Nuclear Energy

Source: https://www.neimagazine.com/news/newsebrd-signs-new-grant-agreement-for-next-phase-of-chornobyl-project-11552326

The European Bank for Reconstruction & Development (EBRD), which administers grant funds from the International Chornobyl Cooperation Account (ICCA), has signed a new agreement (Grant Agreement No. 2) with Ukraine’s State Specialised Enterprise Chornobyl NPP (ChNPP).

Under the agreement, signed at the premises of the State agency of Ukraine for the Management of the Exclusion Zone (DAUUZV) Derzhavne Agentstvo Ukraini e Upravlinnya Zonou Vidchuzhennya), support will be provided for restoration of ChNPP infrastructure. Balthazar Lindauer, director of the EBRD nuclear safety department, noted: "We are starting a new stage and the signing of the grant agreement symbolises the beginning of the operation of the ChNPP security programme."

In December 2023, the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine extended by six years the licence relating to dismantling the most unstable parts of the shelter hastily constructed over unit 4 of ChNPP in the 206 days following the 1986 explosion that destroyed the reactor. Work to dismantle and stabilise that sarcophagus is currently conducted inside the New Safe Confinement (NSC) built to enclose the damaged facility.

In 2007 a consortium led by French firms Vinci Construction Grands Projects and Bouygues Travaux Publics won the tender to build the NSC. The new facility, with a 100-year design life, was constructed away from the sarcophagus to reduce radiation exposure to workers. It was moved into place encasing the sarcophagus in November 2016. The NSC was funded by the international community through donations from more than 40 countries to the EBRD at a cost of €2.1bn ($2.5bn).

The main tasks covered byAgreement No. 2 include:

• Completion of pre-design activities of the NSC and the on-going dismantling of the unstable structures within it;
• Inspection of the deaerator stage and engine room protruding beyond the boundaries of the fence contour of the NSC; and
• Procurement of vehicles and equipment for the reliable and safe operation of the NSC.

In his welcome speech the DAUUZV First Deputy Head Andrii Tymchuk said: "This programme is designed to address the most urgent and critical needs of the station. The Chernobyl staff have successful experience of working with the EBRD in the implementation of complex projects, so you can be sure that the implementation of this agreement will be at a high level on the part of the recipient".

ChNPP emphasised that since 2023 the plant has resumed operations at all facilities that were built within the framework of projects implemented with international technical assistance.

The ICCA was established in November 2020 by the EBRD, at the request of the government of Ukraine, to support development of a comprehensive plan for Chornobyl. Since the start of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine in February 2022, the account remit has been widened to include a range of measures to support the restoration of nuclear safety, security and decommissioning abilities within the exclusion zone. The remit now permits activities across the nuclear sector in Ukraine in support of nuclear safety, subject to the agreement of the Assembly of Contributors. To date, ICCA has received nearly €10m from 13 donors.

The first ICCA Grant Agreement was signed in March 2023 to support the restoration of fire safety within the exclusion zone. Over the longer term ICCA will focus on support for sustainable site infrastructure and longer term safe operation of decommissioning infrastructure within the exclusion zone, in particular those facilities which were supported through long term international collaboration.

Source: https://www.neimagazine.com/news/newswestinghouse-hosts-suppliers-symposium-in-bulgaria-as-hyundai-secures-kozloduy-78-construction-11552062

US-based Westinghouse Electric Company organised a Bulgarian Supplier Symposium to engage with potential suppliers in support of the two AP1000 reactors to be built at the Kozloduy NPP as units 7&8. Representatives from more than 50 companies took part in the event, which was also attended by Bulgarian Energy Minister Rumen Radev and Delyan Dobrev, Chairman of the Committee on Energy in the National Assembly as well as Kozloduy officials and representatives from the US and Canadian embassies.

Westinghouse was awarded a front-end engineering & design contract with Kozloduy NPP subsidiary, Kozloduy NPP-Newbuild (KZNPP-NM - Kozloduy NPP Novi Mostnosti) in June 2023. Earlier in February, Bulgaria and the US signed a formal agreement to collaborate on the construction of Kozloduy 7&8. The document outlines cooperation in nuclear power development and technology exchange. While the units are to have Westinghouse AP1000 reactors, Westinghouse will not take part in the construction but will retain overall control of the project.

South Korea’s Hyundai Engineering & Construction (Hyundai E&C), part of Hyundai Corporation has been selected to undertake the construction. Four other companies had expressed interest in the contract but failed to meet the technical or financial conditions or the tender. The companies have now been identified as were US Fluor BV, a consortium led by China National Nuclear Corporation Overseas, China Energy Engineering Corporation Limited and US Bechtel Nuclear Power Company Limited. The National Assembly finally voted to support the Energy Ministry’s decision to invite Hyundai after a lengthy debate during which opposition parties unsuccessfully endeavoured to reinstate Bechtel as a contender. The vote was 112 votes in favour, 29 against and 82 abstentions.

The conditions Bulgaria has set for construction of Kozloduy 7&8 are:

• There must be a fixed price.
• The first unit (7) must be built within 60 months and the second unit (8) within 54 months.
• At least 30% of the budget and the activities under this project should be assigned to Bulgarian contractors.

Following the National Assembly decision on Hyundai, the South Korean embassy issued a statement saying: “The embassy hopes the talks will run smoothly”.

Source: https://www.neimagazine.com/news/newsiran-completes-first-phase-of-new-npp-11551828

The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Mohammad Eslami says the first phase of constructing a new NPP in the southern province of Khuzestan has been completed. He said the construction of the Darkhovin NPP is now well underway some 12 years after Iranian authorities had initially decided to abandon the project because foreign companies had reneged on their contractual obligations in face of US sanctions.

The Darkhovin facility is a 300 MW domestically-designed pressurised water reactor located about 70 kilometres south of Ahvaz at the Karun River. Eslami, who was in Khuzestan province to inspect the progress of the project, said Iran is using nuclear technology products in 150 large industrial complexes. He explained that the AEOI produces tools that are used not only in the nuclear industry but also in other sensitive industries such as oil, gas and petrochemicals.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Nuclear-tax-credits-underpin-growth-Constellation

Federal nuclear production tax credits are providing the foundation for the USA's largest producer of carbon-free energy to continue to invest in growth opportunities, Constellation Energy said in its 2023 results announcement and 2024 earnings forecast.

"The most valuable commodity in the world today remains clean energy that can be depended on in every hour of every day, and no US company is better positioned to deliver on that promise than Constellation, which has more clean, reliable nuclear capacity than all other US competitive generators combined," Constellation President and CEO Joe Dominguez said. "State and federal policies, bipartisan political support, public opinion surveys and increased customer demand for reliable and clean energy all point to strong and growing support for nuclear energy to power our economy for decades to come … we see a growing landscape of opportunities to continue building our business and lead the clean energy transition."

The wide-ranging Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), signed into law by President Joe Biden in August 2022, includes support for existing and new nuclear capacity. Constellation said nuclear production tax credit (PTC) in the act is providing a stable foundation that will allow it to continue investing in growth opportunities, including by adding clean energy generation to its fleet through measures including uprates, licence extensions and asset acquisitions while also returning capital to shareholders. "The PTC provides revenue visibility and also preserves Constellation’s ability to capture upside from tightening power market conditions," the company said.

Earlier this month, Constellation filed an application with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for a 20-year licence renewal for the Clinton plant in Illinois, which would allow the single-unit boiling water reactor to continue providing energy to the region until 2047.

The company said it was targeting long-term base earnings per share growth of at least 10% through the decade "backstopped" in part by the nuclear production tax credit. Monetising the value of the "reliable, carbon-free nuclear power" generated at Constellation's Clean Energy Centers through hourly carbon-free matching solutions, behind-the-meter opportunities such as data centres or hydrogen, government clean energy procurements or higher market prices offer further opportunities for it to grow its base earnings, it added.

The company's nuclear fleet in 2023 "continued to achieve unmatched reliability, allowing us to deliver carbon-free energy to our customers in all hours of the day under some of the harshest weather conditions in decades," Dominguez said. "We took a disciplined approach to growing our business in 2023, completing our acquisition of a partial stake in the South Texas Project nuclear plant, repowering our wind assets, taking steps to extend the life of our nuclear plants and investing in new equipment to increase their output. We are delivering our hourly-matched carbon-free energy product to top sustainability leaders, and our results reflect growing acknowledgement by our customers that nuclear energy delivers unique value that can’t be matched anywhere in the marketplace."

Constellation's nuclear assets generated a total of 174,047 GWh in 2023, up from 173,350 GWh in 2022.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/More-than-180-companies-attend-Paks-II-suppliers-e

The information session for those interested in gaining contracts with the Paks II nuclear power plant construction project was attended by 350 people from 180 companies, including 150 from Hungary.

The 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 construct Paks II alongside the existing Paks plant, 100 kilometres southwest of Budapest on the banks of the Danube river. The construction licence was issued in August 2022 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 2014 goal of the project was for 40% of the project to go to domestic companies, and the Russian side undertook to select 55% of suppliers in accordance with European Commission regulations.

Gergely Jákli, chairman and CEO of Paks II, told those attending that the expansion of nuclear capacity in Hungary was needed to improve security of supply, and to meet the European Union's climate change targets and said a significant market would open up for companies taking part in the project, because of the widespread plans for life extension projects - and new nuclear - in other countries around Europe and further afield.

Those attending were given information on the likely opportunities and requirements for suppliers, including nuclear qualifications, and the procedure for contracting and performing works at the site.

Vitaly Polyanin, from Rosatom's Atomstroyexport (ASE) and director of the Paks II construction project, said: "Currently, intensive preparations are under way for the pouring of the 'first concrete', which could take place in 2024. The Hungarian branch of ASE will do everything for maximum localisation and participation of all interested companies in the project."

The existing four units at Paks are VVER-440 reactors that started up between 1982 and 1987 and they produce about half of the country's electricity. Their design lifetime was for 30 years but that was extended in 2005 by 20 years to between 2032 and 2037. In December 2022, the Hungarian Parliament approved a proposal to further extend their lifespan, which means the plant could keep operating into the 2050s.

Paks II is the first Russian nuclear power plant construction project in the European Union, with Hungary deciding to press ahead with the project despite wider European Union sanctions imposed on Russia.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/KHNP,-Centrus-enhance-cooperation-in-fuel-supply

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) has signed a Letter of Intent with US nuclear fuel and services company Centrus Energy to ensure a stable supply of nuclear fuel. It follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two companies in April last year.

The Letter of Intent (LOI) outlines substantive business objectives to enhance uranium resource security and nuclear cooperation between KHNP and Centrus, KHNP said. Through this, KHNP aims to diversify the supply of enriched uranium used as nuclear fuel to enhance fuel supply stability. Additionally, KHNP expects to strengthen nuclear cooperation between South Korea and the USA by establishing strategic relationships with Centrus.

"As a result of cooperation with Centrus, KHNP has opened the possibility of securing fuel for future reactors as well as for existing commercial reactors," KHNP said.

"Through the signing of this LOI, both parties will engage in concrete discussions regarding stable nuclear fuel supply and plan to continue exploring business opportunities in the nuclear sector by expanding the future nuclear fuel supply chain," KHNP CEO Hwang Joo-ho said.

On 25 April 2023, KHNP signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Centrus, through which the two companies planned to enhance mutual cooperation for a stable fuel supply while exploring opportunities for expanding their businesses.

At the time of signing the MoU, KHNP said it would "increase the stability of fuel supply and demand by diversifying suppliers of enriched uranium used as nuclear power plant fuel and contribute to strengthening Korea-US nuclear cooperation by establishing a strategic partnership with US enrichment companies. This is an important achievement that strengthens supply chain cooperation with allies in a situation where resource security has become more important than ever amid recent geopolitical instability and global supply chain crisis".

KHNP operates South Korea's 26 power reactors, which with a combined capacity of some 26 GWe generate about one-third of the country's electricity.

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

In November last year, Centrus Energy produced the USA's first 20 kilograms of high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU). Some of the advanced reactor technologies that are currently under development use HALEU fuel - enriched to between 5% and 20% U-235 - which enables the design of smaller reactors that produce more power with less fuel than the current fleet, as well as systems that can be optimised for longer core life, increased safety margins, and other increased efficiencies. At present, only Russia and China have the infrastructure to produce HALEU at scale.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Argentina-s-RA-10-research-reactor-getting-reflect

The RA-10 multipurpose research reactor is now about 80% completed, with its reflector tank set to be installed as construction enters its final phases, Argentina's Foreign Minister Diana Mondino was told during a tour of the facility.

Mondino, who assumed office in December after the election of Javier Milei as Argentina's President, praised the progress taking place at RA-10, and also the neighbouring CONUAR nuclear fuel plant. She said the foreign ministry would continue to support the nuclear sector's export efforts, noting "the opportunities that open up for Argentine, if they are well managed and if we manage to demonstrate quality".

Manager of the RA-10 project, Herman Blaumann, gave an update on progress, saying that it was now 80% complete: "The civil work is already finished and in terms of supplies and installations the progress is 75%. This week the reactor's reflector tank will arrive ... the installation of which is another key step in the work."

He also said that the aim was to fill the reactor pool in December, and then in July 2025 pre-operational tests will begin before it becomes operational in 2026.

Argentina's National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA) says the RA-10 - a 30 MWt open-pool research reactor - will be used for the production of medical radioisotopes, including the capacity to cover 20% of the world demand for molybdenum: "Technetium is obtained from molybdenum, and widely used in nuclear medicine ... it will also be possible to produce other radioisotopes that are not made in the country today and that are widely used in the world, such as lutetium, which is applied to treat prostate cancer and other pathologies, as well as others for use in agriculture and the industry".

The RA-10 project was approved by the government and was officially started by CNEA in June 2010. Argentina's Nuclear Regulatory Authority granted a construction licence for RA-10 in November 2014. The civil works for the reactor began in 2016. Nuclear technology firm INVAP is involved in the design and construction of the reactor facility and related installations, playing the role of main contractor. The assembly of the RA-10 pool - which will house the core of the reactor - was completed in August 2018.

The RA-10 will replace the RA-3 reactor on the same site. This 10 MWt pool-type reactor began operations in 1967. As well as producing radioisotopes it will also provide new research and training opportunities and will have associated facilities such as the Argentine Neutron Beam Laboratory (LAHN) and the Laboratory for the Study of Irradiated Materials (LEMI).

CNEA says that more than 80 companies in Argentina are involved in the work, with the minister also told about the hopes for RA-10 "production of silicon doped by neutron transmutation, a very high quality raw material for the development of advanced electronic applications. And it will produce sources of industrial iridium for the evaluation of the integrity and quality of large constructions and components".

Meanwhile, there was also a key moment this week with the passing of tests of the reflector tank, manufactured by INVAP and designed by CNEA, for the new reactor. INVAP Vice President Felipe Albornoz said it was an important milestone "being able to finish a component that is the heart of the RA-10 reactor, along with the reactor core. All the rest of the facility is built around these components and being able to imagine it, design it and then manufacture it in our country, with our people in Bariloche, is a reason for pride and a reason for celebration".

CNEA President Adriana Serquis said it is an important moment "both for what it means and a new milestone for the nuclear development of our country, as well because it will provide us with new capabilities that are highly required internationally, whether in the area of ​​medicine, with the production of radioisotopes, and the facilities for the production of silicon, the testing of materials and the enormous advance for the area of ​​science and technology in the use of neutrons".

The reflector tank weighs 2540 kilogrammes, is 2 metres in diameter and 1.4 metres tall. Its installation will allow the assembly of the reactor pool internals.

Blaumann said: "The project is approaching its final stage. The reflector tank is the most complex component of the reactor and at the same time critical for all its applications to be developed."

Source: https://www.neimagazine.com/news/newsbeloyarsk-npp-streamlines-repair-of-turbine-generator-rotor-11551508

Russian nuclear utility Rosenergoatom has checked the quality of the completed scheduled preventive repair of the turbine generator at unit 3 of the Beloyarsk NPP. The repair involved 50 measures, including reloading the reactor, replacing eight evaporative modules and repairing turbogenerators. The visiting team of specialists was led by the chief technologist at Rosenergoatom’s Department for NPP Maintenance, Repair & Installation, Mikhail Novikov, who identified three positive practices.

In particular, the experts highlighted the development and implementation of a special installation that facilitates the overhaul of generators. Previously, to extract a multi-tonne rotor from a stator, it was necessary to use electric-powered hoists, and now electric trolleys are used. This made it possible to significantly facilitate and accelerate the process of rotor withdrawal, and to increase the reliability and safety of work. A similar trolley has also been made for unit 4 of the plant.

Other positive practices were related to the operation of the dispatcher for the operational control of metal and the manufacture of a stand for storing the rotor of circulation pumps at the unit’s pump station. “The next scheduled preventive repair at unit 3 is scheduled for July-August 2024, said Beloyarsk NPP Director Ivan Sidorov. “The work will include the overload of 89 heat-selecting assemblies, the repair of electric motors at the main circulation pumps, and the maintenance of the main equipment.”

The Beloyarsk NPP at Zarechny, in the Sverdlovsk region, comprises four units. Units 1&2, both light water graphite reactors, are permanently shut down. Units 3&4 are fast neutron reactors with gross electrical capacity of 600 MWe and 885 MWe respectively.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Sweden-moves-to-lift-uranium-mining-ban

Sweden's Climate and Environment Minister Romina Pourmokhtari has announced the launch of an investigation to abolish the country's ban on uranium mining. The move was welcomed by Australia-based Aura Energy, which hopes to extract uranium as a by-product from its 100%-owned Häggån polymetallic project in Sweden.

On 16 May 2018, the Swedish parliament passed an amendment to the Environmental Code banning uranium exploration and mining in the country. As from 1 August that year, no permits for uranium exploration or mining have been issued for any such applications submitted from that date.

There is currently no uranium mining in Sweden, which has six nuclear power reactors providing about one-third of its electricity. Sweden imports most of its nuclear fuel, including all enrichment services.

The investigation - to be carried out by the Ministry of Climate and Enterprise - will determine what rule changes are needed to enable and clarify the conditions for uranium extraction. In addition, it will analyse whether the requirement for the government's admissibility review should be limited to cover uranium mining only when it is a nuclear activity.

The ministry said the purpose of the investigation is "to remove a ban that is not needed". "Extraction of uranium must be handled in the same way as extraction of other metals, where the environmental assessment determines the conditions under which it can be permitted," it noted. "Uranium often occurs together with other metals and today must be sorted out and handled as waste."

"If the European Union is to become the first climate-neutral continent, access to sustainable metals and minerals must be ensured," Pourmokhtari said. "We need to use the uranium we have, instead of sorting it out and considering it as waste, as is the case now - due to the current ban on mining uranium."

The Ministry of Climate and Enterprise noted that more than one-quarter of Europe's known resources of uranium are found in Sweden's bedrock. "Today, it is not possible to grant either an exploration permit, a processing concession or an environmental permit regarding uranium. Uranium mining must in future be tested according to relevant environmental legislation, which means that the current ban on uranium mining must be removed."

The result of the investigation must be reported by 15 May at the latest, at which point the government can choose to proceed with a legislative proposal to parliament to lift the ban on uranium mining.

In November last year, Sweden's parliament approved a bill that cleared the way for new nuclear power in the country by removing the current limit on the number of nuclear reactors in operation, as well as allowing reactors to be built on new sites. The amendment entered into force on 1 January.

Sweden currently uses 2.4 million pounds U3O8 annually in its three nuclear power plants and has committed to building two additional nuclear reactors by 2035.

Aura welcomes investigation

In 2019, Aura Energy lodged a claim against the Swedish government for compensation for the financial loss resulting from the ban on uranium exploration and mining, introduced the previous year. The company had planned to extract uranium as a by-product from its 100%-owned Häggån polymetallic project in Sweden.

Häggån, previously known as Storsjon, is located in the municipality of Berg in the county of Jämtland and forms part of a large uranium field in central Sweden. Figures released in mid-2012 estimated resources of 800 million pounds U3O8 (307,718 tU) at Häggån, making the Swedish project the second largest undeveloped uranium resource in the world, Aura says. The uranium occurs with molybdenum, vanadium and zinc in black shales, and Aura has reported yields of up to 85% uranium from bioheap leaching tests.

In February 2013, Aura announced it had accepted Areva Mines as strategic partner in the project and had entered a binding cooperation agreement, but Areva later pulled out of this.

Welcoming the prospect of the uranium mining ban now being lifted, Aura said Häggån has the potential to supply a significant portion of Sweden's nuclear fuel requirements.

"This announcement is a logical step by the Swedish government towards allowing the extraction of uranium domestically to secure its own and others' needs," said Aura Energy CEO Andrew Grove. "It is the start of a process which I hope will result in new legislation that not only makes it legally possible to mine uranium, but also provides a predictable permit process for uranium extraction alongside the mining of other metals.

"The Swedish government's stated aim aligns well with the ability to mine domestic uranium, reducing foreign dependency and strengthening domestic and European energy supply," he added. "It is of course essential that uranium is mined in a way that does not threaten the local environment or water supply, and I am certain that we will be able to demonstrate that within the framework of the Swedish permit process."

The company intends to file for processing concession for Häggån K1 during 2024 with the Swedish Mining Inspectorate. A Swedish processing concession (exploitation permit) is valid for 25 years.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Resource-upgrades-prompt-revised-Mulga-Rock-study

Deep Yellow Ltd is to revise its definitive feasibility study for the Mulga Rock project in Western Australia after a 26% increase in uranium resources and a "substantial uplift" in critical mineral value at Mulga Rock East. The company is planning production in 2028.

The updated mineral resource estimates for the Ambassador and Princess deposits mean the total contained uranium in Mulga Rock East now stands at 71.2 million pounds U3O8 (27,387 tU), up from 56.7 million pounds, at a cut-off grade of 100 ppm, the company announced today. 86% of the Mulga Rock East uranium resource is now in the Measured and Indicated classification. Total U3O8-only mineral resources for the project, which comprises Mulga Rock East and Mulga Rock West deposits, are 104.8 million pounds U3O8 (measured, indicated and inferred).

The inventory of so-called critical minerals (copper, nickel, cobalt, zinc and rare earth oxides) has also increased by 200% to 400% (for base metals) compared with the previously reported inventory, the company said.

Deep Yellow Managing Director and CEO John Borshoff said the results to date confirm expectations for the project. "When we acquired Mulga Rock through the Vimy Resources merger in August 2022 we identified significant opportunity to uplift the value of the project by considering extracting the critical minerals (Cu, Ni, Co, Zn, Nd, Tb, Dy, Pr) in addition to the uranium associated with the Ambassador and Princess deposits," he said.

"The results to date confirm our positive expectation for this exciting project with results illustrating the potential value uplift that could be captured by the integrated development approach. The updated MRE has delivered an impressive 26% increase in the uranium resource and more than doubled the critical minerals’ inventory. This fully justifies proceeding with the DFS revision, which will kick off in Q2 2024, to determine the overall viability of the polymetallic resource that has been delineated with uranium still remaining the key value driver of the Project," he added.

Mulga Rock is 290km by road east-northeast of Kalgoorlie in the Great Victoria Desert of Western Australia. A definitive feasibility study (DFS) prepared by then-owner Vimy Resources in 2018 - which was refreshed by Vimy in 2020 - showed a strategic long-life uranium project with a contemplated production rate of 3.5 million pounds per year. Existing environmental approvals allow for the recovery of critical minerals. The Government of Western Australia's December 2016 approval of the project stipulated that Vimy must begin substantial commencement within five years, a condition which the company met when work on the excavation of a ramp at the Ambassador North pit began in 2021.

The revised DFS will use the updated mineral resource estimate and previously announced metallurgical testwork on the recovery of critical minerals. It will integrate re-scheduling of the mining, using a less selective approach, and "potentially capturing much greater value presented by the coincident uranium and critical minerals of the Mulga Rock East deposits while operating within the permitting footprint," the company said.

Borshoff reiterated that the company intends to make a final investment decision for its Tumas project in Namibia in the third quarter of this year, with assets planned for production by 2026 at Tumas and 2028 at Mulga Rock.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Tractebel-to-assist-Thorizon-in-MSR-development

Following the signing of a strategic three-year partnership with Thorizon of the Netherlands, Belgian engineering firm Tractebel - a subsidiary of France's Engie - will provide engineering services including support on the conceptual design, computational modelling, cost estimates and design reviews of the Thorizon One molten salt 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.

According to Thorizon, its concept offers additional advantages in terms of safety, time to market and costs. Firstly, the reactor only generates energy when salt is circulated through the cartridges. If the pump stops, the reactor shuts down. Secondly, the cartridge design enables the use of existing and proven materials and components, minimising development and licensing timelines. Thirdly, cartridges are efficiently produced in series off-site. They contain all primary systems, together with low-pressure operations, which results in a lean reactor building.

"For several years, Tractebel has been a frontrunner in the deployment of SMRs, which we believe will contribute to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050," said Vincent Schryvers, Business Manager of the Netherlands, Tractebel. "We are now proud to support Thorizon for the development of a Generation IV reactor. This ground-breaking technology will close the fuel cycle and make the circular economy a reality in the nuclear sector. Thanks to its flexibility, this advanced nuclear reactor concept could contribute to addressing the challenges both of industry decarbonisation by providing heat for industrial processes and of energy security by producing electricity for households."

"The expertise Tractebel has built while supporting operating nuclear power plants across Europe for decades, and more recently working on multiple small modular and innovative reactor concepts is invaluable for a start-up like ours," added Thorizon CEO Kiki Lauwers. "The large and experienced team in Belgium is ideally suited to help us make the connection between the Netherlands and France. We very much look forward to working together with the Tractebel team in our offices in Amsterdam and Lyon."

Thorizon said in August 2022 that it will collaborate closely with several parties on the development of its reactor concept, such as France's Orano and NRG, the Dutch producer of medical isotopes and operator of nuclear research infrastructure. Together with EPZ, operator of the Borssele nuclear power plant, Thorizon will investigate the possibility of building the first reactor on the plant site. A broader consortium of research institutions including TU Delft and DIFFER, component suppliers and industrial service providers are supporting this development.

Earlier this month, Thorizon announced it had signed a strategic partnership agreement with French ultra-compact molten salt fast neutron reactor developer Naarea to advance the development of MSRs in Europe. That partnership aims to create the best conditions to: pool resources for safety and security demonstrations and chemical, industrial and strategic knowledge in molten salt technology; develop shared laboratories and test facilities; secure access to reprocessed fuel materials needed for molten salt fuel synthesis; provide the market with a range of complementary energy solutions with a common technology basis; and increase political and public support for MSR technology.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Hyundai-E-C-says-Kozloduy-selection-signals-South

The Bulgarian Parliament has given the go-ahead for talks to take place with Hyundai Engineering & Construction, as the sole shortlisted constructor for engineering, construction, delivery and commissioning of the new AP1000 units planned for the Kozloduy site.

As well as giving approval for the talks to begin, parliamentarians also set out a series of requirements for the Bulgarian side in the negotiations, according to the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA).

These included:

• the requirement to be offered a fixed price
• construction of the first block within 60 months
• construction of the second block within 54 months
• 30% of the project to be taken by Bulgarian contractors

Last week Kozloduy NPP - New Builds announced that South Korea's Hyundai Engineering & Construction (Hyundai E&C) was deemed, by a commission reviewing the expressions of interest, to have been the only one of the five candidates to have met the requirements for the construction and commissioning of the two new Westinghouse AP1000s.

The others to have been interested in the project were Fluor BV, Bechtel Nuclear Power Company Limited, a consortium led by China National Nuclear Corporation Overseas and partner China Energy Engineering Group Tianjin Electric Power Construction Co, as well as China Energy Engineering Corporation Limited.

According to BTA there was more than three hours of debate, including at least one vote where a call for at least one other bidder - Bechtel - to be reinstated to the process was rejected.

Hyundai E&C said, following the parliamentary approval, that its return to the overseas market after 15 years was a visible reflection of the South Korean government's support for the restoration of the nuclear industry.

A spokesperson said: "The selection as the preferred bidder for the Kozloduy nuclear power plant in Bulgaria will be a signal for the resurgence of the Korean nuclear industry, which has been somewhat stagnant due to the nuclear phase-out policy.” They noted the European Union green taxonomy and said that "as the positive atmosphere toward nuclear energy spreads ... large-scale orders are expected, and we will strive to deliver more orders through multilateral channels as well as participation in Team Korea."

The Bulgarian Parliament has set 15 April as the date by which negotiations on the specific clauses of the contract must have taken place, with the chairman of the Energy Committee looking for a final investment decision to be taken by the middle of 2025. The aim is for the first new unit - unit 7 at Kozloduy - to be operational in 2035 and the second one - unit 8 - to be operational in 2037.

Kozloduy units 1-4 were VVER-440 models which the European Commission had classified as non-upgradeable and Bulgaria agreed to close them during negotiations to join the European Union in 2007. Units 5 and 6 feature VVER-1000 reactors that were connected to the grid in 1987 and 1991, respectively. Both units have been through refurbishment and life extension programmes to enable extension of operation from 30 to 60 years. The 2300 MWe capacity of the two new units would exceed the 1760 MWe capacity of the closed first four units. The Bulgarian government has also said that further units will be needed to replace units 5 and 6 by 2050.

Westinghouse will hold overall Design Authority responsibility for the AP1000 plant, the expression of interest document said.

South Korea has 26 reactors providing about a third of the country's electricity and has long been one of the world's most prominent nuclear energy countries, but in 2017 then President Moon Jae-in introduced a policy of phasing out nuclear power over a period of 45 years. However President Yoon Suk-yeol, elected March 2022, scrapped this policy, and laid out a new energy policy supporting reactor construction and a renewed export push.

Country wants to deploy 18 new units by early 2030s.

India’s indigenous Kakrapar-4 nuclear power plant in the western Gujarat state was connected to the grid on 20 February, according to a statement by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL).

The 700-MW pressurised heavy water reactor (PHWR) unit achieved its first chain reaction on 17 December 2023. Construction of Kakrapar-4 began in November 2010.

The PHWR design used for Kakrapar-3 and -4 was developed by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre near Mumbai from earlier Candu 220 MW and 540 MW designs from Canada.

There are two older PHWRs in commercial operation at Kakrapar. Both units, Kakrapar-1 and -2 are 202-MW plants that began operation in the 1990s.

NPCIL said that 10 proposed new reactor units with combined capacity of 7,000 MW are undergoing “pre-project activities” in addition to eight reactor units being under construction at present.

The company said it is targeting completion in 2031-2032 as part of a government push to reach 22,480 MW of installed nuclear capacity.

According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, India has 19 reactors in commercial operation which provided about 3% of the country’s electricity generation in 2022.

In December, India confirmed plans to build at least 10 more nuclear power units to increase the production of clean energy as the country is still largely dependent on coal.

These 10 plants are Kaiga-5 and Kaiga-6 in Karnataka state, Mahi Banswara 1-4 in Rajasthan state Gorakhpur-3 and -4 in Haryana state, and Chutka-1 and -2 in Madhya Pradesh state.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Collaboration-points-way-to-potential-reductions-i

Pairing a used fuel recycling facility with deep borehole disposal technology could reduce the total volume of waste requiring disposal in a deep geologic repository by greater than 90%, a study by Deep Isolation and SHINE Technologies has found.

Nuclear waste storage and disposal solutions company Deep Isolation completed the study for fusion technology company SHINE Technologies, which is working on ways to recycle used nuclear fuel in facilities designed to reduce the volume of waste requiring deep geologic disposal.

The study was an initial scoping assessment of the costs of disposing the byproducts of a pilot recycling facility that would extract and enable reuse of valuable components from used nuclear fuel while separating fission products that require geologic disposal, the companies said. The goal was to assess the cost, feasibility, and fundamental characteristics of deep borehole disposal repositories for these long-lived waste forms using Deep Isolation's designs.

"This study highlights the design flexibility and advantages of deep borehole disposal in terms of modularity and potential to accept a wide range of radioactive wastes," study lead Ethan Bates, director of systems engineering for Deep Isolation, said.

Deep Isolation CEO Elizabeth Muller said the collaboration highlights the "massive potential for driving cost out of the nuclear fuel cycle" through innovation. "SHINE's pilot recycling facility will unlock new power generation out of spent nuclear fuel from traditional nuclear power plants, significantly reducing the volume of high-level waste that requires geologic disposal. And Deep Isolation’s borehole technology reduces the cost of that disposal itself," she said.

Wisconsin-based SHINE is working to deploy fusion technology through a "purpose-driven and phased approach" which includes eventually applying its technology to recycling nuclear waste. And ultimately generating power from nuclear fusion. "This study is an important step toward understanding the tremendous potential for optimisation in nuclear waste disposal volume and cost reductions, and therefore helps demonstrate important social and economic benefits from the deployment of our recycling technologies," SHINE Chief Technology Officer Ross Radel said. "It's validation that our planned approach to nuclear waste recycling is foundational to our mission of creating a safer, healthier and cleaner world."

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/BHP-considers-nuclear-powered-cargo-ships

Dutch nuclear energy development and consultancy company ULC-Energy BV has completed a study - commissioned by global mining company BHP - to investigate the potential use of civil nuclear technologies to power commercial maritime vessels.

The study compared key characteristics of various civil reactor designs against the requirements for the potential use in commercial maritime shipping and evaluated a range of regulatory, operational and commercial challenges, such as port access, licensing and vessel classification, capital costs, and crew training and certification.

The shipping industry consumes some 350 million tonnes of fossil fuel annually and accounts for about 3% of total worldwide carbon emissions. In July last year, the shipping industry, via the International Maritime Organization, approved new targets for greenhouse gas emission reductions, aiming to reach net-zero emissions by, or around, 2050.

"Decarbonising the shipping industry is a formidable challenge in the pursuit of more sustainable transportation," according to ULC-Energy. "Some of the methods employed to date have focused on energy efficiency by using larger ships, improved hull designs, and streamlined operations. In addition, parts of the maritime industry have explored the adoption of alternative fuels such as LNG, methanol, and ammonia."

It noted that nuclear energy emerges as a promising alternative to be considered in the mix, offering the potential for longer range, faster transits, and the reduction of refueling requirements, all while maintaining near-zero greenhouse gas emissions for the voyage.

"At the same time, such a civil nuclear vision would require material changes, including overcoming technical challenges, updating regulatory frameworks to ensure compliance with international regulations, and restructuring operations," ULC-Energy added.

"Cost effective and reliable international shipping services are a crucial component of global economic activity," said ULC-Energy CEO Dirk Rabelink. "Civil nuclear solutions have the potential to be a reliable and cost-effective alternative to other marine fuel options. However, it's not straightforward nor easy - and it will require a range of stakeholders to cooperate to make civil nuclear marine solutions possible."

BHP is a leading global resources company with approximately 80,000 employees and contractors, primarily in Australia and the Americas. The company's products are sold worldwide, and it is among the world's top producers of major commodities, including iron ore, copper, nickel, and metallurgical coal. As such, it is a major shipping charterer.

"BHP values the importance of partnerships in identifying a range of pathways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the maritime sector," said Rashpal Bhatti, Vice President of Maritime and Supply Chain Excellence at BHP. "We welcomed the opportunity to support this study by ULC-Energy to explore yet another potential alternative."

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/India-to-seek-nuclear-investors-as-Kakrapar-plants

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's formal dedication to the nation of Kakrapar units 3 and 4 - the first Indian-designed 700 MWe pressurised heavy water reactors - took place days after reports that the Indian government is in talks with several private firms to invest in the country's nuclear sector.

Kakrapar 3 and 4 are the first of a fleet of planned 700 MWe pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWRs): unit 3 achieved first criticality in July 2020, and the unit was connected to the grid in January 2021 and was declared to be in commercial operation in July 2023. Unit 4 reached first criticality in December and is now undergoing power ascension testing.

According to the Prime Minister's Office, the two units were built at a cost of "more than INR22,500 crore" (about USD2.7 billion - 1 crore is 10 million). "They are first-of-its-kind reactors and with advanced safety features comparable with the best in the world. Together, these two reactors will produce about 10.4 TWh of clean electricity per year and benefit consumers of multiple states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, MP, Chhattisgarh, Goa and UT of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu," the PMO said in a press release ahead of the ceremony.

According to the Times of India, Modi inaugurated the two new reactors and "interacted with senior officials" including Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) Chairman Bhuwan Chandra Pathak, as well as visiting the visited the main control room of the plant.

"Went to the Kakrapar Atomic Power Station. Two new Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors were dedicated to the nation," Modi said on X.

The next two 700 MWe PHWRs are under construction at Rawatbhata in Rajasthan, and the Indian government has sanctioned the construction of further units at Kaiga in Karnataka; Gorakhpur in Haryana; Chutka in Madhya Pradesh; and Mahi Banswara in Rajasthan.

Seeking investors

According to Reuters, government sources said India was planning to invite private firms to invest some USD26 billion in its nuclear energy sector, and is in talks with "at least" five private firms including Reliance Industries, Tata Power, Adani Power and Vedanta Ltd to invest around INR440 billion (USD5.30 billion) each.

Plans are not yet finalised, but the government hopes to use the investments to build 11,000 MWe of new nuclear capacity by 2040, the sources said. The plants would be built and operated by NPCIL, with the investing companies earning revenue from electricity sales from the plants. This hybrid plan would not require any amendment to India's Atomic Energy Act of 1962 - which prohibits private control of nuclear power generation - but would need to be approved by the Department of Atomic Energy, they said.

Only two government-owned enterprises - NPCIL and Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI, set up to build and operate fast reactors) - are legally allowed to own and operate nuclear power plants in India. But the possibility of involving other public sector and private corporations in the country's future expansion plans is something that has been under consideration for some time. In 2016, the government amended the Atomic Energy Act to allow NPCIL to form joint venture companies with other public sector undertakings India in a move intended to help the state-owned company to secure funding for new projects, although the legislative change did not extend to private sector companies or foreign investors.

As well as further 700 MWe PHWRs, Indian plans envisage the construction of large reactors from overseas vendors, including further Russian-designed VVER reactors in addition to those already in operation and under construction at Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu. In August 2023, Minister of State Jitendra Singh also told the country's parliament that the government was considering options for small modular reactors, and looking at ways to allow the participation of the private sector and start-ups in such projects.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Prototype-fusion-reactor-planned-for-TVA-site

US fusion energy developer Type One Energy Group has announced plans to build Infinity One - its stellarator fusion prototype machine - at Tennessee Valley Authority's Bull Run Fossil Plant in Clinton, Tennessee.

The company - currently based in Madison, Wisconsin - will establish its headquarters in East Tennessee as part of Project Infinity. The project is the result of a tri-party memorandum of understanding signed in 2023 between Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), Type One Energy and the US Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), in which the partners expressed an interest in the successful development and commercialisation of economic and practical fusion energy technologies.

Type One Energy said the construction of Infinity One at Bull Run "aligns with Tennessee Governor Bill Lee's vision to position the state as a national leader in clean energy, and Project Infinity is the first recipient of funds from the Governor's Nuclear Energy Fund".

The company will begin engaging and collaborating with local communities in East Tennessee during the upcoming months.

The construction of Infinity One could begin in 2025, following the completion of necessary environmental reviews, partnership agreements, required permits, and operating licenses, Type One Energy noted. It will allow the company to verify important design features of its high field stellarator fusion pilot plant, particularly those related to operating efficiency, reliability, maintainability, and affordability.

In partnership with TVA and ORNL, Type One Energy will explore subsequent opportunities to further advance commercial deployment of fusion energy in the East Tennessee region.

Type One Energy will establish its headquarters in East Tennessee, creating over 300 high-paying jobs within the next five years. Project Infinity, which includes the deployment of Infinity One and Type One Energy's new headquarters, is expected to bolster economic growth and energy technological leadership in the region.

"Successful deployment of Infinity One in East Tennessee, with our partners TVA and ORNL, is a critical milestone in our FusionDirect commercialisation programme," said Type One Energy CEO Christofer Mowry. "It is also a watershed moment toward the commercialisation of fusion, linking for the first time leaders in the technology, utility, and national laboratory sectors on an actual deployment project. Project Infinity will create the world's highest performance stellarator, offering an excellent platform for a potential long-term fusion research facility."

Bull Run Fossil Plant is located on the north bank of Bull Run Creek, directly across the Clinch River from Oak Ridge. The 865 MW coal-fired power plant entered operation in 1967 and was retired on 1 December 2023. TVA says it is "currently evaluating the future use of the Bull Run site, including potential opportunities to maintain grid stability based on its strategic geographic location in the TVA service territory".

"TVA is working with our partners to pursue new ideas and innovative solutions that meet growing energy demand in real-world conditions," said TVA President and CEO Jeff Lyash. "We appreciate this partnership between Type One Energy, ORNL, our local power companies and elected and economic development officials as we work together to identify energy technologies for the future."

ORNL Director Stephen Streiffer added: "It's exciting to see a project in Oak Ridge with such great potential to advance fusion energy. The laboratory has been a pioneer in fusion science and technology dating back to the early 1950s. We look forward to applying our institutional expertise and capabilities in working with Type One Energy on the engineering challenges they will be tackling at this new test facility."

"Our administration created the Nuclear Energy Fund in partnership with the Tennessee General Assembly to recruit companies like Type One Energy," said Tennessee Governor Bill Lee. "Tennessee is ready to secure its place as the top state for energy independence, and we are proud to partner with Type One Energy to further that mission and bring hundreds of high-quality jobs and more reliable energy to Tennesseans."

Type One Energy's Infinity One is a stellarator fusion reactor - different to a tokamak fusion reactor such as the Joint European Torus in the UK or the Iter device under construction in France. A tokamak is based on a uniform toroid shape, whereas a stellarator twists that shape in a figure-8. This gets round the problems tokamaks face when magnetic coils confining the plasma are necessarily less dense on the outside of the toroidal ring.

Type One Energy said it "applies proven advanced manufacturing methods, modern computational physics, and high-field superconducting magnets to develop its optimised stellarator fusion energy system".

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/EBRD-signs-new-grant-agreement-for-next-stage-of-C

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant have signed Grant Agreement No.2 designed to help "solve the most urgent and critical needs" at the site.

The agreement provides support for the restoration of infrastructure at the site, with the completion of pre-design activities of the New Safe Confinement and the on-going dismantling of the unstable structures within it, as well as the procurement of vehicles and equipment for "reliable and safe operation of the New Safe Confinement shelter facility ... there will also be inspection of the deaerator stage and engine room protruding beyond the boundaries of the fence contour of the New Safe Confinement".

Andrii Tymchuk, deputy CEO of State Agency of Ukraine for Exclusion Zone Management, said: "This programme is intended to solve the most urgent and critical problems of the power plant. ChNPP personnel have gained successful experience in delivery of complicated projects, and we can be sure that this agreement will be implemented expertly."

The European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) acts as the manager of grant funds provided by the International Cooperation Account for Chernobyl to the State Specialised Enterprise Chernobyl NPP (ChNPP).

Balthazar Lindauer, director of the EBRD nuclear safety department, said: "We are starting a new stage and the signing of the grant agreement symbolises the beginning of the operation of the ChNPP security programme."

The original shelter over the destroyed unit 4 at Chernobyl was constructed at pace, and the international Shelter Implementation Plan in the 1990s had three phases - firstly to stabilise it and secondly to build a larger secure construction to enclose it - the New Safe Confinement (NSC) which was completed in 2017 to pave the way for the dismantling and decommissioning stage.

According to World Nuclear Association, the hermetically sealed NSC "will allow engineers to remotely dismantle the 1986 structure that has shielded the remains of the reactor from the weather since the weeks after the accident. It will enable the eventual removal of the fuel-containing materials in the bottom of the reactor building and accommodate their characterisation, compaction, and packing for disposal. This task represents the most important step in eliminating nuclear hazard at the site - and the real start of dismantling."

The NSC is the largest moveable land-based structure ever built - with a span of 257 metres, a length of 162 metres, a height of 108 metres and a total weight of 36,000 tonnes equipped - and with a lifetime of 100 years has been designed to allow for the eventual dismantling of the ageing makeshift shelter from 1986 and the management of radioactive waste. It has also been designed to withstand temperatures ranging from -43°C to +45°C, a class-three tornado, and an earthquake with a magnitude of 6 on the Richter scale.

In December Chernobyl was given a six-year extension for work dismantling the parts of the original shelter facility most at risk of collapse.

The NSC has been funded by the international community through donations from more than 40 countries to the EBRD and cost about EUR2.1 billion (USD2.5 billion).

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/AECL,-AtkinsRealis-to-collaborate-on-advanced-Cand

A memorandum of understanding will see the two companies collaborate on the deployment of Candu reactors in Canada and internationally and expand their intellectual property licensing agreement, and is to be followed by further agreements to accelerate the development of the Candu Monark reactor technology.

AtkinsRéalis unveiled its plans for the 1000 MW Candu Monark, a Generation III+ reactor with the highest output of any Candu technology, last November, saying the new design would build on the commercial success of currently operating Candu units and decades of design development to offer amongst other things a higher output, improved cost per megawatt-hour, a longer operating life of 70 years.

The intellectual property licensing agreement dates back to 2011, when federal Crown corporation Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd (AECL) sold its reactor division to SNC-Lavalin's Candu Energy subsidiary with the Canadian government retained the intellectual property rights for the Candu reactors. At that time, transitioning to a low-carbon world was not a consideration, the companies said today. The expanded agreement "will reflect the changing priorities and the organisations' belief in the role that Candu technology will play in decarbonising Canada and the world".

All of Canada's operating commercial nuclear reactors are Candu units. The pressurised heavy water reactor design was developed by AECL, in cooperation with Canadian industry, from the late 1950s onwards and the first commercial unit began operation in 1971. According to World Nuclear Association information, today there are some 27 Candu power reactors operating in seven countries.

AtkinsRéalis is the original equipment manufacturer of CANDU technology (SNC-Lavalin Group Inc rebranded to AtkinsRéalis in 2023) with a Canadian supply chain of more than 250 companies providing Candu fuel, components, services and tooling. Joe St Julian, AtkinsRéalis president, nuclear, said it will collaborate with AECL, the Canadian nuclear supply chain partners and its customers to complete the Candu Monark design for domestic and international deployment.

"Candu technology is the only home-grown Canadian power reactor technology; it competes on a global stage, providing energy security, creating export opportunities and thousands of well-paying, highly skilled jobs, while also supporting the local supply chain and creating economic value to Canada," St Julian said. "The deployment of the Candu Monark will provide safe, carbon free, base load power to the country and the world."

The government of Ontario last year announced the start of pre-development work to build up to 4800 MWe of new nuclear capacity at Bruce Power's existing site, in what would be Canada's first large-scale nuclear build in more than 30 years. This is in addition to plans for the deployment of small modular reactors in Ontario, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick and Alberta.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Grossi-issues-fresh-call-for-restraint-around-Zapo

International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi has reiterated his call for "maximum restraint and strict observance" of the UN-backed safety principles at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant because of the "continued volatile situation".

In a statement issued by the Vienna-based agency, Grossi "emphasised the need to protect, at all times, the physical integrity" of the plant "and avoid any attack or military activity that could impact the safety and security of the facility".

Also on Wednesday, the director general said that there had been a loss of connection to its one remaining back-up external power line at 14:04 local time, due to a problem which occurred across the Dnipro river some 13.5 kilometres away. The cause of the disconnection was not immediately known.

Although external power to the plant was not lost, the lack of back-up power options was a cause of serious concern he said, adding that "the extremely vulnerable off-site power situation continues to pose significant safety and security challenges for this major nuclear facility".

The six-unit Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has been under Russian military control since early March 2022, and it is situated close to the front line. Five of the units are in cold shut down and one in "hot shutdown" where it is producing heat for the plant and the nearby town of Energodar. Those running it said that the continued operation of the main power line means safety operations had not been impactd by the loss the back-up line.

Ukraine's Ministry of Energy said on Thursday that restoration work on the damaged overhead high-voltage power transmission line, which provided a back-up power supply for the nuclear plant, was taking place but was complicated by constant shelling.

Grossi visited the nuclear power plant earlier this month to assess the security and safety situation for himself. He also held talks in Kiev with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and he is expected to visit Russia in the next week for talks as he continues efforts to ensure the safety of Europe's largest nuclear power plant.

Meanwhile, the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine says that the 20th rotation of International Atomic Energy Agency experts at the Rivne, South Ukrainian and Khmelnitsky nuclear power plant has taken place, together with a 22nd rotation of those at the Chernobyl site.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/France-and-Bulgaria-seek-to-strengthen-nuclear-ene

French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire and Bulgaria's Energy Minister Rumen Radev have signed a declaration of intent to establish bilateral cooperation in the field of nuclear energy, including the areas of nuclear construction programmes, small modular reactors and development of a European supply chain.

The declaration, signed in Paris, will see the two members of the European Nuclear Alliance continuing to cooperate as part of the Alliance and its promotion of nuclear energy within the European Union, as well as committing to establish bilateral cooperation in the field of nuclear energy.

According to the French Economy Ministry: "This cooperation will concern, among other things, the nuclear construction programmes envisaged in the two countries, the analysis of new technologies such as small modular reactors or advanced technology reactors, the development of a European supply chain, the fuel cycle, nuclear power and the strengthening of nuclear training courses within the two countries."

The declaration recognises the "essential role" nuclear energy will play in both countries' "efforts to strengthen energy security and sovereignty, reducing carbon emissions to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, provide affordable energy and support industrial and regional development".

It also "promotes the participation of companies from both countries in new projects, management of aging and long-term operation, dismantling and decommissioning of nuclear installations and in particular nuclear reactors" as well as analysing, with a "long-term vision, the possibilities of cooperation on new construction projects in Bulgaria based on European Gen III+ technologies including large reactors and small modular reactors".

The statement says it is not designed to be legally binding on either side but seeks to strengthen cooperation with regular exchanges, and leaves the door open for extending cooperation by mutual agreement.

Bulgaria's Radev said: "When we share know-how on technology, education and training programmes between Bulgaria and France in the nuclear field, this means that we also share an understanding of the future, and also of our security and competitiveness, a green future based on real baseload, on low carbon energy that is secure, reliable and gives us the chance to be sustainable, competitive and to develop our economies in the best possible way."

France's Le Maire said: "We want to extend our cooperation with Bulgaria to other areas with regard to nuclear energy. This includes cooperation in the supply chain, skills development. I set out the idea of a project of common interest in the nuclear field because you know that we have projects of common interest on many topics, including raw materials, hydrogen. It is worth having projects of common interest in the field of nuclear energy as well."

Bulgaria currently has two units operating. Kozloduy units 1-4 were VVER-440 models which the European Commission had classified as non-upgradeable and Bulgaria agreed to close them during negotiations to join the European Union in 2007. Units 5 and 6 feature VVER-1000 reactors that were connected to the grid in 1987 and 1991, respectively. Both units have been through refurbishment and life extension programmes to enable extension of operation from 30 to 60 years. The country is currently planning two new Westinghouse AP1000 units at Kozloduy, and has said further new units will be needed by 2050. There have also been discussions over the feasibility of small modular reactors as the country.

France derives about 70% of its electricity from nuclear energy and has been active in developing nuclear technology and advocating for it within the European Union and has an ambitious expansion programme for six EPR-2 PWRs at three sites in France over the coming years with the aim of a construction start before May 2027.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Investment-contract-supports-US-demonstration-reac

The US Department of Energy (DOE) and Kairos Energy have signed a technology investment agreement to implement an Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP) risk reduction award to support the design, construction, and commissioning of the Hermes demonstration reactor.

The agreement will see the DOE provide up to USD303 million using a performance-based, fixed-price milestone approach, with the company receiving fixed payments on demonstrating the achievement of significant project milestones.

Kairos Power co-founder and CEO Mike Laufer applauded the DOE for pursuing the use of this "novel" approach to public-private partnerships, which he said "allows us to remain focused on achieving the most important goals of the project while retaining agility and flexibility to move quickly as we learn key lessons through our iterative development approach", he said.

"This agreement incentivises efficiency, drives performance, and establishes credibility to deliver," Laufer added.

Hermes, a 35 MW (thermal) non-power version of the company's fluoride salt-cooled high temperature reactor, the KP-HFR, is to be built at Oak Ridge, Tennessee and is the first non-water cooled reactor to be approved for construction in the USA in more than 50 years. It is a critical step on Kairos' iterative pathway to commercialising its technology: the company has also submitted a construction permit application for Hermes 2, a proposed two-unit, electricity-producing demonstration plant that would build on the learnings from Hermes and would demonstrate the complete architecture of future commercial plants.

The KP-HFR is one of five teams selected in 2020 by the DOE to receive USD30 million in initial funding for risk reduction projects under the ARDP. Since then, Kairos said, it has made "steady progress" towards demonstration, establishing extensive testing and manufacturing infrastructure to deliver the Engineering Test Unit series and advancing its fuel and molten salt coolant workstreams.

US Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy Kathryn Huff said the Hermes reactor is an important step toward realising advanced nuclear energy's role in the nation's clean energy transition. "Partnerships like this one play a significant role in making advanced nuclear technology commercially competitive," she added.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Holderness-withdraws-from-UK-repository-siting-pro

Just one month after the formation of a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) Working Group, East Riding of Yorkshire Council has voted to withdraw from talks about the possibility of a UK radioactive waste repository being built in South Holderness.

Last month, East Riding of Yorkshire Council accepted an invitation from Nuclear Waste Services (NWS) to join the South Holderness GDF Working Group. The group's role is to open up engagement with the community, begin the work to understand the local area and identify an initial search area for further consideration. The group would also identify initial members for a GDF Community Partnership, which would take over from the Working Group and be a more enduring vehicle for community engagement and involvement in the siting process, including developing a community vision and distributing community investment funding.

However, at a meeting on 21 February, councillors voted 53-1 in favour of a motion brought by Councillor Sean McMaster, which called on the council to withdraw from the siting process for the facility.

McMaster, ward councillor for South East Holderness, said there had been an "overwhelming response" from the community since the formation of the Working Group. He called on the council to use "its right of withdrawal with immediate effect, due to the strong opposition from the communities of South Holderness, as a promise was made to take the views of residents into account as the relevant principal local authority".

Councillor Anne Handley, leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: "The purpose of the Working Group was always to open a conversation with the community about whether a GDF would be right for the South Holderness area. The council and NWS were clear about that from the very start.

"In the past few weeks, many people within the community have made it clear that they find this idea unpalatable and do not want South Holderness to be part of the conversation. Many other people have attended the drop-in events curious to find out more about the long-term benefits a GDF could bring to its host community. Councillors have today considered all these views and decided that it is right to withdraw from this process."

NWS said it "fully respects the council's decision to withdraw from the GDF siting process. Together with the Working Group Chair, NWS will now take the necessary steps to wind down the South Holderness Working Group and respond to outstanding requests for more information".

NWS will continue to engage with the other three Community Partnerships currently involved in the GDF siting process and "will consider other communities who are interested in learning more about this vital project and the benefits and opportunities it could bring".

Between late-2021 and mid-2022, four localities formed Community Partnerships interested in hosting a GDF - Allerdale, South Copeland and Mid Copeland in Cumbria in northwest England, and Theddlethorpe in Lincolnshire, in eastern England. However, in September last year, Allerdale was removed from the siting process due to limited suitable geology.

The UK search for a GDF site is based on the idea of community consent. Finding the right site to build the GDF could take 10-15 years.

Source: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Construction-starts-on-second-phase-of-Zhangzhou-p

The first safety-related concrete has been poured for the nuclear island of unit 3 at the Zhangzhou nuclear power plant in Fujian province, China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) announced. It is the first of two Hualong One units planned as the second phase of the plant, which will eventually house six such reactors.

In May 2014, the local government gave approval for Phase I of the Zhangzhou plant, comprising two AP1000 units. The National Nuclear Safety Administration gave approval in December 2015 for the AP1000 units and confirmed site selection in October 2016. Construction of Phase I had originally been expected to start in May 2017. However, CNNC subsequently decided to use the HPR1000 (Hualong One) design instead. Two more Hualong One units are planned for Phase II of the plant and a further two proposed for Phase III.

Construction of Zhangzhou 1 began in October 2019, with that of unit 2 starting in September 2020. The units are scheduled to enter commercial operation in 2024 and 2025, respectively.

CNNC issued the environmental impact assessment for Zhangzhou units 3 and 4 in October 2020. In September 2022, China's State Council approved the construction of two Hualong One units as Phase II of the Zhangzhou plant.

CNNC has now announced that work on Phase II has commenced, with the pouring of first concrete for the nuclear island of unit 3 on 22 February.

The Zhangzhou project is owned by CNNC-Guodian Zhangzhou Energy Company, a joint venture between CNNC (51%) and China Guodian Corporation (49%).

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. Two Hualong One reactors have also been constructed as units 2 and 3 of the Karachi plant in Pakistan's Sindh province. These entered commercial operation in May 2021 and April 2022, respectively.

"At present, the first four units of Hualong One have been completed and put into operation, and the batch construction is progressing smoothly," CNNC said. "Among them, the Zhangzhou Nuclear Power Project is the starting point for the batch construction of Hualong One: unit 1 is expected to be put into operation in 2024; unit 2 is undergoing cold test-related preparations such as the installation of internal components of the reactor."

In addition to Zhangzhou units 1-3, CNNC is also building two Hualong One reactors as units 3 and 4 of the Changjiang plant, in Hainan province, construction of which began in March 2021 and December 2021, respectively.

Earlier this week, it also held a ground-breaking ceremony for Phase I of the Jinqimen plant in Zhejiang province, which will also feature two Hualong One reactors.