel and Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe (PEJ). The Ministry of Climate and Environment in July issued a decision-in-principle for PEJ to construct the plant. The aim is for Poland's first AP1000 reactor to enter commercial operation in 2033.

Under an engineering services agreement signed in September last year, in cooperation with PEJ, Westinghouse and Bechtel will finalise a site-specific design for a plant featuring three AP1000 reactors. The design/engineering documentation includes the main components of the power plant: the nuclear island, the turbine island and the associated installations and auxiliary equipment, as well as administrative buildings and infrastructure related to the safety of the facility. The contract also involves supporting the investment process and bringing it in line with current legal regulations in cooperation with the PAA and the Office of Technical Inspection.

In June 2022, Toshiba ESS announced that it and its US affiliate, Toshiba America Energy Systems Company, had reached an agreement with Bechtel to collaborate on the supply of steam turbines and generators for Poland's first nuclear power plant.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/KAERI-and-Seaborg-sign-MoU-on-cooperation

The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) and Danish floating nuclear power plant developer Seaborg are to collaborate on advancing nuclear technologies, notably molten salt reactors.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by KAERI President Han Gyu Joo (pictured above left) and Seaborg CEO Klaus Nyengaard at the Danish ambassador's residence in Seoul on 27 May.

Both KAERI and Seaborg have been developing molten salt reactors and Seaborg said the MoU "paves the way for both institutions to leverage their respective research and development expertise and infrastructure". It added that they aimed "to create a synergistic relationship that will enhance their capabilities and drive forward innovations in nuclear technology".

Seaborg's design is for modular compact molten salt reactor (CMSR) power barges equipped with between two and eight 100 MWe reactors, with an operational life of 24 years. Instead of having solid fuel rods that need constant cooling, the CMSR's fuel is mixed in a liquid salt that acts as a coolant, which means that it will simply shut down and solidify in case of emergency. However, the low-enriched fluoride fuel salt is not yet commercially available, so Seaborg last year announced the initial power barges will be fuelled with low-enriched uranium.

Among its existing links with South Korea, in April this year Seaborg signed an MoU with KEPCO Nuclear Fuel and GS Engineering & Construction which would "facilitate a joint feasibility study enabling all parties to determine the project's scope and timeline for establishing fuel salt production in accordance with their respective roles and collaborative endeavours".

And in April 2022, South Korean shipbuilder Samsung Heavy Industriessigned an MoU with Seaborg to manufacture and sell turnkey power plants combining its ship-building expertise and Seaborg's compact molten salt reactor. It also covered the development of hydrogen production plants and ammonia plants.

The timeline for Seaborg, which was founded in 2014, has been for commercial production of Power Barges beginning from 2028.

In February last year, nine South Korean organisations - including KAERI - signed an MoU to cooperate on the development and demonstration of ships and offshore systems powered with small modular reactors, and jointly developing a molten salt reactor suitable for use in marine vessels.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Hungary-and-Belarus-sign-roadmap-for-nuclear-energ

Belarusian Energy Minister Viktor Karankevich and Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto have held talks and agreed on the next steps in cooperation over their nuclear energy plants.

According to the energy ministry in Belarus, the roadmap covers deepened cooperation relating to the Russian-built nuclear power plants featuring VVER-1200 units in the two countries as well as wider energy issues.

The official Belta news agency in Belarus said the agreement "defines the main areas of joint work of Belarusian and Hungarian nuclear scientists for 2024-2025, including in the field of personnel training, scheduled maintenance and radioactive waste management". The roadmap is a follow-up to the memorandum of understanding concluded in April 2023 between the two countries.

Hungary's Paks II project 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 build 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 and a construction timetable agreed last year which set out plans to connect the new units to the grid at the beginning of the 2030s.

The Belarus nuclear power plant has two VVER-1200 reactors and 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. The first power unit was connected to the grid in November 2020, with the second unit put into commercial operation in November 2023.

According to the foreign minister in Belarus, one of the areas discussed was attracting people who worked on the nuclear construction project in Belarus to work on the Hungarian one. The Reuters news agency reported that Szijjarto told a media briefing: "Of great importance is the agreement signed here today on nuclear energy cooperation, which allows us to use the experiences Belarus gained here while constructing reactors with a similar technology."

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/SMR-developers-enlist-French-nuclear-expertise

Thorizon of the Netherlands has signed a cooperation agreement with France's EDF R&D to advance the Thorizon One molten salt reactor design. Meanwhile, Blue Capsule has signed a partnership agreement with the French Alternative Energies & Atomic Energy Commission, from which it was spun off, for the development of its small modular reactor.

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

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

The molten salt fuel adopted by Thorizon uses a combination of long-lived elements from reprocessed used nuclear fuel and thorium. The reactor will be able to recycle long-lived waste from existing nuclear facilities. The Thorizon One concept is unique in that the core is composed of a set of cartridges that is replaced every five to ten years. This, the company says, overcomes two molten salt design obstacles: material corrosion and handling of used fuel volumes.

Under the new agreement, EDF R&D will review Thorizon's neutronic core calculations and conduct scenario analyses to determine how the Thorizon One could help to close the fuel cycle in the European reactor fleet.

Thorizon said it will "benefit from EDF's expertise as the French leader in electricity production, and in particular from the recognised skills of its R&D researchers".

"The R&D team covers all disciplines from neutronics and fuel to safety and construction," said Bernard Salha, EDF R&D Director and EDF Group Chief Technical Officer. "We are actively supporting several start-ups in the France 2030 programme. The cartridge-based approach of Thorizon is interesting and promising."

"It is a pleasure to work with the EDF team which has more experience in nuclear than any company across the globe," added Thorizon CEO Kiki Lauwers. "Thanks to EDF R&D, start-ups like us benefit from access to unique industry experts that can very quickly spot the strengths and areas for improvements in our design. We hope we can continue to work with the EDF R&D team on the realisation of our technology in the future. We believe all solutions are needed to empower the energy transition and the Thorizon One can be a great compliment to the existing and planned nuclear fleet."

Horizon says its ambition is to develop an MSR that "can be realised rapidly and smartly, is 'walk-away' safe, and takes a first step towards circularity by using long-lived nuclear waste as a fuel source". The company aims to build a non-nuclear molten salt demonstrator in the short-term and finalise the detailed design to start building a first-of-a-kind Thorizon One reactor by 2030.

Decarbonising industry

Blue Capsule - a spin-off from France's Alternative Energies & Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) - has announced the signing of a partnership agreement with the CEA for the development of its small modular reactor (SMR) that will supply heat and power to industry.

Aix-en-Provence-based Blue Capsule is developing a sodium-cooled, high-temperature SMR which can provide 150 MW of heat at 700°C, along with high-temperature steam and electricity. The company aims to decarbonise industrial sites used for ammonia and soda ash production, with subterranean capsules co-located onsite, close to demand.

Under the new agreement - with financial support from French public investment bank Bpifrance - CEA's support for Blue Capsule will extend to fields such as equipment and components, materials, calculation codes and TRISO-based fuel.

"France's leadership in the fields of nuclear energy and low-carbon solutions is creating big opportunities for industry right across the country," said Blue Capsule's reactor architect Domnin Erard. "And for Blue Capsule, collaboration with the French nuclear sector is front and centre of our strategy.

"This vital partnership with the CEA means that Blue Capsule benefits from world-class expertise across the board. It lays the foundations for our future industrial cooperation with the French nuclear supply chain, for manufacturing and assembling Blue Capsule units.

"It all comes down to cutting industrial CO2 emissions and of course the re-industrialisation of communities in France and beyond. For our part, we'll do everything we can to help achieve that objective."

Blue Capsule is planning to build a proof-of-concept sodium loop and a non-nuclear prototype by 2030. The company's first-of-a-kind SMR is scheduled for construction by 2035 and is set to be built in France.

New group says key tasks include identifying most promising and cost-effective technologies.

The inaugural meeting of Europe’s new Industrial Alliance on Small Modular Reactors (SMR) began in Brussels on 29 May with the European Commission saying a new generation of nuclear plants is expected to help the bloc respond to the upcoming high demand for clean electricity and high quantities of hydrogen.

The two-day inaugural event is being attended by all the alliance members and representatives of EU countries, industry and the commission.

After over 300 applications by firms to be part of the alliance, today’s general assembly meeting was expected to unveil who will be allowed in the alliance, the sectors represented and the geographical distribution of the new members.

The EU was also planning to release details on the direction of the alliance and how technical work will proceed.

“Accelerating SMR development in the EU demands a robust and efficient nuclear supply chain,” the commission said in a statement.

“Collaboration among stakeholders, including project promoters, financial institutions, regulators, researchers, training centres, civil society organisations, and policymakers is essential.

“The alliance creates a European platform to enable and streamline such a collaboration.”

The commission said key tasks for the alliance include identifying the most promising and cost-effective SMR technologies eligible for alliance support, strengthening the European supply chain, identifying investment barriers and analysing funding opportunities.

The alliance is aiming to develop specific criteria for SMR projects to assess their eligibility for support.

“SMRs can complement conventional nuclear technologies and contribute, next to renewables, to European climate mitigation and sustainability efforts by co-generating low-carbon electricity and heat reliably, consistently, and securely,” the commission said.

Work will include cost and schedule estimates.

US-based Jacobs has been chosen by the UK's National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) for a contract to review the initial designs and delivery plans for the high temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) that is being developed by NNL and the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA).

The reactor design study is part of a wider project between NNL, JAEA and Jacobs to develop a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor for deployment in the UK in the early 2030s. The effort is part of an advanced modular reactor competition run by the UK government’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

Jacobs said the study will help develop cost and schedule estimates as part of a broader investment case submission to the UK Treasury. It will include a review of market demand and end-use cases for HTGR technology and an engineering design review to ensure regulatory compliance.

Jacobs did not give a value for the contract.

In September 2022, NNL said that it was working with JAEA and Jacobs to “assess the feasibility of their joint [AMR] solution, the ‘UKJ-HTR’, that will combine JAEA’s world-leading capability on high temperature gas-cooled reactors, with more than 50 years of research and development from the UK’s national laboratory for nuclear fission, alongside Jacobs’ reactor design experience”.

An initial six reactor designs, including the NNL/JAEA design, have been chosen to move to the next stages of the government’s AMR competition.

AMRs typically use novel coolants or fuels and have higher temperature outputs than large nuclear reactor technology. They are being designed so that much of the plant can be fabricated in a factory.

Move comes as Sofia aims to end nuclear power dependence on Russia.

Westinghouse-made nuclear fuel assemblies were loaded Wednesday 29 May for the first time in the reactor core of Bulgaria’s Kozloduy-5 VVER-1000 pressurised water reactor unit, the US nuclear company said in a statement.

Westinghouse said the first loading took place at the Kozloduy site in northwest Bulgaria and was inaugurated by a ceremony attended by Bulgarian prime minister Dimitar Glavchev, energy minister Vladimir Malinov and the US ambassador Kenneth Merten.

In December 2022, Bulgaria signed a 10-year contract with US-based Westinghouse for the delivery of nuclear fuel for Kozloduy-5, calling it a “new era” for the country’s nuclear energy sector.

In April 2024, the Bulgarian nuclear regulator issued a licence for Wetinghouse’s RWFA fuel type as 43 lead assemblies arrived at Kozloduy-5.

The Kozloduy nuclear power station said at the time that the new fuel will be loaded into the reactor core during the planned annual outage in early May.

The fuel load is expected to start of the unit’s four-year transition to Westinghouse-made fuel, putting into action efforts to step away from Russian nuclear fuel imports.

There are two 1,000-MW Russia-designed VVER units in operation at Kozloduy. Bulgaria’s only commercial nuclear power station provides about a third of the country’s electricity.

Kozloduy-5 began commercial operation in December 1988 and Kozloduy-6 in December 1993.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, operators of VVER plants in Europe have been looking to diversify nuclear fuel supplies away from Tvel, the fuel wing of Moscow’s state-owned nuclear corporation Rosatom.

Westinghouse already has VVER-1000 fuel supply deals with Finland, the Czech Republic and Ukraine, which was already using Westinghouse fuel for half of its reactors in a push which started in 2014.

After Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Bulgaria accelerated plans to lessen its dependence on Russia for energy. The country has a fuel delivery contract with Tvel since 2019 which is set to expire at the end of 2024 and will not be renewed in 2025.

Sofia has also signed an agreement with France’s Framatome for the delivery of its VVER fuel type for Kozloduy-6, which is expected to arrive “post-2025”, according to earlier reports.

According to Valentin Nikolov, head of the Kozloduy nuclear power station, Kozloduy-6 has enough fuel stored to ensure operation until 2029.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Takahama-units-cleared-for-extended-operation-(1)

Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) has approved the operation of units 3 and 4 at Kansai Electric Power Company's Takahama nuclear power plant in Fukui prefecture for a further 20 years. Both reactors are currently in operation and will reach their 40th anniversaries in January and June of 2025, respectively.

Under regulations which came into force in July 2013, Japanese reactors have a nominal operating period of 40 years. One extension to this - limited to a maximum of 20 years - may be granted, requiring amongst other things, a special inspection to verify the integrity of reactor pressure vessels and containment vessels after 35 years of operation.

The Takahama plant is home to four reactors. Takahama 1 and 2 - both 780 MWe (net) pressurised water reactors (PWRs) - entered commercial operation in 1974 and 1975 respectively, while units 3 and 4 - 830 MWe PWRs - both began commercial operation in 1985. Takahama 1 and 2 became the first Japanese units to be granted a licence extension beyond 40 years under the revised regulations.

In November 2022, Kansai announced it planned to apply for regulatory approval to extend the operating life of Takahama units 3 and 4 by a further 20 years. The company said it had carried out special inspections and evaluations of the two units, and had not found any issues likely to cause problems if the operating period were to be extended to 60 years. It also announced plans to replace the steam generators at the two units during scheduled outages, from June to October 2026 for unit 3 and October 2026 to February 2027 for unit 4.

Kansai applied to the NRA for the operating extension in April 2023.

The NRA has now approved the extension, making Takahama 3 and 4 the seventh and eighth Japanese reactors to be permitted to operate beyond 40 years.

"We will continue to strive to improve the safety and reliability of our nuclear power plants and utilise nuclear power generation as an important source of energy, with the understanding of local residents and others," Kansai said.

In December 2022, the NRA approved a draft of a new rule that would allow 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.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Bruce-Power-and-partners-to-expand-isotope-capacit

A second isotope production line is being installed at Bruce 7 to double its production capacity to meet forecast increases in demand. Bruce Power and Saugeen Ojibway Nation have also announced an expansion of their partnership for the production of and marketing of medical radioisotopes.

Collaborators Bruce Power, Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON), Isogen (a Kinectrics and Framatome company) and ITM Isotope Technologies Munich SE (ITM) announced the installation of the second production line that will double the production capacity of the Isotope Production System (IPS) at Bruce 7. With installation complete, commissioning activities are now to begin with the new production line expected to enter commercial service later this year.

Bruce 7 became the first commercial power reactor in the world to produce lutetium-177 (Lu-177) in October 2022. The second production line, designed and installed by Isogen, will enable it to increase production of Lu-177 to meet increasing demand for the medical isotope, which is used in precision oncology for targeted therapy of a growing number of cancers including neuroendocrine tumours and prostate cancer.

The Lu-177 made in the IPS is transported to ITM in Germany for further processing and global distribution. Expansion of the IPS will provide ITM increased access to this critical isotope, which has been successfully used in various clinical and commercial radiopharmaceutical cancer treatments globally, Bruce Power said.

"This announcement is an exciting development that highlights the many benefits of nuclear power, including the expanded production of life-saving medical isotopes," Ontario Premier Doug Ford said at the expansion announcement on 27 May, adding that the "incredible expansion" cements "Ontario's place as a global leader in the production of cancer-fighting medical isotopes".

SON jointly markets isotopes produced through the IPS installed at Bruce Power through the Gamzook'aamin aakoziwin partnership, which also includes a revenue-sharing programme that provides a direct benefit to the community. "We are proud of our inclusion in the growth of the field of nuclear medicine and the benefits it will deliver to so many people,” said Chief Greg Nadjiwon, Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation.

The announcement of the new IPS comes days after Bruce Power and SON announced the expansion of Gamzook'aamin aakoziwin. The partnership was set up in 2019 in a collaboration for the marketing of current and new isotopes produced through the IPS at Bruce Power. The expansion of the partnership and investments in increasing isotope production will support the growing need for Lu-177, the partners said.

"We are proud to be a part of the global fight against cancer through this innovative project," said Chief Conrad Ritchie, Chippewas of Saugeen First Nation. "The expansion of the Gamzook'aamin aakoziwin partnership is a result of the increasing demand for cancer-fighting lutetium-177, and the increased production will ensure our partnership will continue to provide a reliable source of these isotopes for patients around the world."

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Jacobs-to-assist-in-development-of-UK-Japanese-HTG

The UK's National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) has appointed engineering group Jacobs to help in the development of a high temperature gas reactor design that it is developing in partnership with the Japan Atomic Energy Agency.

As NNL's multi-discipline design consultant, Jacobs will review the initial designs and delivery plans for the high temperature gas reactor (HTGR). The company will: help develop cost and schedule estimates as part of a broader investment case submission to HM Treasury; review market demand and end-use cases for HTGR technology; carry out a detailed engineering design review to ensure regulatory compliance; and support engagement with UK regulators.

"We will deploy our deep experience and knowledge of nuclear reactor technology to help deliver a power plant with the potential to contribute to one of the most challenging aspects of energy transition - the decarbonisation of heavy industry such as steel and cement production," said Jacobs Vice President Andy White.

In September 2023, NNL and the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) signed a memorandum of cooperation in the field of HTGRs, as well as a memorandum for collaboration on the next stage of the UK HTGR Demonstration Reactor programme.

In December 2022, the UK government announced funding of GBP60 million (USD77 million) for research into HTGRs, a type of advanced modular reactor (AMR), aimed at helping to get a demonstration project up and running by the end of the decade. Following an initial call for evidence, the focus for the AMR R&D programme was placed on HTGR technology last year.

Phase A of the AMR R&D programme led to six successful bidders for pre-FEED (Front End Engineering Design) studies for reactor demonstration and fuel demonstration. Phase B is described as "an open, competition-based programme designed to produce up to two HTGR FEED mature enough to enter regulatory review, carry out associated research and development activities, and produce robust delivery plans for a potential Phase C". Phase B will conclude in February 2025. Phase C will see the licensing, construction and operation of an HTGR in the early 2030s.

On 18 July last year, the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) announced that a team comprising NNL and JAEA was selected as one of the project entities to implement the Phase B reactor project. They received funding of GBP31 million. In parallel, DESNZ also announced that Phase B will also push the development of an advanced fuel required for AMRs, through the Coated Particle Fuel (CPF) - Step 1 Programme. NNL, working with JAEA, has been selected by DESNZ to deliver this fuels programme which will build expertise, knowledge and collaboration on coated particle fuel fabrication and scale-up activities.

"This is a groundbreaking project," said NNL VP for Government and New Build Emma Vernon. "We are looking forward to working together on the development of the UKJ-HTR design, through this phase of the DESNZ competition, which will help UK industry to adapt to a changing world and take a step closer to achieving our net-zero goals."

The governments of the UK and Japan expect HTGRs to contribute to the decarbonisation through the supplement of hydrogen and high-temperature steam to the processing, steelmaking and chemical industries, considered difficult to decarbonise, to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. JAEA is collaborating with NNL to demonstrate Japanese HTGR technology outside of Japan and to promote its social implementation with the aim of returning the decarbonisation technology to Japan.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Second-CGN-Hualong-One-completes-commissioning-tes

Unit 4 of the Fangchenggang nuclear power plant in China's Guangxi Autonomous Region has entered commercial operation, China General Nuclear (CGN) announced. The unit is the second of two CGN-designed demonstration Hualong One (HPR1000) reactors at the site.

The 1180 MWe (gross) pressurised water reactor completed a 168-hour trial test run at 8.00am on 25 May, "officially meeting the conditions for commercial operation", CGN said.

First concrete was poured for the nuclear island of Fangchenggang unit 3 - 39% owned by Guangxi Investment Group and 61% by CGN - in December 2015, while that for unit 4 was poured a year later. Unit 3 was originally expected to start up in 2019, with unit 4 scheduled to start up in 2020. Both their start-ups were subsequently postponed until 2022.

However, in January 2022, CGN announced that the start-up of Fangchenggang 3 and 4 had been put back again due to delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Unit 3 achieved first criticality - a sustained chain reaction - on 27 December 2022 and was synchronised with the grid on 10 January 2023. It entered commercial operation on 25 March last year.

China's National Nuclear Safety Administration (NNSA) granted CGN an operating licence for Fangchenggang 4 on 27 February this year, allowing the loading of fuel into the reactor's core to begin. The fuel loading process was completed on 2 March. The reactor reached first criticality on 3 April and was connected to the grid six days later.

CGN said the commissioning of unit 4 "marks the full completion of CGN's Hualong One demonstration project".

"The commissioning of unit 4 of the Fangchenggang nuclear power plant has further verified the safety, maturity and advancement of CGN's Hualong One technology, and accumulated valuable experience that can be used as a reference and replicated for the mass construction of Hualong One," said Cai Zhen, chairman of Guangxi Fangchenggang Nuclear Power Company.

The Fangchenggang plant is planned to house six reactors. The first phase comprises two CPR-1000 units which were put into commercial operation in 2016. Units 5 and 6 are expected to feature Hualong One reactors.

CGN noted that, with Fangchenggang unit 4 now in commercial operation, the number of power reactors in operation it manages (including associates) has increased to 28 units and the installed capacity of nuclear power generating units in operation has increased from 30,568 MW to 31,756 MW.

The first two units of China National Nuclear Corporation'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.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Contract-for-expansion-of-Rolls-Royce-submarine-si

International infrastructure group Balfour Beatty has been selected by Rolls-Royce as its non-fissile construction partner to help expand its Raynesway site in Derby, UK, to meet the growth in demand from the Royal Navy, and as a result of last year's AUKUS announcement.

In September 2021, the leaders of Australia, the UK and the USA announced a new enhanced trilateral security partnership - the AUKUS partnership - under which Australia will acquire at least eight nuclear-powered submarines. The submarines are to be built in Adelaide, South Australia.

In March last year, as part of the AUKUS trilateral agreement, it was announced that Rolls-Royce Submarines Ltd of the UK will provide reactors for the Australian submarines. Three months later, Rolls-Royce announced plans to almost double the size of its Raynesway site.

In March this year, it was confirmed that Australia had committed GBP2.4 billion (USD3 billion) over ten years to the UK SSN-AUKUS programme, representing a proportionate contribution to both the expansion of Rolls-Royce Submarines infrastructure, as well as a fair contribution to costs associated with submarine design.

The increase in demand will see Balfour Beatty - which is currently involved in the construction of the Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant in Somerset, England - build new manufacturing and office facilities as well as the adjoining site infrastructure. The increase in work from the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) will create 1170 skilled roles at Rolls-Royce, across a range of disciplines including manufacturing and engineering.

"We cannot deliver against our commitments to the MOD and the AUKUS programme on our own," said Rolls-Royce Submarines Infrastructure Director Terry Meighan. "It will require a strong and reliable supply chain bringing their expertise to enhance and enable the critical work we do. The selection of Balfour Beatty as our expansion construction partner is a prime example of that."

Balfour Beatty's Group Chief Executive Leo Quinn added that the announcement "marks an important step forward in ensuring Rolls-Royce has the infrastructure in place to support the strategic requirements of the MOD and the AUKUS programmes. I'm delighted Balfour Beatty has been chosen to support this critical work for a project that will see us unite our unique multi-disciplinary expertise and experience in delivering large scale complex projects within live, operational nuclear environments".

Earlier this year, Rolls-Royce announced multi-disciplinary professional services consultancy WSP as its non-fissile design partner for the expansion of its Raynesway site. It will be WSP's role to design the new facilities and the infrastructure that links the site together.

The first generation of AUKUS nuclear submarines - SSN-AUKUS - are to be based on the UK's submarine design incorporating US submarine technology. The first UK submarines built to this design will be delivered in the late 2030s to replace the current Astute-Class vessels, with construction principally taking place at Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria. Australia will work over the next decade to build up its submarine industrial base, and will build its submarines in South Australia with some components manufactured in the UK. The first Australian-built submarines will be delivered in the 2040s.