Greetings Grecia!

In this week’s issue, we reflect on the recent state of play in international nuclear energy policy as examined through PGS President Ken Luongo’s recent podcast discussions. We spotlight the ground-breaking of Kairos Power’s fluoride salt-cooled high-temperature demonstration reactor at the Oak Ridge nuclear site in Tennessee. Finally, we highlight key nuclear technology, security, and geopolitical developments, reports, and analyses.

This issue of Nuclear News and Views was produced by PGS Program Director, Patrick Kendall, and Della Ratta Energy and Global Security Fellow, Emily Day.

PGS News and Views is taking a Summer holiday. Please look for the next issue in mid-September.

PGS President Ken Luongo has made two recent podcast appearances discussing recent trends in the global nuclear market and their impact on international geopolitics and global security. Mr. Luongo noted in his discussion with the Global America Business Institute (GABI) that in response to Russia’s rise as a prominent nuclear technology exporter and its invasion of Ukraine, the United States and its allies are making strides to rejuvenate their domestic nuclear and export opportunities as well as limit dependence on Russian fuel. Mr. Luongo also raised concerns that the United States and its allies are not adequately prepared to compete with Russia and China on small reactor technology exports to developing nations, despite the significant American financial investment in next-generation reactors. During his podcast with Gener8, Luongo shared his perspective on how Russian aggression in Ukraine and Russia’s outsized role in the global uranium supply chain has caused many U.S. policymakers to rethink their strategy. Additionally, the podcast discussed where U.S. funding in the uranium sector might be applied and whether it will be enough to substitute for the United States’ dependence on Russian uranium and nuclear fuel. These developments underscore the need for the United States to develop a comprehensive funding, policy, and deployment strategy in order to prevent Russia and China from the controlling the 21^st Century’s expanding global nuclear market.

Patrick Kendall, Program Director, Partnership for Global Security

Spotlight

Kairos Power has announced the start of site work and excavation for the Hermes Low-Power Demonstration Reactor, the first non-light-water reactor to be permitted in the United States in over 50 years. The Hermes demonstration reactor is a non-power version of Kairos Power’s fluoride salt-cooled high temperature reactor, and it is also the first Generation IV reactor to date to be approved for construction by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Its primary objective will be to demonstrate the ability to produce affordable nuclear heat as opposed to generating electricity. However, the subsequently planned Hermes 2 power plant is expected to produce electricity. The Hermes project is a joint effort between Kairos Power and several other companies and national laboratories, with the NRC issuing a construction permit for the project last December.

Patrick Kendall, Program Director, Partnership for Global Security

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi published his latest update on the situation in Ukraine and the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. Grossi stated that while experts stationed at the Zaporizhzhia site have been focusing on monitoring maintenance activities, agency teams at other nuclear plant sites in Ukraine say that nuclear safety and security is being maintained despite the ongoing conflict. Grossi added that regular and comprehensive maintenance is essential at all of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants, although that task has been more difficult to implement since Russia’s invasion.

The United States is collaborating with Ukraine to develop a future energy grid that includes safe nuclear power technologies and renewables. Ukraine has experienced significant power shortages and blackouts due to Russian attacks on its power plants, losing half its generating capacity. The planned roadmap aims to enhance Ukraine's energy security and includes potential projects like micro-reactors, small modular reactors (SMR), and distributed solar and wind generation with battery storage.

The IAEA warned about the severe hardships faced by staff at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station due to ongoing military conflict. A recent power outage and water shortage in Enerhodar, where most plant employees live, have exacerbated an already stressful situation, with no tap water available in some buildings at the Zaporizhzhia site. Despite these challenges, the plant's six reactors remain in cold shutdown, receiving necessary electricity and cooling water from remaining offsite power lines and groundwater wells.

The United States and Singapore signed a 123 nuclear cooperation agreement to deepen collaboration on the peaceful use of nuclear energy. This agreement supports Singapore's exploration of nuclear power to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and grants access to U.S. nuclear energy technologies and expertise. The pact, signed by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, will be reviewed by the U.S. Congress and is expected to come into force by the end of 2024.

The United States and Ghana launched Africa’s first regional Clean Energy Training Center to support the development of civil nuclear energy programs across the continent. Through the training center, the United States will offer additional technical expertise and training to African partners on topics such as workforce capacity building, reactor design and operation, and the management of spent nuclear fuel. The training center also builds upon previous nuclear collaboration between Ghana and the United States, including a virtual program hosted by the United States that covered the fundamentals of civilian nuclear power programs.

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) has begun contract negotiations for at least two new nuclear power units in the Czech Republic, following their selection as the preferred bidder. The Czech government had initially tendered for one new unit at Dukovany with potential for three more, but later expanded the tender to binding offers for up to four units, emphasizing cost savings. The negotiations aim to finalize contracts by March 2025, with test operations of the first unit targeted for 2036 and commercial operation by 2038.

French utility Électricité de France (EDF) signed an agreement with Italian subsidiary Edison, equipment firms Ansaldo Energia and Ansaldo Nucleare, and the steelmakers' industry body Federacciai to explore joint nuclear energy investments. The memorandum of understanding aims to promote the construction of small modular reactors (SMR) and facilitate the transmission of nuclear energy from France to Italy over the next decade. This collaboration seeks to support decarbonization efforts in the steel industry and enhance Italy's energy independence by developing a national supply chain for nuclear energy.

British fusion energy developer First Light Fusion hosted a delegation from the Japanese government to discuss cooperation on fusion commercialization at the private and public sector level. As part of First Light’s commercial fusion strategy, it will seek to leverage its unique amplifier technology by joining forces with driver capabilities and nuclear engineering companies. The Japanese and British governments have sought to strengthen their collaboration in the development of nuclear fusion, with First Light previously attending an event in May that brought together British and Japanese fusion industries and representatives from both governments.

The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and the Korea Ship & Offshore Plant Research Institute (KRISO) are collaborating to advance the commercialization of small modular reactor (SMR)-powered ships and floating SMR power generation platforms. ABS will provide analysis of regulatory guidelines and international standards, while KRISO will focus on developing core technologies, including conceptual designs and safety frameworks. This partnership aims to leverage modern nuclear technologies to achieve zero-carbon emissions in the maritime sector and establish global standards for the commercial use of SMRs.

Armenia plans to replace its aging Soviet-era Metsamor nuclear reactor by 2036 and is currently engaged in talks with countries including the United States and Russia. Armenian Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan announced that discussions with the U.S. on using small modular reactors (SMR) are in a "substantive phase," which could signal a significant U.S.-Armenia energy partnership. To meet Metsamor’s 2036 deadline, construction of a replacement reactor would need to start between 2025 and 2027.

Framatome and Slovenské elektrárne announced a major contract for the long-term supply of nuclear fuel to Slovakia's Bohunice and Mochovce VVER reactors starting in 2027. This agreement follows a Memorandum of Understanding signed in May 2023, marking a significant step in their cooperation. The contract aims to diversify Slovakia's fuel supply, ensuring the safe and reliable operation of its nuclear power plants and reducing dependency on non-European imports.

Turkey is reportedly leaning towards partnering with Russia's state-owned utility Rosatom for its second nuclear plant, Sinop, a proposed four-reactor facility on the Black Sea coast. Turkey’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, indicated that Rosatom's experience and investment in Turkey, especially with the commissioning of the Akkuyu nuclear plant, make it a strong candidate. While negotiations with South Korea and U.S.-based Westinghouse Electric Co. are ongoing, the potential partnership with Rosatom aligns with Turkey's goal to add 20 gigawatts of nuclear capacity by 2050, despite international concerns over reliance on Russian energy.

China has begun construction for two new Hualong One nuclear nuclear units: unit 5 at the Ningde Nuclear Power Plant and unit 1 at the Shidaowan Plant. First concrete was poured for the nuclear islands of both Ningde 5 and Shidaowan 1 on July 28. The Ningde Nuclear Power Plant currently comprises four CPR-1000 reactors, and the Shidaowan Plant is already home to the demonstration High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor Pebble Bed Module (HTR-PM) which entered commercial operation in December 2023.

The United Kingdom’s government has launched a competition for funding up to £70 million ($90 million) to support the development of a commercial high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) deconversion facility in the country. The HALEU deconversion competition forms part of the United Kingdom’s £300 million HALEU program, which was launched with the aim of delivering a HALEU capability by 2031. An initial oxide HALEU deconversion facility is set to be operational in 2031, with an initial capacity to process at least 10,000 kilograms of enriched uranium per year. The recent change in government in the U.K. has not impacted the nation’s nuclear energy plans.

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) President & CEO Joo-hoo Whang gave the opening plenary speech at the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management (INMM). In his speech, Whang mentioned that nuclear power is becoming more crucial in responding to climate change and ensuring security, and added that in order to overcome ongoing challenges, we must expand the cooperation efforts between the Korean and U.S. nuclear power sectors, including joint policy research for the advancement of nonproliferation, promotion of collaborative work for stable nuclear fuel supply chains, and joint research and development projects.

A group of 18 European companies, led by Poland’s Orlen Synthos Green Energy (OSGE), has applied to the European Industrial Alliance for Small Modular Reactors to establish a working group dedicated to the implementation of GE Hitachi Nuclear’s BWRX-300 SMR technology. The working group aims to coordinate and accelerate efforts to construct BWRX-300 SMRs in European Union countries, with specific objectives including the standardization of the technology licensing process in the European Union and maximizing the participation of EU suppliers in a jointly developed European supply chain. The European Industrial Alliance for SMRs aims to deploy SMR technology by the early 2030s.

Egypt reported on construction progress for its El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant. The core catcher for unit 3 is now on site, and Russian nuclear agency Rosatom reported that 75% of the blankets to be used for unit 1’s reactor equipment has been produced. The El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant will consist of four Russian-designed VVER-1200 units, with Rosatom supplying nuclear fuel for the power plant’s entire life cycle. El Dabaa will be Egypt’s first nuclear power plant and the first one to be built in Africa since South Africa’s Koeberg power plant was built nearly 40 years ago.

The South Korean government will invest $866 million to develop nuclear fusion reactors and related infrastructure. The Ministry of Science & ICT announced that the investment over 10 years aims to develop nuclear fusion reactor components through a public-private partnership and establish a private-led industrial fusion energy ecosystem. The government will also promote a project for innovating fusion engineering supporting the development of core components such as diverters and breeding blankets, with artificial intelligence being used to develop the standard operating technology.

The Indian government announced plans to partner with the private sector to develop small modular reactors (SMR) in its 2024-2025 budget. Towards this pursuit, the government will work with the project sector for setting up Bharat SMRs, research and development of the Bharat reactors, and research and development of newer technologies for nuclear energy. India currently has 23 operable nuclear reactors with seven additional units currently under construction, and Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman said that nuclear energy will be a very significant part of the government’s strategy to make India into a developed nation by 2047.

Researchers at Tsinghua University in China have successfully demonstrated a meltdown-proof nuclear fission reactor that is passively cooled and uses natural cooling methods. One such design is a high-temperature reactor with a pebble-bed module that can cool down without an external source. The twin reactor design is one of many that China has been developing and deploying in recent years.

French nuclear company Orano published an update of their activities and business in Niger following the recent military coup. Orano’s operating income in Niger has decreased from €260 million in 2023 to €12 million in 2024, but Orano also confirmed that its financial outlook for 2024 is generally positive and the company wants to continue discussions with Niger about resuming the Imouraren project. involvement in Niger’s uranium industry dates back decades, but the current government recently withdrew Orano’s license for its Imouraren uranium mine earlier this year.

Romania’s Nuclearelectrica and project company RoPower Nuclear signed the Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) Phase 2 contract with Fluor Corporation for the Doicesti small modular reactor (SMR) project. Under the FEED 2 contract, Fluor will provide RoPower Nuclear with the design and engineering services required for the implementation of the project, at the end of which there will be an updated cost estimate and schedule as well as the safety and security analyses needed for a final investment decision. Romania’s SMR project is aiming for 462 MW installed capacity using NuScale technology with six modules at the former coal plant site at Doicesti.

Électricité de France (EDF) CEO Luc Rémont updated his company’s nuclear energy ambitions during a presentation on its latest financial results. Rémont proposed a target of 70 months to build future EDF nuclear reactors, a faster timeline than previous plans for 9 years of construction. In addition to this proposal, Rémont added that EDF’s debt shrank €200 million from 2023. However, falling electricity prices pose a challenge to EDF’s planned investment in as many as fourteen new nuclear reactors in France between now and 2035-2040.

Unit 1 of Taiwan’s Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant has been taken offline and will be decommissioned following the expiry of its 40-year operating license later this year. State-run Taiwan Power Company (Taipower) submitted an application to the Atomic Energy Council to shut down the two-unit Maanshan power plant in 2021, with unit 2’s license set to expire in 2025. Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government has pledged to phase out nuclear power by 2025.

Rolls-Royce SMR cleared the second step in the United Kingdom’s nuclear regulators’ Generic Design Assessment (GDA). The GDA process evaluates new nuclear power plant designs proposed for deployment in the United Kingdom, ensuring that the designs meet safety, security, and environmental protection requirements throughout their lifecycle. Rolls-Royce SMR will now proceed to the final phase of the assessment on its way to become the first nuclear power station designed and constructed in the United Kingdom in decades.

The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation into whether public support that Belgium plans to grant for the lifetime of its two nuclear power reactors is in line with European Union state aid rules. Belgium notified the commission of its plan to extend the lifetime of the Doel-4 and Tihange-3 nuclear reactors for an additional 10 years, with the commission investigating several specific areas of the Belgian proposals. The commission added that while Belgium’s measures appeared justified, it has doubts as to its compatibility with EU state aid rules.

A Japanese Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) panel decided against restarting a reactor at the Tsuruga Nuclear Power Plant, citing seismic risks. The panel said it was difficult to determine the safety of the reactor, noting its proximity to a seismic fault line, and thus deemed the reactor not compliant with criteria for installation licensing. The panel is set to report its decision to the NRA soon which, if approved, would be the first case of non-compliance under the stricter safety standards imposed after the Fukushima nuclear reactor meltdown in 2011.

Westinghouse Electric Company announced that Dan Lipman has been appointed as president of its Energy Systems business unit. In this role, Lipman will be responsible for deploying the AP1000 pressurized water reactor and AP300 small modular reactor, as well as advanced reactor development and other non-nuclear energy systems. Lipman will succeed David Durham for the role, who announced he will retire in June 2025. Lipman had previously spent three decades of his career with Westinghouse, working in executive roles across multiple regions and businesses.

The Department of Energy granted a waiver to U.S. nuclear company Centrus Energy to import Russian-enriched uranium in 2024 and 2025 for already-contracted deliveries. Centrus submitted its application to the DoE in May of this year. These waivers are allowed under the Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act, which President Joe Biden signed into law on May 14. The waiver system is available through the end of 2027, and it is intended for nuclear plant operators who are deemed to have no viable alternative sources of fuel or for any imports deemed to be in the national interest.

The Idaho National Laboratory published an update on the fabrication of materials for the MARVEL test microreactor at the Transient Reactor Test (TREAT) Facility. The MARVEL microreactor project kicked off in 2020, with the fabrication of its components beginning in the spring of this year. Going forward, the project aims to provide experience to personnel on the design and operation of a microreactor, developing and demonstrating key technologies for microreactor development, and enabling nuclear developers to test microreactor applications and access data to refine their designs.

The Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy has issued a request for information opportunity for the design and construction of a federal consolidated interim storage facility (CISF) for spent nuclear fuel. The Department is seeking information, comments, feedback, and recommendations from interested parties regarding the department’s procurement approach, with the deadline being September 5 for submissions. The U.S. government is planning to establish a federal interim storage facility for spent nuclear fuel until a permanent repository is available.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is simplifying procedures for mandatory hearings on licensing commercial nuclear power plants and uranium enrichment facilities. Mandatory hearings for power reactors will now involve written materials without oral presentations, with the NRC as the presiding officer, and these changes will be employed in the hearing anticipated later this year for the Hermes 2 advanced reactor review. Hearings for uranium enrichment facilities will now be delegated to the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel.

U.S. construction firm Burns & McDonnell entered into an agreement with BWX Technologies (BWXT) to further the design and development of the BWXT Advanced Nuclear Reactor (BANR), which is currently being evaluated for deployment in Wyoming. Under the agreement, Burns & McDonnell will assist BWXT in developing the balance of plant systems for the microreactor, developing the power cycle architecture, and identifying critical components. The BANR is a 50 MWt high-temperature gas microreactor that uses a form of TRISO fuel and is one of the five designs selected by the Department of Energy under its Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP).

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) chairman Christopher Hanson told U.S. representative Tim Walberg that the environmental reviews for the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant are going well, adding that the power plant is on track to restart in August 2025. Hanson said that the agency is reviewing the regulatory filings submitted by Holtec and expects to have a decision in May of next year. If approved by the NRC, the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant would be upgraded to produce baseload nuclear power until at least 2051.

The Air Force and the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Energy expect to announce a final procurement decision by the end of this summer. Oklo Inc. originally was selected to supply a microreactor to the Eielson Air Force base under a 30-year power purchase agreement, but a protest of the award has delayed the final decision. The Air Force has maintained the previous target of 2027 for an operational microreactor. Eielson Air Force base in Alaska has been a preferred location to demonstrate the benefits of microreactors to the U.S. Air Force and the Department of Defense.

Louisiana leaders are working with the Idaho National Laboratory’s (INL) Frontiers Initiative to help the state become a leader in advanced nuclear energy. INL experts will help the state develop a strategic plan to use nuclear energy to power its manufacturing sector and support growing grid-scale electrical demands. Louisiana currently houses two nuclear power plants, and Entergy Louisiana recently informed the Louisiana Public Service Commission (LPSC) of its plan to advance new nuclear technologies in the form of nuclear batteries, microreactors, and small modular reactors (SMR).

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has published its final environmental impact statement (EIS) for the proposed second license renewal for the North Anna Nuclear Power Plant in Virginia. The NRC staff concluded there are no adverse environmental impacts to preclude the renewal of North Anna’s operating license for an additional 20 years. North Anna’s owner, Dominion Energy, submitted its application seeking a second licensing term to extend the plant’s operations from 60 years to 80 years.

NextEra CEO John Ketchum said that the company is looking at restarting the Duane Arnold Energy Center in Iowa as demand for nuclear energy is increasing. In response to the tech sector and utilities searching for carbon-free energy, Ketchum stated that the Duane Arnold facility could meet that demand but added that a thorough review of the risks will be necessary before restarting the plant. The Duane Arnold power plant ceased operations in 2020 after 45 years of service.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has renewed the operating licenses of Comanche Peak units 1 and 2 for an additional 20 years of operations, marking the first license renewal for the two reactors. Comanche Peak unit 1’s operating license will now expire in 2050 and unit 2’s in 2053. Comanche Peak operator Vistra submitted its application for a 20-year operating license extension for review by the NRC in 2022, with the regulator issuing its safety evaluation report and final supplemental environmental impact statement earlier this year.

The Government Accountability Office published the results of its audit, which found that chronic shortages of skilled staff at the Department of Energy’s nuclear waste cleanup operations are contributing to faulty safety inspections, cost overruns, and radiation leaks. At the end of 2023, the Office of Environmental Management had a vacancy rate of 17%, with the rate being particularly high at the Los Alamos and Carlsbad field offices (which were 33 and 34% respectively). The Office of Environmental Management operates 15 sites across the United States where large volumes of radioactive materials await decontamination and disposal.

A new report from the Australian Academy of Technology Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) assessed the potential deployment of small modular reactors (SMR) in Australia, arguing that the lowest-risk option would be to wait until a mature market for SMR technology has emerged before introducing SMRs into Australia’s energy mix. The report states that although several prototype SMRs globally could be licensed, commissioned, and built by the mid-2030s, a mature market is not likely to emerge until the mid- to late 2040s. Australia’s political parties have been debating how to transition away from fossil fuels, with the current government supporting the adoption of renewable energy and the opposition party favoring the introduction of nuclear power.

The Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) released its report following the conclusion of its Country-Specific Safety Culture Forum (CSSCF) in Japan, which began in 2022. The discussions held during the forum identified numerous safety culture dimensions in Japan’s nuclear safety infrastructure, finding that the Japanese nuclear community places a strong emphasis on nuclear safety and also reporting significant progress made since the Fukushima nuclear accident in 2011. The CSSCF is a program established by the NEA and the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) to provide host countries and their principal nuclear institutions and organizations an opportunity to reflect on their safety regimes and engage in exercises to assess the effectiveness of their nuclear safety culture.

The Nuclear Business Platform published its 2024 report on the development of nuclear power in Turkey. Among the key topics covered in the report are the construction and project management of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant, Turkey’s nuclear power and capacity development, the importance of standardization for future nuclear power plants, challenges in project localization and mitigation strategies, Turkey’s reactor technology assessment, and preparations for future nuclear power plants. The first unit of the Akkuyu Power Plant is expected to enter operation this year, with the Turkish government also planning to build additional nuclear facilities at Sinop and Thrace.

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The New York Times, July 29

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Cipher News, July 29

How Generative AI Could Help Nuclear Plant Operators

Power Engineering, July 29

Governor Youngkin Has Set the Precedent for Nuclear Energy in America

Power Mag, July 29

The UK Needs to Move Faster on Nuclear Energy Cybersecurity

Chatham House, July 25

Making the Case for U.S. Nuclear Power

Power Mag, July 25

Inside the High-Stakes Battle for Nuclear Fusion Supremacy

Oil Price, July 24

America Should Emulate South Korea on Nuclear Energy

Independent Women’s Forum, July 22

South Korea Could Lead the Way in a Successful Nuclear Renaissance

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Four Million Nuclear Jobs by 2050: Who Will Do Them?

American Nuclear Society, July 18

The EPA Must Update Its Nuclear Waste Disposal Standards

The Breakthrough Institute, July 18

Georgia Proves Nuclear Energy Is Here to Stay

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, July 18