South Korea starts up second APR-1400

Published: Thu, 18 Apr 2019 11:53:01 GMT

Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power has started up its new Shin Kori 4 reactor and plans to connect it to the electricity grid at the end of this month. It is the second APR-1400 design unit to start up of a planned global fleet of at least 10.

Uranium producers await US presidential decision

Published: Thu, 18 Apr 2019 14:01:59 GMT

The US Department of Commerce on 15 April submitted to the White House the results of an investigation into the effects of uranium imports on US national security. US President Donald Trump now has up to 90 days to decide whether to act on the DOC's findings and recommendations, which have not been made public.

First reserves announced for Patterson Lake South

Published: Thu, 18 Apr 2019 15:44:34 GMT

A prefeasibility study for Fission Uranium Corp's Patterson Lake South uranium property includes the first announcement of mineral reserves for the site in Canada's Athabasca Basin.

Entergy agrees to sell Indian Point

Published: Wed, 17 Apr 2019 15:48:07 GMT

Entergy Corp has agreed to sell the Indian Point Energy Center to a subsidiary of Holtec International following the shut-down of the final reactor at the site, which is planned for 2021. Holtec-SNC Lavalin joint venture Comprehensive Decommissioning Inc will decommission the plant on an accelerated timescale.

China uprates its oldest reactor

Published: Wed, 17 Apr 2019 14:23:08 GMT

In a first for the country, China has uprated its oldest power reactor, Qinshan 1, to 350 MWe (net) from its original 300 MWe. China National Nuclear Corporation said the engineering work "has important reference significance for the power enhancement of subsequent power stations, and plays an exemplary role in the life management of domestic nuclear power plants".

GNS announces storage cask order

Published: Wed, 17 Apr 2019 15:27:03 GMT

Germany's PreussenElektra has placed an order for 12 CASTOR used fuel transport and storage casks with GNS Gesellschaft für Nuklear-Service. The supplier said the deal was worth "well over" EUR20 million (USD22.6 million).

Atomexpo: Nuclear is the key to sustainability

Published: Tue, 16 Apr 2019 12:51:22 GMT

Nuclear energy has a role to play in all 17 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted in 2015 by the United Nations, delegates heard yesterday at the opening ceremony of the XI International Forum Atomexpo 2019 being held this week in Sochi, Russia. Alexey Likhachov, director general of Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom, thus stressed the motto of this year's event: 'Nuclear for better life'.

Ohio lawmakers introduce clean energy bill

Published: Tue, 16 Apr 2019 15:55:27 GMT

A draft law that would provide clean energy credits to zero-emission power producers, including nuclear plants, has been introduced to the Ohio legislature. Meanwhile, the US Supreme Court has rejected appeals challenging zero emissions credit programmes in Illinois and New York.

Ontario meets first refurbishment target

Published: Tue, 16 Apr 2019 16:03:12 GMT

The reactor core of Darlington 2 in Canada has now been rebuilt, owner and operator Ontario Power Generation has announced, celebrating the installation of all its fuel channels. It is the first in a programme of ten reactor refurbishments.

Mochovce 3 completes commissioning test

Published: Tue, 16 Apr 2019 14:14:00 GMT

Slovakia's new reactor Mochovce 3 has successfully completed hot testing. Owner Slovenské Elektrárne said the plant could be ready for fuel loading this summer, although it will then have to wait for regulatory approval which could take up to eight months.

Russia pours first concrete for second Kursk II unit

Published: Mon, 15 Apr 2019 15:15:23 GMT

Main construction work for the second unit at Kursk II in Russia has begun two weeks ahead of schedule. The site in Western Russia is the first to use the VVER-TOI (typical optimised, with enhanced information) reactor design.

Fuel removal starts at Fukushima Daiichi 3

Published: Mon, 15 Apr 2019 11:58:33 GMT

Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe visited the Fukushima Daiichi site today as the process to remove used fuel from unit 3 officially began. It has taken several years for Tepco to remove debris from the reactor building service floor and prepare for this work to reduce the hazard at the accident site.

International review for German regulation

Published: Mon, 15 Apr 2019 15:04:37 GMT

Germany's nuclear safety regime is strong and can be improved further, a team of international inspectors has concluded following a two-week mission to review the country's regulatory framework.

Yellow Cake announces next uranium purchase

Published: Fri, 12 Apr 2019 13:30:24 GMT

Yellow Cake plc is to purchase 1.175 million pounds of uranium (45 tU) from KazAtomProm under an existing framework agreement after raising GBP25.9 million (USD33.9 million) through a share placement.

New technology allows in situ waste characterisation

Published: Fri, 12 Apr 2019 14:42:51 GMT

Personnel from the US Department of Energy's Office of Environmental Management working at Idaho National Laboratory are using new technology to perform in-situ characterisation of the contents of hundreds of radioactive waste containers prior to shipment for permanent disposal.

Novovoronezh II-2 cleared for launch

Published: Fri, 12 Apr 2019 10:48:32 GMT

Unit 2 of the Novovoronezh II nuclear power plant in southwest Russia started the process of physical launch yesterday after having received regulatory approval to do so, Rosenergoatom, the operator subsidiary of state nuclear corporation Rosatom, has announced.

Viewpoint: Sharing knowledge in European radwaste management

Published: Fri, 12 Apr 2019 11:03:00 GMT

All countries in Europe have a common interest in ensuring that radioactive waste management is done in a way that guarantees safety and security today and also in the long term, writes Charles McCombie, president of Arius Association.

Georgia legacy waste management project launched

Published: Thu, 11 Apr 2019 15:02:11 GMT

The Swedish Radiation Safety Authority (SSM) has launched an international procurement process for the design of facilities to manage legacy radioactive waste in Georgia. The SSM is coordinating the two-year EU project as well as providing one-sixth of the EUR1 million (USD1.1 million) funding.

China installs steam generator at Tianwan unit 6

Published: Thu, 11 Apr 2019 13:57:54 GMT

The second of three steam generators at China's forthcoming Tianwan 6 nuclear power unit has been installed, completing a 12-day process that involved bringing the component through a hatch and rotating to a vertical position.

Framatome invests in Ugine nuclear alloy plant

Published: Thu, 11 Apr 2019 14:21:53 GMT

Framatome has upgraded its Ugine nuclear alloy plant with an additional EUR 12.6 million (USD14.2 million) vacuum arc remelting furnace. Metal alloys made at Ugine are manufactured into components used in reactor cores around the world.

Nirab recommends GBP1 billion boost for innovation

Published: Thu, 11 Apr 2019 14:12:50 GMT

The UK’s Nuclear Innovation & Research Advisory Board has recommended that the government should consider investing up to GBP1 billion (USD1.3 billion) between 2021 and 2025 to boost the progress of innovation in the nuclear energy sector.

Site approval for Egyptian nuclear power plant

Published: Wed, 10 Apr 2019 13:46:25 GMT

Egypt's Nuclear Power Plants Authority has received a site approval permit for the El Dabaa site from the Egyptian Nuclear Regulation and Radiological Authority . The permit acknowledges that the site and its specific conditions comply with national and international requirements.
 

Evacuation order lifted in Fukushima host town

Published: Wed, 10 Apr 2019 13:08:53 GMT

Some residents of Okuma, the closest town to the Fukushima Daiichi plant, have today been allowed to return home. The evacuation order issued in 2011 has been lifted for the more mountainous and less inhabited western area, where around 380 of the town's former population of 10,500 lived.

Dry storage licence amendment supports accelerated decommissioning

Published: Wed, 10 Apr 2019 11:49:46 GMT

Orano TN's NUHOMS dry storage systems will be allowed to store used nuclear fuel with significantly shorter cooling times and higher decay heat under licensing amendments approved by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Niger and GoviEx agree Madaouela project framework

Published: Tue, 09 Apr 2019 15:01:46 GMT

The government of Niger and GoviEx have agreed on a framework to develop jointly GoviEx's Madaouela uranium project that will see the government purchase a second 10% share.

Uzbekistan starts site selection process for first reactors

Published: Tue, 09 Apr 2019 14:48:37 GMT

Uzbekistan has initiated the process to choose a site for its first nuclear power plant and aims to grant a site licence in September 2020, local officials have confirmed to the International Atomic Energy Agency. Uzbekistan is among about 30 countries that are considering, planning or actively working to include nuclear power into their energy mix.

EDF to sell its stake in Alpiq

Published: Tue, 09 Apr 2019 14:27:01 GMT

EDF has agreed to sell its stake in Swiss nuclear utility Alpiq to the company's other major shareholders, who intend to take it private. The price for EDF's 25.04% share is CHF489 million (USD489.2 million).

Commissioning starts at first Belarus unit

Published: Mon, 08 Apr 2019 10:56:59 GMT

Unit 1 of the first nuclear power plant to be built in Belarus has started the commissioning phase, AtomStroyExport, the engineering subsidiary of Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom, has announced.

Japanese energy policy needs clarity, says business group

Published: Mon, 08 Apr 2019 14:01:47 GMT

Japan's leading business group has called for accelerated restarts of reactors, with the years spent offline to be added back onto their lifespans. The Japan Business Federation called for clarity in energy policy beyond 2030 to support development of the power sector to reflect significant social change.

SAFSTOR chosen for Three Mile Island decommissioning

Published: Mon, 08 Apr 2019 12:24:49 GMT

Exelon Generation has filed its detailed plan for decommissioning unit 1 at Three Mile Island in Pennsyvlania, but says the plant will remain in operation if the state enacts a policy solution to preserve nuclear capacity.