July, 2010

The NERI and I-NERI programs have furthered DOE goals for the past decade, conducting research into many of the key technical issues that impact the expanded use of advanced nuclear energy systems. Researchers have fostered innovative ideas in advanced nuclear energy systems and nuclear hydrogen production, nuclear fuels and advanced materials, non-proliferation, and waste treatment - By Mark McFadden...

The malfunction that caused the shutdown occurred in the unit's turbine system's main steam line during regular weekly testing. As result, a malfunctioning selection switch of the isolation valves was replaced. The incident did not cause any danger to people, the power plant or the environment. - By Stephen Heiser - Fortum's Loviisa nuclear power plant's unit 1 was restarted on...

“Nuclear Materials: Current and Future Regulatory Challenges” - Prepared Remarks for The Honorable Gregory B. Jaczko, Chairman U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission at the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management, Baltimore, Maryland - Source NRC - Thank you for the introduction. I am honored to be here today at the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management’s 51st Annual Meeting...

We continue to make progress on our nuclear projects, with four units simultaneously under construction in China and additional AP1000 units planned for the future. Our quarterly earnings also have begun to show an impact from the four nuclear units we currently are building in the United States - By Linton Levy - The Shaw Group Inc. has announced financial results for the quarter ended May 31...

Aerotest Operations and X-Ray Industries submitted their license transfer request on Jan. 19, and supplemented the application on Feb. 2, March 23, April 1, and April 19 - Source NRC - The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued an Order to Aerotest Operations, current operator of the Aerotest research reactor in San Ramon, Calif., authorizing the company to transfer the reactor’s operating...

We congratulate the NSO Aviation Program, for its outstanding work, and we are proud to have programs of its caliber serving throughout the nuclear security enterprise,” said Administrator D’Agostino. “From Stockpile Stewardship to international nonproliferation efforts to emergency response, NNSA is committed to excellence in every aspect of our mission. That wouldn’t be possible...

Argentine Planning Minister Julio de Vido and the president of China National Nuclear Corp., Mao Xiaoming, agreed to an exchange of visits given the interest of the CNNC in becoming a possible provider of technology for Argentina’s next nuclear power plant. - Edited by April Murelio - According to a report in The Latin American Herald, Argentine President Cristina Fernandez was received...

Waseco had originally entered into an earn-in arrangement with UraMin Inc., which became a wholly owned subsidiary of AREVA S.A. following its acquisition in 2007. Since that time, AREVA has funded over $2 Million in exploration on the properties which included extensive airborne geophysics and two years of field work, including an initial regional drill program in 2009, which focussed on the Du Portage...

Virginia Senator Leading the Charge in Congress for Expanded Nuclear Technologies - By April Murelio - Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) has joined Virginia-based Babcock & Wilcox Nuclear Energy, Inc., (B&W NE) and Bechtel Power Corporation to announce a formal alliance to design, license and deploy a commercially viable Generation III++ small modular nuclear power plant. Since joining the Senate...

As a more practical clean energy option for power generation, the 125 megawatt B&W mPower SMR development program underway for the past two years has already gained wide recognition for its substantial electric utility involvement, cost competitiveness and innovative design - By Linton Levy - Babcock & Wilcox Nuclear Energy, Inc., (B&W NE) and Bechtel Power Corporation have announced...

Six TVA employees this year have received Technology Transfer Awards from the Electric Power Research Institute -- an independent, nonprofit research organization -- for their collaborative efforts tackling big challenges facing the electric utility industry - By Linton Levy - From air quality monitoring to advancing the power grid, the Tennessee Valley Authority is sharing its scientific insights...

Among the proposed revisions to the guidance document are increasing the involvement of offsite response organizations in developing protective action strategies, considering staged evacuation as the initial protective action at a General Emergency, the highest emergency classification level, and increasing the use of shelter-in-place for certain accident scenarios - Source NRC - At the request...

CGNPC said in a statement it will use the proceeds to repay bank loans and replenish working capital. China Development Bank Corp. and Bank of China Ltd. are the main underwriters of the deal, China Guangdong Nuclear said. - By Mark McFadden - According to a Dow Jones report, Nuclear power producer China Guangdong Nuclear Power Holding Co., Ltd. (CGNPC) has announced that it will sell CNY5.7...

Decision Fueled by Rapid Progress Towards Local Approval for Idaho Nuclear Reactor, Growing World-wide Interest in Green World Water Desalinization Reactor, and MOU With Small Modular Reactor Maker Hyperion - By April Murelio - Alternate Energy Holdings, Inc. has announced that the company is preparing for a move to a senior U.S. stock exchange in response to rapid progress towards local approval...

My views on the approach this Administration has chosen to take when it comes to terminating Yucca Mountain and setting the mission of the Blue Ribbon Commission are well known. The Commission was formed so that the Obama Administration could put off decisions about nuclear waste and spent nuclear fuel until after November, while at the same time illegally acting to shut down the national repository...

The Joint Action Plan agreed to in October 2009 by the Energy Partnership’s co-chairmen, Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel Poneman and Minister of Oil and Gas (then Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources) Sauat Mynbayev, focuses U.S.-Kazakhstani cooperation under the Energy Partnership in four areas: nuclear security and nuclear energy; oil and gas; renewable energy and energy efficiency; and...

Guangdong Taishan is China’s first nuclear power plant to use third-generation nuclear reactor technology, making it more fuel efficient. The plant is scheduled to begin operation in 2013 as part of China’s initiative to reduce carbon emissions by replacing coal with nuclear-based power for a portion of the country’s growing energy demands - By Stephen Heiser - Dresser Masoneilan...

The U.S. nuclear industry has made considerable progress in the reliability of new nuclear units over the past five years. However, utilities and merchant power companies face a growing struggle of how to fund the increasing total cost of large new nuclear units. The sheer size of the investment is turning into the biggest challenge, not the cost per kilowatt - Edited by April Murelio - Bob Coward...

The over-allotment option was granted in conjunction with the Company’s public offering of 23,809,500 shares completed on June 25, 2010. With the exercise of the over-allotment option, a total of 27,142,830 shares of common stock were sold in the offering with net proceeds to URI of approximately $10.4 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses...

NRC inspectors reviewed licensee performance at AREVA’s Lynchburg facility from April 26, 2008, through April 24, 2010, in the areas of Safety Operations, Radiological Controls, Facility Support, Safeguards and Special Topics. The review found that AREVA continued to conduct its activities safely and securely, and did not identify any specific areas needing improvement. - Source NRC - The...

"The bodies in charge of carrying out the Egyptian nuclear program are currently studying the after-2025 stages as the issue of setting up four nuclear plants before this date has already been decided and there is no way to retreat from establishing any of the four plants," the country's El-Shorouk daily newspaper quoted the minister as saying. - Edited by April Murelio - According...

Japan and France agreed to promote bilateral cooperation in developing "high-level" nuclear power technologies, the leaders of the two countries said. - Edited by April Murelio - According to a report by the Kyodo News, Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan and French Prime Minister Francois Fillon shared the view that the two countries should put up a united front against emerging low...

Enriched Boric Acid is designed into the EPR as the primary coolant additive for rate of reaction control. Isotopically enriched boric acid increases criticality control, achieves higher levels of long-term control, reduces the corrosion effect and reduces operator exposure to radiation. - By Linton Levy - Ceradyne Boron Products, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ceradyne, has announced a contract...

GE and Doosan have collaborated in nuclear and fossil steam turbine and generator projects since 1976, resulting in more than 19 gigawatts of fossil and 14 gigawatts of nuclear installed capacity in South Korea. Most recently, the two companies have designed and are producing what will be the largest output, 1,455-megawatt, nuclear steam turbine and generator in a 60-hertz application - By Chris...

Federal Emergency Management Agency Will Evaluate Readiness Of Virginia Atomic Power Plant - By April Murelio - The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency will evaluate a Biennial Emergency Preparedness Exercise at the North Anna Power Station. The week-long exercise, which will run this week, will test the ability of the Commonwealth of Virginia to respond...