How to Refuel a Nuclear Power Plant During a Pandemic

To swap out the spent uranium rods, hundreds of technicians from around the country must work in close quarters for weeks. That’s a challenge during a quarantine. EACH SPRING, NEARLY 1,000 highly specialized technicians from around the US descend on the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station near Phoenix, Arizona, to refuel one of the plant’s three nuclear …

Is the long-awaited supply shock finally here for uranium?

Canada’s Cameco this week announced it was shuttering Cigar Lake, the world’s largest uranium mine, for at least four weeks after directives from the Canadian and Saskatchewan provincial governments. The Canadians are concerned about the use of fly-in, fly-out workers while COVID-19 is spreading. Meanwhile, Namibia, a key supplier of uranium to China’s nuclear fleet, …

Russia drafts strategy for low-carbon development : Energy & Environment – World Nuclear News

Russia’s Ministry for Economic Development last week published a draft strategy for low-carbon development to 2050. The strategy’s basic scenario would see nuclear output grow from 203 TWh in 2017 to 225 TWh in 2030 and 260 TWh in 2050. The ministry said the strategy, which is open to comments until 10 April, is aimed at …

Uranium bucks weak commodity trend

The collapse in economic activity from the coronavirus pandemic has hit the price of most industrial metals and minerals, but uranium is bucking the trend. The price of the radioactive material, used in nuclear power stations to generate electricity, has risen 14 per cent in the past two weeks to $27 per pound, breaking out of …

Namibia Halts Mining Operations to Curb Spread of Covid-19

Namibia halted mining and quarrying operations to curb the spread of the Covid-19 outbreak, according to Minister of Mines and Energy Tom Alweendo. The semi-arid southwest African nation is the world’s top producer of marine diamonds and the fifth-biggest of uranium. While minimal operations and critical maintenance work will be allowed, employers should ensure that …

COVID-19 impacts nuclear industry worldwide

With world economies dramatically impacted by the COVID-19 virus nuclear operators considering their options. United States In the USA, Maria Korsnick, president of the Nuclear Energy Institute told the New York Times that some operating reactors are “considering measures to isolate a core group to run the plant, stockpiling ready-to-eat meals and disposable tableware, laundry …

US low-carbon power seeks way past pandemic

The USA’s clean energy sectors have outlined the government support they need to get through the COVID-19 pandemic. Associations representing the nuclear, hydro, solar and wind energy industries have all written to Federal leaders for help. The Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) has written to Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette, requesting assistance to ensure continued nuclear operations …