Nuclear News

Candu Energy signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Natural Resources Canada and the China National Energy Administration to advance collaboration between the two countries in the field of civilian nuclear energy including development of advanced fuel reactors and exports to third markets. Candu also signed a framework joint venture agreement with China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) to build advanced fuel CANDU reactor (AFCR) projects in China and develop opportunities for it globally.

The U.S. Department of Energy authorized Bechtel to resume engineering work on a facility at the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant--a facility that will treat some of the nation's liquid radioactive waste. The resumption comes after progress toward resolving technical matters for the High-Level Waste Vitrification Facility, where the most radioactive of the stored liquid will be processed. The government contracted Bechtel National to build the multi-facility complex at the Hanford Site in southeastern Washington.

CB&I awarded contract orders by Entergy Operations valued in excess of $100 million for project and construction management services related to the implementation of Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) ordered modifications and upgrades at multiple nuclear energy facilities throughout the U.S. Since the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear incident in 2011, the NRC has required U.S.

Six U.S. nuclear utilities have established a technical advisory board for the deployment of GAIA, AREVA’s next generation pressurized water reactor fuel assembly design. These six utilities – including Dominion, Duke Energy, Exelon and PSEG – share a common interest in ensuring the technical advancement and demonstration of this fuel for the U.S.

AREVA signed an agreement with the American engineering firm NUCCORP to be the exclusive supplier of the nuclear grade air trap (NGAT) technology to the nuclear industry. The NGAT system eliminates the need for periodic venting and ultrasonic testing inspections, which can increase costs and impair operational efficiency. Winner of a 2012 Nuclear Energy Institute Vendor Top Industry Practice award, the device can be easily installed in existing plants and has already been demonstrated in operation.

Ontario Power Generation (OPG), through its subsidiary, Canadian Nuclear Partners (CNP), and Westinghouse Electric have established an agreement that will enable the companies to consider a diversity of nuclear projects including refurbishment, maintenance and outage services, decommissioning and remediation of existing nuclear power plants, and new nuclear power plants. Westinghouse and OPG have collaborated recently on several key projects.

Three nuclear energy plants owned by Constellation Energy Nuclear Group (CENG) officially joined Exelon Generation's fleet of nuclear plants. The three CENG plants include five reactors capable of generating more than 4,200 MW at full power, they include: R.E. Ginna Nuclear Power Plant in Ontario, NY, a single 583-MW, Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station in Scriba, NY, 1,937 MW, Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant in Lusby, Md., 1,768 MW.

Duke Energy Florida sold 76 unused nuclear fuel assemblies from its retired Crystal River Nuclear Plant through a request for proposals (RFP) process. Federally licensed U.S. nuclear power plants and nuclear fuel fabricators are the only entities receiving Duke Energy Florida's RFP to buy the nuclear fuel assemblies. All proceeds from the sale of these assets will benefit Florida customers by reducing the amount of money Duke Energy Florida may recover from customers.

Georgia Power secured approximately $3.46 billion in loan guarantees from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) toward the construction of the Plant Vogtle units 3 and 4 nuclear expansion project. The project is the first U.S. nuclear project to receive funding through the DOE program. Along with Georgia Power's portion of the two 1,100-MW reactors, the remaining ownership is split among Oglethorpe Power, the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia (MEAG Power) and Dalton Utilities.

South Carolina Electric & Gas (SCE&G) and Santee Cooper established an agreement for SCE&G to acquire from Santee Cooper a 5 percent ownership interest in the two new nuclear units which are currently under construction at V.C. Summer Station in Jenkinsville, S.C. Under the terms of the transaction, SCE&G will own 60 percent of the new nuclear units and Santee Cooper, 40 percent. The purchase price is anticipated to be approximately $500 million for the entire 5 percent interest based on current project cost.