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28 October 2010
EdF to take over Unistar in USA
Early in 2009 Unistar was set up as a joint venture between France's EdF and Constellation Energy to build Areva EPR reactors in the USA, starting at Constellation's Calvert Cliffs site. This plan received a setback when the loan guarantee application to build that first unit resulted in an unrealistic offer from the government. Constellation then decided to quit the project and has agreed to sell its half share in Unistar to EdF for $140 million. Some $817 million has been invested by both companies in Calvert Cliffs 3 to this point. Unistar will now own the site for Calvert Cliffs 3 as well as a potential fourth reactor there, and other sites at the Nine Mile Point and RE Ginna nuclear power plants. While EdF through Unistar may pursue the construction of Calvert Cliffs 3, it would still need to find a US-based partner before the Nuclear Regulatory Commission could grant a licence, since in relation to the US Atomic Energy Act, Unistar would be 'owned, controlled or dominated' by a foreign company or government. EdF will still own 49.9% of Constellation Energy Nuclear Group, though the deal involves transferring some parent company shares back to the company.
WNN 11/10/10. USA
Further US plan for small demonstration reactor
The concept of a US centre of demonstration models of small advanced power reactors has taken a step forward with an agreement to explore the possibility of building a GE Hitachi Prism reactor at the Department of Energy's Savannah River site. This follows a similar agreement regarding the Hyperion reactor. Prism has been under development since the 1980s, and today's version is put forward by GE Hitachi as its Generation IV solution to closing the fuel cycle in the USA. Each Prism power block consists of two 299 MWe fast reactor modules installed below ground level and containing the complete primary system with sodium coolant. A key attribute of Prism technology is that it generates additional electricity from recycling used nuclear fuel. The reactor's fuel - uranium and actinides including plutonium - is recycled used fuel from light water reactors, with fission products removed. Used Prism fuel is recycled similarly. Fuel stays in the Prism reactor for about six years, with one third removed every two years.
WNN 28/10/10. Small reactors
13th Chinese reactor in commercial operation
The third unit of Qinshan phase II nuclear power plant in eastern China has entered commercial service, 12 weeks after its grid connection, following 53 months construction. Qinshan Phase II units are locally-designed and constructed 2-loop PWR reactors, scaled up from an earlier model half the size, and designated CNP-600. Local content for these was 55%, but for units 3 & 4 it is 77%. China National Nuclear Corporation claims that Qinshan phase II "is the first independently-designed, built, managed and operated large commercial nuclear power station in China."
WNN 22/10/10. China
Areva confirms plans for fuel fabrication in Kazakhstan
Confirming 2008 and 2009 agreements, Areva and Kazatomprom are setting up a joint venture to build a 400 t/yr fuel fabrication line at the Ulba Metallurgical Plant in Kazakhstan. The output from this will be marketed from 2014 by another JV company Ifastar, as integrated fuel supply for Asian customers (ie selling the enriched and fabricated fuel, not simply Kazakh uranium or Areva front-end services).
WNN 28/10/10. Kazakhstan
Other papers updated on the WNA Public Information Service (see WNA web site):
