Search Results for power reactorstag:fissilematerials.org,2024:/cgi-bin/mt//feed/power reactors2024-03-29T13:40:10ZMovable Type 6.3.696196Troubles with France's plutonium fuel programtag:fissilematerials.org,2022:/blog//3.11382022-08-28T08:54:46Z2022-08-29T07:12:46ZAdmin
Frank von Hippel France's government-controlled nuclear fuel company, Orano (formerly part of Areva), is facing significant operating problems at both its Melox uranium-plutonium mixed-oxide (MOX) fuel fabrication plant in southern France and its spent-fuel reprocessing plant for plutonium-separation at La...
US DOE and NRC at odds with regard to prospects for commercial reprocessing in the UStag:fissilematerials.org,2021:/blog//13.34092021-07-07T14:52:15Z2021-08-31T14:50:22ZAdmin
Frank N. von Hippel On June 24, 2021, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) voted to accept the recommendation of its staff to discontinue developing regulations for commercial reprocessing in the United States. The NRC Staff argued that making rules...
NRC terminates construction authorization for the MOX Fuel Fabrication Facilitytag:fissilematerials.org,2019:/blog//13.33312019-02-11T20:32:03Z2021-08-31T14:50:17ZAdmin
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission terminated the construction license for the MOX Fuel Fabrication Facility (MFFF). The NRC letter announcing the termination was sent to the CB&I Areva MOX Services on February 8, 2019 (Enclosure 1 is the decision itself, Enclosure...
Areva's Eagle Rock Enrichment Facility license withdrawntag:fissilematerials.org,2018:/blog//13.33092018-09-22T08:13:10Z2021-08-31T14:50:16ZAdmin
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission terminated the license to construct the Eagle Rock Enrichment Facility, issued to Areva Enrichment Services in 2008. The termination was requested by Orano USA, successor to Areva. Areva suspended the project in December 2011 and abandoned...
India's prototype breeder reactor delayed until at least 2019tag:fissilematerials.org,2018:/blog//13.33172018-09-19T14:09:58Z2021-08-31T14:50:16ZAdmin
The launch of India's prototype fast breeder reactor (PFBR), which was expected to reach criticality in mid-2018, has been delayed again, until at least 2019. The Chairman of India's Atomic Energy Commission, in his statement at the 2018 IAEA General...
France believes reprocessing plant in China will begin operations in 2030 tag:fissilematerials.org,2018:/blog//13.33052018-09-18T12:42:57Z2021-08-31T14:50:16ZAdmin
Speaking at the 2018 CINE Forum held in Beijing in September 2018, Christophe Poinssot, CEA representative at the French Embassy in China, said that while France and China are sill discussing commercial aspects of the agreement to build a 800...
France and China continue to discuss reprocessing planttag:fissilematerials.org,2018:/blog//13.32922018-06-25T11:22:03Z2021-08-31T14:50:15ZAdmin
France's Orano (formerly Areva) and China National Nuclear Corporation agreed to begin preparatory work on the "used fuel processing and recycling plant" in China. In January 2018, New Areva and CNNC signed a "memorandum of commercial agreement." At the time,...
U.S. Department of Energy takes steps to halt construction of partially finished MOX plant at Savannah River Sitetag:fissilematerials.org,2018:/blog//13.32872018-05-23T17:10:18Z2021-08-31T08:18:09ZAdmin
Tom Clements On May 10, 2018, US Secretary of Energy Rick Perry delivered to Congress a letter "waiving" the legal requirement to continue spending funds on construction of the Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility (MFFF) at DOE's Savannah River Site....
Ukraine to explore reprocessing its spent fuel in Francetag:fissilematerials.org,2018:/blog//13.32862018-05-03T17:04:24Z2021-08-31T14:50:15ZAdmin
Ukraine's generating company Energoatom signed a contract with France's Orano (formerly Areva) "for assessing the feasibility of reprocessing services of spent fuel assemblies of Ukrainian VVER-1000 nuclear reactors in La Hague facility." The contract is part of Ukraine's effort to...
China and France continue negotiations on reprocessing facilitytag:fissilematerials.org,2018:/blog//13.32652018-01-09T08:57:45Z2021-08-31T14:50:14ZAdmin
France's New Areva and its partner China National Nuclear Corp (CNNC) signed "a memorandum of commercial agreement" for the reprocessing facility and MOX fuel fabrication plant that Areva expects to build in China. The parties confirmed their commitment to the...
United States to continue supplying HEU for Mo-99 production in Europe tag:fissilematerials.org,2017:/blog//13.32632017-12-12T16:41:29Z2021-08-31T14:50:13ZAdmin
U.S. Department of Energy submitted a license application (XSNM3788) to export 1.45 kg of HEU to France, where it will be used to manufacture targets used in Mo-99 production. The application requests a license to export "1.35 kg uranium-235 contained...
More delays in India's breeder reactor programtag:fissilematerials.org,2017:/blog//13.32502017-11-26T16:00:45Z2021-08-31T14:50:13ZAdmin
India's Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) has failed to "go fully functional" in October 2017, despite the assurance given in Parliament in February 2017 on behalf of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). The reactor is now expected to be...
Export of U.S. HEU to Europe authorizedtag:fissilematerials.org,2017:/blog//13.32342017-08-03T13:20:24Z2021-08-31T14:50:11ZAdmin
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved export license XSNM3776 that authorizes a shipment of 3.7 kg of 93.35% HEU (3.45 kg of U-235) to Europe. The material will be shipped to Areva facility in Romans, which will fabricate targets for Mo-99...
Yet another delay in commissioning India's Prototype Fast Breeder Reactortag:fissilematerials.org,2017:/blog//13.32192017-04-24T13:45:34Z2021-08-31T14:50:11ZM. V. Ramana
by M.V. Ramana India's Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) has been delayed again. This latest delay means that the time between the start of construction (in 2004) to reactor start-up is now more than double the originally "stipulated time of...
Georges Besse II enrichment plant reached full capacitytag:fissilematerials.org,2017:/blog//13.32112017-01-19T15:24:52Z2021-08-31T14:50:11ZAdmin
The Georges Besse II enrichment plant has reached its full production capacity of 7.5 million SWU in 2016, as was originally planned. The Georges Besse II plant includes South and North plants that were inaugurated in 2010 and in 2013...
Sellafield's Evaporator D Project - A Lesson for La Hague?tag:fissilematerials.org,2016:/blog//13.32052016-12-19T22:59:12Z2021-08-31T14:50:10ZAdmin
Martin Forwood If nuclear power has been labelled an extraordinarily expensive way of boiling a kettle, then Evaporator D--known to the workforce as the 'Big Kettle'--must be breaking all records. Initially costed at £90 million in 2007 (then US$185 million)...
Local protests in China against future reprocessing plant tag:fissilematerials.org,2016:/blog//13.31672016-08-11T17:37:24Z2021-08-31T14:50:08ZAdmin
According to various press reports (FT, NYT), people in Lianyungang, Jiangsu province in China took to the streets to protest the plans to build a large reprocessing facility near the city. The city, located in a coastal area north of...
Further delay in commissioning India's Prototype Fast Breeder Reactortag:fissilematerials.org,2016:/new/blog//13.31162016-07-31T15:28:13Z2021-08-31T14:50:08ZAdmin
By M.V. Ramana India's Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) has been delayed again, perhaps until mid-2017. According to an official statement presented in the Parliament of India on 28 July 2016, the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) is now expected...
United States to supply HEU for Mo-99 production in Europetag:fissilematerials.org,2016:/blog//13.31712016-07-21T19:21:42Z2021-08-31T14:50:08ZAdmin
U.S. Department of Energy submitted a license application (XSNM3776) to export 7.2 kg of HEU to France, where it will be used to manufacture targets used in Mo-99 production. The application requests a license to export "6.7 kg uranium-235 contained...
Russia confirmed supplying HEU to the FRM-II reactor in Germanytag:fissilematerials.org,2016:/new/blog//13.31142016-07-18T16:45:23Z2021-08-31T14:50:08ZAdmin
Russia has officially confirmed that it is supplying HEU for the fuel of the FRM-II research reactor, operated by the Technical University Munich, Germany. The 2015 annual report of the TVEL company, a subsidiary of Rosatom that supplies nuclear fuel...
United States to supply small amount of HEU to Chinatag:fissilematerials.org,2016:/new/blog//13.31112016-06-28T16:03:41Z2021-08-31T08:18:11ZAdmin
According to a license application submitted to NRC on June 28, 2016 (XSNM3774), the United States will supply to China 0.141 kg of HEU containing 0.130 kg of U-235. The application specifies that the material will be used in "thirty...
French plutonium policy questioned by a former senior EDF officialtag:fissilematerials.org,2016:/new/blog//13.31082016-06-22T14:05:57Z2021-08-31T08:18:09ZAdmin
Christian Stoffaës, a former director of planning at Électricité de France, the French utility company, and founder of the "Cercle des ingénieurs economistes" published an op-ed article "Plutonium : le débat manqué de la transition énergétique" challenging France's long-standing policy...
United States to export HEU fuel for Belgium's BR-2 reactortag:fissilematerials.org,2016:/blog//13.31062016-06-09T20:43:03Z2021-08-31T14:50:08ZAdmin
In March 2016, the Belgian Nuclear Research Center SCK•CEN in Mol, Belgium withdrew its request for 144 kg of highly-enriched uranium to be used to manufacture the reactor's fuel. The move was explained by the change of a fuel provider....
Evaporator corrosion at La Hague threatens future reprocessing - Time for a strategy rethink?tag:fissilematerials.org,2016:/new/blog//13.30992016-04-19T09:04:39Z2016-07-29T11:46:15ZAdmin
Yves Marignac and Mycle Schneider On 24 February 2016, operator Areva and the French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) released information about serious corrosion problems challenging the safety of high-level liquid waste evaporators at the French spent fuel reprocessing plants at...
China is said to be building a demonstration commercial reprocessing planttag:fissilematerials.org,2015:/new/blog//13.30642015-09-23T21:41:00Z2021-08-31T14:50:05ZAdmin
Hui Zhang China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) is reported to have started preparations for what appears to be a demonstration reprocessing plant with a capacity of 200 tonnes/year at Jinta near Jiuquan city of Gansu province. This site is over...
India announces plans for starting construction of fast reactor fuel reprocessing planttag:fissilematerials.org,2015:/new/blog//13.30592015-09-02T08:34:48Z2021-08-31T14:50:04ZAdmin
The Director of India's Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research has announced that construction of a new fast reactor fuel reprocessing plant is to begin in two months' time at Kalpakkam in southern India. The plant is to reprocess spent...
Areva continues negotiations to build reprocessing plant in Chinatag:fissilematerials.org,2015:/new/blog//13.30552015-06-30T12:53:18Z2021-08-31T14:50:04ZAdmin
On June 30, 2015 Areva and China's CNNC signed a memorandum of understanding regarding potential supply of a spent fuel reprocessing facility to China. According to Areva's press-release, A memorandum of understanding (MoU) with CNNC [is] marking a new step...
Independent review on escalating MOX plant costs and DOE reversal of MOX option for surplus plutoniumtag:fissilematerials.org,2015:/new/blog//13.30462015-05-16T21:15:47Z2021-08-31T14:50:04ZAdmin
Shaun Burnie, with Mycle Schneider Two U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) reports published 8 May 2015 on the U.S. plutonium disposition program are a major setback for the prospects for the operation of the yet to be completed plutonium Mixed...
Taiwan spent fuel reprocessing tender process suspendedtag:fissilematerials.org,2015:/new/blog//13.30352015-03-20T09:18:22Z2021-08-31T14:50:02ZAdmin
Shaun Burnie, with Mycle Schneider On March 20, 2015, it was announced that Taipower is to suspend the tendering process for the reprocessing of spent fuel from the Chinshan and Kuosheng reactors. Contract bids were requested for the reprocessing of...
Taiwan tenders spent fuel reprocessing contracttag:fissilematerials.org,2015:/new/blog//13.30342015-03-18T16:09:20Z2016-07-29T11:46:10ZAdmin
Shaun Burnie, with Mycle Schneider The forty-year-long efforts by the state owned Taiwan Power Company (Taipower) to secure large-scale spent fuel reprocessing moved a step further in early 2015 with the issuing of a call for tender by the Ministry...
U.S. HEU for medical isotope production in Europetag:fissilematerials.org,2015:/new/blog//13.30322015-02-24T10:42:15Z2021-08-31T14:50:02ZAdmin
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved an export license XSNM3756 that authorized export of 7.28 kg of U-235 contained in 7.8 kg of uranium be shipped for use in Mo-99 production at the Institute for Radioelements (IRE) in Belgium. The targets...
United Stated to send 130 kg of HEU to Francetag:fissilematerials.org,2015:/new/blog//13.30312015-02-18T10:29:13Z2021-08-31T14:50:02ZAdmin
The National Nuclear Security Administration submitted an application for an export license XSNM3757 to send "121.1 kg [of] uranium-235 contained in 130.0 kg [of] uranium" to the Areva CERCA facility to be used to manufacture fuel for the High Flux...
Two new reports raise fundamental questions on Savannah River MOX planttag:fissilematerials.org,2015:/new/blog//13.30252015-01-17T08:30:11Z2021-08-31T14:50:02ZAdmin
Shaun Burnie with Mycle Schneider Two reports released in the past month raise further fundamental questions over the future of the CB&I AREVA Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility (MFFF) at the Savannah River Site (SRS). A report from the U.S....
Savannah River MOX Plant secures 2015 funding but future of program remains in doubttag:fissilematerials.org,2014:/new/blog//13.30212014-12-25T12:02:08Z2021-08-31T14:50:01ZAdmin
Shaun Burnie with Mycle Schneider On 13 December 2014, the U.S. Senate approved funding for continued construction of the MOX plant at the Savannah River Site in South Carolina. The 2015 Defense Authorization Act allocated US$345 million for fiscal 2015...
United States to supply HEU for Belgian BR2 reactortag:fissilematerials.org,2014:/new/blog//13.30222014-12-23T13:24:09Z2022-03-13T16:24:23ZAdmin
On December 23, 2014 the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission received an application for an export license XSOU8839 that would authorize the Y-12 National Security Complex to ship "134.2 kg uranium-235 contained in maximum of 144.0 kg of uranium, enriched to...
U.S. MOX plant construction license extendedtag:fissilematerials.org,2014:/new/blog//13.30172014-11-17T20:49:28Z2021-08-31T14:50:01ZAdmin
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission signed an order that extended the completion deadline for the construction of the MOX Fuel Fabrication Facility (MFFF) by ten years, until 30 March 2025. In March 2014, the U.S. administration announced its intent to suspend...
Belgium extends reprocessing contract with Areva on research reactor fueltag:fissilematerials.org,2014:/new/blog//13.30022014-09-08T09:03:36Z2016-07-29T11:46:08ZAdmin
Shaun Burnie with Mycle Schneider The Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK CEN) has extended a 1997 contract with AREVA for the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel from the BR2 research reactor in Mol. The reprocessing contract is one of only...
India delays launch of PFBR breeder reactor until March 2015tag:fissilematerials.org,2014:/new/blog//13.29962014-08-08T11:20:57Z2022-03-13T16:24:23ZAdmin
India is planning to launch its 500 MW Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) in March 2015. At the beginning of the construction in 2004 the reactor was expected to be commissioned in 2010. However, the launch date was corrected several...
Dutch reactor operating with MOX fuel for the first timetag:fissilematerials.org,2014:/new/blog//13.29912014-07-04T08:43:12Z2016-07-29T11:46:07ZAdmin
By Shaun Burnie, with Mycle Schneider On July 1st, 2014 the forty-one year old Borssele nuclear reactor in the Netherlands was reported to have generated electricity for the first time using plutonium-uranium mixed oxide fuel (MOX). Eight assemblies of MOX...
Japanese-French fast breeder cooperationtag:fissilematerials.org,2014:/new/blog//13.29792014-05-06T22:44:34Z2022-03-13T16:24:22ZAdmin
Shaun Burnie with Mycle Schneider Further cooperation between France and Japan on fast breeder reactor design and development has been announced at a May 5th 2014 summit meeting between Prime Minister Abe and President Hollande. The agreement between Japan's Education,...
New agreement signed to advance Areva reprocessing project in Chinatag:fissilematerials.org,2014:/new/blog//13.29732014-03-28T11:36:07Z2021-08-31T14:49:58ZAdmin
Representatives of Areva and the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) signed an agreement "related to the pursuit of the used fuel treatment and recycling facility project, the subject of a letter of intention signed in April 2013." In the April...
Nuclear train accident in Britain latest of a recent seriestag:fissilematerials.org,2014:/new/blog//13.29612014-01-21T10:29:06Z2016-07-29T11:46:04ZAdmin
David Lowry with Mycle Schneider A train transporting an empty nuclear transport wagon collided with a car straddling the level crossing at Silverdale on the Cumbria/Lancashire border in the UK at around 1900 hours on 14 January 2014. Although the...
United States continues to supply HEU to Europetag:fissilematerials.org,2013:/new/blog//13.29522013-12-05T09:33:06Z2021-08-31T14:49:57ZAdmin
U.S. National Nuclear Security Agency submitted a request XSNM3729/01 to amend the HEU export license XSNM3729 issued by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on 5 March 2013 to increase the amount of HEU covered by license and to allow target irradiation...
Areva to produce MOX fuel for the Netherlandstag:fissilematerials.org,2013:/new/blog//13.29482013-11-04T12:59:41Z2016-07-29T11:46:03ZAdmin
In October 2013 Areva's MELOX fuel fabrication facility began production of MOX fuel for the Borssele power plant in the Netherlands. The plant is operated by the Dutch utility EPZ. According to Areva, its La Hague plant reprocessed about 375...
Areva to supply fuel for FRM-II research reactortag:fissilematerials.org,2013:/new/blog//13.29242013-06-24T19:45:00Z2021-08-31T14:49:55ZAdmin
Areva signed a contract to supply fuel elements for the FRM-II reactor at the Technical University Munich. The cost of the contract is reported to be "several million euros." It is not immediately clear what is the source of HEU...
Areva to build reprocessing plant in Chinatag:fissilematerials.org,2013:/new/blog//13.29152013-04-26T19:06:46Z2022-03-13T16:24:22ZAdmin
Areva and China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) "signed a letter of intent to build a used fuel treatment and recycling facility in China," according to a press-release by Areva. The facility will have the capacity to reprocess 800 tonnes of...
Areva launches commercial production at Georges Besse II North enrichment planttag:fissilematerials.org,2013:/new/blog//13.29102013-03-29T08:47:15Z2021-08-31T14:49:55ZAdmin
On March 29, 2013 Areva formally launched its Georges Besse II North uranium enrichment facility at Tricastin. The launch is part of the plan to inclrease the capacity of the facility to 7.5 million SWU by 2016. The Georges Besse...
Dutch spent fuel arrived for reprocessing at La Haguetag:fissilematerials.org,2013:/new/blog//13.29082013-03-20T22:16:45Z2016-07-29T11:45:59ZAdmin
A rail shipment of 4.5 tons of used nuclear fuel arrived today from AREVA's railway terminal in Valognes (France) in order to be transported to AREVA la Hague plant for recycling. This transport is composed of three casks of used...
United Kingdom takes ownership of German plutonium in title swaptag:fissilematerials.org,2012:/new/blog//13.28772012-07-13T20:01:49Z2021-08-31T14:49:53ZAdmin
According to a report in World Nuclear News, United Kingdom took ownership of four tonnes of German plutonium in a series of title swaps that made an equivalent amount of plutonium available to Germany in France. This plutonium will be...
Georges Besse enrichment plant ceases productiontag:fissilematerials.org,2012:/new/blog//13.28682012-06-07T13:04:06Z2021-08-31T14:49:52ZAdmin
EURODIF's Georges Besse uranium enrichment plant permanently ceased production on June 7, 2012, according to a press release by Areva, the plant operator. The plant, located at the Tricastin site, operated since 1979 using gaseous diffusion technology to enrich uranium...
U.S. reported to complete HEU shipment to Francetag:fissilematerials.org,2012:/new/blog//13.28532012-04-02T16:20:51Z2022-03-13T16:24:21ZAdmin
The United States is reported to be shipping 186.4 kg of HEU (174 kg U-235) to France, where the material will be used to manufacture fuel for the High Flux Reactor (Réacteur à Haut Flux, RHF) at the Institut Max...
India's prototype fast breeder reactor (PFBR) to go critical early 2013tag:fissilematerials.org,2012:/new/blog//13.28372012-02-06T15:25:11Z2022-03-13T16:24:21ZAdmin
India's 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) has been delayed again and is now expected to go critical in early 2013. This would be followed by an extended period of testing before the reactor is formally commissioned. The government...
Questions raised about safety of the U.S. MOX planttag:fissilematerials.org,2011:/new/blog//13.27932011-05-09T09:51:03Z2022-03-13T16:24:19ZAdmin
An investigative report in ProPublica.org, Safety Reviewers Raise Questions About Construction of New Nuclear Fuel Plan, documents a number of concerns about safety of the MOX Fuel Fabrication Facility (MFFF) that is being built at the Savannah River Site. According...
U.S. plutonium disposition program: Uncertainties of the MOX routetag:fissilematerials.org,2011:/new/blog//13.27832011-03-10T09:13:48Z2022-03-13T16:24:18ZAdmin
The FY2012 budget request for the National Nuclear Security Administration shows that disposition of weapons-grade plutonium as MOX fuel in power reactors remains one of the largest items in the Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation program. NNSA asked for $645,721,000 for the...
Cadarache: Waste drums with plutonium content way off-limittag:fissilematerials.org,2011:/new/blog//13.27732011-01-06T13:13:14Z2022-03-13T16:24:18ZAdmin
On 21 December 2010, the French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) declared an "anomaly" discovered at the shut-down MOX fuel fabrication facility ATPu (Atelier de Technologie Plutonium) at Cadarache in the South of France. A CEA press release states that the...
Areva inaugurates the Georges Besse II enrichment planttag:fissilematerials.org,2010:/new/blog//13.27572010-12-14T13:26:39Z2016-07-29T11:45:49ZAdmin
In a ceremony held at the Tricastin nuclear site, Areva inaugurated its Georges Besse II uranium enrichment plant. The plant uses gaseous centrifuge technology. According to Areva, it is expected to reach its nominal capacity of 7.5 million SWU/year in...
Further delay for India's breeder reactortag:fissilematerials.org,2010:/new/blog//13.27472010-11-29T15:25:31Z2022-03-13T16:24:17ZAdmin
India's Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor is facing another delay. Shrikumar Banerjee, Chairman of India's Atomic Energy Commission, was quoted as saying that the reactor would be commissioned in 2012-2013. In February 2010 India announced that the construction would not be completed...
Japanese utilities increase their stake in Georges Besse II enrichment planttag:fissilematerials.org,2010:/new/blog//13.27402010-11-04T08:23:36Z2016-07-29T11:45:48ZAdmin
Two Japanese utilities - Tohoku Electric Power Co. and Kyushu Electric Power Co. - acquired 1% stake each in the company that operates Areva's Georges Besse II enrichment plant. According to the Areva press-release, the two utilities joined the Kansai...
Less than 4% of French nuclear fuel "recycled", NGOs calculatetag:fissilematerials.org,2010:/new/blog//13.27002010-09-08T18:28:06Z2022-03-13T16:24:16ZAdmin
This is the fourth in a series of four posts on the openness of the French "closed" fuel cycle Several members of the French High Committee for transparency and information on nuclear safety (HCTISN) declined to endorse the report it...
Fuel "recycling" a myth, a French report involuntarily demonstratestag:fissilematerials.org,2010:/new/blog//13.26962010-09-08T18:08:44Z2022-03-13T16:24:16ZAdmin
This is the third in a series of four posts on the openness of the French "closed" fuel cycle French industry and government assertions about the "closed" character of the nuclear fuel "cycle" are misrepresentating the facts. This is the...
France: Official plan admits problems with management of uranium and plutoniumtag:fissilematerials.org,2010:/new/blog//13.26982010-09-08T17:32:56Z2022-03-13T16:24:15ZAdmin
This is the first in a series of four posts on the openness of the French "closed" fuel cycle On 4 June 2010, the French government published the new National Radioactive Materials and Wastes Management Scheme (Plan national de gestion...
End of reprocessed uranium exports to Russia?tag:fissilematerials.org,2010:/new/blog//13.26792010-05-29T18:32:43Z2022-03-13T16:24:14ZAdmin
AREVA's controversial shipments of uranium wastes from France to Russia could be terminated as early as July 2010, according to media reports and a press release by the French chapter of the environmental group Greenpeace. The uranium waste trade with...
AREVA signs MOX fuel fabrication contract with Japanese utilitytag:fissilematerials.org,2010:/new/blog//13.26552010-03-29T19:21:50Z2022-03-13T16:24:13ZAdmin
On 29 March the French nuclear company AREVA announced the signature of a new MOX fuel fabrication contract. The deal, signed between the AREVA subsidiary MELOX SA and Mitsubishi Nuclear Fuel (MNF), "in charge of designing the fuel for the...
Status of Japan's MOX fuel programtag:fissilematerials.org,2010:/new/blog//13.26452010-03-02T07:51:12Z2016-07-29T11:45:40ZAdmin
Guest contribution by Aileen Mioko Smith Japan's Shikoku Electric utility began commercial operation with MOX fuel on March 2nd. This makes its Ikata-3 PWR the second nuclear reactor in Japan to begin using MOX fuel as part of its normal...
Status of Japan's MOX fuel programtag:fissilematerials.org,2010:/new/blog//13.26452010-03-02T07:51:12Z2016-07-29T11:45:40ZAdmin
Guest contribution by Aileen Mioko Smith Japan's Shikoku Electric utility began commercial operation with MOX fuel on March 2nd. This makes its Ikata-3 PWR the second nuclear reactor in Japan to begin using MOX fuel as part of its normal...
A French documentary on nuclear wastetag:fissilematerials.org,2010:/new/blog//13.26432010-02-22T16:10:58Z2016-07-29T11:45:40ZAdmin
On 20 February 2010 Greenpeace issued a call for a moratorium on shipments of reprocessed uranium from France to Russia. Activists had been repeatedly blocking rail shipments of the material from the La Hague reprocessing plant to Cherbourg port. Parliamentary...
India's first fast breeder reactor delayedtag:fissilematerials.org,2010:/new/blog//13.26392010-02-14T16:33:25Z2016-07-29T11:45:40ZAdmin
India's first commercial breeder reactor, the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR), is reported to be delayed by a year. Construction of the 500 Megawatt (electric) reactor started in 2004 and it was initially expected to be commissioned by December 2010. In...
Civilian plutonium stocks in France 1994-2008tag:fissilematerials.org,2010:/new/blog//13.26112010-02-06T09:43:38Z2016-07-29T11:45:37ZAdmin
Unirradiated plutonium stocks in France, in the form of separated plutonium or in fresh plutonium fuel (MOX) products have increased steadily since the late 1980s and reached a total of 83.8 metric tonnes by the end of 2008. The amount...
Tritium production and recovery in the United States in FY2011tag:fissilematerials.org,2010:/new/blog//13.26352010-02-05T12:17:47Z2016-07-29T11:45:40ZAdmin
According to the plan outlined in the NNSA FY2011 budget request, in 2011 the United Sates will continue its Tritium Readiness program, which involves irradiation of Tritium-Producing Burnable Absorber Rods (TPBARs) in the Tennessee Valley Authority's (TVA) Watts Bar nuclear reactor. Also,...
BN-800 expected to begin operations in 2014tag:fissilematerials.org,2010:/new/blog//13.26172010-01-21T11:47:25Z2022-03-13T16:24:12ZAdmin
According to Rosatom, the BN-800 fast reactor that is being built at the Beloyarsk Nuclear Power Plant, will begin producing electricity in 2014. Rosatom claims that the reactor will be ready for operations as early as 2012, but it could...
French Prime Minister offers reprocessing technology to Chinatag:fissilematerials.org,2009:/new/blog//13.25992009-12-21T19:12:30Z2022-03-13T16:24:12ZAdmin
French Prime Minister François Fillon stated during a speech in Beijing on 21 December 2009 that France and China think about "sustainable nuclear energy and in particular the reprocessing of spent fuel". Fillon claimed that it is in exploring this...
Large discrepancy in amount of plutonium at shutdown French MOX planttag:fissilematerials.org,2009:/new/blog//13.26022009-11-22T19:01:44Z2016-07-29T11:45:36ZAdmin
The French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) issued on 14 October 2009 a formal decision to halt decommissioning operations at a former MOX fuel fabrication plant in Cadarache in the South-East of France. The announcement followed the declaration of significant inconsistencies...
Rosatom floating reactors planstag:fissilematerials.org,2009:/new/blog//13.25612009-02-24T15:05:49Z2016-07-29T11:45:34ZAdmin
Rosatom hopes to complete the first pilot floating nuclear reactor by May 2010, Sergei Kiriyenko told journalists. He also said that Rosatom is considering about ten possible sites for its floating reactors - in Yakutiya (four stations), Chukotka, Yamal, and...
TVEL will supply fuel pellets to Indiatag:fissilematerials.org,2009:/new/blog//13.25292009-02-11T14:38:21Z2016-07-29T11:45:32ZAdmin
TVEL corporation signed a contract to supply fuel pellets for India's nuclear reactors. The total cost of contracts is reported to be "more than $700 million". Earlier it was reported that a Rosatom representative estimated the cost of the contract...
Areva to supply reactors, fuel, and uranium to Indiatag:fissilematerials.org,2009:/new/blog//13.25472009-02-09T03:47:39Z2016-07-29T11:45:33ZAdmin
Idaho Samizdat reports: Areva, the world's biggest manufacturer of nuclear reactors, has signed a deal with India to sell at least two and possibly six 1,600 MWe EPR nuclear reactors according to a report by Bloomberg wire service. The reactor...
Areva to supply reactors, fuel, and uranium to Indiatag:fissilematerials.org,2009:/new/blog//13.25472009-02-09T03:47:39Z2016-07-29T11:45:33ZAdmin
Idaho Samizdat reports: Areva, the world's biggest manufacturer of nuclear reactors, has signed a deal with India to sell at least two and possibly six 1,600 MWe EPR nuclear reactors according to a report by Bloomberg wire service. The reactor...
Bushehr start date is uncertaintag:fissilematerials.org,2009:/new/blog//13.25382009-02-05T05:34:31Z2022-03-13T16:24:11ZAdmin
Rosatom is noncommittal on the Bushehr reactor start date. In September 2008, Atomstroyexport estimated that the reactor is unlikely to start before March 2009. Now, Sergei Kiriyenko says that "the launch is scheduled for this year." Iran is hoping that...
Areva to supply enrichment services to EdFtag:fissilematerials.org,2009:/new/blog//13.25562009-02-03T22:18:17Z2016-07-29T11:45:34ZAdmin
Areva signed a contract to supply Electricite de France (EDF) with uranium enrichment services. The contract is estimated to be worth more than 5 billion euro (about $6.5 billion). The services will be provided by the Georges Besse II enrichment...
MOX fuel shipment to Japan preparedtag:fissilematerials.org,2009:/new/blog//13.25532009-01-29T23:19:40Z2016-07-29T11:45:33ZAdmin
European companies are preparing a shipment of MOX fuel to Japan, according to a World Nuclear News report: Areva of France manufactured the MOX. The UK's Pacific Nuclear Transport Limited (PNTL), a subsidiary of International Nuclear Services which is itself...
MOX fuel shipment to Japan preparedtag:fissilematerials.org,2009:/new/blog//13.25532009-01-29T23:19:40Z2016-07-29T11:45:33ZAdmin
European companies are preparing a shipment of MOX fuel to Japan, according to a World Nuclear News report: Areva of France manufactured the MOX. The UK's Pacific Nuclear Transport Limited (PNTL), a subsidiary of International Nuclear Services which is itself...
Bushehr reactor will not start in 2008tag:fissilematerials.org,2008:/new/blog//13.25512008-09-04T14:14:24Z2016-07-29T11:45:33ZAdmin
The power reactor in Bushehr will not be ready to begin operations in 2008, as it was planned. After a visit of a high-level delegation of Atomstroyexport to Bushehr, Iran announced that the reactor would start in 2009. UPDATE 09/08/08:...
Construction of spent fuel storage facility in Zheleznogorsk to resumetag:fissilematerials.org,2008:/new/blog//13.25162008-08-29T06:32:18Z2016-07-29T11:45:31ZAdmin
In April 2008, Spetsstroy, the company that was building the spent fuel storage facility in Zheleznogorsk, suspended the construction citing financial dispute with Rosatom. Rosatom responded by launching a tender for the completion of the project. This week, the contract...
MOX fuel controversytag:fissilematerials.org,2008:/new/blog//13.25242008-08-05T10:27:02Z2022-03-13T16:24:10ZAdmin
The plan to burn 34 MT of excess weapon-grade plutonium in civilian power reactors may be delayed. The MOX fuel manufacturer, Areva, terminated the test of its fuel assemblies that was underway at the Catawba power plant. According to an...
MOX fuel controversytag:fissilematerials.org,2008:/new/blog//13.25242008-08-05T10:27:02Z2022-03-13T16:24:10ZAdmin
The plan to burn 34 MT of excess weapon-grade plutonium in civilian power reactors may be delayed. The MOX fuel manufacturer, Areva, terminated the test of its fuel assemblies that was underway at the Catawba power plant. According to an...
Massive subsidy to Rosatomtag:fissilematerials.org,2008:/new/blog//13.25362008-07-29T13:55:55Z2016-07-29T11:45:32ZAdmin
Russian government will give Rosatom 1 trillion rubles ($42.7 billion) in the next seven years (until 2015) for the program of expansion of nuclear power and development of the industry. Rosatom will add to that more that 1 trillion rubles...
Mayak plans expansion of reprocessingtag:fissilematerials.org,2008:/new/blog//13.25032008-07-02T23:15:25Z2016-07-29T11:45:30ZAdmin
Director of the PO Mayak, Sergei Baranov, announced the plan to build new reprocessing facilities that would allow Mayak to reprocess VVER-1000 fuel as well as "any other Russian or foreign fuel" and "Soviet legacy fuel". Currently Mayak has two...
Kudankulam fuel shipments completedtag:fissilematerials.org,2008:/new/blog//13.25092008-06-26T15:02:01Z2016-07-29T11:45:31ZAdmin
Rosatom announced that it completed fuel delivery to Kudankulam (Koodankulam) for the first of the two VVER-1000 nuclear power reactors that are under construction there. The first shipment was reported to take place on May 25, 2008.The initial fuel delivery will provide fuel...
Areva signs contract to build MOX fuel fabrication facilitytag:fissilematerials.org,2008:/new/blog//13.25192008-05-25T10:00:12Z2016-07-29T11:45:31ZAdmin
Areva and DOE signed an agreement to construct the MOX Fuel Fabrication Facility at the Savannah River Site. The cost of the contract is $2.7 billion. The facility is part of the program that aims to dispose of 34 MT...
Areva signs contract to build MOX fuel fabrication facilitytag:fissilematerials.org,2008:/new/blog//13.25192008-05-25T10:00:12Z2016-07-29T11:45:31ZAdmin
Areva and DOE signed an agreement to construct the MOX Fuel Fabrication Facility at the Savannah River Site. The cost of the contract is $2.7 billion. The facility is part of the program that aims to dispose of 34 MT...
AREVA will build an enrichment plant in Idahotag:fissilematerials.org,2008:/new/blog//13.25072008-05-10T23:35:28Z2021-08-31T08:18:39ZAdmin
AREVA selected Bonneville County, ID as a place for its first U.S. enrichment plant. The plant, with estimated cost of $2 billion, is expected to begin operation in 2014. [UPDATE: The palnt is known as the Eagle Rock Enrichment Facility,...
Ukraine fuel supply between TVEL and Westinghousetag:fissilematerials.org,2008:/new/blog//13.24952008-03-31T15:31:44Z2022-03-13T16:24:10ZAdmin
Ukraine continues its efforts to diversify nuclear fuel supply. Westinghouse Electric Sweden AB signed a contract with Energoatom to supply 630 fuel assemblies (estimated to fuel three VVER-1000 reactors for five years) in 2011-2015. Energoatom expects that it will complete...
Ukraine is holding back its spent fuel due to raising costtag:fissilematerials.org,2008:/new/blog//13.24962008-03-30T16:08:40Z2022-03-13T16:24:10ZAdmin
Energoatom announced that it reduces the number of spent fuel shipments that it will send to Russia in 2008 from six to four. Earlier, it planned five shipments of VVER-1000 fuel and one of VVER-440 fuel. According to Energoatom, Russia...
Ukraine tries to diversify fuel supplytag:fissilematerials.org,2008:/new/blog//13.24982008-03-03T02:50:05Z2022-03-13T16:24:10ZAdmin
Confronted with a substantial increase in the price of fresh fuel supplied by Russia, Ukraine is trying to create a reserve of fuel for its nuclear stations and to diversify the fuel supply. Energoatom, the Ukrainian operator of nuclear plants,...
Russian-Indian agreement on Kudankulamtag:fissilematerials.org,2008:/new/blog//13.24842008-02-13T03:24:14Z2016-07-29T11:45:29ZAdmin
Russia and India signed an agreement that commits Russia to build four additional power reactors at Kudankulam. It appears that one of the conditions of the contract is that Russia will supply the reactors with fuel and then will take...
Russia delivers fuel for the Bushehr plant in Irantag:fissilematerials.org,2008:/new/blog//13.24732008-01-28T14:22:50Z2016-07-29T11:45:27ZAdmin
On January 28, 2008 Russia delivered the final shipment of fuel to Iran. The shipments began on December 16, 2007. The entire shipment consisted of 180 fuel assemblies (163 main and 17 reserve), which contain uranium with enrichment from 1.6%...
China wants reprocessing technology from Francetag:fissilematerials.org,2008:/new/blog//13.24632008-01-15T16:31:13Z2016-07-29T11:45:26ZAdmin
China wants Areva to supply its spent fuel reprocessing technology as well as nuclear power reactors. An AP story quotes a source as saying that "The contract will not come into effect unless Areva agrees unequivocally to transfer this (nuclear fuel...