New News information at Nuclear Engineering International New and updated information from News listed on www.neimagazine.com http://www.neimagazine.com/ en-us http://www.neimagazine.com/ New News information at Nuclear Engineering International http://www.neimagazine.com/content/images/logo_big.gif US DOE pushes ahead with HALEU development http://www.neimagazine.com/news/newsus-doe-pushes-ahead-with-haleu-development-10925174 http://www.neimagazine.com/news/newsus-doe-pushes-ahead-with-haleu-development-10925174 by <br/> <br/> The US Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Nuclear has released a Notice of Intent (NOI) inviting public comment on the scope of an upcoming draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The EIS will analyse the impacts of DOE’s proposed action to acquire high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) through procurement from commercial sources and to facilitate the establishment of commercial HALEU fuel production. Thu, 08 Jun 2023 06:36:00 GMT Preparatory work to begin at Paks II http://www.neimagazine.com/news/newspreparatory-work-to-begin-at-paks-ii-10925143 http://www.neimagazine.com/news/newspreparatory-work-to-begin-at-paks-ii-10925143 by <br/> <br/> Hungary's Foreign Affairs & Foreign Economic Relations Minister, Peter Szijjártó, says preparatory works would start at the Paks II NPP project in July. “The European Commission has approved amendments to the contract for the expansion of the Paks nuclear power plant,” he said on his Facebook page. “Last week, Finance Minister Mihai Varga signed financial amendments to the contract from the Hungarian side, while Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov is expected to sign them this week. This will remove all obstacles to continue the project with less bureaucracy, at a faster pace and in full compliance with all nuclear safety rules.” Thu, 08 Jun 2023 06:30:00 GMT IAEA Director General to inspect Zaporizhia NPP in the aftermath of crucial dam destruction http://www.neimagazine.com/news/newsiaea-director-general-to-inspect-zaporizhia-npp-in-the-aftermath-of-crucial-dam-destruction-10925102 http://www.neimagazine.com/news/newsiaea-director-general-to-inspect-zaporizhia-npp-in-the-aftermath-of-crucial-dam-destruction-10925102 by <br/> <br/> “Today the Nova Kakhovka dam was severely damaged leading to a significant reduction in the level of the reservoir used to supply cooling water to the Zaporizhia NPP (ZNPP),” International Atomic energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi told the IAEA Board of Governors (BOG) on 6 June. Thu, 08 Jun 2023 06:18:00 GMT Westinghouse and Astrobotic to collaborate on space technology http://www.neimagazine.com/news/newswestinghouse-and-astrobotic-to-collaborate-on-space-technology-10918933 http://www.neimagazine.com/news/newswestinghouse-and-astrobotic-to-collaborate-on-space-technology-10918933 by <br/> <br/> US-based Westinghouse Electric Company and Astrobotic have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore collaboration on space technology programmes for NASA and the Department of Defense. The focus will be on space nuclear technology and delivery systems and will also include strengthening the space nuclear supply chain and workforce in the Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia regions. Wed, 07 Jun 2023 11:00:00 GMT More US DOE funding for commercial fusion http://www.neimagazine.com/news/newsmore-us-doe-funding-for-commercial-fusion-10918590 http://www.neimagazine.com/news/newsmore-us-doe-funding-for-commercial-fusion-10918590 by <br/> <br/> The US Department of Energy (DOE) has announced US$46M in funding for eight companies proposing designs and research & development for fusion power plants. This funding from the Milestone-Based Fusion Development Program aims to “solidify US leadership in fusion commercialisation”. Wed, 07 Jun 2023 10:00:00 GMT Operating licence granted for Karachi 3 http://www.neimagazine.com/news/newsoperating-licence-granted-for-karachi-3-10918575 http://www.neimagazine.com/news/newsoperating-licence-granted-for-karachi-3-10918575 by <br/> <br/> The Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA) has granted an operating licence for unit 3 of Pakistan’s Karachi NPP (K-3) in accordance with regulations PAK/909 and following a demonstration of safe operation of the plant. The licensing process included a review of licensing submissions, inspections during initial fuel loading, initial criticality, low power and power ascension tests, and operation at full power. Wed, 07 Jun 2023 09:00:00 GMT Constellation acquires ownership stake in South Texas Project http://www.neimagazine.com/news/newsconstellation-acquires-ownership-stake-in-south-texas-project-10918446 http://www.neimagazine.com/news/newsconstellation-acquires-ownership-stake-in-south-texas-project-10918446 by <br/> <br/> US power company Constellation is acquiring NRG Energy’s 44% ownership stake in the South Texas Project Electric Generating Station (STPEGS). The 2,645 MWe two-unit plant is located about 90 miles southwest of Houston. The transaction is valued at $1.75bn, with an effective purchase price of $1.4bn after taking into account tax benefits to Constellation. The transaction will be financed with a combination of cash and debt. The South Texas Project is one of the newest and largest NPPs in the USA with a good track record for safety and reliability. Tue, 06 Jun 2023 16:00:00 GMT Grossi underlines determination to publicly report any violations at Zaporizhia NPP http://www.neimagazine.com/news/newsgrossi-underlines-determination-to-publicly-report-any-violations-at-zaporizhia-npp-10918424 http://www.neimagazine.com/news/newsgrossi-underlines-determination-to-publicly-report-any-violations-at-zaporizhia-npp-10918424 by <br/> <br/> In the wake of his address to the UN Security Council on the situation at the Zaporizhia NPP (ZNPP), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi recalled in his latest update that ZNPP has been without external back-up power for three months, “leaving it extremely vulnerable in case the sole functioning main power line goes down again and underlining the importance of adhering to five principles established by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for the protection of the facility during the military conflict”. Those principles – aimed at preventing a nuclear accident – state that off-site power to the ZNPP “should not be put at risk” and that “all efforts should be made to ensure that off-site power remains available and secure at all times”. The other principles include commitments not to attack from or against the plant, not to use it as storage or a base for heavy weapons, and to protect structures, systems and components essential to its safe and secure operation from attacks or acts of sabotage. Tue, 06 Jun 2023 15:00:00 GMT Framatome extends long-term partnership with Slovenské Elektrárne http://www.neimagazine.com/news/newsframatome-extends-long-term-partnership-with-slovensk-elektrrne-10918377 http://www.neimagazine.com/news/newsframatome-extends-long-term-partnership-with-slovensk-elektrrne-10918377 by <br/> <br/> France’s Framatome has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to develop a global strategic relationship with Slovak power utility Slovenské Elektrárne. The signing ceremony took place during the visit to Slovakia of French President Emmanuel Macron for talks with Slovak President Zuzana Caputova. Cooperation on a long-term solution for fuel diversification for nuclear power plants in Slovakia is one of the key areas of the MOU, which outlines future strategy and an agreement for further discussions about extending the long-term commercial relationship between Framatome and Slovenské Elektrárne on areas of interest. These include nuclear operations and maintenance, nuclear fuel, safety, instrumentation & control (I&C) and cybersecurity, as well as the feasibility of nuclear medicine and radioisotope production in Slovakia. Tue, 06 Jun 2023 14:00:00 GMT Concreting of the dome of the inner containment completed at Rooppur 2 http://www.neimagazine.com/news/newsconcreting-of-the-dome-of-the-inner-containment-completed-at-rooppur-2-10918279 http://www.neimagazine.com/news/newsconcreting-of-the-dome-of-the-inner-containment-completed-at-rooppur-2-10918279 by <br/> <br/> Rosatom’s Engineering Division (ASE - Atomstroyexport) has completed concreting the 16th tier of the inner containment (VZO) at unit 2 of the Rooppur NPP under construction in Bangladesh. For the entire structure, which is 17.6 metres high and 42.8 metres in diameter at its base, more than 3,200 cubic metres of concrete was required. Tue, 06 Jun 2023 12:00:00 GMT