Macron’s Plan for New Nuclear Reactors Sparks Hiring Drive

Macron’s call for six new plants sparks push for more staff Industry needs to train more welders, electricians, engineers The French nuclear industry, already grappling with the maintenance of its fleet of aging reactors, needs to recruit as many as 15,000 employees annually as President Emmanuel Macron pushes for at least six new plants to …

EU Commissioner outlines ‘new conversation’ on nuclear

The conversation around nuclear energy in Europe has shifted and its future now looks very bright, although there are still challenges to overcome, according to EU Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson. She called for policy-makers, industry and technology leaders to work together to turn opportunity into reality. Opening the 15th European Nuclear Energy Forum, which …

German lawmakers OK delay in switching off nuclear plants

German lawmakers have approved a plan to keep the country’s three remaining nuclear power plants until mid-April German lawmakers have approved a plan to keep the country’s three remaining nuclear power plants until mid-April, extending their life beyond the originally planned shut-off at the end of this year. The lower house of parliament voted 375-216 …

US DOE announces funding for HALEU demonstration

Centrifuge casings at the Piketon HALEU demonstration facility (Image: Centrus) The USD150 million cost-shared award will see a Centrus Energy Corp subsidiary demonstrate US ability to produce high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) for advanced reactors, with an enrichment cascade producing up to 20 kg of HALEU in operation by the end of next year. The award …

Romania secures $3 billion US funding for two nuclear reactors

File photo. A vessel passes by the Cernavoda nuclear powerplant, in background, while navigating on the Danube-Black Sea channel, near Cernavoda city at 170 km south-east from Bucharest, Monday 25 August 2003. [Robert Ghement/EPA/EFE] Romania announced Wednesday (9 November) that the United States will provide funding worth more than $3 billion for the construction of …

‘Nuclear is Making a Strong Comeback’, IEA’s Birol Tells IAEA Director General Grossi at IAEA COP27 Event

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi spoke with Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), at the IAEA event, ‘Affordability, Resilience and Security of Energy Supply’, which took place that the IAEA-led COP27 #Atoms4Climate pavilion. (Photo: IAEA) IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi led a panel of officials from around the world in …

At COP27, nuclear power industry vies for bigger role in decarbonizing planet

Nuclear energy supporters including politicians and activists sought to polish the industry’s spotty image on Wednesday, using the COP27 climate summit in Egypt to argue that atomic power offers a safe and cost-efficient way to decarbonize the world. Rising concerns about the swift pace of climate change and tight power supplies around the globe have softened some …

Nuclear power to account for up to 35 pct of energy mix, minister says

Nuclear power will ultimately make up 30-35 percent of Poland’s energy mix while the rest will mostly come from the renewable energy sources, the development and technology minister has said. Waldemar Buda told the Republika TV station on Tuesday that “in 10-12 years our energy mix will look completely different from today.” “A nuclear power …

Macron praises ‘ambitious cooperation’ with Sunak on nuclear energy in huge boost for UK

France is a nuclear energy giant, normally generating 70 percent of its electricity from this power source French President Emmanuel Macron had pledged to engage in “ambitious cooperation” with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on nuclear energy amid fears that fuel imports from Russia will plummet this winter. In their first meeting since Mr Sunak replaced shortest-ever UK leader Liz Truss, the …

Canadian Government Recognises Nuclear as Clean Energy

The federal government’s inclusion of small modular reactors (SMRs) amongst clean energy technologies eligible for a new investment tax credit has been greeted as a clear signal that it considers nuclear power to be “clean energy” on a par with all other low-carbon technologies. The 2022 Fall Economic Statement was released on 3 November by Deputy Prime …