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Thailand considers deployment of Seaborg molten salt reactor
02 May, 2024
Thailand’s Global Power Synergy Public Company Limited (GPSC) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Denmark's Seaborg Technologies to investigate the potential deployment of its compact molten salt reactor (CMSR) Power Barge in Thailand. Under the MOU, GPSC, a subsidiary of Thai state-owned oil and gas company PTT Group, and Seaborg will assess how the CMSR Power Barge could support Thailand’s transition to net-zero. The four-year assessment will be used to develop an initial project on whether deployment of the CMSR Power Barge is feasible and commercially viable.

Japan postpones restart of Shimane
02 May, 2024
Japan’s Chugoku Electric Power Co is expected to postpone the restart of unit 2 at its Shimane NPP in Matsue in Shimane Prefecture. The initial restart schedule was set for August this year but is expected to be deferred until autumn or later. The reason for the schedule change is believed to be a delay in completing safety measures. Chugoku Electric Power originally said it would load fuel into the reactor in June, resume operation in August and begin commercial operation in September.

US Senate passes act banning imports of Russian enriched uranium
02 May, 2024
The US Senate has unanimously voted to approve legislation banning the import of enriched uranium from Russia. The Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act must be signed by President Biden before becoming law. It would bar US imports 90 days after enactment while permitting temporary waivers until January 2028. The House of Representatives adopted a similar bill by voice vote in December 2023. However, the legislation was stalled for some time in the Senate due to unrelated political differences.

G7 acknowledges need for nuclear despite differences on energy policy
02 May, 2024
The Group of Seven (G7) nations undertook to support the use of nuclear energy in countries that opt for its use, following a two-day Ministerial Meeting on Climate, Energy and Environment in Italy. The G7 includes Italy, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the UK, and the USA as well as the European Union. The ministerial meeting was in preparation for the G7 summit planned for June.

KHNP and EDF submit updated bids for four new Czech units as EC approves state aid
02 May, 2024
Czech power company ČEZ and its Elektrárna Dukovany II (EDU II) subsidiary has received updated binding bids from Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) and France's EDF for the construction of four new nuclear units in the Czech Republic. EDF is proposing its EPR1200 reactor, KHNP is proposing its APR1000.

BWXT joins GE Vernova Nuclear’s newly established SMR supplier group
02 May, 2024
GE Vernova’s Nuclear business, GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH), has established a group of qualified supply chain companies to advance the global deployment of the BWRX-300 small modular reactor (SMR). The purpose of the supplier group is to help ensure a reliable, cost effective and innovative process for the manufacture and commercialisation of the BWRX-300. Suppliers who meet pre-defined criteria, customer requirements and demonstrate a willingness to invest in BWRX-300 supply chain capabilities are eligible for selection to the group. The first company to join the group is BWXT Canada Ltd, a subsidiary of BWX Technologies.

UAE to launch tender for four new nuclear reactors
01 May, 2024
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will tender shortly for the construction of a new nuclear power plant that would double its nuclear capacity, Reuters has reported, citing three sources familiar with the matter. The UAE plans to seek bids this year, possibly within the next few months, to build four new reactors, the sources with direct knowledge of the matter said, requesting anonymity to discuss details that are still private.

Terrestrial Energy and Schneider Electric to collaborate on advanced reactor deployment
01 May, 2024
US-based Terrestrial Energy has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Schneider Electric to jointly develop commercial opportunities and advance the deployment of Terrestrial’s Integral Molten Salt Reactor (IMSR) technology for industrial heat and power supply. Schneider Electric systems automate and optimise energy management for improved performance, efficiency, and contribute to the commercial and sustainability goals of its customers.

Life extension work under way at Tarapur
01 May, 2024
Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) has engaged Mumbai-based EPC contractor CORE Energy Systems to replace the primary recirculation piping at units 1&2 of the Tarapur Atomic Power Plant (TAPS) in Palghar district, in Maharashtra state. The refurbishment should extend plant life by 10 years.

Key equipment for Paks II completed
01 May, 2024
One of the two pieces of equipment for the Paks II NPP project – the core melt trap – has already been completed, and production of the reactor pressure vessel has now begun in St Petersburg, “which is a real milestone for the expansion of Paks” Hungarian Foreign and Trade Minister Péter Szijjártó told a press conference in Budapest. The melt trap had been completed ahead of schedule and would be delivered to Hungary in the summer, he added.

European Commission approves state aid for Nuward SMR
01 May, 2024
The European Commission (EC) has approved, under European Union (EU) state aid rules, a €300m ($320m) French measure to support Electricité de France's (EDF) subsidiary Nuward in researching and developing small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs). The EC said the measure will contribute to the achievement of the strategic objectives of the European industrial strategy and the European Green Deal.

IAEA concludes safety review at Japan’s Mihama NPP
01 May, 2024
An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA Safety Aspects of Long Term Operation (SALTO) team has completed a review of long term operational safety of unit 3 at the Mihama NPP in Japan. The review mission was requested by the plant’s operator, Kansai Electric Power Company.

First concrete poured for Lianjiang 2
01 May, 2024
First concrete has been poured for the nuclear island of unit 2 at China’s Lianjiang NPP in Guangdong province. State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC) said it expected to pour a total of about 6,615 cubic metres of concrete over a 57-hour period.

Agreement reached for Hanford clean-up
01 May, 2024
The US Department of Energy (DOE), Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology), and US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have announced a “landmark agreement” proposing “a realistic and achievable course for cleaning up millions of gallons of radioactive and chemical waste from large, underground tanks at the Hanford Site.”

Polish government endorses proposal to deploy Rolls-Royce SMRs
01 May, 2024
Rolls-Royce SMR welcomed the announcement by Polish industrial group, Industria (part of Industrial Development Agency JSC), that they have received the final government opinion required to progress the approval of an application for a Decision in Principle to build Rolls-Royce Small Modular Reactor (SMR) power plants in Poland.

L&H Industrial and BWXT to explore microreactor technology for industrial heat and power
30 April, 2024
L&H Industrial and BWXT Advanced Technologies have signed a Joint Development Agreement aimed at deploying microreactors to provide heat and power for industrial users. This collaborative effort will focus on the development and potential deployment of BWXT’s Advanced Nuclear Reactor (BANR) in cogeneration sets starting with Wyoming and its neighbouring states.

Fukushima ALPS treated water release progressing planned
30 April, 2024
The discharge of treated water from Japan's Fukushima Daiichi NPP is progressing in accordance with the Implementation Plan approved by Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA), the Task Force set up by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed.

Grossi addresses World Energy Congress on first official visit to the Netherlands
30 April, 2024
IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi addressed the 26th World Energy Congress in the Netherlands organised by the World Energy Council (WEC). This year’s event, held in Rotterdam under the slogan “Redesigning Energy for People and Planet”, brought together 70 ministers from 150 countries, as well as some 7,000 international energy stakeholders.

Framatome breaks ground on project to expand Lynchburg site
30 April, 2024
Framatome has broken ground on a $50m expansion project at its Mill Ridge Road facility in Lynchburg, Virginia. The project includes expanding Framatome's current footprint to accommodate over 500 new employees, refurbishing its nuclear training centre to support the next generation of small and advanced reactor technologies, modernising existing office spaces and conference rooms, and increasing capacity for an innovation and design school. The facility provides specialised training and tooling to service and maintain North America's NPP fleet and develops solutions for advanced and small modular reactors.

Rolls-Royce revises plans for SMR pressure vessel factory
30 April, 2024
Rolls-Royce SMR has reportedly revised its plans to build two nuclear factories in the UK due ongoing delays in the government’s small modular reactor (SMR) design competition. In December 2023, six SMR designs were selected to progress to the next stage of a UK competition that forms a key part of government ambitions for up to a quarter of the country’s electricity to come from nuclear power by 2050. The designs chosen by Great British Nuclear – the government-backed body driving nuclear projects across the UK The winning bidders were EDF, GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy International, Holtec Britain Limited, NuScale Power, Rolls-Royce SMR and Westinghouse Electric Company UK The contracts were expected to be awarded in spring 2024 but this has now been postponed to June 2024 at the earliest.