Challenges and changes at Kazatomprom

NAC Kazatomprom has changed its strategy to be more responsive to prevailing market conditions, CEO Galymzhan Pirmatov told delegates attending the World Nuclear Association Symposium 2018 in London today. Over the past 20 years the Kazakh uranium producer has transformed from a small uranium company to the largest uranium producer in the world, and diversified …

Japan’s Kyushu Electric may restrict renewable energy supplies after nuclear ramp-up

Kyushu Electric Power Co may start restricting third-party supplies of solar energy after it restarts a fourth nuclear reactor, the company said on Wednesday, underscoring the risks to a government push to boost renewable energy. Japan’s fifth-biggest utility by sales plans to restart the No. 2 reactor at its Sendai station later on Wednesday, giving …

Japanese nuclear power companies in talks over alliance

Four of Japan’s biggest nuclear operators and plant builders have started talks on a potential partnership in atomic energy, as the sector struggles to reboot in the wake of the Fukushima disaster seven years ago, a source said on Wednesday. Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc (Tepco) (9501.T), Hitachi Ltd (6501.T), Toshiba (6502.T) and Chubu …

2017 “exceptional” for India Department of Atomic Energy

The public sector undertakings and industrial units of India’s Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) performed “exceptionally well” in 2017, DAE chairman and secretary Sekhar Basu said at celebrations marking the 71st anniversary of Indian independence on 15 August. Nuclear generator Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd’s (NPCIL’s) 2017 profit of INR3367 crore (USD482 million) was …

China’s plan to become a nuclear energy powerhouse

If China achieves the targets outlined in its Energy Development Strategy Action Plan, it will become the world’s nuclear energy leader and fundamentally change the global trajectory of the nuclear power industry. The big picture: It’s not a foregone conclusion that China will follow through on its plans, especially with the public resistance stemming from the …

China promoting own technical standards to aid nuclear push overseas

China’s State Council said it would promote the use of China’s nuclear industry’s independent technological standards worldwide, aiming to play “a leading role” in the global standardization process by 2027. Its two major nuclear project developers, China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) and the China General Nuclear Project Corporation (CGN), are jointly promoting an advanced third-generation …

National Defense Authorization Act orders DOE to study deploying micro-reactors

The National Defense Authorization Act, recently passed by Congress, includes language directing the Secretary of Energy to develop a pilot program and report on the possibility of deploying micro-reactors at national security facilities. The report would identify the best locations for micro-reactors to secure power generation for Department of Defense (DOD) and Department of Energy …

Plotting Japan’s Energy Future

Japan confirms role of renewables and nuclear as the 5th Strategic Energy Plan is approved by the Japanese Cabinet. On July 3, the Cabinet of the Japanese government approved the country’s 5th Strategic Energy Plan after receiving the final draft the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). The plan is significant as it sets forth …