Press

Press Statements

Issued by the World Nuclear Association

Barakah nuclear power plant takes a big step forward to delivering UAE's clean energy future (19 February 2020)

Barakah unit 1has received its operating license, giving the go-ahead for 60 years of operations. Agneta Rising, Director General, World Nuclear Association commented, “This is a big step towards the start-up of Barakah, which will soon supply clean and reliable electricity to the UAE for generations to come.”

Nuclear delivers emissions reductions as IEA sets 2020 as the year for clean energy transitions (12 February 2020)

The increase in nuclear generation globally seen in 2019 helped avoid an additional 50 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions (50 MtCO₂), according to data released yesterday by the IEA. "The challenge of climate change is so immense that we cannot afford to exclude low-carbon technologies" according to International Energy Agency (IEA) Executive Director, Fatih Birol.

First small modular reactors open a new world of applications (19 December 2019)

The two barge-mounted reactors onboard Akademik Lomonosov have started providing electricity to the coastal town of Pevek in Russia. This marks the official start of operations for the world’s first small modular reactors and makes today a historic one for the global nuclear industry.

Australian inquiry recommends lifting the ban on modern nuclear power plants (13 December 2019)

An inquiry has recommended lifting the ban in Australia on the use of the most modern nuclear power plants and new designs under development in a report issued today.

COP 25: Nuclear innovation for clean and sustainable growth (3 December 2019)

The vital importance of nuclear technologies was a focus of attention at a UN-organized side event held today as part of the COP 25 climate change conference in Madrid.

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Briefings

Background information on topical issues

Speech made at the IAEA International Conference on Climate Change and the Role of Nuclear Power

Agneta Rising's speech at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) International Conference on Climate Change and the Role of Nuclear Power, in Vienna on October 2019, highlighted the need for governments to take action to create the conditions needed to allow nuclear energy to deliver its potential.

Remarks made marking the 60th anniversary of the Nuclear Energy Agency

Agneta Rising's speech looking back on progress made by the nuclear industry, and looking ahead to future opportunities. The speech was to mark the NEA's 60th anniversary.

Nuclear power is essential for energy, environment & the economy (25 January 2018)

Full text of speech made by Agneta Rising to the Energy Commission Members of the Bulgarian Parliament on 25 January 2018.

Germany to miss emissions target because of nuclear closures (10 November 2017)

Germany is projected to miss its 2020 emissions reduction target because it has prioritised closing nuclear plants ahead of closing coal plants.

Nuclear still shines in the UK (2 June 2017)

Although peak generation from solar briefly exceeded generation from nuclear energy on 26 May 2017 in the UK, over the whole day nuclear generated considerably more low carbon electricity. Expanding nuclear offers greater potential for emissions savings.

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World Nuclear News

Romanian rescue loan broke EU rules, inquiry finds

Published: Tue, 25 Feb 2020 14:32:40 GMT

Romania must recover around EUR13 million (USD14 million) of rescue funding from uranium company Compania Națională a Uraniului SA after the European Commission found a restructuring plan for the company did not meet European Union rules on state aid.

Framatome expands presence at Cadarache

Published: Tue, 25 Feb 2020 12:52:45 GMT

Framatome has officially opened a new engineering research and operations centre at Cadarache in south-eastern France. It has also announced an expansion of its Intercontrôle automated non-destructive testing subsidiary, which is based at the same site.

EDF closes Fessenheim unit 1 in eastern France

Published: Mon, 24 Feb 2020 12:17:38 GMT

EDF has disconnected France's longest serving nuclear power unit - Fessenheim 1 - from the electricity grid, thus ending the reactor's 42 years of low-carbon electricity production. The unit was removed from the network at 2am on 22 February, as scheduled. The utility said the primary circuit cooling operations had been initiated to open the reactor vessel and unload its fuel. Unit 2 is scheduled for closure on 30 June.

Finnish firm launches SMR district heating project

Published: Mon, 24 Feb 2020 15:20:19 GMT

VTT Technical Research Centre in Finland has today announced the launch of a project to develop a small modular reactor for district heating. Most of the country's district heating is currently produced by burning coal, natural gas, wood fuels and peat, but it aims to phase out its use of coal in energy production by 2029.

IAEA highlights work to convert research reactors

Published: Mon, 24 Feb 2020 14:23:52 GMT

Almost 3500 kg of highly enriched uranium has been removed from research reactor sites around the world over the past few decades, thanks to efforts supported by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Seventy-one research reactors have been converted to use low-enriched uranium fuel since 1978. Conversion of such reactors to use LEU reduces the proliferation risk presented by HEU.

China's nuclear power output jumps 18% year on year

Published: Mon, 24 Feb 2020 14:23:46 GMT

China's nuclear electricity generation rose by 18.1% last year, to 348.13 TWh, which is up from 286.15 TWh in 2018, figures from China's National Energy Administration show. Nuclear's share of total electricity production was 4.88% last year, up from 4.22%. According to the National Development and Reform Commission, China aims to have 200 GWe of nuclear generating capacity in place by 2035, out of a total generating capacity of 2600 GWe. Under those plans, thermal power plant capacity is expected to increase from 1190.6 GWe in 2019 to 1300 GWe in 2035.

Southern CEO: Early start-up of Vogtle units possible

Published: Fri, 21 Feb 2020 16:07:46 GMT

Southern Company remains confident of meeting the regulatory-approved in-service date of November 2021 for unit 3 of the Vogtle nuclear power plant in Georgia, CEO Tom Fanning said during a presentation of its 2019 results. He noted the AP1000 unit could even be brought online as early as May next year, with unit 4 following a year later.

General Atomics, Framatome join for fuel channel work

Published: Fri, 21 Feb 2020 12:59:22 GMT

Framatome and General Atomics are to collaborate on the development of accident-tolerant fuel channels fabricated from a silicon carbide composite rather than the current zirconium alloys. Advanced nuclear fuel designs using silicon carbide in the fuel channel, the say, will enhance safety and fuel performance.

Cernavoda 1 completes Pre-SALTO review

Published: Thu, 20 Feb 2020 15:04:15 GMT

The International Atomic Energy Agency has completed a review of long-term operational safety at the Cernavoda nuclear power plant in Romania. The Pre-SALTO (Safety Aspects of Long Term Operation) review mission was requested by the plant’s operator, Societatea Nationala Nuclearelectrica SA.

Belarus inspects Ostrovets plant ahead of fuel loading

Published: Thu, 20 Feb 2020 14:50:36 GMT

The Nuclear and Radiation Safety Department of the Belarusian Emergencies Ministry (Gosatomnadzor) has begun a 30-day inspection of the nuclear power plant under construction in Belarus to assess its readiness to take delivery of fuel. The regulator will also check operator BelNPP's managerial and technical alignment with legislative standards, including those concerning nuclear and radiation safety.

Oklo wins access to used fuel for Aurora SMR

Published: Thu, 20 Feb 2020 12:21:33 GMT

Idaho National Laboratory is to provide Oklo Inc with access to recovered material from used nuclear fuel to develop and demonstrate the Oklo Aurora - a micro-reactor that can be used in remote or off-grid locations to generate power. Jacob DeWitte, Oklo co-founder and CEO, said the award paves the way for an important demonstration of the first Aurora plant, as well as the "ability of advanced reactors to convert used nuclear fuel, that would otherwise be treated for disposal, into clean energy".

Finland's TVO hires Framatome for Olkiluoto 3 outage support

Published: Thu, 20 Feb 2020 11:21:57 GMT

Framatome has signed service contracts with Teollisuuden Voima Oyj to support the long-term operation of unit 3 of the Olkiluoto nuclear power plant on Finland's west coast. Grid connection of the European pressurised reactor is scheduled for November, with the start of regular electricity production expected in March 2021.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory to collaborate with TVA on advanced reactors

Published: Thu, 20 Feb 2020 11:16:23 GMT

The US Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Tennessee Valley Authority are to collaborate on the economic feasibility of potentially licensing, building, operating and maintaining one or more advanced nuclear reactors - such as a small modular reactor - at TVA's Clinch River site near Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

Barakah 1 fuel loading begins

Published: Wed, 19 Feb 2020 14:48:28 GMT

Nawah Energy Company has started loading fuel assemblies into unit 1 of the Barakah nuclear power plant in Abu Dhabi. Once all four units at the plant begin operating, the plant will meet up to 25% of the country’s electricity needs and help to avoid around 20 million tonnes of CO2 emissions every year.

UK sets out siting factors for geological radwaste disposal

Published: Wed, 19 Feb 2020 15:58:27 GMT

Radioactive Waste Management Limited, the company tasked with developing a Geological Disposal Facility in the UK, has set out its approach to GDF site evaluation in England and Wales, following a consultation process. It says that safety, opportunities for communities, and protection of the environment are key considerations as part of its evaluation.

IAEA finds improved operating safety at Loviisa

Published: Wed, 19 Feb 2020 13:11:13 GMT

Fortum, the operator of the Loviisa nuclear power plant in Finland, has strengthened operational safety in many areas, an expert team from the International Atomic Energy Agency has concluded. The team evaluated the plant's progress in addressing the findings of an IAEA review in 2018.

Pre-operational testing completed at Flamanville EPR

Published: Tue, 18 Feb 2020 15:01:28 GMT

Workers yesterday completed hot tests at the EPR under construction as unit 3 of the Flamanville nuclear power plant in France. The tests - which began on 21 September last year - aim to simulate the temperatures and pressures which the reactor's systems will be subjected to during normal operation.

Canadian partnership launches electric vehicle charging network

Published: Tue, 18 Feb 2020 14:43:48 GMT

Ontario Power Generation and Hydro One have launched a new company, Ivy Charging Network, which plans to install a new network of fast-chargers for electric vehicles in Ontario by the end of 2021. The Canadian government is investing CAD8 million (USD6 million) in the project which it says will help the transition to a clean energy future.

Orano to start dismantling Georges Besse enrichment plant

Published: Tue, 18 Feb 2020 13:04:55 GMT

French nuclear fuel cycle company Orano has been authorised to begin dismantling the Georges Besse diffusion enrichment plant at the Tricastin complex in southeastern France. The plant was shut down in June 2012 following 33 years of service and was replaced by the centrifuge-based Georges Besse II plant.

Barakah 1 receives operating licence

Published: Mon, 17 Feb 2020 15:05:45 GMT

Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation subsidiary Nawah Energy Company is preparing to load fuel into Barakah unit 1 following an announcement by the United Arab Emirates Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation that it has today issued an operating licence which authorises Nawah to commission and operate the unit.

Bilfinger awarded contract for Hinkley Point C piping

Published: Mon, 17 Feb 2020 12:26:35 GMT

Industrial engineering firm Bilfinger has been awarded a balance of plant contract - worth about GBP58 million (USD76 million) - by EDF Energy. The contract involves the design, pre-fabrication and supply of around 56km of specialised piping systems that support the operation of the Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant, under construction in Somerset, UK.

MoU starts evaluation of NuScale SMR for Ukraine

Published: Fri, 14 Feb 2020 16:59:28 GMT

NuScale Power and Ukraine's State Scientific and Technical Center for Nuclear and Radiation Safety have announced the signature of an agreement to start work on the evaluation of national regulatory and design processes related to the implementation of NuScale small modular reactor technology in Ukraine.

Dukovany expansion agreement expected soon, says minister

Published: Fri, 14 Feb 2020 12:18:53 GMT

The agreement between the Czech government and utility ČEZ on the construction of a new unit at the Dukovany nuclear power plant will be published within a few weeks, Minister of Industry Karel Havlíček said on 11 February. Havlíček was speaking to journalists during his visit to the plant, and his comments were reported by ČTK news agency the same day.

IAEA helps streamline Pakistan's nuclear power programme

Published: Fri, 14 Feb 2020 12:50:17 GMT

Pakistan has described the support it has received from the International Atomic Energy Agency in strengthening its nuclear power programme through a project launched in 2018. The country aims for a significant expansion of its use of nuclear power over the coming decades in order to meet growing energy demand. Regulators, operators and representatives of organisations involved in Pakistan's nuclear power programme attended a four-day meeting at the IAEA's headquarters last month to discuss the Agency's streamlined support for the country.

US uranium reserve proposal receives positive response

Published: Thu, 13 Feb 2020 16:03:28 GMT

US uranium companies have responded favourably to the Administration's 2021 budget request of USD150 million in funding to set up a uranium reserve. Energy Fuels CEO and President Mark Chalmers said the development was "an important step toward addressing the devastating impact of our nation's overdependence on uranium imports from Russia and its allies, which is displacing free market uranium and forcing US mines out of business".

IEA head calls for grand coalition to address climate

Published: Thu, 13 Feb 2020 15:14:22 GMT

A "grand coalition" of all stakeholders is needed to address the challenge of climate change, International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol said yesterday during the latest in the Paris-based organisation's Big Ideas speaker series. This must involve the energy sector, he said, as it accounts for most of the world's carbon dioxide emissions.

Protective shield installation gathers pace at Kursk II-1

Published: Thu, 13 Feb 2020 13:40:06 GMT

Installation of the first tier of the outer protective shell around the first reactor of the Kursk II nuclear power plant under construction in western Russia has been completed ahead of schedule. The unit will be the first to use the VVER-TOI (typical optimised, with enhanced information) design.

Canada, USA complete used fuel return

Published: Thu, 13 Feb 2020 13:30:53 GMT

A campaign to move used highly enriched uranium fuel from Canada to the USA, which began in 2015, has been completed a year ahead of schedule, the US Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration and Atomic Energy of Canada Limited have announced.

UK HPR1000 moves to final design assessment stage

Published: Thu, 13 Feb 2020 12:37:51 GMT

The UK's Office for Nuclear Regulation and the Environment Agency have completed Step 3 - "overall design, safety case and security arguments review" - in their scrutiny of the UK HPR1000 reactor design. They will now start the fourth and final stage in the Generic Design Assessment process - "detailed design, safety case, and security evidence assessment".

Russia seals Akkuyu reactor vessel

Published: Wed, 12 Feb 2020 15:01:12 GMT

AEM Technology, part of Russia's Atomenergomash, has completed the welding together of the two halves of the reactor vessel for the first unit of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant which is under construction in Mersin province, in southern Turkey.

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