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CA01 'super module' installed at Lianjiang 1
24 April, 2024
The CA01 super module has been installed at unit 1 of the Lianjiang NPP in China’s Guangdong Province, according to the Shanghai Nuclear Engineering Research and Design Institute (SNERDI). The 1,066-tonne concrete and steel CA01, which houses the main components of the power unit, is 27 metes long, 29 metres wide and 24 metres in height. It consists of 47 cells in which the reactor vessel, steam generators and other components of the power unit will be located. As such large components cannot be transported using available modes of transport, it was assembled at the plant site. Lifting the module into place took 3 hours and 18 minutes. In November 2023, another large module, the CA20 was installed at this unit.

Framatome and KHNP to assess feasibility of medical isotope production at Wolsong
24 April, 2024
France’s Framatome and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to demonstrate the feasibility of producing non-carrier added lutetium-177 (Lu-177) at South Korea’s Wolsong NPP. Framatome and KHNP will jointly perform this technical assessment at the plant using Framatome’s isotope production technology. This has been successfully implemented on a commercial production level at the Bruce Power NPP in Canada.

Westinghouse fuel licensed for use at Kozloduy
24 April, 2024
Bulgaria’s Nuclear Regulatory Agency (AYaR - Agentsiyata za Yadreno Regulirane) has licensed the use of Westinghouse fuel for unit 5 of the Kozloduy NPP. Loading of the new fuel, which has already been delivered to the site, will begin during the next scheduled repair and maintenance outage, due to begin at the end of April. The first 42 cartridges of the new American fuel arrived at Kozloduy NPP by ship from Sweden, where they were manufactured.

IAEA reports enhanced safety at Dutch research reactor
24 April, 2024
An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Integrated Safety Assessment for Research Reactors (INSARR) team said the operator of the Hoger Onderwijs Reactor (HOR) in the Netherlands has enhanced safety since a previous review mission in September 2021. The team also found the need to address recommendations related to operational radiation protection and commissioning, following major modifications to the research reactor.

EDF report on Hinkley Point C project emphasises training
24 April, 2024
A recent report by EDF, Hinkley Point C Socio-Economic Impact Report 2024, says 7,885 people have already trained at Centres of Excellence for welding, mechanical, electrical and construction skills, with 1,307 currently in training as a result of the Hinkley Point C construction project. The 23-page report notes that 1,320 apprentices have been trained so far, in areas including hospitality, accountancy and project management. EDF adds that productivity for the nearby town of Bridgwater is now 10% higher than other surrounding towns.

Russia develops new generation of radiation-resistant cameras for NPPs
24 April, 2024
Roselectronics, part of Russian State Corporation Rostekh, has developed a new generation of industrial television systems with high radiation resistance. They are designed to control technological processes in the reactor zone, as well as visual monitoring of its condition. This is necessary to maintain the operability of the key element of the nuclear power plant and prevent emergency situations. Experimental samples will be tested until the end of 2024.

South Korea and US to cooperate on research reactor proliferation resistance
24 April, 2024
South Korea is to co-operate with the US in optimising nuclear proliferation resistance in its research reactors for export. A joint statement issued by the Korean Ministry of Science & ICT and the US National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) said the two countries plan to collaborate on designing research reactors and associated facilities developed by Korea under NNSA's Proliferation Resistance Optimization-X (PRO-X) programme.

CNSC approves environmental assessment for SMR at Darlington
24 April, 2024
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) has announced the Commission’s decision that the existing environmental assessment for the Darlington New Nuclear Project (DNNP) is applicable to the General Electric Hitachi BWRX‑300 reactor, the reactor technology selected by Ontario Power Generation (OPG). “It is important to note that this decision does not authorise the construction of a BWRX‑300 reactor for the DNNP,” CNSC said. “The Commission will hold a future public hearing to consider OPG’s application for a licence to construct one BWRX‑300 reactor at the Darlington nuclear site.”

China starts mass production of carbon-14 isotope
24 April, 2024
China has started the mass production of carbon-14 at a commercial nuclear reactor, according to the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC). The carbon-14 isotope (C-14) was produced by the Qinshan NPP in Zhejiang province, which is operated by a CNNC subsidiary, Qinshan plant general manager Shang Xianhe told Xinhua, according to the Chinese State Council Information Office. “It is expected that about 150 curies of carbon-14 isotopes can be produced annually,” said Shang. He expects that C-14 output should be able to "completely meet the market demand" of China ending China’s near-total reliance on imports of the isotope.

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 permit
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.