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Kyushu Electric finishes loading fuel into nuclear reactor
japantimes JUL 10, 2015
FUKUOKA – Kyushu Electric Power Co. has completed loading nuclear fuel into a reactor at its Sendai Nuclear Power Station, a step toward rebooting the first atomic facility after meeting stringent safety standards the central government introduced after the 2011 Fukushima meltdowns.
The last rod assembly — the 157th — was embedded into the reactor at 12:12 a.m. on Friday, ending an operation that engaged some 50 workers around the clock since the loading process started Tuesday at the station in Kagoshima Prefecture, a company official said.
Subject to inspection clearance by the government’s Nuclear Regulation Authority in the coming days, Kyushu Electric is envisaging firing up the reactor around Aug. 10 to start trial power transmission three days later.
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/07/10/national/kyushu-electric-finishes-loading-fuel-nuclear-reactor/#.VZ_BYvlVhBc
Lightbridge and Norway's IFE Sign Contract for Irradiation Testing and Related Activities at Halden Reactor
1 hour ago
GlobeNewswire
MCLEAN, Va., July 09, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lightbridge Corporation (LTBR) and the Institute for Energy Technology (IFE) of Norway today announced that they have entered into a binding services agreement for irradiation testing of Lightbridge advanced metallic nuclear fuel samples under prototypic commercial reactor operating conditions in IFE’s Halden research reactor, southeast of Oslo.
“Our agreement with IFE completes one of the key critical path milestones we have set for 2015 and represents a major step toward on-schedule, lead test assembly demonstration of Lightbridge’s advanced metallic nuclear fuel in a commercial power reactor in 2020 to 2021,” said President and CEO Seth Grae. “These irradiation tests will generate quantifiable data needed to support licensing of Lightbridge fuel by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and ultimate deployment by nuclear utilities in commercial reactors around the world. This contract keeps us well positioned to realize high-margin revenue streams from technology licensing fees and royalties from a growing $25 billion annual global market for nuclear fuel. We have the utmost confidence in IFE expertise and facilities at Halden, which are recognized throughout the nuclear energy industry for excellence.”
“Our collaboration with Lightbridge comes at a time of heightened awareness of the potential role of commercial nuclear energy in addressing the increasing demand for low-carbon base load electricity to mitigate the negative effects of greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels, as pointed out by the UN Climate Panel and the International Energy Agency,” said Atle Valseth, IFE Deputy President and Research Director for Nuclear Technology, Physics and Safety. “Contributing to safe operation of nuclear power plants is the objective of the research being performed at the Halden reactor. We are pleased to contribute to the licensing process for safe operation of the Lightbridge fuel. IFE appreciates that Lightbridge will utilize the Halden reactor in this work, which confirms the relevance of our facilities and the competence of our staff. Our staff looks forward to working with Lightbridge on this critical safety demonstration of a promising new fuel design.”
IFE is in the process of applying to the Norwegian authorities for regulatory approval to conduct the experiments for Lightbridge, Valseth added.
The Lightbridge-IFE umbrella services agreement is valid for 10 years and calls for loop irradiation testing of Lightbridge advanced metallic nuclear fuel samples at the Halden reactor under prototypic commercial-reactor operating conditions, according to Andrey Mushakov, Ph.D., Lightbridge Executive Vice President for International Nuclear Operations. Post-irradiation examinations will be conducted at nearby hot cell facilities at Studsvik, Sweden. The project’s pre-irradiation scope includes irradiation-rig mechanical design, detailed neutronic and thermal-hydraulic calculations, and safety analyses with necessary regulatory approvals. The initial phase of irradiation testing is expected to begin in early 2017 and continue for about three years to reach the burnup necessary for insertion of lead test assemblies (LTAs) in a commercial power reactor. The final phase of irradiation testing necessary for batch reloads and full cores operating with a 10% power uprate and a 24-month cycle is expected to take an additional two years and be completed while LTAs have begun operating in the core of a commercial power reactor.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/lightbridge-norways-ife-sign-contract-100000202.html
Japan to resume nuclear power use
Last modified: July 7, 2015 11:30PM
TOKYO — A Japanese utility on Tuesday began loading fuel into a nuclear reactor where operations are scheduled to resume next month in the country’s first restart under safety requirements set following the Fukushima disaster.
Kyushu Electric Power Co. said the first four fuel bundles were loaded into the Sendai plant’s No. 1 reactor as of late Tuesday. A crane slowly lifts each bundle out of a cooling fuel storage pool and places it into the reactor, in a round-the-clock operation. The utility plans to finish loading all 157 fuel bundles Friday ahead of final inspections before restarting the reactor around Aug. 10.
All of Japan’s more than 40 reactors are offline for repairs or safety checks. Sendai No. 1 is one of 25 reactors seeking restarts and under safety inspection, as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government wants to operate as many of them as possible to meet the nation’s energy needs and grow the economy.
“We’ve finally come this far to restart the first (reactor),” trade and industry minister Yoichi Miyazawa told reporters.
- See more at: http://www.chieftain.com/business/3749280-120/reactor-japan-nuclear-power#sthash.3mHS3Ecm.dpuf
Babcock & Wilcox completes spinoff; two independent companies begin public trading
Jul 1, 2015, 8:56am EDT Updated Jul 1, 2015, 5:53pm EDT
Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises (NYSE:BW) successfully spun off Tuesday evening from what is now known as BWX Technologies and debuted this morning on the New York Stock Exchange.
The new B&W has its headquarters in Charlotte, which was the home of Babcock & Wilcox before the spinoff. BWX Technologies is based in Lynchburg, Va.
http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/blog/energy/2015/07/babcock-wilcox-completes-spinoff-two-independent.html
French And Chinese Nuclear Giants Sign MOUs
Nuclear Street News Wed, Jul 1 2015 11:03 AM
Areva logoA press release said the deals also involved French energy giant Electricite de France or EDF.
The Memorandum of Understanding letters are wide-ranging. They include cooperation on a nuclear fuel processes from extraction to recycling, including fabrication of zirconium fuel assemblies, a spent fuel processing facility, mining and conversion of uranium and transportation of fuel. The MOUs also set timelines for further negotiations and for cooperative research and development.
http://nuclearstreet.com/nuclear_power_industry_news/b/nuclear_power_news/archive/2015/07/01/french-and-chinese-nuclear-giants-sign-mous-070102.aspx#.VZP7WflVhBc
Coal stocks climb as Supreme Court strikes down EPA regulation
Published: June 29, 2015 11:13 a.m. ET
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- Coal stocks rallied Monday in wake of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling the Environmental Protection Agency needs to consider costs when regulating pollution caused by coal-fired plants. Gainers included Peabody Energy BTU, +11.14% Arch Coal ACI, +16.89% Alpha Natural Resources ANR, +6.35% and Cloud Peak Energy CLD, +5.45%
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/coal-stocks-climb-as-supreme-court-strikes-down-epa-regulation-2015-06-29
Taisei, Obayashi to build nuclear plant in Turkey: Report
Daily News - June/22/2015
Japanese general contractors Taisei and Obayashi will participate in the construction of a nuclear power plant project in Turkey led by the Japanese and Turkish governments, media group Nikkei reported on June 20.
Major French construction company Bouygues and two or three Turkish contractors will partner with Taisei and Obayashi in a joint venture, Nikkei said, adding that the project would be the first overseas nuclear plant construction to include Japanese general contractors.
The plan is to build four reactors in the northern province of Sinop.
Construction on the first reactor will start in 2017 at the earliest, with plans to bring it online in 2023. The project is expected to cost 2 trillion yen ($16.3 billion), with 400 billion yen to 500 billion yen of that tied to construction. As such, the complete project is expected to come in lower than the original tender price of $22 billion.
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/taisei-obayashi-to-build-nuclear-plant-in-turkey-report.aspx?pageID=238&nID=84327&NewsCatID=348
France plans new Saudi nuclear reactors
Published: 9:41 am, Thursday, 25 June 2015
France has confirmed it is looking into building two nuclear reactors in Saudi Arabia, as part of 12 billion euro ($A17.31 billion) worth of deals struck between the nations. - See more at: http://www.skynews.com.au/news/world/mideast/2015/06/25/france-plans-new-saudi-nuclear-reactors.html#sthash.FVmLF2WO.dpuf
"Post-irradiation examination of partially irradiated fuel samples also is planned to begin at Halden in 2018. We believe these test results will allow us to enter into a commercial arrangement with a major fuel fabricator or a development partner. This collaboration could entail a technology licensing deal that could be structured such the Lightbridge would receive up front technology access fess milestone progress payments and our ongoing royalty fees from sale of each fuel assembly with Lightbridge designed metallic fuel rods. Alternatively the collaboration could involve a cost sharing arrangement whereby a development partner makes cash or in time contributions toward our fuel development program." May 8, 2015 http://seekingalpha.com/article/3160956-lightbridges-ltbr-ceo-seth-grae-on-q1-2015-results-earnings-call-transcript?page=2
"In the third area, we are negotiating a long-term umbrella agreement with the Institute for Energy Technology for irradiation of the fuel samples under prototypic commercial reactor operating conditions in its research reactor in Halden, Norway, as well as post irradiation examination at Halden and Studsvik nuclear research facilities in Sweden. Irradiation of our fuel samples at Halden is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2017. In addition to these four major fuel development and commercialization efforts, we have been meeting with large companies that fabricate nuclear fuel for the global market. We have planned to have a teaming agreement in place with one of these companies in 2017-2018, but current progress may lead to such an arrangement sooner than that." June 22, 2015 http://ih.advfn.com/p.php?pid=nmona&article=67391867
Welcome to the board damizo!
In the May conference call Seth also said something might happen earlier than expected.
"Over the past two months, we have held meetings with our nuclear utility fuel advisory board comprised a fuel managers from four major nuclear utilities to discuss and agree on a plan to a written expression of interest to U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the NRC. Earlier we disclosed our commitment to achieving this crucial milestone by the end of the first quarter of 2016. We are now confident that the expression of interest will be delivered to the NRC sooner than that." May 8, 2015 http://seekingalpha.com/article/3160956-lightbridges-ltbr-ceo-seth-grae-on-q1-2015-results-earnings-call-transcript?page=2
Four Utilities Request NRC Review Of Lightbridge Metallic Fuel Design
Mon, May 18 2015 2:42 PM
https://nuclearstreet.com/nuclear_power_industry_news/b/nuclear_power_news/archive/2015/05/18/four-utilities-request-nrc-review-of-lightbridge-metallic-fuel-design-051802.aspx#.VYvzIPlVhBc
UAE Marks Construction Milestone At Barakah: A Second Reactor Vessel Installed
Nuclear Street News Thu, June 18 2015 1:00 PM
A long list of political and business officials attended a signing ceremony at the Barakah nuclear power plant construction site on Wednesday, marking the installation of the second reactor vessel at what will be the first nuclear power plant in the Middle East.
https://nuclearstreet.com/nuclear_power_industry_news/b/nuclear_power_news/archive/2015/06/18/uae-marks-construction-milestone-at-barakah_3a00_-a-second-reactor-vessel-installed-061801.aspx#.VYP1xEb3bCQ
Saudis Sign Nuclear Agreement With Russia
Ari Yashar Yesterday 10:53 PM
Amid speculation by experts that a nuclear deal with Shi'ite Iran might force its Sunni rival Saudi Arabia to buy a nuclear weapon, likely from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia on Thursday signed a nuclear agreement with Russia.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/196957
India to receive nuclear fuel supply from Canada in autumn 2015
By Dipanjan Roy Chaudhury, ET Bureau | 15 Jun, 2015, 04.00AM IST
NEW DELHI: India is expected to start receiving nuclear fuel from Canada in autumn this year to power its atomic power plants, marking resumption of supply more than four decades after the North American country suspended supply of yellowcake in the backdrop of Pokhran-I atomic tests by India in 1974.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/after-a-pause-of-four-decades-india-to-receive-nuclear-fuel-supply-from-canada-in-autumn-2015/articleshow/47669676.cms
S. Korea, U.S. formally sign civil nuclear energy cooperation pact
The Korea Times
Posted : 2015-06-16 10:36
South Korea and the United States signed a civilian nuclear energy cooperation agreement Monday, bringing a formal end to years of tough negotiations that had required the pushing back of an initial deadline.
South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se and U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz signed the revision to the 1974 nuclear cooperation pact that mainly stipulates South Korea's obligations in exchange for receiving technical support and other nuclear cooperation from the U.S.
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2015/06/116_180943.html
Vietnam needs a national radioactive dumping ground: experts
TUOI TRE NEWS
UPDATED : 05/26/2015 13:49 GMT + 7
Experts have called for the construction of a national, professional dumping ground for radioactive waste in an attempt to allay mounting concerns regarding Vietnam’s nuclear safety and security.
http://tuoitrenews.vn/features/28286/vietnam-needs-a-national-radioactive-dumping-ground-experts
CNNC Unit Shares Surge in Shanghai Debut
by Aibing Guo
June 9, 2015 — 9:50 PM EDT
Shares in China National Nuclear Power Co., the country’s second-biggest operator of atomic plants, surged by the limit today in their Shanghai trading debut, bolstered by the country’s plans to boost nuclear power generation and reduce dependence on coal.
The shares were suspended right after trading started at 9:30 a.m. local time when they rose by the 44 percent daily limit to 4.88 yuan from 3.39 yuan.
Asia represents the future for nuclear energy, as the region has 47 reactors under construction, most of them in China, and a further 142 forecast by 2030, the World Nuclear Association said in January. Asian investment in nuclear projects could reach $781 billion during the period, the WNA said. China has 22 reactors in operation and another 26 being built.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-06-10/nuclear-generator-cnnc-surges-44-in-shanghai-trading-debut
Their 50M consulting with UAE has run out, and after Fukushima many countries put plans for nuclear reactors on hold.So their revenue has steadily declined since 2009.
The only other country to begin a nuclear program since then is Vietnam and Lightbridge was the first to announce a deal once again. Those contract details have yet to be disclosed.
In 2009 their name was Thorium Enery Inc and their stock ticker was THPW. After running into considerable headwinds trying to get government support for thorium based nuclear fuel, and upon the advice of the nuclear fuel advisory board comprised of four nuclear utilities, focused on patenting an all metal fuel assembly. At this time they changed their name to Lightbridge and stock ticker to LTBR. They also went from an OTC stock to being traded on the NASDAQ at $7 per share.
Since then there have been various nuclear 123 treaties and other international nuclear developments including the Iran issue, and sanctions on Russia, where all research activities up to this point were carried out.
So today the company is almost an entirely different company than one you would invest in 2003.
But the progress on the metallic fuel today is significantly farther along than the Thorium fuel ever got. Once the contract with CNC to manufacture the fuel is complete it will be reality instead of potential and we should see the reality reflected in the share price.
All of what happened was always stated in their disclaimers, nothing was a complete surprise.
S.Korea axes four coal plants, plans two new nuclear units
By Meeyoung Cho
SEOUL, June 8 (Reuters) - South Korea has axed plans to build four coal-fired power plants and will boost its nuclear reactor fleet by two more units, as it looks to increase the share of nuclear and gas in power generation and cut reliance on coal.
http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSL3N0YU0AJ20150608?irpc=932
Westinghouse sees Abu Dhabi as its base for regional nuclear energy expansion
Anthony McAuley
May 31, 2015 Updated: June 1, 2015 01:14 PM
Westinghouse plans to use its Abu Dhabi office as a base to expand its nuclear business in the region, according to a top executive.
The American company is one of the largest subcontractors for the UAE’s nuclear power project at Barakah in Al Gharbia, about 50 kilometres west of Ruwais.
That Westinghouse is setting up a base in Abu Dhabi underlines the fact that demand for electricity in the Arabian Gulf – and the Middle East in general – is among the fastest-growing in the world.
There are dozens of potential nuclear power projects on the drawing board, with advanced planning for 16 new reactors in Saudi Arabia alone, where electricity demand is growing at 8 per cent a year.
http://www.thenational.ae/business/energy/westinghouse-sees-abu-dhabi-as-its-base-for-regional-nuclear-energy-expansion
Regulators Move Toward Operating License for Nuclear Plant
AP Updated 4:03PM
SPRING CITY, Tenn. (AP) – Federal regulators have voted to grant an operating license for the Unit 2 reactor at the Tennessee Valley Authority's Watts Bar nuclear plant as long as regulatory requirements are met.
The Chattanooga Times Free Press (http://bit.ly/1HOwuFv) reports the critical step by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission will keep the Watts Bar Unit 2 project on schedule to become the nation's first new nuclear generating plant of the 21st century. The Tennessee Valley Authority has said it plans to complete the reactor by December 2015.
https://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2015/may/29/regulators-move-toward-operating-license-for-nuclear-plant/
Export-Import Bank's prospects boosted by deal that got TPA through Senate
May 26, 2015, 3:46pm EDT
Fast-track trade legislation will face a tough time in the House, but a deal that helped Trade Promotion Authority win Senate approval also improved the Export-Import Bank’s chances of survival.
http://www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/washingtonbureau/2015/05/export-import-banks-prospects-boosted-by-deal-that.html
Japan still has 48 operational nuclear reactors
There are literally *trillions* of dollars invested in nuclear on that island and it would cost trillions more to decommission all of them at once. Then they'd need to spend trillions to replace the energy from these 24/7 energy sources. That's lots of trillions for a resource hungry manufacturing based country to come up with.
I agree that nuclear isn't "green" because the waste stream is toxic. But I think the language of most environmentalists is starting to change to "carbon emitting". Because if it is carbon emissions that we are need to curtail nuclear certainly achieves that.
It'd be funny if they got them back at $1.75 again
I'm not sure what the game is but they have dumped for weeks on end in the past, this time it was all at once. It'd be nice to earn their commissions on top of options.
I am going to ask about the revenue from the Vietnam deal in the next earnings call. I think they're planning on building more than the UAE, plus a research reactor. This should be more than enough to finance the manufacturing and testing of the metallic fuel in Canada then Norway.
Not having to build a manufacturing facility or product testing center is why they have no debt.
My last buy was $1.06
I really want that to be my lowest price. After reading my last comment I wanted to make sure I didn't sound like a disgruntled bag holder.
The fuel was always long term
The advisory work always gave the stock legitimacy, but I think we are finally going to get that transition. There has to be a buyer out there for the metallic fuel or the NRC wouldn't waste the money or time on it. The manufacturing and testing should verify everything that they know, and they know a lot because it is nuclear.
The letter of intent gives LTBR metallic fuel genuine credibility
In 2004 I bought shares of NVAS, In 2010 I bought shares of THPW, Today I own shares of LTBR. Over 10 years they overcame seemingly insurmountable obstacles and completely changed gears when their backs were against the wall. The thorium fuel never reached this stage and I was buying shares. Fukushima melted down and I bought shares. USA and Russia had a falling out and I bought shares.
I have 5 years and a little bit of cash on the side, and you know what I'll be doing until then.
GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy to enter market for pressurized water reactor services
Washington (Platts)---11May2015/649 pm
GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy, which sells and provides services to boiling water reactors, will for the first time enter the market to provide refueling services to owners of pressurized water reactors made by competitors, the company said Monday.
http://www.platts.com/latest-news/electric-power/washington/ge-hitachi-nuclear-energy-to-enter-market-for-21423814
Nuclear Seen as Cheapest Energy Source for Japan, Ministry Says
Bloomberg
by Chisaki Watanabe
11:20 PM EDT May 10, 2015
Nuclear power generation in Japan will cost 10.3 yen per kilowatt hour or more by 2030, the cheapest among various power sources, according to a government report.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-05-11/nuclear-seen-as-cheapest-energy-source-for-japan-ministry-says?cmpid=yhoo
Turkey starts building first nuclear power plant
Apr 30, 2015 Priyanka Shrestha
The Russian-designed Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant in Mersin on the Mediterranean coast is the first of three nuclear plants the country plans to build.
Turkey hopes the $22 billion (£14.3bn) project will boost its economy and reduce its dependence on fossil fuel imports.
Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz was reported as saying: “[Economic] development cannot take place in a country without nuclear energy. If the Akkuyu plant had been built a decade ago, Turkey would have saved $14 billion (£9bn) in natural gas purchases and nuclear power would today cover 28% of the country’s electricity demand.”
https://www.energylivenews.com/2015/04/30/turkey-starts-building-first-nuclear-power-plant/
Japan court approves restart of reactors in boost for Abe's nuclear policy
Green | Wed Apr 22, 2015 7:32am EDT
(Reuters) - A Japanese court has rejected a legal bid to block the reopening of the Sendai nuclear power station on safety grounds, removing one of the last big hurdles to switching reactors back on after the 2011 Fukushima crisis paralyzed the industry.
Last week it was a different scene in Fukui, where residents cheered after a court slapped an injunction on two reactors at the Takahama station operated by Kansai Electric Power.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/04/22/us-japan-nuclear-courts-idUSKBN0NC1QD20150422
U.S. and South Korea Reach Revised Nuclear Deal
By CHOE SANG-HUNAPRIL 22, 2015
SEOUL, South Korea — After four and a half years of low-key yet highly sensitive negotiations, the United States and South Korea announced a revised treaty on Wednesday that continues to deny — but not permanently rule out — South Korea the right to enrich uranium or reprocess spent nuclear fuel, even for peaceful purposes.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/23/world/asia/us-and-south-korea-reach-revised-nuclear-deal.html?_r=0
Japanese court halts restart of two nuclear reactors due to safety concerns
Tokyo (CNN)A Japanese court has issued a landmark injunction halting plans to restart two nuclear reactors in the west of the country, citing safety concerns, a court official told CNN.
Japan's nuclear watchdog, the Nuclear Regulation Authority, had previously given a green light to the reopening of reactors 3 and 4 of the Kansai Electric Power Company's Takahama nuclear plant.
"That was a body blow [for Abe] because it's no longer a political issue, it's a legal issue. It changes the calculus and the dynamics," he said.
"It's now in the courts. And the government is powerless to do anything about
http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/15/asia/japan-takahama-nuclear-reactor/
China to Build New Nuke Plants in Iran
Iran announced that China has agreed to assist in the building of five new nuclear plants across the country, according to Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization (AEOI).
Iran plans to enlist the Chinese in the construction of five new nuclear plants similar in size and scope to the plant currently operating near Bushehr.
Behrouz Kamalvandi, the spokesman for the AEOI, announced on Tuesday that Iran is pursuing at least five new nuclear power plants to produce nuclear fuel at an “industrial scale.”
“The Islamic Republic of Iran plans to produce at least 190,000 SWUs (Separative Work Units) of nuclear fuel at the industrial scale, while we also think about 1,000,000 SWUs, which will be needed to fuel 5 power plants like Bushehr,” Kamalvandi was quoted as saying during an address Tuesday in Tehran at an event described by the state-controlled Fars News Agency as an “Analysis of Lausanne Statement.”
http://freebeacon.com/national-security/china-to-build-new-nuke-plants-in-iran/
China Sends Nuclear-Industry Message With New Reactor Approval
7:25 pm HKT
Apr 16, 2015
The State Council, China’s top government body, approved construction of its first indigenous nuclear reactor at a meeting on Wednesday. In doing so, it opened the door to intensified competition over who will provide the technology for the world’s biggest nuclear growth market.
The reactor, called the Hualong-1, has been jointly developed by two state-owned companies. In essence, China National Nuclear Corp. and China General Nuclear Power Group are taking aim at reactors designed by U.S. nuclear giant Westinghouse Electric Co. and French rival Areva SA.
http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2015/04/16/china-sends-nuclear-industry-message-with-new-reactor-approval/
Canada sells uranium to India in breakthrough deal
AFP
Michel Comte 16 hours ago
Canada's prime minister announced a breakthrough deal Wednesday to supply uranium to India for electricity generation, putting behind decades of discord over India's surreptitious use of Canadian technologies to build atomic bombs.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/canada-sell-uranium-india-breakthrough-deal-163044209.html
Lightbridge Chairman to Meet with INVAP Executives in Argentina
April 16 - 20, 2015
Ambassador Thomas Graham, Jr., Executive Chairman of the Board of Lightbridge Corporation, will travel to San Carlos de Bariloche in western Argentina for a series of presentations April 16 to 20 to executives of INVAP, a nuclear engineering firm, on trends in commercial nuclear energy and climate change .
INVAP has been involved in global nuclear development for more than 30 years, including design and construction of nuclear research reactors, fuel fabrication plants, uranium enrichment facilities and radioisotope processing plants. The company has designed and built nuclear fuel fabrication facilities in Egypt and Algeria, and has supplied related equipment for projects in Argentina, India and Romania.
http://ir.ltbridge.com/eventdetail.cfm?EventID=159026
A little dot connecting led me to find that INVAP is a subcontractor of and consultant to Westinghouse Nuclear, B&W Nuclear Energy Solutions, and Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL). They also have experience in enriching UF6 gas to 19.75 percent, qualifying the material as low enriched uranium, this figure is just below the IAEA 20% threshold for what is considered highly enriched uranium (HEU).
Hotter fuel rods for Perry nuclear power plant approved
By John Funk, The Plain Dealer
updated April 04, 2015 at 12:30 AM
NORTH PERRY, Ohio -- FirstEnergy's decision to begin a change-over to a new, hotter fuel rod at its Perry nuclear reactor is OK with federal regulators.
The newly designed rods are manufactured by Global Nuclear Fuel, or GNF, a joint venture of GE, Toshiba and Hitachi. Perry had been using rods manufactured by GE.
GNF claims the new design not only increases energy output but that its use ultimately will allow a reactor operator to use fuel rods with lower levels of enriched uranium and to use fewer of them.
The new fuel rods are about the same size as the older assemblies, though their metal walls are slightly thinner, according to documents FirstEnergy submitted to the NRC. That is a characteristic of the new fuel that anti-nuclear groups cite as a potential problem during the centuries that fuel rods must be stored after they are removed from a reactor core.
http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2015/04/hotter_fuel_rods_for_perry_nuc.html
Hopefully we'll have our press release someday soon. Not sure if the reporter got their information correct on "hotter" with regards to the GNF2 fuel. I'm pretty sure they mean more power output.
U.S. and Iran said to agree on preliminary nuclear deal but differ on how much can be disclosed
Matthew Lee & George Jahn, Associated Press | April 2, 2015 12:09 PM ET
LAUSANNE, Switzerland — Iran and and six world powers have agreed on the outlines of an understanding that would open the path to a final phase of nuclear negotiations but are in a dispute over how much to make public, officials told The Associated Press Thursday.
http://news.nationalpost.com/news/world/us-iran-preliminary-nuclear-deal-733345
Finally! We Can Move On The Disposal Of Our Nuclear Waste
3/30/2015 6:00am Forbes
"Last week, President Obama authorized the Energy Department to move forward with a plan for a separate repository for high-level radioactive waste that was created from making atomic and nuclear weapons.
Immediately, Energy Secretary Ernie Moniz announced what we’ve been wanting for decades – a separate deep geologic nuclear waste repository for our defense-generated high-level nuclear waste (HLW), separate from one for our spent nuclear fuel (SNF) from commercial power reactors (DOE Path Forward)."
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesconca/2015/03/30/finally-we-can-get-moving-on-disposing-of-our-nuclear-waste/
UAE looks to other nations for nuclear waste disposal options
“It is true that geological disposal of them has not yet been licenced anywhere in the world,” Mr Amano said. “But serious work has been done in several countries at the licencing stage.”
Djarot Wisnubroto, chairman of the National Nuclear Energy Agency of Indonesia, said scientists were still trying to create a more secure technology that could solve the problem of radioactive waste management.
France expects to have its geological repositories operational in the 2020s, according to Gerald Ouzounia, the international director at the French nuclear waste agency Andra.
“Whatever technology is chosen, a repository is essential,” said William Magwood, director general of the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency. “The deployment of a deep geological repository for high-level waste will reduce uncertainties and raise public confidence.”
http://www.thenational.ae/uae/uae-looks-to-other-nations-for-nuclear-waste-disposal-options