World Nuclear News

Nuclear aluminium plans progress

World Nuclear News — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 14:30:00 GMT

[Nuclear.Ru] Two projects involving Rosatom and Russian Aluminium (Rusal) are moving towards decision. One is Phase II the of Balakovo nuclear power plant, which will involve two 1000 MWe reactors, with a 1.05 million tonne pear year aluminium smelter on the Volga River in the Saratov region. The reactors will provide one third of their output directly to the smelter. The other project is a new 4000 MWe power plant at Primorye in Russia's Far East with a 600,000 tonne per year aluminium smelter taking one third of the output. The projects are estimated to cost $7 billion and $10 billion respectively. A third Rusal-Rosatom project for Kola appears to have been dropped. Oligarch Oleg Deripaska holds 66% of Rusal and is behind the ventures, for which feasibility studies will be completed in December....(read more)

DoE takes stock of nuclear loan guarantees

World Nuclear News — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 14:06:59 GMT

The US Department of Energy has 14 nuclear power projects to consider in its loan guarantee program. Their combined value of $188 billion is ten times what the DoE has allocated....(read more)

UK nuclear loses Hutton

World Nuclear News — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 10:05:49 GMT

[BBC, 3 October] An early report from the BBC said that British politician John Hutton has been moved from the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, where he spearheaded government efforts to facilitate new nuclear build. Hutton, the member of parliament for Barrow and Furness - not far from Sellafield - will take over at the Ministry of Defence, but who will replace him is not yet clear. A notable return to London is Peter Mandelson, who had held the European Commision's trade brief....(read more)

Success at last for US-India nuclear cooperation

World Nuclear News — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 16:31:05 GMT

The US-India deal is finally complete. It should initiate a rush for contracts with US equipment and service providers and an opportunity for India to install nuclear power on a massive scale as a main pillar of its energy supply....(read more)

Nuclear seen as 'part of the landscape'

World Nuclear News — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 15:43:12 GMT

Local residents may view their local nuclear power station as familiar and unremarkable, but reactor builders beware: they will not support new build unconditionally, and their support could easily be eroded. So warns a new in-depth UK study....(read more)

Nine Mile Point COL lodged

World Nuclear News — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 15:18:11 GMT

Unistar Nuclear Energy has submitted a combined construction and operating licence for a new power reactor at its Nine Mile Point in New York state....(read more)

Port Hope resumes UF6 production

World Nuclear News — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 16:07:29 GMT

Uranium hexafluoride (UF 6 ) production has been restarted at Port Hope, where operations had been suspended since July 2007. Cameco, which owns the plant, has announced that it has resumed production. Operations were voluntarily halted at the uranium conversion facility when production chemcials were discovered underneath plant buildings, but operations at an adjacent plant where uranium dioxide (UO 2 ) is produced were not affected. Cameco has stated that the issues surrounding the leak have been resolved, and assured the Port Hope Municipal Council that there have been extensive repairs and improvements, as well as stringent ground water control measures, all of which are intended to prevent any further leaks. No chemicals had escaped beyond the plant boundaries. Cameco is now able to continue to produce UF 6 at a reduced rate for approximately a month following the termination of contract by their sole supplier of hydrofluoric acid (HF), a necessary chemical for the production of UF 6 . Cameco said the company has offered to resupply at a "significantly increased rate" and the two firms are currently "working to resolve the matter." Cameco is seeking an alternative supply, although HF supply on a spot basis is not readily available or deliverable without pre-approved transportation plans. Cameco is engaged in discussions with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission and other stakeholders regarding its plans to remediate the entire Port Hope site, which has been an industrial base for many years....(read more)

Australian climate change report

World Nuclear News — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 13:53:02 GMT

The final report from Ross Garnaut to the Australian government makes a strong case for addressing the "diabolical" challenge of climate change. The use of kangaroos is promoted, but not nuclear power....(read more)

Australian OK for BHP's purchase of Rio

World Nuclear News — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 12:01:20 GMT

The story of BHP Billiton's attempt to buy Rio Tinto has taken a small step forward with a decision by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission that it does not object to the deal. BHP is already the world's biggest mining company, while Rio is the third largest and both are major suppliers of uranium. A BHP spokesman told World Nuclear News that the Australian decision follows an American equivalent, although further decisions from South Africa, Canada and the European Commission are required before an exsiting $147.4 billion offer from BHP becomes live, the last of these being expected from Europe on 15 January 2009. The takeover began in November 2007 with an approach by BHP, which was rejected by Rio, as was a revised deal tabled in February 2008....(read more)

Isotope supply further tightened by transport restrictions

World Nuclear News — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 11:19:39 GMT

An acute UK shortage of medical isotopes was relieved last week by the resumption of frequent shipments through the fire-damaged Channel Tunnel....(read more)

'Bold agenda' for future of the IAEA

World Nuclear News — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:28:58 GMT

Without further legal, political and financial resources the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) would no longer be fit for purpose, Mohamed ElBaradei told the agency's general conference today....(read more)

Areva and others beat loan guarantee deadline

World Nuclear News — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 14:50:33 GMT

Areva has submitted an application for a US government loan guarantee for its proposed Eagle Rock uranium enrichment facility. Would-be reactor builders Duke Energy and PPL also managed to get their applications in by the 29 September deadline....(read more)

ARMZ makes U deal with Korean consortium

World Nuclear News — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:20:01 GMT

Russian uranium mining company AtomRedMetZoloto (ARMZ) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on strategic cooperation on uranium projects with a consortium of South Korean companies. The MoU covers cooperation in the development of "uranium industry", including joint exploration, production and implementation of natural uranium projects in Russian territory and elsewhere. The Korean consortium, established to take part in Russian uranium projects, comprises the Korea Electric Power Company (Kepco), Korea Resources Corporation (Kores) and LG International Corporation. ARMZ deputy director general Ilya Yampolsky described the signing of the MoU as "the first stone in the foundation of long-term cooperation" between the parties. South Korea must import all the uranium to fuel the 20 nuclear reactors which generate 40% of its electricity. Earlier this year it signed a deal to secure some 2600 tonnes of uranium from Uzbekistan, and 2007 Kepco signed an MoU on joint uranium exploration with Canadian company Fission Energy....(read more)

No nuclear deal from Singh's Paris trip

World Nuclear News — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 09:42:01 GMT

Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh has agreed to cooperate with the European Union on matters of energy and climate change. The announcement came yesterday in Paris, where some had hoped for a nuclear cooperation deal between Singh and French President Nicolas Sarkozy. The EU and India, "reaffirmed their common will to tackle without delay the problem of climate change and deepen their cooperation in areas related to energy, clean development and climate change." They agreed to use international mechanisms to achieve a post-2012 emissions regime and recalled "that the fight against climate change is closely linked to the fight against poverty, inequality and exclusion. They recognize that efforts to move towards a low carbon economy must go hand in hand with the development and improvement of living conditions of the poorest of the population." Having agreed a safeguards arrangement with the IAEA and special rules with the Nuclear Suppliers Group rules, it would be possible now for India and France to begin trade in nuclear power plants, uranium fuel and other nuclear goods and services. This did not happen, observers believe, because India wishes to conclude a similar agreement in the USA first....(read more)

Brazil authorises works site at Angra 3

World Nuclear News — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:01:37 GMT

Authorisation for the installation of a work site has been granted for Angra 3 by Sebastião Pires, director of licensing at Brazil's Institute for the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama). The 24 September authorisation allowed Eletronuclear to go ahead with its 'plan for the recuperation of degraded areas'. The plan includes the maintenance and preservation of the area in which the works will be, including draining the terrain, water treatment and connection to the grid. The authorisation does not however represent the beginning of works on the plant, which are subject to a further environmental installation licence. According to the technical documentation issued by Ibama, the licence for the installation of the works site does not authorise those advances which effectively characterise plant works, such excavation and the pouring of concrete for foundations. An Ibama inspector confirmed that the licence for installation depends on the detailed project documentation meeting the conditions imposed by the pre-licensing agreement, signed in July....(read more)