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produced in many experiments, but without so far generating useable energy, WFO says. Experts have come up with different designs and magnet based machines in which fusion takes place, including stellarators and tokamaks, but also approaches that rely on lasers, linear devices and advanced fuels were under consideration. Information on more than 140 fusion devices worldwide, both public and private, either in operation, under construction or being planned, is available in the IAEA Fusion Device Information System (FusDIS).
Czech Republic New fuel for Dukovany Unit 4 of the Dukovany NPP in the Czech Republic has been shut down for refuelling. Besides fuel replacement, unit 4 will undergo regular repair and maintenance. Plant spokesman Jiri Bezdek said the unit will use for the first time new-generation fuel. Technicians will remove all 349 fuel assemblies from the reactor. Once the servicing is complete, they will return some of the used fuel and 78 fresh fuel assemblies to the reactor. The new assemblies will contain PK3+ fuel, which is designed to make the use of uranium in the fuel more efficient, Bezdek said. “The new fuel type is one of the results of
our efforts to continuously improve the safety, reliability and efficiency of operation of both our NPPs,” said Bohdan Zronek, a board member of power company CEZ and head of the nuclear power division.
The new fuel is supplied by Russian fuel
company TVEL. However, Zronek noted that CEZ, the operator of both the Dukovany and Temelin NPPs, is diversifying its fuel suppliers and is also expanding its storage capacity so that the plant can have fuel in stock for almost five years. Earlier this year, CEZ has agreed that future fuel supplies would be provided US company Westinghouse with deliveries expected to begin in 2024.
France Orano expanding Georges Besse II The Board of Directors of France’s Orano has approved investment for the project to extend the production capacity of the Georges Besse II (GB-II) uranium enrichment plant on the Tricastin site (Drôme et Vaucluse). With a projected investment of €1.7bn ($1.8bn), this will enable Orano to increase production capacities by more than 30%, corresponding to 2.5m SWU (separative work units). The project consists of building a further
four modules identical to the 14 existing modules with the same technology and with a reduced environmental footprint. During the construction phase, the project will mobilise up to 1,000 people, with a large proportion of those involved being from companies based in the region. Claude Imauven, Orano Board Chairman, said the purpose was to strengthen Western
energy sovereignty in France. “Orano’s decision responds to requirements expressed by our customers to strengthen their security of supply with production expected to start up as of 2028”. François Lurin, Senior Executive Vice President for Chemistry-Enrichment Activities thanked Orano’s customers. He underlined the importance of the support of the Japan France Enrichment Investing consortium, and Korea Hydro &Nuclear Power shareholders in the Tricastin enrichment company SETH (Société d’Enrichissement du Tricastin Holding). The GB-II gas centrifuge enrichment plant, which replaced the ageing Georges Besse I gaseous diffusion enrichment plant, was opened in December 2010 and began commercial operation in April 2011. In October 2022, Orano said it had decided to increase its production capacity by 30%, which could involve an extension of the GB-II plant. The National Commission for Public Debate (CNDP - Commission Nationale du Débat Public) then announced that it was relaunching a consultation on GB-II expansion. The cost of the project was then estimated at €1.3bn. Construction of GB-II, had previously been the subject of a public debate in 2004, which considered increasing the plant’s capacities from the planned 7.5m to 11m SWU. Currently GB-II is running at full capacity to produce 7.5m SWU.
Turkiye Containment progress at Akkuyu The fourth tier of the internal containment (VZO) has been completed in the reactor building of unit 3 at the Akkuyu NPP under construction in Turkiye. The VZO, which ensures the protection and tightness of the reactor compartment, consists of a steel cladding and a special concrete mixture, which is produced directly at the Akkuyu NPP construction site. The reactor buildings at the Akkuyu NPP power units are equipped with double containment. The outer protective shell is formed from reinforced concrete and designed to withstand extreme external influences including magnitude 9 earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, as well as their combinations. Akkuyu, Turkiye’s first NPP, will eventually
host four Russian-designed VVER-1200 reactors. The pouring of first concrete for unit 1 took place in April 2018, for unit 2 in June 2020, for unit 3 in March 2021, and for unit 4 in July 2022. Completion of unit 1 is expected in the third quarter of 2023. Rosatom is constructing the reactors according to a build-own-operate model. To date, the project is fully funded by the Russian side. However, Rosatom has the right to sell a share of up to 49% in the project to other investors. Under the terms of the Intergovernmental
Agreement between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Turkiye, commissioning of unit 1 should take place within seven years after receiving all necessary permits. Commissioning is formally due by 2025. ■
round up
SAFETY & SECURITY THE KRŠKO NPP in Slovenia was shut down for repair and maintenance after a leak was detected in the site’s containment building, according to nuclear utility Nuklearna Elektrarna Krško (NEK). The leak had no repercussions on employees or surrounding residents and the environment. “The shutdown is needed to determine the exact source of the leak and the measures needed to fix it,” NEK said.
COMPANY NEWS FRANCE’S ECONOMY MINISTRY has vetoed the acquisition of nuclear parts suppliers Segault and Velan SAS by US industrial machinery group Flowserve. The takeover became an issue earlier this year after Texas-based Flowserve – a major supplier of pumps, valves and other flow control products – announced plans in February to acquire Canada’s Velan – a manufacturer of industrial valves for the nuclear, cryogenic and defence markets.
NUCLEAR FUEL THE THIRD BATCH of nuclear fuel has been delivered to the Rooppur NPP under construction in Bangladesh. The fuel arrived at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on a special aircraft from Russia. Traffic movement was restricted during its transportation to the NPP.
RESEARCHERS AT THE US Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory (INL) have performed a new experiment that shows what happens to nuclear fuel when there is a loss of coolant accident. This is the first such test in the US in more than 35 years Previously similar experiments were only available in Russia.
USED FUEL JAPAN’S KANSAI ELECTRIC Power Co told Fukui Prefecture that it plans to build air-cooled dry storage facilities at NPPs in the prefecture to temporarily store used fuel. The company intends to begin operation of an interim storage facility in around 2030.
RADWASTE AN INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC Energy Agency Integrated Review Service for Radioactive Waste & Spent Fuel Management, Decommissioning & Remediation (ARTEMIS) mission has concluded the 10-day mission to Italy. The team concluded that Italian experts were aware of the challenges of safely managing the country’s radioactive waste and were committed to addressing them.
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