| NEWS BN-1200M construction Rosatom begins
Preparatory work has begun for the construction of unit 5 at Russia’s Beloyarsk NPP, which is to have a BN-1200M sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR). The event was attended by Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev. Beloyarsk 5 will be the first serial unit with a 1,200 MWe commercial SFR. It will be he largest such unit in the world once complete. First concrete is planned for 2027. It is expected that construction of the unique facility will become a driver for the development of the nearby city of Zarechny (formerly known as Penza-19). The service life of the BN-1200M will be
at least 60 years. The project uses technical solutions that have proven themselves during the operation of predecessor fast reactor power units – the BN-600 (Beloyarsk 3) and the BN-800 (Beloyarsk 4). Justification of structural materials and fuel for the BN-1200M is carried out based on the work of the BN-600. The BN-1200M will include a number of
innovations. It will have four liquid sodium circulation loops compared with three for the BN-600 and BN-800. The volume of in- reactor storage will increase in to enable fuel assemblies to be unloaded from the reactor directly into the cooling pool. The turbine condensers will be cooled by an evaporative cooling tower.
Japan Hitachi develops NPP Metaverse Japan’s Hitachi has developed a “Metaverse Platform for Nuclear Power Plants” that uses a metaverse and AI technology to streamline NPP safety enhancement, new plant construction, maintenance, and decommissioning. The platform recreates NPPs in a metaverse using high-precision point cloud data and 3D CAD data in order to enhance productivity in information sharing, schedule coordination, and asset management among stakeholders such as electric utilities and contractors. Equipment installation or modification in
NPPs requires precise planning and reliable execution to complete on-site work within the shortest possible timeframe. However, access may be restricted by regulations, limiting the frequency and duration of site surveys. In some cases, controlled zones are not accessible during operation. These constraints require extensive coordination among stakeholders, with electric utilities playing a central role in sharing information and revising work plans. Hitachi notes that, following the Fukushima
disaster, all Japan’s NPPs were shut down for extended periods. During this time, the industry experienced a wave of retirements among highly skilled and knowledgeable personnel, a
During his working visit, Likhachev signed
an agreement with the acting governor of the Sverdlovsk region, Denis Pasler, to develop master plans for three nuclear closed cities in the region – Zarechny, Novouralsk and Lesnoy. Novouralsk (formerly Sverdlovsk-44) hosts the Urals Electrochemical plant (UEKhK – Uralskii ElektroKhimicheskii Kombinat). This is a major uranium enrichment facility. Lesnoy (formerly Sverdlovsk-45) hosts ElektroKhimPribor (EKhP) which produces materials for the Russian Federation’s weapons programme, as well as medical isotopes and related equipment. The plans for the three cities are designed to improve the urban environment, develop the economy, and implement youth and social initiatives and to attract federal funding for infrastructure projects. The cooperation agreement between
Rosatom and the Government of the Sverdlovsk Region has been in force since 2013 and has become a solid foundation for a sustainable partnership aimed at developing Zarechny, Lesnoy and Novouralsk. In recent years, a number of significant projects have been implemented in these cities. Substantial resources have been mobilised for their implementation, including more than RUB10.5bn ($135m) from the regional budget. ■
decline in on-site training opportunities for new plant construction, and a shrinking labour force due to demographic changes such as an ageing population and declining birthrate. These factors have made knowledge transfer and productivity enhancement pressing challenges across the nuclear sector. Hitachi therefore developed the Metaverse
Platform for Nuclear Power Plants “to further enhance productivity by enabling accurate understanding and seamless sharing of site conditions among stakeholders, real-time schedule coordination, and reduction of rework”. It is also designed to serve as the foundation of a Data-Driven Power Plant, “which we aim to establish to address the diverse needs and challenges faced by electric utilities– such as improving equipment reliability, enhancing work management, and increasing operational efficiency–through data-driven value creation and problem-solving. This new platform embodies Lumada 3.0, which uses Hitachi’s domain knowledge and AI to convert data into value to solve challenges faced by customers and society, and was developed together with GlobalLogic as One Hitachi, integrating Hitachi’s decades-long expertise in the nuclear energy business with its Group-wide advanced digital technologies.
round up
UPGRADES FRANCE’S FRAMATOME HAS been selected by Engie subsidiary Electrabel for two major projects in Belgium: the modernisation of the Flux Monitoring System (FMS) at unit 3 of the Tihange NPP; and upgrading work at unit 4 of the Doel NPP and and Tihange 3. These contracts follow a 2023 agreement signed between Engie and the Belgian government to extend the operational lifetime of these two reactors.
PLANT OPERATION HOLTEC HAS SUBMITTED a letter to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission saying it has completed activities to transition the Palisades from decommissioning to operational status. When taken out of service in 2022, Palisades was licensed to operate until 2031. In 2024, Holtec said that it intends to apply for a subsequent licence renewal during the first quarter of 2026 to extend the operating period by a further 20 years.
SCHEDULED REPAIRS ARE underway at Russia’s floating NPP Akademik Lomonsov, which began operation in 2020 in the city of Pevek (Chukotka Autonomous District). In early July, planned repairs started at the reactor unit on the starboard side of the FNPP. These will end in September and work will then switch to the port side. The plant has two KLT-40S reactor units.
BELGIUM’S FEDERAL AGENCY for Nuclear Control (FANC – Federaal Agentschap voor Nucleaire Controle) has approved the restart of unit 3 at the Tihange NPp following a thorough analysis by FANC and its technical branch Bel V. Tihange 3 was shut down at the beginning of April for extensive maintenance and upgrades with a view to operating for 10 more years. Plant operator Engie now has three years, until September 2028, to complete the work.
THE US NUCLEAR Regulatory Commission (NRC) has approved the extended operation of Vistra’s 1,268 MWe Perry NPP tor 20 years to 2046. The plant was connected to the grid in 1986 and is currently operating under its initial 40-year licence. The company submitted its application for licence renewal in 2023.
POLICY
US-BASED WESTINGHOUSE Electric Company has signed a memorandum of understanding with Canada-based Eclipse Automation (part of Accenture) to support nuclear new-build projects in Canada and globally. Under the agreement, Eclipse has the potential to provide automation solutions for Westinghouse projects.
www.neimagazine.com | August 2025 | 7
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50
