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Ukrainian reactors operate through turmoil

06 March 2014

Ukraine's nuclear energy plants have operated continuously during the recent political crisis in the country, operator Energoatom has reported. However, future fuel supplies for the plants are uncertain. 

The company noted that the fuel supply for its reactors has been secured for the "near future" and that it expects existing fuel supply contracts with Russia to be fulfilled. Dmitry Rogozin, Ukrainian deputy prime minister, was cited by Interfax as saying, "The Ukrainian nuclear power plants have fuel reserves for March and April."

British boy builds fusion reactor

07 March 2014

Youngest fusioneer 48A thirteen-year-old schoolboy has become the youngest "fusioneer" - a person to build a fusion reactor.

Progress in Sellafield pond clearance

07 March 2014

PFSP metal removal 48The first 100 tonnes of contaminated equipment that has laid for decades in the Pile Fuel Storage Pond at the Sellafield site in the UK has been retrieved for final disposal.

Fennovoima applies for VVER reactor

05 March 2014

Hanhikivi 1 AES-2006 (Fennovoima)_48Fennovoima has asked for permission from the Finnish government to construct a Russian AES-2006 nuclear plant at its Hanhikivi site, near Pyhäjoki.

Fuel cycle roundup #21

07 March 2014

• NRC issues Ross SEIS
• Powertech-Azarga merger agreed
• Temrezli feasibility study funded
• Toro seeks additional Wiluna approval
• Quaterra bows out of uranium

First MOX for Beloyarsk 4

06 March 2014

BN-800_MOX_fuel_(NIIAR)_67x48The first batch of 56 mixed uranium-plutonium oxide (MOX) fuel assemblies has been shipped to Beloyarsk 4 as Russia's first-of-a-kind BN-800 fast reactor prepares to start up.

US MOX plant left cold by budget

05 March 2014

MFFF_May_2013_(Shaw_Areva_MOX_Services)_48The USA's partially built Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility, a key component of the country's plutonium disposition program, is to be placed on cold standby after being effectively cut out of the Department of Energy's FY2015 budget request.

Industry Talk

USEC files for bankruptcy

US uranium enrichment company USEC announced that it is implementing a financial restructuring plan agreed last December and has now filed a voluntary petition and a plan of reorganization with the US Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. This filing, it said, has no impact on its daily operations, including the American Centrifuge research, development and demonstration program.

New leader for Candu

Preston Swafford has been named as the new president, CEO and chief nuclear officer of reactor vendor Candu Energy, which is owned by SNC Lavalin. Swafford has previously held senior roles with the Tennessee Valley Authority and Exelon.

New head at Japanese commission

Yoshiaki Oka is to become the next chairman of the Japan's senior policy body, the Atomic Energy Commission. The appointment of Oka, a professor at Waseda University's science and engineering faculty, received parliamentary approval on 14 February.

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