July, 2010

Research at Purdue University focuses on the "plasma-material interface," a crucial region where the inner lining of a fusion reactor comes into contact with the extreme heat of the plasma. Nuclear and materials engineers are harnessing nanotechnology to define tiny features in the coating in work aimed at creating new "plasma-facing" materials tolerant to radiation damage, said...

Following a report on the health of France's nuclear sector, President Nicolas Sarkozy's government called for closer coordination between the companies to offset recent losses of contracts to Asian rivals like Korea. - Edited by April Murelio - According to a report by France24.com, the French government said that EDF and Areva would sign a wide-ranging partnership to help France regain...

The NRC is making this change because of enhancements made to the domestic materials licensing and regulatory framework since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Those security enhancements include background investigations, fingerprint checks and trustworthiness and reliability checks of personnel allowed unescorted access to risk-significant materials, physical intrusion barriers, coordination...

The draft EIS analyzes potential impacts of construction, operation and decommissioning of the proposed facility. It includes the NRC staff’s preliminary conclusion that the plant, to be called the Eagle Rock Enrichment Facility, would have mostly small impacts on the local environment, primarily during construction. The staff’s preliminary recommendation is that, unless safety issues mandate...

The company anticipates the unit will re-synchronize to the grid quickly. - By Stephen Heiser - Unit 6 at the Bruce B generating station disconnected from the grid because of a turbine trip during Hydro One testing of protection relays. While there was noise and steam coming from the station all systems were operating and continue to operate as designed. The company anticipates the unit will...

"We welcome Finland’s ongoing and generous support to NNSA’s nuclear nonproliferation programs," said NNSA Administrator Thomas D'Agostino. "This contribution underscores the cooperation between our two countries to strengthen global efforts to secure vulnerable nuclear material around the world, prevent nuclear smuggling and keep dangerous nuclear materials out of the...

The contract covers dismantling and segmentation of the reactor vessel internals, including the up-front engineering studies. It also includes plant modifications, equipment supply, and loading of primary and secondary waste, respectively, into multipurpose canisters for the activated material, and into dedicated containers for low- and intermediate-level waste. Westinghouse will be the lead contractor...

Based in Wilmington, N.C., GNF is a GE-led joint venture with Hitachi Ltd. and Toshiba Corporation. GNF is the nuclear industry’s leading fabricator and supplier of boiling water reactor (BWR) fuel and services - By Linton Levy - With more utilities seeking to boost the output of their existing nuclear power plants to generate more low-carbon electricity, Global Nuclear Fuel-Americas (GNF...

The press release issued by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is a normal and expected part of the design certification process, and AREVA already has begun addressing the issues raised in the communication. In fact, these issues already have been widely discussed in the media and are old news. We do not expect this issue to have a significant effect on the development of U.S. EPR technology...

Electricity generation from nuclear power increases from about 2.6 trillion kilowatthours in 2007 to a projected 3.6 trillion kilowatthours in 2020 and then to 4.5 trillion kilowatthours in 2035. Higher future prices for fossil fuels make nuclear power economically competitive with generation from coal, natural gas, and liquid fuels, despite the relatively high capital costs of nuclear power plants...

International Isotopes Fluorine Products Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of International Isotopes Inc., submitted an application Dec. 30, 2009, for a license to construct, operate and eventually decommission a fluorine-extraction and uranium deconversion plant in Lea County. The plant would process depleted uranium hexafluoride tails from the enrichment of uranium for production of commercial nuclear...

Alternate Energy Holdings, Inc. Secures Superior Backup Site to Elmore County - By Linton Levy - Alternate Energy Holdings, Inc. (AEHI), an independent developer of large-scale nuclear and green energy projects, including nuclear power plants and nuclear desalination reactors, has announced a purchase agreement on a new backup site for a proposed nuclear power plant in Payette County, Idaho....

The IST facility will include a scaled prototype of the B&W mPower reactor that will undergo extensive testing. All of the technical features of the B&W mPower integral reactor are included in the IST, although the source of energy is electric rather than nuclear. This three-year initiative will collect data to verify the reactor design and safety performance, supporting B&W’s licensing...

The rule would also modify the existing possession and use requirements for the general license to possess source material. Current NRC regulations allow commercial and industrial firms, research, education and medical institutions, and federal, state and local government agencies to use and transfer up to 15 pounds of source material at any one time, and up to 150 pounds in any one calendar year ...

Executive Management Changes, Transition Plan Announced at Southern Company - By Mark McFadden - Southern Company Chairman, President and CEO David M. Ratcliffe has announced that he will retire December 1. As part of the company's succession and management transition plan, Ratcliffe also announced a number of executive appointments. Thomas A. Fanning, 53, currently the company's chief...

Modeling, Experimentation and Validation Summer School returns to Idaho Falls - Edited by April Murelio - The Modeling, Experimentation and Validation (MeV) Summer School at the Idaho State University (ISU) Center for Higher Education runs from July 20 to 29. It will feature lectures from experts in nuclear engineering and safety analysis. Professional nuclear engineers and college students come...

Passage of the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill will be a key test of Singh's ability to advance his agenda, which has wobbled since winning elections last May. The bill aims to restrict compensation in the event of an accident and will allow U.S. companies, including General Electric Co., to bid for contracts. - Edited by April Murelio - According to a Bloomberg report, Indian Prime...

"The recent $8.3 million order from the French nuclear power plant utility (Electricité de France, EDF) for Ceradyne Boron Products' boron-ten (B10) nuclear absorbing isotope is anticipated to be an order in a series of procurements, not only in France but also the U.S., China, Japan and other countries. We view the proprietary nuclear waste containment and other nuclear chemicals produced...

Our employees took the proper action to stop the leak and safely repair the tank,” said Dave Wozniak, LaSalle Station site vice president. “We evaluated the structural integrity of the storage tank using ultrasonic testing equipment, so we could be certain that our team’s actions were successful. There was never a threat to public or employee health or safety - By Stephen Heiser...

France is one of the least CO2-intensive industrialised economies, thanks to the substantial role that nuclear power plays in its energy mix. Praising France for its commitment to the development of commercial nuclear power in its efforts to combat climate change - By April Murelio - The International Energy Agency (IEA) commends France’s efforts to increasingly adapt its energy policy...

Uranium Resources, Inc. (URI) has one of the largest uranium holdings in the United States, New Mexico has the largest uranium resource base in the country, domestic uranium production supplies less than 10% of U.S. nuclear power plant fuel needs - By Stephen Heiser - Uranium Resources, Inc. (URI) has reported on its plan of action for advancing its Churchrock project; having received the recent...

Nuclear Operations: Generation’s nuclear fleet, including its owned output from the Salem Generating Station, produced 35,035 gigawatt-hours (GWh) in the second quarter of 2010, compared with 34,995 GWh in the second quarter of 2009. The Exelon-operated nuclear plants achieved a 94.8 percent capacity factor for the second quarter of 2010 compared with 93.9 percent for the second quarter of 2009...

The Uranium Aluminum line is part of NFS's Blended Low-Enriched Uranium Preparation Facility, which processes various forms of high-enriched uranium into low-enriched forms suitable for use in commercial facilities - Source NRC - U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission officials have scheduled a public meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 3 to discuss their decision to authorize resumed operations on another...

“We hope to sign the agreement with Washington soon and Jordan is on the way to sign an agreement with the Japanese government,” Hassan said, according to a Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation statement. - Edited by April Murelio - According to a report in The Jordan Times, nuclear cooperation talks between Jordan and the US are ongoing, with an agreement expected “within...

- By Stephen Heiser - A delegation of French Parliamentarians visited the Olkiluoto 3 construction site, in Finland, on July 8. The group was composed of members from different political parties, all having the same goal: to develop and promote the French Nuclear Industry. "Olkiluoto 3 is a master piece of the French nuclear high technology" concluded Jean-Paul Anciaux, one of the...