Nuclear groups propose ‘stepwise’ approach to increased regulatory efficiency

A new joint report from World Nuclear Association, the Nuclear Energy Institute and the Canadian Nuclear Association proposes regulatory steps which can be taken to minimise the time and cost for large-scale deployment of a fleet of standardised reactor designs that are acceptable in multiple countries around the world. The report, A Framework for International Regulatory …

Environmental permit granted for first Polish plant

Poland’s General Director for Environmental Protection (GDOŚ) has issued to Polskie Elektrownie Jadrowe (PEJ) its decision on the environmental conditions for the construction of a nuclear power plant in the province of Pomerania. PEJ, the Polish government company that is progressing its policy to deploy up to six reactors at multiple sites in the country …

Italian government begins discussions on clean nuclear power

The Italian government has launched the National Platform for Sustainable Nuclear Power, which will lead within nine months to developing guidelines for possibly reintroducing nuclear power among national energy sources. Thursday (21 September) saw the first meeting of the National Platform for a Sustainable Nuclear, set up by the government to define a time frame …

Why uranium prices are soaring

Conflicts and resurgent demand combine to radioactive effect When russia invaded Ukraine, panic gripped Europe’s nuclear experts—the civilian variety, that is. Ukraine, where 15 reactors relied on Russia for their uranium, rushed to sign an unusually long 12-year deal with Canada. European utilities, also reliant on Russia, drew the maximum they could under other contracts. Most …

New nuclear may be delayed by uncertain fuel supplies

Many of the new nuclear reactors under development are designed to run on uranium at enrichments as high as 15%-19.75%, known as high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU), rather than traditional Light Water Reactor (LWR) technology, which typically uses uranium enriched to 3%-5%. The only commercial source of HALEU, however, is Russia. The invasion of Ukraine, and Russia’s …

Canada offers CAD3 billion finance for nuclear in Romania

The Canadian Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Jonathan Wilkinson has announced CAD3 billion (USD2.2 billion) of export financing to Nuclearelectrica to support the building of two CANDU-6 reactors at the Cernavoda nuclear power plant in Romania. The agreement was announced by Wilkinson alongside Sebastian Burduja, Romania’s Energy Minister, in Ottowa. He said it would …