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5 February 2021
Weekly Digest
First Chinese Hualong reactor in commercial operation
China National Nuclear Corporation has put its first Hualong One reactor, Fuqing 5, into commercial operation.  The 1090 MWe (net) unit was connected to the grid in November after 66 months construction (despite delay due to primary coolant pumps).  Unit 6 at the site is about a year behind it. China now has 49 nuclear reactors in commercial operation, total 47.5 GWe.
 
The design and construction of the Hualong One as a third-generation large reactor is a flagship project for China, so achieving commercial operation of the first unit is celebrated. It “marks a milestone for the development of China’s nuclear power, making China the fourth country to master its indigenous Generation III nuclear power technology following the USA, France and Russia," CNNC said. It intends to promote the design in export markets.
WNN 1/2/21.   China NP
 
Global Laser Enrichment project in USA restructured
After approval from the US government, Global Laser Enrichment (GLE) in USA has detached from GE-Hitachi and is now owned by Australia’s Silex Systems (51%) which developed the technology and owns the intellectual property, and Cameco Corporation (49%), both foreign companies.  GLE has exclusive rights to commercially develop the SILEX laser isotope separation process technology under an agreement reached between GE (now GE-Hitachi) and Silex in 2006. Cameco joined the project in mid-2008. Silex and Cameco in December 2019 agreed to jointly purchase GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy's 76% interest for a total of $20 million, and the three parties executed an agreement for the restructure of GLE. Cameco has an option to increase its share in GLE to 75% in two years.
 
Silex Systems and GLE jointly continue to focus on the SILEX uranium enrichment technology demonstration project in Wilmington, North Carolina, and anticipate completion of a full-scale pilot plant by the mid 2020s. GLE also plans to commercialise the technology by enriching depleted uranium tails to natural-grade uranium at a SILEX plant to be built at Paducah, Kentucky. This is underpinned by a 2016 agreement with the US Department of Energy to sell hundreds of thousands of tonnes of DU material from its inventory to GLE for re-enrichment at the Paducah Laser Enrichment Facility over several decades. Annual production is to be about 2300 tonnes natural U3O8 equivalent. GLE will evaluate commercial opportunities for enriching to higher levels at Paducah to produce low-enriched uranium (LEU) for conventional nuclear plants and high-assay fuel (HALEU) for new generation small modular reactors (SMRs).
 
All world enrichment of uranium today uses centrifuges which are vastly more efficient than earlier technology. SILEX is a third-generation technology.
WNN 19/1/21 & 1/2/21.   US Fuel Cycle, Enrichment
 
Japan’s energy minister underlines necessity of nuclear power
In the light of winter power shortages, Japan's energy minister has said he considers nuclear energy "indispensable" if the country is to meet its target of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 while maintaining reliable supply. In 2019, nuclear energy provided only 7.5% of the country's electricity, compared with 30% ten years ago. Much of Japan’s nuclear power capacity remains off line due to post-Fukushima modifications being required. Japan's 2018 Basic Energy Plan, due for revision this year, targets 20-22% from nuclear power by 2030 with a similar amount from renewables and 56% from fossil fuels. Political rhetoric calls for much more from renewables, but industry points to the practical need for more nuclear.
WNN 3/2/21.  Japan NP
 


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