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19 August 2010
Iran starts to load fuel into new power reactor
After many delays, Iran has begun loading the fuel it received from Russia early in 2008 into its new 1000 MWe Bushehr reactor. This is fully under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, and is quite separate from the uranium enrichment activities which have caused international concern. All the fuel for Bushehr is provided by Russia and the used fuel is to be repatriated to Russia. Plant construction began in 1975 under the previous regime but was abandoned in 1979. In 1994 Russia's Minatom agreed to complete it, using all new VVER equipment. There have been a number of political and organizational delays since, but the plant is now expected to start up by year end. It will be operated for the first few years by a 50-50 Russian-Iranian joint venture. The anticipated 7 billion kWh/yr from the new reactor will free up about 1.6 million tonnes of oil (11 million barrels) or 1800 million cubic metres of gas per year, which can be exported for hard currency.
WNN 23/8/10.
India breaks ground on new reactors
A ceremony has marked the groundbreaking for units 7 and 8 of the Rajasthan Atomic Power Project in India. First concrete is scheduled to be poured at the site before the end of the year. These will be indigenous 700 MWe pressurized heavy water reactors scheduled to begin commercial operation in June and December 2016, respectively. The estimated cost the two units is US$ 2.6 billion. Two other 700 MWe PHWRs are being built at Kakrapar in Gujarat state as units 3 & 4 of that power station, on a similar schedule. The first of six smaller Rajasthan units began operating in 1973. Two large Russian reactors at Kudankulam, Tamil Nadu state, are expected to start up in the next 12 months.
WNN 24/8/10.
USA considers call for oil industry regulation modeled on nuclear's
The White House oil spill commission is probing US offshore drilling policies and is considering pushing the oil industry to accept a self-governing body to help oversee tough safety standards. The US nuclear industry's Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO) came into being after the Three Mile Island reactor accident in 1979. Although that event caused no deaths or injuries, it severely affected the reputation of nuclear power. INPO has as its members all US utilities with nuclear power plants in operation or under construction. Its aim is self-regulation and safety enhancement through plant evaluation by peer review, and it provided the model for development of WANO internationally. It is funded by the utilities. The panel is looking at proposing a regulatory structure for the oil industry modeled on INPO. Such a system would aim at ensuring much higher safety standards, possibly through project evaluations that would be scrutinised by insurance companies and government regulators. The Gulf oil spill highlighted the need for mutual concern for high standards among drillers, since as in the nuclear industry, one accident has implications for the entire sector.
Reuters 25/8/10.
Other papers updated on the WNA Information Service (see WNA web site): Nuclear-powered ships
