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Archive 2012 to date
NORTH AMERICA
USA
US approval for new nuclear plantUS safety regulators have approved the construction of two new-generation reactors at Vogtle by Georgia Power. The vote by the five-member Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) concludes a four-year process that confirmed the safety of building a pair of Westinghouse AP1000 reactors. It is the first combined construction and operating licence (COL) from the NRC under new procedures. Parent company Southern Nuclear applied to build Vogtle 3 & 4 in April 2008, then signed an engineering, procurement and construction contract with Westinghouse and Shaw. Work at the site is well advanced, and ready for first concrete. The company has a federal loan guarantee for its 45.7% of the $14 billion project; its main partners are Oglethorpe Power (30%) and Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia (22.7%). The 1200 MWe (gross) reactors are expected to start-up in 2016 and 2017.WNN 9/2/12. US nuclear power
Two more US reactor construction licences approvedThe US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has approved the issue of two further construction and operating licences for a pair of 1200 MWe AP1000 reactors at the V.C.Summer plant in South Carolina. SCE&G (Scana) and Santee Cooper applied for the licences four years ago, and expect to start formal construction in May, to bring the units on line in April 2017 and in 2018. Work is already well under way at the site, on containment vessel and cooling towers.WNN 2/4/12. US nuclear power
US industry ready to act on reactor safety enhancementsUS utilities are preparing to act on three US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) orders to meet immediate post-Fukushima safety enhancements, likely to cost about $100 million across the whole fleet. The first order will require the addition of equipment at all plants to help respond to the loss of all electrical power and the loss of the ultimate heat sink for cooling, as well as maintaining containment integrity. Another requires improved water level and temperature instrumentation on used fuel ponds. The third order applies only to the 33 BWRs with early containment designs, and will require 'reliable hardened containment vents' which work under any circumstances. The measures are supported by the industry association, which has also proposed setting up about six regional emergency response centres under NRC oversight with additional portable equipment.Meanwhile the NRC has reported that 90 of 104 US nuclear reactors "fully met all safety performance objectives" for licensing, nine needed to resolve one or two items, and five needed greater attention.WNN 27/2/12. Russia NP
US high-level Commission reports on used fuelThe Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future set up early in 2010 following President Obama's political decision to abort work on a repository at Yucca Mountain in Nevada has issued its final report, highlighting shortcomings in national policy. "Put simply, this nation's failure to come to grips with the nuclear waste issue has already proved damaging and costly. It will be even more damaging and more costly the longer it continues." Congress expects the Department of Energy (DoE) to develop a new strategy for managing used nuclear fuel and other nuclear waste within six months in response to the report. The US industry has welcomed the report.The Commission recommended a consent-based approach to siting future nuclear waste storage and disposal facilities. Secondly, responsibility for the USA's radioactive waste management program should be transferred to a new organisation, independent of the DoE. Thirdly, the way in which the funds already paid into the Nuclear Waste Fund are treated in the federal budget should be changed to ensure they are used for their intended purpose. (These funds were estimated to be some $24 billion as of early 2010.) The report calls for "immediate efforts to commence development of at least one geologic disposal facility and at least one consolidated storage facility, as well as efforts to prepare for the eventual large-scale transport of spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste from current storage sites to those facilities." The report also supported long‐term recycling and advanced fuel‐cycle technologies, which would reduce the amount of used fuel needing disposal while recovering valuable unused materials for re‐use in new fuel, but noted that these measures would not change the fundamental waste management challenge.There are currently over 65,000 tonnes of used nuclear fuel stored at about 75 operating and shut-down reactor sites across the USA, with an additional 2000 tonnes arising annually. The DoE is also storing a further 2500 tonnes of used fuel and considerable high-level waste from military programs at a few government-owned sites.WNN 27/1/12 US policy, US fuel cycle US laser enrichment plant moves towards licenceThe US Nuclear Regulatory Commission NRC has published a favourable environmental review of the Global Laser Enrichment project, and its safety evaluation found that its programs for the physical protection of special nuclear material and classified matter, material control and accounting provided an adequate basis for both safety and safeguards of facility operations. Following a July review by the NRC Atomic Safety and Licensing Board, a full licence is expected in August. The company, bringing together GE, Hitachi and Cameco, will then decide on proceeding with a full-scale commercial enrichment facility at Wilmington, North Carolina. The project, using the third-generation Australian SILEX process enriching up to 8% U-235, could be operational from 2014, and ramp up to annual capacity of 6 million separative work units (SWU) in 2020. WNN 1/3/12, U Enrichment, US Fuel Cycle
US reactor gets reprieve as court affirms national role over local politicsA US federal court in Vermont has ruled that Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant may continue to operate beyond the end of its original 40-year licence in March, as approved by the national regulator. This grants Entergy a long-awaited victory over its host state of Vermont which contrived to close it down. The case involved claims made by Entergy which challenged a state's right to make rules about the perceived safety and economic performance of a plant.The first claim related to several state enactments that would have forced the plant to shut down at the end if its original licence, in two months time. Entergy argued that these were rooted in concerns over safety, and therefore pre-empted by the Atomic Energy Act which places sole control over US nuclear and radiation safety matters in the hands of a national regulator. In March 2011 the Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved a 20-year license extension for the plant. A second claim related to plans from the state that would have forced the plant to sell electricity to state utilities at below market rates or risk being forced to shut down. Entergy claimed that Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has exclusive jurisdiction to regulate the sale and transmission of wholesale power, and that no state institutions should be permitted to interfere with this. Vermont Yankee is a merchant plant, not owned by the state, and therefore should be free to sell electricity on to the market both inside and outside of the state at whatever price it can. This determines its profitability and ultimately its ability to survive. The single 620 MWe reactor is currently responsible for about 70% of the electricity produced in Vermont. The three-day court hearing took place in September last year and a decision was originally expected within weeks. In July, the company had sought a preliminary injunction to allow it to keep operating while the court case played out, claiming this was necessary for them to make important decisions – such as whether to buy fuel. However the judge rejected these claims. The court finally ruled in Entergy's favour – acknowledging the pre-eminence of the Atomic Energy Act in governing safety matters, and effectively preventing the state from interfering with the plant's electricity sales contracts.WNN 20/1/12. US nuclear powerUS to support small reactor developmentThe US Department of Energy (DoE) has allocated $452 million over five years to help the design and licensing of one or two small modular nuclear reactor (SMR) designs through new cost-sharing arrangements with industry. This will support first-of-a-kind engineering, design certification and licensing. To that end, it has issued a draft Funding Opportunity Announcement to solicit inputs from industry, aiming at a deployment date for the reactors of 2022. Small, compact reactors of up to 300 MWe in capacity have a number of potential advantages in terms of safety, construction and siting, as well as potential economic benefits. Smaller ones can be made in factories and transported by rail and road to generation sites, being added progressively as modules of a large plant, reducing both capital costs and construction times. Westinghouse intends to apply for its own 225 MWe SMR, while Babcock & Wilcox's 125 MWe mPower and NuScale Power's 45 MWe design are also in contention. The NRC is currently involved in pre-application discussion on both latter types in anticipation of a design certification application for the NuScale reactor soon, followed by one for the mPower design in 2013.WNN 23/1/12. Small nuclear power reactors Industry Alliance keeps US high-temperature reactor hopes stokedAs momentum from the 2005 US Energy Policy Act has dissipated, and the Department of Energy has quietly backed away from earlier commitments to build a demonstration next-generation nuclear plant (NGNP) at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) by 2021, others are keeping the dream alive. The NGNP Industry Alliance was set up in 2009 to include major reactor vendors, utilities and potential end users of high temperature heat. It has now announced the selection of a preferred technology - Areva's Antares, which is based on General Atomics' Gas-Turbine Modular Helium Reactor, with prismatic fuel - ie the fuel particles less than a millimetre in diameter are embedded in hexagonal graphite blocks (in contrast to the pebble bed design). Both INL and the Alliance concluded that both fuel designs would work, but the reactor design chosen as modules (4) for a 1000 MWe plant would make it 30% cheaper to build. The Alliance is targeting 2015 for a construction permit application, with Entergy now the lead applicant. The gas-cooled reactor would initially be operated with secondary steam cycle.WNN 15/2/12. Small reactors, US Nuclear PolicyUSA investigates reactor life extension beyond 60 yearsThe US Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Nuclear Energy has released plan for its Light Water Reactor Sustainability Program to identify and research issues related to extension of the operating life of US power reactors beyond 60 years. The DOE-sponsored R&D program based at Idaho National Laboratory is to be "performed in close collaboration with industry R&D programs, to provide the technical foundations for licensing and managing the long-term, safe and economical operation of current nuclear power plants." In particular it will "inform major component refurbishment and replacement strategies, performance enhancements, plant license extensions, and age-related regulatory oversight decisions."WNN 3/2/12 US nuclear policy
Outrage over mining ban near Grand CanyonUS senators, congressmen, mining companies and nuclear industry representatives have criticised a final decision by the Department of Interior to ban new uranium mining on over 4000 square kilometres of federal lands near the Grand Canyon. This withdrawal for 20 years followed over two years of evaluations. It does not prohibit previously-approved uranium mining, but it does rule out new projects on claims and sites with valid existing exploration rights. Other natural resource development will still be allowed, and hardrock mining including uranium near the Grand Canyon can continue. Bureau of Land Management projections suggest that up to 11 uranium mines, four of which are currently approved, could still be developed in the withdrawal area over the next 20 years based on valid pre-existing rights. Without the withdrawal, the studies projected that the area could have seen as many as 30 uranium mines in the same period. A group of US senators and congressmen has denounced the decision, saying that it disregards the 1984 Arizona Wilderness Act, agreed through negotiation with environmental groups, which permanently locked away from mining over 2600 sq km outside the Grand Canyon designated as wilderness, while affirming the compatibility of mining with conservation interests in other areas. They also noted that the Interior Department's own studies had found "no conclusive evidence" that mining operations in the area were harmful to the Grand Canyon watershed, so the announcement was "a needless overreaction to a fictitious problem." The Nuclear Energy Institute condemned the ban, citing the lack of any scientific justification and the lack of any suggestion in the studies that uranium mining near the Grand Canyon would compromise the excellent environmental record of today's mining operations.WNN 10/1/12 US uranium miningAreva pioneers integrated fuel supply in USAThe Monticello nuclear power plant will have a decade of front-end nuclear fuel services provided by Areva after a $500 million deal. From 2015, Areva will provide Xcel Energy with six fuel reloads for the Monticello reactor, over a decade. This integrated arrangement contrasts with the normal routine of the utility buying uranium from a mine in a fluctuating market, then having it converted, enriched, and fabricated on a toll basis. The Areva contract also covers engineering work to enable the 600 MWe (gross) GE-designed boiling water reactor to use Areva's Atrium 10XM fuel design. These changes are part of an uprate plan to increase Monticello's output to 829 MWe gross. The reactor started operation in 1971 and is licensed to 2030. Westinghouse-Toshiba as well as Areva provide similar integrated fuel supply deals in emerging markets.WNN 5/1/12 US nuclear fuel cycle
New technology to revive uranium from phosphatesA new plant is being commissioned in the USA to demonstrate uranium recovery as a by-product of phosphate production for fertiliser. Historically some 20,000 tU has been recovered thus, but old processes became uneconomic. A transportable demonstration plant in two large shipping containers was built in Australia and is now being commissioned in Florida. The PhosEnergy process is being commercialised by Australian company Uranium Equities (UEQ, 27%) and Canadian uranium producer Cameco (up to 73%), under a strategic alliance agreement. Subject to evaluating performance to the end of 2012, Cameco and UEQ are seeking to enter commercial arrangements with phosphate producers where the process would provide a technical solution for the recovery of uranium from phosphates. The capital required to install the process would be in exchange for off-take from the facility. In the USA alone, some 2300 tU/yr is potentially recoverable from phosphates as by-product, and worldwide more than three times this from the 140 million tonnes of phosphate processed annually. Morocco has by far the largest known resources of uranium in phosphate rock.WNN 13/4/12. U from phosphates
US plans to ban new coal-fired power plantsThe US Environment Protection Agency has published rules to limit carbon dioxide emissions from new power plants to 454 g/kWh, achievable by gas-fired plants but not coal-fired ones without carbon capture and storage (CCS). CCS, if practical, would greatly increase the cost. Existing coal-fired plants, which supply almost half of US electricity, and those under construction are exempt. The rules need to be finalised before coming into effect, and considerable opposition is expected leading up to the November elections.
Canada
Canada-China bilateral safeguards agreementA number of agreements have been signed to expedite Canadian trade with China, including now a bilateral safeguards agreement to supplement the standard international safeguards. This will enable Canadian uranium to supply utilities in China. In particular Cameco will be able to proceed with two 2010 contracts to supply 20,000 tU worth about US$ 3 billion.WNN 10/2/12. Safeguards Canadian reactor restarted after 17-year outageBruce Power has restarted its 750 MWe Bruce A2 Candu reactor after rebuilding it. First power was in 1976, but the reactor was laid up in 1995 due to a maintenance accident when lead contaminated the core. Unit 1 was then laid up in 1997 to allow operational focus on newer plants at that time. In 2005 it was decided to refurbish all four Bruce A units, and the cost for units 1 & 2 came to C$ 4.8 billion. Both are now being returned to service.WNN 19/3/12. Canada NP
EUROPE
European “stress tests” on courseThe 147 nuclear reactors in the EU's 27 member states, plus 15 reactors in Ukraine and five in Switzerland, are being assessed against aspects of nuclear plant safety highlighted by the Fukushima accident. Operators reported to their national regulators who then reported progress to the European Commission by the end of 2011. Information was shared among regulators throughout this process before the 17 final reports went to peer-review by teams comprising 80 experts appointed by the European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group (ENSREG) and the European Commission. The EC and ENSREG identified four main areas for improving EU nuclear plant safety:- assessing natural hazards and margins beyond the original design basis; - giving more importance to periodic safety reviews and evaluation of natural hazards; - undertaking urgent measures to protect containment integrity; and - measures to prevent and mitigate accidents resulting from extreme natural hazards.They reported that "all countries have taken significant steps to improve the safety of their plants, with varying degrees of practical implementation." The EC and ENSREG are producing an action plan to implement the main recommendations of their report and to participate fully in the International Atomic Energy Agency's post-Fukushima action plan.WNN 27/4/12. Safety of nuclear plants
UK
Russia and China probe UK nuclear plant opportunityFollowing the withdrawal of German-based RWE and EOn from the project company Horizon Nuclear Energy, both Rosatom directly, and China’s State Nuclear Power Technology Corporation (SNPTC) with Toshiba, have indicated strong interest in taking their place to build several new nuclear plants in the UK. Horizon has two approved brownfield sites: Oldbury and Wylfa, for some 6000 MWe of new nuclear capacity. SNPTC brokered the acceptance of the Westinghouse AP1000 reactor in China, and this is now most of the way through generic design assessment in UK. Westinghouse, once owned by the UK government, is owned by Toshiba. The major US nuclear utility Exelon is reported to be involved in the proposal as potential operator, but it could neither confirm nor deny this to WNN. WNN 4/5/12. UK
UK closes oldest reactorUnit 1 at the UK's Oldbury plant - the world's oldest operating nuclear power reactor - has been closed after 44 years of power generation. The 217 MWe Magnox unit started operation in 1968 but is no longer economic to run. Its twin was shut down last year. The reactors will be defuelled over the next year, but final demolition will not be until late in the century. Construction of a new plant by Horizon Nuclear Power - a 50-50 joint venture of RWE and E.On - is planned at the site. Two larger Magnox units remain in service - the last of the first-generation plants.WNN 29/2/12. UK
UK shuts down second-last Magnox reactorWylfa-2, one of the reactors at Britain’s last Magnox nuclear power station, has been closed down a few days ahead of scheduled permanent closure. It started up in 1971. Its twin is expected to operate until its fuel runs out in 2014. The UK built 26 Magnox reactors, and the 490 MWe Wylfa units were the last and biggest. Two others were built in Italy and Japan, and France’s first six reactors were very similar. Wylfa is a site for planned new reactors.WNN 26/4/12. UK
RWE and EOn pull plug on UK nuclear projectThe two major German-based utilities RWE and EOn have announced that they will not proceed with building nuclear power plants in the UK, and will seek new investors for their 50-50 UK joint venture Horizon Nuclear Power, set up in 2009. Horizon was planning to build a 3500 MWe nuclear plant at Oldbury in Gloucestershire and about 5000 MWe at Wylfa in Wales. The companies cited the cost of losing 5517 MWe of their German nuclear capacity with EUR 2.8 billion writedown as contributing to their change of plan, though they will continue with smaller energy investments in UK. EdF Energy is proceeding with plans to build four 1670 MWe EPR reactors at Hinkley Point in Somerset and Sizewell in Suffolk.WNN 29/3/12. UK
France
France looks to reactor life extension more than new buildFrance's Court of Audit has released a report on the costs of nuclear power in the country. It concludes that investing in new nuclear or other generating capacity would be too expensive and too slow to meet demand. Extending the operating lives of existing nuclear power reactors would be the most cost-effective option.According to the report, France has so far spent €188 billion on nuclear energy. The total cost of building all the facilities needed for nuclear electricity generation in France (excluding Superphenix commercial prototype fast breeder reactor) is put at €121 billion. Of this, the cost of constructing the country's 58 second-generation power reactors - with a combined generating capacity of 62,510 MWe - is estimated to be €96 billion (average €1536 per kW, rising from €1070 in 1978 to €2060/kW in 2000). The projected cost for new EPR units is €3700/kW. The development of fuel cycle facilities - particularly reprocessing plants - cost France some €19 billion. A further €55 billion has so far been spent on research, while the construction, operation and decommissioning of Superphenix cost €12 billion.French power reactors were originally licensed to operate for 30 years, and they are then subject to ten-year reviews to allow for life extension. So far, just two reactors - at Tricastin and Fessenheim - have received authorization to continue operating up to 40 years. In 2010 EdF invested €1.7 billion in maintenance, and plans to more than double this annually to 2025, including post-Fukushima upgrades. EdF expects that extending the life of its present reactor fleet will cost up to €860 million each, compared with some €6.6 billion for a new (though larger) EPR, making this the cheapest option for providing power to 2035-40. Operating costs in 2010 were 4.95 cents/kWh.WNN 31/1/12. FranceFrench safety approval for new reactor designThe French nuclear safety regulator ASN has approved the general design of the mid-sized Atmea1 nuclear reactor, following an 18-month review. The Atmea joint venture was established in 2007 by Areva NP and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to produce an evolutionary 1100 MWe reactor using the same steam generators as the EPR. It will be marketed primarily to countries embarking upon new nuclear programs, and has been short-listed for Jordan.WNN 7/2/12. Advanced reactors
France to reinforce its reactor fleet Following the post-Fukushima "stress tests", the French safety regulator ASN said that while all the reactors "have a sufficient level of safety" to continue operation, this "requires increasing as quickly as possible their robustness in the face of extreme situations beyond safety margins they already have." EdF has started work to meet the new requirements though the final list will not be published until midyear. It expects the costs of the post-Fukushima modifications at its 58 nuclear power reactors to cost less than EUR 10 billion over ten years, bringing the utility’s total planned investment in its operating fleet over the next 30 years close to EUR 50 billion. While the focus of additional safety in response to previous accidents was to develop universal excellence in nuclear operation, first across the USA through the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO) and then globally through the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO), the Fukushima accident could not have been prevented by better operation, but rather by better appreciation of external risks and their on-site consequences. For this reason the fundamental drives in ASN's requirements are improvements in earthquake and flood protection, together with taking into account risk from nearby industrial activity, including major and potentially dangerous industries such as chemical processing, liquid natural gas storage, and hydroelectric dams. EdF will now have to prepare itself and its sites for potentially enormous failures at nearby facilities like these.WNN 4/1/12 France Areva tightens board procedures after big write-downIn 2007, when uranium prices were high, Areva paid $2.5 billion for a junior uranium company, UraMin, claiming large resource figures in Africa. Last year Areva wrote down the value of the acquisition by $2.05 billion, and almost halved the published resource figures at the main mine involved - Trekkopje in Namibia. Following an inquiry by Areva's Supervisory Board, procedures for such acquisitions have been tightened. While the UraMin purchase was "well within Areva's strategy" at the time and long-term, some due diligence and geological scepticism at top level was evidently lacking, and "the Supervisory Board did not sufficiently highlight the uncertainties expressed internally by the technical teams."WNN 15/2/12. Namibia
Germany
German utilities report effect of policy changeGermany's abrupt change in nuclear policy cost €1.3 billion in RWE's results for FY2011. It also boosted power prices and raised CO2 emissions, the company said in its annual report to shareholders. Overall, RWE's electricity generation was 9% lower than the previous year, due in part to the overnight loss of freedom to operate its Biblis A and B nuclear power reactors, total 2407 MWe. Its overall CO2 emissions rose 8.2% from 0.732 to 0.787 kilograms per kWh due to Biblis closure. However, the price of EU CO2 emission allowances collapsed through 2011 and so reduced the financial impact of this setback. For the future, RWE is focusing research and development efforts on carbon capture and storage techniques because, "by the end of 2022, all German nuclear power stations will be offline and the gap they leave cannot be closed by renewable energy and increased electricity imports alone." Coal will feature prominently in Germany's electricity future, notwithstanding earlier CO2 reduction goals.A week later EOn reported some of the financial and environmental implications on its operations. It recorded a €1.5 billion one-off cost for the overnight closure of its Unterweser, Isar 1, Krummel, and Brunsbuttel nuclear power reactors, which also directly resulted in it producing almost 12 billion kWh less than in 2010. Adding in the total costs of the ongoing nuclear fuel tax as well as accelerated decommissioning plans for the closed units, the total financial impact on EOn has been €2.5 billion over the last 12 months. The company turned its attention to the challenges of a "new operating environment" in August 2011, announcing the likely loss of 9000-11,000 jobs. EOn noted a setback in achieving its target to reduce specific emissions from power generation to half of 1990 baseline levels by 2020, with its carbon intensity in Europe rising due to nuclear shutdowns.
EnBW posted a loss of €867 million primarily because of the required permanent shutdown of two of its four power reactors and payments of nuclear fuel tax.
Vattenfall was also affected by the German decision, and took a $1.57 billion impairment charge after the German decision. It is trying to reach a compensation settlement with the German government, and will otherwise sue.WNN 6 & 14/3/12, Nucleonics Week 15/3/12. Germany
Belgium
Italy
Switzerland
Spain
Scandinavia
Baltic states
Estonia and Latvia support Lithuania nuclear plantDespite construction starting on Russia's Baltic nuclear power plant in next-door Kaliningrad, plans are proceeding for Lithuania's Visaginas nuclear plant which will replace the capacity lost by closure of its Ignalina nuclear plant due to requirements of EU accession. In July 2011 the government selected Hitachi as strategic investor, and GE Hitachi is to build a single 1350 MWe Advanced Boiling Water Reactor, several of which are operating and under construction in Japan and Taiwan. This is expected to operate from 2020. Last October the government formally notified the European Commission of plans for the new nuclear power plant at Visaginas to be built in collaboration with Estonia, Latvia and Poland. However, in December Poland withdrew from the project, saying that Visaginas Nuclear Energy's conditions were unacceptable to Poland, and it had other plans anyway. In March 2012 the prime ministers of Estonia and Latvia reiterated their support for the project and promised to work together to make sure progress is maintained. The Lithuanian parliament is due to approve a concession agreement in mid year.WNN 9/3/12. Lithuania
Lithuania signs up with Hitachi for new plantThe Lithuanian government has approved plans for its new nuclear plant, an LNG terminal and power grid connections to western Europe to greatly reduce its dependence on Russia’s gas and power supply. It has signed a concession agreement with Hitachi as strategic investor in its planned Visaginas nuclear power plant, providing a contractual framework for the project and giving Hitachi a 20% stake in it. Latvia is to take 20% of the project company and Estonia 22% for about EUR 1 billion each. Lithuania will retain 38%. A combined construction and operating licence is to be issued by July 2015, and a final investment decision then made. Poland was originally a participant but withdrew in December, saying that conditions were unacceptable and it had other nuclear power plans anyway. GE Hitachi expects to build a single 1350 MWe Advanced Boiling Water Reactor, several of which are operational and under construction in Japan and Taiwan. WNN 10/4/12. Lithuania
Bulgaria
Bulgaria abandons Belene plansAfter several years of rising uncertainty and failure to secure any Western investment, the Bulgarian government has aborted plans for a new 2000 MWe nuclear plant at Belene on the Danube Rive, and will instead add a third 1000 MWe reactor to its Kozloduy plant. Germany's RWE Power was to have been a 49% strategic investor in the project, but withdrew in 2009. The new Bulgarian government then decided that it could not afford its full 51% stake. Atomstroyexport has the manufactured components of the first Belene reactor ready to supply, pursuant to a 2008 contract, and these will now be built as Kozloduy 7. A smaller gas-fired plant will be built at Belene. An earlier set of VVER-1000 components destined for Belene was returned to Russia in 2007 and was installed as Kalinin 4, now operating. WNN 29/3/12. Bulgaria
Czech Republic
Russia, Ukraine, Belarus
Construction starts on new Russian reactor to supply EUFirst concrete has been poured for the Baltic nuclear power plant at Neman in Kaliningrad, the Russian exclave west of the Baltic states. It is a novel project for Russia in several ways: the first to be opened to investment by EU utilities (up to 49%), the first intended to export most of its output, and the first to use Western components such as an Alstom-Atomenergomash turbine generator. Rosenergoatom has said that the plant is deliberately placed "essentially within the EU" and is designed to be integrated with the EU grid. Most of the power is intended for Germany, Poland and Baltic states. Construction manager for the twin-unit AES-2006 plant using VVER-1200 reactors is Nizhny Novgorod Atomenergoproekt. Unit 1 is expected to start up in 2016 after 55 months construction.WNN 27/2/12. Russia NP
Russia pressing ahead with small fast reactorAs well as continuing its development of large sodium-cooled fast reactors (and selling two to China), Russia is pushing ahead with a small modular fast reactor cooled by lead-bismuth eutectic, the SVBR-100. Seven Alfa-class submarines have been powered by smaller versions of the same concept, giving 70 reactor-years experience of it, with another 10 on land. In 2009 AKME-Engineering was set up by Rosatom with 50% private equity from En+ Group to develop and build the SVBR. The plan is to complete the design development and put on line a 100 MWe demonstration plant by the end of 2017, with total investment of RUR16 billion ($585 million). The site is to be the Research Institute of Atomic Reactors (RIAR or NIIAR) at Dimitrovgrad - Russia's largest nuclear research centre. The SVBR-100 could be the first reactor cooled by heavy metal to generate electricity. It is described as a multi-function reactor, for power, heat or desalination. A power station with 16 such modules is expected to supply electricity at lower cost than any other new Russian technology, as well as achieving inherent safety and high proliferation resistance. Development also continues on BREST, a 300 MWe lead-cooled reactor design, and a more innovative small MBIR, all three under the January 2010 federal target program for advanced nuclear technologies.AKME-E. Russia NP, Small nuclear reactors
Chernobyl shelter construction startsConstruction of Chernobyl’s New Safe Confinement structure has commenced and is due to be completed in 2016. The 20,000 tonne arch 108 metres high, 150 metres long and spanning 257 metres is being built adjacent to the destroyed unit 4 and will be moved into place on rails. It will cover both the reactor and the hastily-built structure over it. The arch frame is a lattice construction of tubular steel members, equipped with internal cranes. The design and construction contract for this was signed in 2007 with the French Novarka consortium and preparatory work on site was completed in 2010. The hermetically sealed building, estimated by the Ukraine government to cost €935 million, will allow engineers remotely to dismantle the structure which has shielded the remains of the reactor from the weather since shortly after the 1986 accident. It will enable the eventual removal of materials containing nuclear fuel and accommodate their characterisation, compaction and packing for disposal, all with remote handling. This task represents the most important step in eliminating nuclear hazard at the site - and the real start of decommissioning. The Chernobyl Shelter Fund, set up in 1997, had received €864 million from international donors by early 2011 towards this project and previous work there. It is managed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). WNN 26/4/12. Chernobyl accident
CENTRAL ASIA
Kazakhstan
Kazakh uranium production hits new highIn line with expectations, Kazakhstan's uranium production reached 19,450 tU (22,940 t U3O8) in 2011, about 35% of world production. Stage 2 of the northern Semizbai mine (49% CGNPC) was commissioned and the Budenovskoye-2 uranium recovery plant serving Akbastau and Karatau ISL mines (both 50% Uranium One) reached 3000 tU/yr capacity.WNN 3/2/12. Kazakhstan
EAST ASIA
China
China launches safety projectsA series of research and development (R&D) projects has been launched by China's National Energy Administration (NEA) to improve safety-related technology and the country’s emergency response capabilities at indigenous nuclear power plants in the event of an extreme disaster beyond design basis. The 13 R&D projects are to be conducted by China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), China Guangdong Nuclear Power Corporation (CGNPC) and the Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology (INET) at Tsinghua University. They will include the development of passive emergency power supply and cooling water systems, development of passive containment heat removal systems, developing hydrogen control devices, measures for the prevention and mitigation of used fuel accidents, and analysing the impact of multiple simultaneous external events and response measures. Other projects will study the monitoring and treatment of contaminated ground and water. All are expected to be completed in 2013. Referring particularly to the CPR-1000 reactors being widely built in China, the NEA said that "Implementing the measures will comprehensively enhance safety of Generation II+ nuclear power technology in our country, and significantly reduce the core damage frequency and large early release frequency" to "internationally recognized levels" required for Generation III reactors.WNN 21/2/12. China NP
New Chinese reactor enters commercial operationUnit 4 of the second phase of Qinshan nuclear power plant has started commercial operation, two months ahead of schedule. The 650 MWe CNP-600 unit is China’s 15th operational nuclear power reactor and was connected to the grid in November. Seven reactors are now operating at Qinshan in Zhejiang province 100 km south of Shanghai, and two more are under construction at Fangjiashan nearby. Also in the province, two Westinghouse AP1000 reactors are well advanced on a similar construction schedule at Sanmen.WNN 10/4/12. China NP
Japan
Japan reviews both energy and nuclear fuel cycle optionsThe Japanese government is in the process of reviewing its Basic Energy Policy, which may recommend that nuclear power's contribution to electricity be targeted at anything from zero to 36% for the medium term.In addition, and within this, it has now announced a full review of nuclear fuel cycle back-end options, considering both economic and other criteria. The review committee will start by considering technical options: one scenario involves direct disposal of used reactor fuel, two scenarios involve this being reprocessed and with fuel materials recycled as mixed-oxide fuel. Two more scenarios look at the use of fast reactors and fast breeder reactors. A review of policy options is then to follow which will look at direct disposal of the used fuel, reprocessing of the country's entire stock, and a combination of the two. The last step will be to combine the two reviews, at the same time adding a time axis of mid-to-long term scenarios. This will quantify the amount of plutonium and used fuel generated by each option as well as looking at broader impacts such as energy security, the international perspective, and the impacts of the changes resulting from each of the potential policies.In 2002, a new Energy Policy Law set out the basic principles of energy security and stable supply, giving greater authority to the government in establishing the energy infrastructure for economic growth. It also promoted greater efficiency in consumption, a further move away from dependence on fossil fuels, and market liberalisation. Then in 2004 the Atomic Energy Commission endorsed proceeding with the final commissioning and commercial operation of JNFL's 800 t/yr Rokkasho-mura reprocessing plant, costing some JPY 2.4 trillion (US$ 20 billion). The Commission rejected the alternative of moving to direct disposal of spent fuel, as in the USA. This was then seen as a major confirmation of the joint industry-government formulation of nuclear policy for the next several decades, but is now questioned.Meanwhile a subcommittee of the Atomic Energy Commission has updated cost estimates for different used fuel options considering both 20% and 35% nuclear contributions to electricity in 2030. In each case reprocessing and recycle of used fuel is economically much better than direct disposal.WNN 18/4/12. Japan
Japan commissions new enrichment technologyAfter 15 months re-equipping the plant, Japan Nuclear Fuel Ltd (JNFL) has returned its Rokkasho enrichment plant to service, using new Shingata design centrifuges. The plant began operation in 1992 using older technology, and has restarted with 37,500 SWU/yr. A further 37,500/yr SWU is due on line at the end of 2012, and its design capacity of 1.5 million SWU/yr is expected to be reached about 2022. JNFL is owned by the power utilities.JAIF 26/3/12. Japan
Japanese government approves restart of fist idled reactorsAfter a series of high-level meetings, the Japanese government has approved the restart of Kansai Electric’s Ohi 3 & 4 reactors, and will urge the Fukui governor and the Ohi mayor to endorse this decision. Without the twin 1180 MWe units, significant electricity shortages are likely in summer peak periods. Only one Japanese reactor is now operating and that will shut down for a scheduled outage in three weeks. Many utilities are relying on reserve fossil-fuel fired plants to keep the lights on, at considerable cost. Platts 13/4/12. Japan
Fukushima evacuation zone restrictions relaxedRestrictions on several areas within the 20 km radius evacuation zone around the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant and its northwesterly extension have been relaxed. These show dose rates caused by ambient radioactivity to be below 20 mSv/yr with continuous occupation - the government's benchmark for return. In these areas residents may now return to homes and businesses without the use of protective gear. This means that major repairs can be made to homes damaged by the earthquake of 11 March 2011, and businesses that do not draw custom from local people may now go back to work. Farming is allowed again in line with general restrictions on the wider area. In parallel, authorities will be working to restore infrastructure needed for normal life to resume. The only restriction is that people are not yet allowed to stay overnight. Areas with ambient levels between 20 and 50 mSv/yr northwest of the plant are still designated ‘restricted’, and residents can enter only briefly to conduct specific jobs without being monitored or using protective equipment. Japan's Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry (METI) said that local governments have been strongly demanding early returns, to begin the restoration of the infrastructure that will support the return to normality.WNN 2/4/12. Fukushima accident
Official report on Fukushima identifies failuresBoth government and Tepco came in for serious criticism in the 507-page interim report from the investigation committee on the crises at the Fukushima Daiichi and Daiini nuclear power plants after the 11 March earthquake and tsunami. A provisional English translation of the executive summary explained how government agencies were meant to have interacted and cases in which this broke down. It also explained some operational mistakes made by Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) during the accident sequence.Japanese law requires the quick establishment of a local nuclear emergency headquarters in the vicinity of the affected site. For Fukushima this meant the assembly of key staff at a facility about five kilometres away, but two factors prevented this from working properly: One was the devastation of the natural disasters that took out communications links while also preventing timely travel and the provision of food and water. The other was the lack of radioactivity filters at the building, which actually made it useless for a serious emergency of the kind that developed at Fukushima Daiichi. The report noted gravely that the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) had been told in February 2009 to install proper filters at the facility but "did not take concrete steps" to do so.Another mismatch between the management of nuclear emergencies and natural disasters emerged at the prime minister's office, where the main emergency headquarters were situated. There was insufficient communication between the nuclear and the natural disaster sides, and also NISA and the Ministry of Economics Trade and Industry (METI) did not set up adequate information flow from Tepco. Government communications to the public were accordingly delayed and ambiguous.Tepco was criticised for two potential operating mistakes during the accident sequence. The first was misjudgement of the status of the unit 1 emergency cooling, which operators thought was working normally, but was not. By the time this was noticed and acted upon, major damage had occurred. At unit 3 a wrong decision by shift operators without advice from managers left it without cooling for over six critical hours. More broadly, Tepco had inadequate measures to cope with station blackouts, and had no plans for the seawater injection technique on which it came to rely.An overall failing of Tepco, NISA, METI and its predecessors was to fail to plan for very large tsunamis. The site was licensed in the 1960s and 1970s on the basis of a 3.1 metre tsunami height, and although later studies indicated that 15-metre tsunami inundation was possible, no concrete steps were taken by any of the bodies to do anything about it.Japan had established the System for Prediction of Environmental Emergency Dose Information (SPEEDI) for exactly the kind of nuclear emergency presented by the Fukushima accident. Although the earthquake disrupted SPEEDI's operation so that it could not give full results on radiation doses at various places near the accident site, it was still accurately predicting the path of the radioactivity. However, this excellent data was not communicated, and hence not used in planning evacuations.WNN 30/12/11 Fukushima accident
US Nuclear Regulatory Commission transcripts releasedSome 3000 pages of transcripts of communications within the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission following the Fukushima accident have been released. They show that while the NRC correctly predicted fuel melting, it mistook the first hydrogen explosion for a containment rupture, and overestimated the seriousness of the problems arising in the fuel ponds. The NRC was clearly very frustrated by a lack of reliable information in the first few days.Fukushima
Last Japanese reactor shut down, restarts are pending local government approvalHokkaido Electric Power Co.’s Tomari 3, Japan’s last operating nuclear power reactor, has shut down for routine inspections, marking the first time in 42 years that Japan has not had a reactor generating electricity. Japan has 50 operable commercial units, all now idle. While the government has cleared some reactors for restarting, local governments continue to exercise a veto on this.WNN 4/5/12. Japan
Japan local government open to reactor restarts
A survey by Mainichi Shimbun, a respected Japanese news bureau, has found that most leaders of local governments close to the country's nuclear power plants are in favour of restarting them if certain basic conditions are met. The February survey asked the governors of 20 prefectures and the mayors of 122 municipalities located within a 30 km radius of a nuclear power plant whether they approve or disapprove of the restart of the suspended reactors. A total of 137 local governments responded, and 57% conditionally approved restart, while only 17% opposed. The conditions included: "an indication of safety measures and conditions of plants' restart by the government" (80%), "completion of stress tests" (62%), "approval by the local assembly," (46%), and "a clear explanation of the cause of the Fukushima Daiichi disaster" (44%). Reasons behind municipalities' approval of the restart varied from "to stabilize Japan's energy supply" (77%), to "because plants' safety will be secured through stress tests and other means," (53%). Apart from their answers to the multiple-choice questions in the survey, a total of 21% of all municipalities submitted additional comments on the topic, with most of them being critical of the central government. Among the 54 operational reactors in Japan, only two are now running, with most of the rest having been shut down for routine checks and maintenance but not yet allowed to restart.Mainichi Daily News 1/3/12. Japan
Japanese reactors await approval to restart
While reviews of initial stress test results for Japanese reactors are progressing, it could still be some time before the first restart approval comes. The shutdown of unit 2 of the Ikata nuclear power plant for a mandatory periodic inspection means that only five of the country's 54 operational power reactors are now in fact operating. Another will shut down for inspection on 27 January. The others are mostly awaiting federal and local government approval to restart - 32 units are not operating as they have been shut for periodic inspection and have not yet been allowed to restart. A further 17 units, representing 15,990 MWe of capacity, have been shut down due to the tsunami or at the government's request. (Four units were written off due to the accident at Fukushima.) Continued delay in restarting is expected to boost gas prices significantly.
Following the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi plant in March 2011, the Japanese government said that all reactors would be subjected to stress tests to be conducted in two phases before approval for restart could be given. Step one is being applied to those reactors which have been taken offline for periodic inspections to determine whether they could withstand large earthquakes and tsunamis. Under this step, utilities are required to examine the safety margin in accordance with guidelines set by the country's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) and Nuclear Safety Commission (NSC). This week Tepco submitted to NISA its first stress test results on two nuclear reactors, showing that Kashiwazaki-Kariwa units 1 and 7 would withstand an earthquake 1.3 times stronger than its design basis and survive a 15-metre tsunami. So far, seven Japanese nuclear utilities have submitted stress test results for 14 reactors, nearly one-third of the total number awaiting restart permission from NISA and local authorities.Based on the results of these initial tests, the government is to decide whether a reactor shut for inspections can or cannot resume operation. Step two of the tests will involve a comprehensive safety assessment of all reactors and will be conducted to enhance the reliability of regular safety checks. These tests will be similar to the stress tests co-ordinated by the European Commission. Next week an IAEA team is to visit Japan to asses the stress tests and their evaluation by NISA.WNN 16/1/12, Nucleonics Week19/1/12. Japan
Tepco gets further cash injection for FukushimaThe Japanese government has approved amendments to Tokyo Electric Power Company's (Tepco's) ten-year special business plan which effectively puts it, at least temporarily, under state control. The government will provide Tepco with ¥1 trillion ($12.5 billion) in state funds in return for a majority stake in the company which will enable it to push through reforms of it. The transaction will bring the total amount of public funds provided to Tepco to some ¥3.5 trillion ($43.8 billion), subject to approval by Tepco’s shareholders, who have little alternative. Tepco is struggling to meet massive compensation and clean-up costs following the tsunami-caused Fukushima accident last year. Under the special business plan - submitted by Tepco and the Nuclear Damage Liability Facilitation Fund in April - the company will receive the additional funds from major creditors, as well as aid of ¥850 billion ($10.6 billion) from a government-backed body for use in compensation payouts. As part of this, Tepco will be required to increase its electricity prices by 10 to 17%, make management changes, sell some of its assets, and undertake cost-cutting measures of ¥3.3 trillion ($48.1 billion) over the next ten years. The company is relying on restarting its large Kashiwazaki Kariwa nuclear plant to maintain some cash flow.WNN 10/5/12. Fukushima accident
South Korea
Two new South Korean reactors on lineShin Kori 2 and Shin Wolsong 1 nuclear reactors have been connected to the South Korean grid. The OP-1000 units started construction in June and December 2007 respectively, and are both due to enter commercial operation in June. They bring the number of operating reactors in South Korea to 23. One further OPR-1000 reactor is under construction and likely to start up later in the year, following that will be eight APR-1400 reactors - the same type as the four sold to UAE.WNN 23/2/12. South Korea
South Korean safety culture tarnishedThe manager of the Kori 1 nuclear power reactor in South Korea has been sacked for covering up a safety-related incident at the plant in February. The incident came about during Kori 1's month-long maintenance outage, when it was in cold shutdown and power was interrupted for 12 minutes due to a worker's mistake. The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) was highly critical of the incident, most of all due to the decision by the manager to cover up the incident rather than reporting it. The plant owner, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), now faces prosecution. Kori 1 is a 34-year old PWR licensed to 2017.WNN 22/3/12. S.Korea
South Asia
India
New Indian uranium mine openedIndia’s first uranium mine outside Jharkhand state, Tummalapalle in Andhra Pradesh, has been opened. It will produce 220 tU/yr from underground mining, with alkaline leach.NPCIL 20/4/12. India
India joins international reactor design groupIndia’s Atomic Energy Regulatory Board has joined the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency’s Multinational Design Evaluation Program (MDEP) as its eleventh member, and first new member since the program’s inception. MDEP was launched in 2006 by the USA and France with the aim of coordinating national nuclear regulatory reviews of new power reactor designs. The MDEP pools the resources of the 11 nuclear regulatory authorities to co-operate on safety reviews of designs of nuclear reactors that are under construction and undergoing licensing in several countries. It is also exploring opportunities and potential for harmonisation of regulatory requirements and practices.WNN 5/4/12. Cooperation in nuclear power
Pakistan
Bangladesh
Middle East
International waste disposal concept expands to Middle EastOver 2006-09 the EC-funded SAPIERR (Strategic Action Plan for Implementation of European Regional Repositories) project assessed the feasibility of European regional waste repositories, indicating a recognition in the EU that implementing 25 national repositories is not optimal economically or for safety and security. The project was in line with proposals from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Russia and the USA. The main outcome of this project was that 14 EU countries resolved to move towards setting up a European Repository Development Organisation (ERDO), and last year documents outlining the possible structure, operating methods and financing options for a formal, multinational, European waste management agency (the ERDO) were submitted to EU governments.This triggered interest from other regions, and this month a meeting took place in Abu Dhabi, hosted by the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and supported by the IAEA. Around 35 participants attended, primarily from UAE waste management and planning organisations, to consider a regional Middle East & North Africa (MENA) repository plan, in conjunction with the Arab Atomic Energy Agency.Arius 20/4/12, International nuclear waste disposal
Africa
Chinese takeover of major Namibian uranium deposit securedChina Guangdong Nuclear Power’s subsidiary Taurus Minerals Ltd has acquired 98% of the shares in Extract Resources Ltd, owner of the major Husab project in Namibia. With more than 90%, it will now compulsorily acquire the balance. WNN 3/4/12. Namibia
Government buys share in Namibian uranium development The Namibian state-owned mineral exploration company, Epangelo Mining Ltd, has agreed with Perth-based Bannerman Resources to buy a 5% share of the Etango project and contribute along with Bannerman to future development costs. Epangelo also has an option to buy a further 5% based on market value upon commitment to mine development. Following completion of a definitive feasibility study, Bannerman, which holds 80% of the Etango project, is seeking a development partner. Production at 2700 tU/yr is envisaged. Proven and probable ore reserves are 46,000 tU.A year ago the government announced that Epangelo would have a major role in new strategic mineral developments, including uranium, which caused some concern, though it would not apply to existing exploration licences. New exploration licences will be granted only to Epangelo, and others interested will need to negotiate farm-ins with it, to become joint-venture partners.WNN 12/4/12. Namibia
Toshiba underwrites Niger uranium mine developmentToshiba Corporation has completed a convertible debt-financing agreement with GoviEx Uranium Inc, which is aiming to bring the Madaouela Uranium Project in northern Niger into production. It will provide some $40 million to support the company’s operations through to the start of uranium extraction and processing. Production is expected to begin in 2017 and Toshiba’s off-take rights to uranium concentrate, for about one quarter of production, will become effective in 2020, when output is expected to reach its peak capacity of over 1000 tU/yr. Sales will be handled by a UK-based Toshiba Group company. The Madaouela deposit is close to the Arlette and Akouta mines in the Arlit region of the Air Massif, and was discovered by the French CEA in the early 1960s. The Niger government holds a major share in the project, and in 2008 Cameco bought an 11% share for $28 million. The NI 43-101 compliant resources of the Project are 20,000 tU indicated resources and 19,600 tU inferred resources, in sandstone.WNN 23/4/12. Niger
Australia
Ranger prepares for underground miningHaving enjoyed the benefits of shallow orebodies since mining began in 1980, Energy Resources of Australia (ERA) is now preparing to access deeper ore containing 29,000 tU by underground mining. The Ranger 3 Deeps mineralised zone has a strike length so far identified of about 1.2 kilometres between 250 and 550 metres from the surface immediately east of the pit, and remains open to the north. ERA has now awarded a A$50 million ($52 million) contract for establishing a boxcut and 2.2 km decline tunnel in preparation for its own further drilling program on the orebody. The decline will reach a depth of 500 metres. Work is due to begin in May 2012 and the contractor's portion of it is due for completion early in 2014. ERA has allocated a further A$55 million for evaluation of the likely mine development. In total the company plans to spend A$120 million on the Deeps exploration project.ERA & WNN 30/3/12. Australian mines
South America
International
World reactor changes in 2011During 2011 six new nuclear power reactors were connected to grids, and 13 were removed permanently, only one of these being scheduled. There were at least three construction starts (first concrete) and six uprates totalling over 400 MWe. The new grid connections were: China: Lingao II-2 (1037 MWe), Qinshan II-4 (610 MWe), India: Kaiga 4 (202 MWe), Iran: Bushehr (915 MWe), Pakistan: Chashma 2 (300 MWe), Russia: Kalinin 4 grid-connected (950 MWe), Total 6 units (4014 MWe net).The closures were: Germany: Biblis A & B, Neckarwestheim 1, Brunsbuttel, Isar 1, Unterweser, Phillipsburg 1, Krummel (8) closed by political edict, (8336 MWe net), Japan: Fukushima Daiichi 1-4 written off from accident (2719 MWe net), UK: Oldbury 2 (217 MWe net), Total 13 units (11,272 MWe net).
China leaps forward with windLast year China added about 18 GWe of wind generation capacity and now leads the field with over 62 GWe installed. The USA has 47 GWe, Germany 29 GWe, Spain 21.5 GWe, and India 16 GWe at the end of 2011. World total then was 238 GWe. Global additions in the last three years have averaged just under 40 GWe.GWEC 7/2/12. Renewables and electricity World Nuclear News milestoneWNA's main news service, World Nuclear News (WNN), is marking its fifth anniversary with a new web site and continued growth in subscriber base. Maintaining its position as the most professional and comprehensive nuclear news service backed by industry, WNN now has over 20,000 subscribers worldwide, and a network of news inputs. Output is mainly via daily and weekly news e-mails linked to web items, as well as Facebook and Twitter. It is funded by WNA members.