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Framatome to start production of innovative fuel for German research reactor
24 April, 2024
Framatome and Germany’s Technical University of Munich (TUM) have signed a cooperation agreement to establish an industrial manufacturing process for molybdenum-uranium (U-Mo) monolithic fuel for TUM’s Forschungs-Neutronenquelle Heinz Maier-Leibnitz (FRM II) research reactor in Germany. This low-enriched fuel will benefit from the highest uranium fuel density ever realised in Europe for research reactor operations.

Sheffield Forgemasters granted ASME status
23 April, 2024
UK-based Sheffield Forgemasters has been awarded a strategic nuclear qualification, which the company says positions it to support development and delivery of the next generation of civil NPPs. The nuclear qualification came after an American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Section III Division I NCA 3300 (NCA 3800), NCA 4000 and NQA-1 Code survey and audit, recommended it for Material Organisation (MO), and welding (NPT) accreditations.

Engineering and geological research completed for Yakutia SMR
23 April, 2024
Russian company Orgenergostroy has completed a complex of engineering and geological surveys to develop design documentation for the construction of a low-power NPP (ASMM - Atomnoi Stantsii Maloi Moshnosti) in the village of Ust-Kuyga in Yakutia. This project is the first ground-based low-power NPP in Russia based on the latest RITM-200N reactor plant. The RITM-200 reactor unit was previously used on atomic icebreakers and nuclear submarines, and has been adapted for use in a low-power NPP on land.

Ongoing drone attacks heighten concerns over nuclear safety at Zaporizhia NPP
23 April, 2024
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in its latest update on the Zaporizhia NPP (ZNPP) said it was informed about a further attempted drone attack on the plant’s training centre, which caused no damage or casualties. It was the third reported attack targeting the training facility recently, following two such incidents the previous week. ZNPP told the IAEA team stationed at the site that the drone had been “neutralised”, without giving further details. The IAEA team heard an explosion at the same time that ZNPP subsequently reported the attempted drone attack took place. The team was denied access to the training centre just outside the ZNPP site perimeter to assess the incident, with the plant citing potential security risks.

AtkinsRéalis opens new technology centre in Washington
23 April, 2024
Canada-based AtkinsRéalis (part of the SNC-Lavalin Group) has opened its new $20m AtkinsRéalis Technology Center (ATC) in Richland, Washington state. AtkinsRéalis said the ATC will be used to further develop “innovative nuclear and environmental cleanup technologies, engineering net zero (ENZ) and hydrogen clean energy advancements, digital solutions and robotics implementation”.

WEC begins construction of heavy machining and nuclear fabrication facility
23 April, 2024
WEC Group, a key player in the UK's subcontract manufacturing sector, has begun construction on a new state-of-the-art, 60,000 sq ft heavy machining and nuclear fabrication facility in Blackburn. This new development marks a significant milestone in the Group's ongoing expansion strategy and cements its position as the premier subcontract manufacturing business in the UK.

UK nuclear waste storage facility reported to have breached its environmental
23 April, 2024
The UK Environment Agency (EA) has written to the Drigg Low Level Waste Repository (LLWR) in Cumbria with concerns about a delay in securing waste at the site, the BBC has reported. Nuclear Waste Services (NWS), which operates Drigg, said the delays did not impact the surrounding area and that they had taken the time to ensure the right solutions were created for the safe disposal of nuclear waste.

Second stage of containment installed for Brest-OD-300 reactor
23 April, 2024
The second stage of the containment for Russia’s lead-cooled Brest-OD-300 fast reactor has been completed at the construction site on the territory of the Siberian Chemical Combine (part of Rosatom’s fuel company TVEL). The Brest-OD-300 reactor is part of the pilot demonstration power complex (ODEK - Opitno Demonstratsionovo Energo-Kompleksa), which is being developed under the Breakthrough (Proryv) project intended to demonstrate closed fuel cycle technology.

Constellation applies to renew licence for Dresden
23 April, 2024
US power company Constellation has filed a licence renewal application with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for its Dresden Clean Energy Centre in Illinois. Dresden units 2&3 are 790 MWe (net) General Electric BWR-3 boiling water reactors, which began operation in 1970 and 1971. Dresden 1 operated from 1960 to 1978 and is now undergoing decommissioning.

Tritium levels below operational limits in latest release of Fukushima Daiichi treated water
23 April, 2024
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) experts have confirmed that the tritium concentration in the fifth batch of diluted ALPS treated water, which Japan’s Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) is now discharging to the sea is far below the country’s operational limit.

Steam generators and heat exchange equipment delivered to Akkuyu
23 April, 2024
A set of steam generators for unit 3 of the Akkuyu NPP under construction in Türkiye has been shipped from Atommash plant in Volgodonsk (part of Rosatom’s mechanical engineering division). The steam generators will now begin a 3,000 km journey by waterways and sea to the NPP construction site. In May, the reactor intracranial devices and the upper unit for Akkuyu 3 will be shipped from Atommash. Currently, the plant is also producing key equipment for Akkuyu 4.

Energoatom and Holtec to establish SMR manufacturing facilities
19 April, 2024
Ukrainian nuclear utility Energoatom and US-based Holtec International have signed a “Master Agreement” intended to establish in-country manufacturing capabilities for production and fabrication of nuclear systems, structures, and components (SSCs) for advanced small modular reactors (SMRs), used fuel storage and transport systems, and other nuclear energy related application.

Blykalla closes latest funding round to support its lead-cooled SMRs
19 April, 2024
Swedish company Blykalla, formerly called Leadcold, has announced the closure of its latest funding round to support its lead-cooled SMRs, raising a total of SEK80m ($7.3m). The round was led by Norrsken Launcher together with Nucleation Capital, with participation from Earth Venture Capital, Farvatn, and several private investors.

Canadian federal budget for 2024 includes some support for nuclear
19 April, 2024
Canada’s 2024 Federal Budget, tabled by Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland predominantly focused on addressing public concerns over housing and affordability but also included a few new commitments or announcements related to the nuclear energy sector. According to the Canadian Nuclear Association (CNA), “the budget in many places reinforces the government’s clear support for nuclear by confirming a series of announced policies and financial commitments intended to support a rapid build out of nuclear over the coming decades”.

Tepco suspends fuel loading at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa NPP
18 April, 2024
Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (Tepco) has suspended fuel loading at unit 7 of its Kashiwazaki-Kariwa NPP in Nigata prefecture just two days after it started because of an equipment problem, NHK reported. Tepco said in a statement that there were no safety-related issues. No further details were provided.

Inner containment dome installed at Tianwan 8
18 April, 2024
Rosatom’s Engineering Division (Atomstroyexport) has installed the upper part of the dome of the inner containment (VZO - Vnutrennei Zatsitnoi Obolochki) at unit 8 of the Tianwan NPP under construction in China’s Jiangsu province.

USNC and Peregrine collaborate on advanced energy systems
18 April, 2024
US companies Ultra Safe Nuclear Corp. (USNC) and Peregrine Turbine Technologies (PTT) are to collaborate with the aim of integrating USNC’s Pylon reactor with PTT’s patented supercritical CO2 (sCO2) energy conversion system and advanced heat exchanger technologies. This partnership “focuses on enhancing clean energy generation through advanced nuclear and turbine technologies”.

Framatome signs contracts with UK’s Sizewell C
18 April, 2024
France’s Framatome has signed multi-billion euro contracts with Sizewell C Ltd, a standalone company majority-owned by the UK government, laying out the scope of its involvement in the Sizewell C nuclear new build project. This followed the UK Government Investment Decision in November 2022 to approve the construction of two EPR reactors at the Sizewell site on the Suffolk Coast. The two units will generate 3.2 GW of electricity and power the equivalent of 6m homes for 60 years.

Decarbonising nuclear fuel
18 April, 2024
Enrichment company Urenco has published its net zero strategy setting out its very ambitious plans for Scope 1,2 and 3 emissions reductions. Chris Pye tells NEI about the challenges and early successes in its bid to reduce emissions.

UK sets out nuclear revolution plans
17 April, 2024
The UK government wants to provide an investment environment that will bring forward a pipeline of new nuclear projects. To do so it is willing to sweep away some longstanding industry assumptions.