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Fusion firms Stellarex and IPP join forces on stellarator technology
16 May, 2024
Fusion energy technology development company Stellarex, a spinout of US Princeton University, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Germany’s Max-Planck-Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP) that provides a framework for scientific and academic cooperation in developing stellarator-based fusion energy production. Stellarex and IPP will partner in specific areas of fusion energy science and technology, including the optimisation of plasma confinement and power/particle control.

Poland issues decision in principle on Rolls-Royce SMRs
16 May, 2024
Poland’s Ministry of Climate & Environment has issued a Decision in Principle approving Rolls-Royce Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology. Poland’s Environment Minister, Paulina Hennig-Kloska said she believes the investment would be in the public interest and in line with the country’s energy and climate policies.

Slovak government to draw up plans for new NPP
16 May, 2024
The Slovak government has ordered the economy and finance ministers to draw up a plan for a new 1,200 MWe NPP by the end of October including a selection process for a supplier as well as timing and financing for the project.

UKAEA awards funding for fusion projects
16 May, 2024
The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) has awarded six organisations contracts worth £9.6m ($12m) to advance their concepts to support fusion energy development. The contracts range between £460,000 and £1.9m, and are funded by UKAEA’s Fusion Industry Programme, an initiative launched in 2021 to develop the necessary technology and skills for the future global fusion power plant market.

Energoatom and Hyundai E&C reaffirm co-operation on new build in Ukraine
16 May, 2024
Ukraine’s nuclear utility Energoatom and South Korea’s Hyundai Engineering & Construction (E&C) have signed a memorandum of cooperation (MOC) on the design, construction and commissioning of new nuclear power units in Ukraine. The MOC was signed by Energoatom President Petro Kotin and Hyundai E&C Executive Vice President and Operations Director Choi Young in the presence of Ukraine's Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko and South Korea's Ambassador to Ukraine Kim Hyun-Tae.

Urenco receives permit for new waste store at Almelo
16 May, 2024
Netherlands nuclear regulator, the Authority for Nuclear Safety & Radiation Protection (ANVS - Autoriteit Nucleaire Veiligheid en Stralingsbescherming) has granted the final permit to enrichment company Urenco for the construction and operation of a new radioactive waste storage facility at its Almelo site.

US ban on Russian uranium signed into law
16 May, 2024
President Biden has signed into law HR 1042, the Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act, just two weeks after the bill was passed unanimously by the US Senate. The legislation, which bans the import of Russian-produced low enriched uranium (LEU), will come into effect 90 days after the date of the enactment of the bill, and will remain in effect until the end of 2040. Waivers may be granted to allow the import of limited amounts of LEU, under certain circumstances, until 1 January 2028.

Norway to help Ignalina establish burial point for bitumen radwaste
15 May, 2024
At the Ignalina NPP (INPP), the project Improving the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management at INPP, largely funded by the Norwegian Financial Mechanism, has been completed. The project, which started at the end of 2020, sought to improve management systems, controls and preventive measures during decommissioning, which would minimise the negative impact on the environment, ecosystem and population.

NuScale Power announces first quarter 2024 financial results
15 May, 2024
NuScale says it has implemented a series of strategic initiatives “to better align resources with the Company’s primary objective of transitioning towards commercialisation and revenue-producing commercial contracts”. These actions further long-term financial stability by generating $50 to $60m in annualised savings, starting in the second quarter of 2024.

OKG and Hynion sign contract for hydrogen supply
15 May, 2024
Uniper-owned OKG has signed a contract to supply Hynion's hydrogen gas stations. The hydrogen gas comes from OKG's hydrogen plant, which was established as early as 1992 to be used to cool generators at units 1-3 of Sweden’s Oskarshamn NPP to reduce the risk of stress corrosion cracking of the reactor piping by reducing the amount of free oxygen in the coolant.

ORNL begins examination of GE Vernova's advanced nuclear fuel
15 May, 2024
US Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) recently started examining several new fuel rods developed by GE Vernova’s Global Nuclear Fuel (GNF). The rods were shipped to the lab from a commercial NPP after completing six years of irradiation. The results from the experiments will be used to support the commercial deployment of high burn-up fuels before the end of the decade.

China achieves breakthrough in nuclear valve technology
15 May, 2024
A stabiliser pilot safety valve engineering prototype jointly developed by China National Nuclear Corporation's (CNNC’s) China Nuclear Power Research & Design Institute and CNNC's Sufa Technology Industrial Company (STIC) has completed seismic identification testing STIC reported. It also passed on-site examination by the Nuclear & Radiation Safety Centre of the National Nuclear Safety Administration and the Nuclear Equipment Safety & Reliability Centre of the Institute of Mechanical Science.

Thermal Engineering International (USA), Inc., a Babcock Power Subsidiary, receives ASME-BPVC Section III Division 1 N, NPT, NS and NA certifications
15 May, 2024
Joplin, MO— Thermal Engineering International (USA) Inc. (TEi) proudly announces the reception of Certificates of Authorization pursuant to Section III Division 1 of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC). These certificates authorize TEi's Joplin, MO facility to design and fabricate nuclear safety-related components and appurtenances.

Navarro and Deep Isolation team up to advance nuclear waste disposal solutions
15 May, 2024
US Navarro Research & Engineering, and Deep Isolation have entered into a strategic partnership to advance the safe disposal of high-level nuclear waste in deep geologic boreholes. Navarro and Deep Isolation will jointly develop strategies to demonstrate the feasibility of Deep Isolation’s solutions for disposal of high-level waste (HLW) in the US and abroad.

Genkai mayor agrees to site survey for Japan’s final radioactive waste disposal facility
15 May, 2024
The Mayor of Genkai in Japan’s Saga Prefecture, Shintaro Wakiyama has agreed to the central government’s request to conduct a “literature review” for selection as a final disposal site for radioactive waste. A literature review is the first of three steps in the process that will take more than 20 years to select a suitable site. Once a municipality accepts the literature review, it can receive a central government grant of up to JPY2bn ($12.85m). The review will be conducted by the Nuclear Waste Management Organisation of Japan (NUMO). This will involve studying geological and other data over a period of about two years.

NorthStar to take over decommissioning of Vallecitos Nuclear Centre
15 May, 2024
US NorthStar Group Services has agreed to accept transfer of ownership of the GEH Vallecitos Nuclear Centre, in California, from GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) for nuclear decontamination, decommissioning, and environmental site restoration. The deal should close after the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approves the transfer including licence transfer from GEH to NorthStar and all other conditions.

CPS Energy increases share in South Texas Nuclear Project
15 May, 2024
CPS Energy has entered into an agreement to acquire an additional 2% ownership of the South Texas Nuclear Project (STP) from US Constellation, bringing CPS Energy’s ownership of STP to 42%. Constellation’s ownership will be reduced to 42%, and Austin Energy’s ownership will remain at 16% following the transaction. CPS Energy also entered into a long-term Purchase Power Agreement (PPA) with Constellation for an additional 200 MW of firm capacity that will be available for CPS Energy customers by the summer.

China and France increase nuclear energy cooperation
15 May, 2024
During his recent visit to France, Chinese President Xi Jinping advocated increased cooperation in a number of areas, including "nuclear energy, innovation and finance". French President Emmanuel Macron said France was "ready to step up cooperation with China" in areas including "nuclear energy for civilian use". The visit coincided with the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and France.

INL produces fuel rod sample for Lightbridge
14 May, 2024
“Lightbridge has achieved a significant milestone under our strategic partnership project agreement at Idaho National Laboratory (INL),” said Lightbridge Corporation President and CEO Seth Grae. INL has demonstrated the production of a partial-length rod sample using an alloy of depleted uranium and zirconium. INL and Lightbridge will work together to analyse the extruded rod to confirm the extrusion process parameters prior to performing additional extrusions using an alloy of depleted uranium and zirconium materials later this year. “Next year, we plan to produce coupon samples for irradiation testing in the Advanced Test Reactor at INL using an alloy of enriched uranium and zirconium,” Grae noted. The extrusion process involves pressing a metallic alloy billet through a die.

South Korea begins process to decommission Kori 1
14 May, 2024
South Korea’s now-retired Kori NPP unit 1 in Busan is now undergoing a decontamination process in the run up to dismantling. After some 40 years of service starting April 1978, Kori 1, South Korea’s oldest reactor, was permanently closed in June 2017.