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UK nuclear waste storage facility reported to have breached its environmental permit
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.