Electric utilities looking around for up to date nuclear power plants have quite a lot to choose from. Designs have become more international than last time most of them went shopping for nuclear plants, and there are some innovations as well as the designs which have vigorously evolved from the workhorses of today.
Several generations of reactors are commonly distinguished. Generation I reactors were developed in 1950-60s, and outside the UK none are still running today. Generation II reactors are typified by the present US fleet and most in operation elsewhere. Generation III are the Advanced Reactors discussed here. The first of these are in operation in Japan and others are under construction or ready to be ordered. Generation IV designs are still on the drawing board and will not be operational before 2020 at the earliest.
About 85% of the world's nuclear electricity is generated by reactors derived from designs originally developed for naval use. These and other second-generation nuclear power units have been found to be safe and reliable, and capacity factors have risen remarkably in the last decade. In addition, many have had operating licences extended to 60 years. However, they are being superseded by better designs.
Reactor suppliers in North America, Japan, Europe, Russia and elsewhere have a dozen new nuclear reactor designs at advanced stages of planning, while others are at a research and development stage. Fourth-generation reactors are at concept stage.
Third-generation reactors have:
The greatest departure from second-generation designs is that many incorporate passive or inherent safety features which require no active controls or operational intervention to avoid accidents in the event of malfunction, and may rely on gravity, natural convection or resistance to high temperatures.
In Europe, designs have been developed to meet the European Utility Requirements (EUR) of French and German utilities, which have stringent safety criteria.
Framatome ANP has developed a large (1600 and up to 1750 MWe) European Pressurised water Reactor (EPR), which was confirmed in mid 1995 as the new standard design for France and received French design approval in 2004. It is derived from the French N4 and German Konvoi types and is expected to provide power about 10% cheaper than the N4. It will operate flexibly to follow loads and has the highest thermal efficiency of any light water reactor, at 36%. The first unit is being built at Olkiluoto in Finland, the second is planned at Flamanville in France. The US EPR (as US Evolutionary Power Reactor) is also undergoing review in USA with intention of a design certification application in 2007.
Together with German utilities and safety authorities, Framatome ANP also developed another evolutionary design, the SWR 1000, a 1000-1290 MWe BWR which was bid for Finland in 2003. The design was completed in 1999 and development continues, with US design certification being sought. It is ready for commercial deployment.
In Russia, Gidropress 1000 MWe V-392 (advanced VVER-1000) units with enhanced safety are planned for Novovoronezh and are being built in India. A transitional VVER-91 (1000 MWe) was developed with western control systems - two are being built in China at Jiangsu Tianwan, and it was bid for Finland.
The VVER-1500 V-448 model is being developed by OKBM, and two units each are planned as replacement plants for Leningrad and Kursk. Design is expected to be complete in 2007 and the first units commissioned in 2012-13.
In Canada, the Advanced Candu Reactor (ACR), a 3rd generation reactor, is an innovative concept based on AECL's reliable CANDU-6 reactors, the most recent of which are operating in China. While retaining the low-pressure heavy water moderator, it incorporates some features of the pressurised water reactor. Adopting light water cooling and a more compact core reduces capital cost, and because the reactor is run at higher temperature and coolant pressure, it has higher thermal efficiency.
The ACR-700 is 750 MWe but is physically much smaller, simpler and more efficient as well as 40% cheaper than the Candu-6, giving low capital and operating costs. It will run on low-enriched uranium (about 1.5-2.0% U-235) with high burn-up, extending the fuel life by about three times and reducing high-level waste volumes accordingly. Regulatory confidence in safety is enhanced by negative void reactivity for the first time in Candu, and it utilises other passive safety features. Units will be assembled from prefabricated modules, eventually cutting construction time to three years.
Development is under way and the project is expected to be ready to build soon. Meanwhile it is moving towards design certification in Canada, with a view to following in China, USA and UK. Focus has now shifted to developing the ACR-1000 of 1100-1200 MWe, very similar to the ACR-700 but with more fuel channels (each of which can be regarded as a module of about 2.5 MWe). The first ACR-1000 unit is expected to be operating in 2014 in Ontario.
In the USA, the federal Department of Energy (DOE) and the commercial nuclear industry in the 1990s developed four advanced reactor types. Two of them fall into the category of large "evolutionary" designs which build directly on the experience of operating light water reactors in the USA, Japan and Western Europe.
One is an advanced boiling water reactor (ABWR), four 1300-1380 MWe examples of which are in commercial operation in Japan, with another under construction there and two in Taiwan. Four more are planned in Japan and another in the USA. It was bid for the 5th Finnish reactor in 2003.
The other type, System 80+, is an advanced pressurised water reactor (PWR), which was ready for commercialisation but is not now being promoted for sale. Eight System 80 reactors in South Korea incorporate many design features of the System 80+, which is the basis of the Korean Next Generation Reactor program, specifically the larger APR-1400 which is expected to be in operation soon after 2010 and marketed worldwide.
The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) gave final design certification for both in 1997, noting that they exceeded NRC "safety goals by several orders of magnitude". The ABWR has also been certified as meeting European requirements for advanced reactors.
Another, more innovative US advanced reactor is smaller - 600 MWe - and has passive safety features (its projected core damage frequency is nearly 1000 times less than today's NRC requirements). The Westinghouse AP-600 gained NRC final design certification in 1999 (AP = Advanced Passive).
These NRC approvals were the first such generic certifications to be issued and are valid for 15 years. As a result of an exhaustive public process, safety issues within the scope of the certified designs have been fully resolved and hence will not be open to legal challenge during licensing for particular plants. US utilities will be able to obtain a single NRC licence to both construct and operate a reactor before construction begins.
Separate from the NRC process and beyond its immediate requirements, the US nuclear industry selected one standardised design in each category - the large ABWR and the medium-sized AP-600, for detailed first-of-a-kind engineering (FOAKE) work. The US$ 200 million program, was half funded by DOE. It means that prospective buyers now have firm information on construction costs and schedules.
The Westinghouse AP-1000, scaled-up to 1100 MWe from the AP-600, has now received final design approval from the NRC and is expected to gain full design certification later in 2005. It represents the culmination of a 1300 man-year and $440 million design and testing program. Capital and operating costs are expected to be low, and modular design will reduce construction time to 36 months. It is under active consideration for building in China, Europe and USA, and is capable of running on a full MOX core if required.
General Electric has developed the ESBWR of 1390 MWe with passive safety systems, from its ABWR design. This then grew to 1550 MWe and has been submitted for NRC design certification in the USA. Design approval is expected by 2007. It is favoured for early US construction as the Economic & Simplified BWR.
All of the above are moderated and cooled by water, but an entirely different approach is based on pioneering work in the USA and Germany. This involves using helium cooling and much higher temperatures, hence greater thermodynamic efficiency.
South Africa's Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR) is being developed by a consortium led by the utility Eskom, and drawing on German expertise. It aims for a step change in safety, economics and proliferation resistance. Production units will be 165 MWe. They will have a direct-cycle gas turbine generator and thermal efficiency about 42%. Further details were in Newsletter 3/05. Construction cost (especially when in clusters of eight units) and operating costs are expected to be low. A demonstration plant is due to be built in 2006 for commercial operation in 2010.
Looking further ahead, two major international initiatives have been launched to define future reactor and fuel cycle technology, mostly looking further ahead than what has been discussed so far.
Generation IV International Forum (GIF) is a US-led grouping set up in 2001 which has identified six reactor concepts for further investigation with a view to commercial deployment by 2030. See Generation IV paper.
The IAEA's International Project on Innovative Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycles (INPRO) is focused more on developing country needs, involves Russia rather than the USA. It is now funded through the IAEA budget.
So, there is a variety of reactor technology available or soon to be available, and more still after 2020. These will take the world nuclear power industry in to an era of upgraded equipment which is safer, simpler, more economic and more durable, while playing a major role in limiting world carbon dioxide emissions. A doubling of nuclear capacity will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by almost one third of present levels from power generation.
European bridgehead into US reactor market
Areva and Constellation Energy have formed a joint venture - UniStar Nuclear - providing a business framework to build at least four of Areva's advanced EPR nuclear units in the USA. The 1600 MWe Generation-3+ EPR from Framatome ANP is being built in Finland, is planned for France and has been bid for China. Constellation is part of the NuStart consortium considering combined construction and operating licences (COL) for new US plants, and to accommodate the new EPRs it has withdrawn two sites from consideration for NuStart COL. The UniStar COL timetable would be much the same as NuStart's, with application in 2008, construction start in 2010 and operation 2015. Overnight capital cost is put at up to $2000 per kilowatt, depending on site.
NuStart is considering two US reactor designs (see below), Constellation has now opted for the European model, though it would be fully built in the USA as the US EPR - 'Evolutionary' replacing 'European' in the name. It has in fact evolved from German Konvoi and French N4 designs, and Areva is already involved with discussions aimed at a NRC design certification application in 2007. Bechtel Power Corporation will support the joint venture with engineering and construction expertise. Constellation, which now operates some 12,000 MWe of US generating capacity, envisages being licensee and operator of the first four EPR plants. Further ones may involve other US energy companies. The EPR exceeds US safety requirements and is now being adapted to US voltage and frequency, as well as US codes.
Areva 15/9/05, NEI Overview 19/9/05, Nucleonics Week 22/9/05.
US utilities flag interest in new plants
Several US power utilities have now notified the Nuclear Regulatory Commission of interest in proceeding either with Early Site Permits for new reactors or combined Construction & Operating Licences. Three applications are under consideration for ESPs and at least four are pending, as are several COLs from individual utilities and consortia. The latter will involve nominating a site and an approved reactor type. So far the NuStart consortium has identified Entergy's Grand Gulf site for GE's ESBWR reactor and TVA's Bellefonte site with Westinghouse's AP1000 reactor for COL applications in 2007 and 2008. Entergy also plans a COL on its own for an ESBWR unit at River Bend, and TVA has completed a feasibility study (part funded by DOE) for two ABWR units at Bellefonte.
Nucleonics Week 1/9/05, Platts 22/9/05.
New reactor design for approval
GE Energy has submitted its ESBWR reactor to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for design certification. The size has been increased to 1550 MWe and passive safety systems are used, but overall it is a development of the early 3rd generation ABWR which gained design certification in 1997 and is operating in Japan. GE said its 7500-page application represents a decade of work. Design approval is expected by 2007, with certification following. The ESBWR has been selected by the two main consortia formed to apply for COLs (see above). The NRC issued the approval for Westinghouse's AP1000 in 2004 and expects its design certification finalised this year.
Nucleonics Week 1/9/05.
US licence extensions
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has renewed the operating licences for American Electric Power's two-unit Cook nuclear plant for 20 years, to 2034 & 2037. This brings to 35 the number of US licence extensions.
Nucleonics Week 1/9/05.
Proposal for change in US used fuel policy
At an industry fuel supply forum a bipartisan proposal for changing US policy on used nuclear fuel to incorporate a viable reprocessing and recycling strategy was presented by two senior House members. They suggest above-ground storage at Department of Energy sites for up to 50 years while additional R&D is undertaken - DOE is already storing the damaged Three Mile Island core as well as foreign research reactor fuel. Recycling would substantially reduce the amount needing to be stored in the federal repository at Yucca Mountain, but the USA was well behind Europe and Japan on this.
FreshFuel 1/8/05.
France plans full nuclear replacement
Electricite de France has announced that it plans to replace its 58 nuclear reactors with EPR nuclear reactors from 2020, at the rate of about one 1600 MWe unit per year. It would require 40 of these to reach present capacity. EdF's development strategy selects this option on the basis of nuclear's "economic performance, for the stability of its costs and out of respect for environmental constraints." A demonstration EPR is to be built at Flamanville, starting 2007.
NucNet news # 125/05.
Prospect for new Slovak reactors
Italian utility ENEL plans to invest EUR 1.55 billion to complete the Mochovce 3 & 4 nuclear reactors in Slovakia. Work is expected to commence next year and be complete about 2010. ENEL is buying a major share of the Slovak Electric (SE) utility, which owns and operates six nuclear reactors at Bohunice and Mochovce, and it has agreed on a strategic investment plan for SE. The two part-completed reactors are Russian VVER-440 type, similar to units 1 & 2 there, commenced in 1985 by Skoda.
TASR 15/8/05.
Swedish uprates on track
Swedish regulators have approved a 250 MWe uprate of the 1200 MWe Oskarshamn-3 reactor, and government approval of other, lesser uprates is pending at Forsmark and Ringhals. Forsmark-1 has been uprated 47 MWe to 1015 MWe.
Nucleonics Week 8/9/05.
Dutch reactor extension
Following a change of policy, the Dutch Prime Minister has proposed to abandon the government's original plan to shut down the 481 MWe Borssele nuclear plant in 2013, and to allow its operation to 2033, giving it a 60-year life. The environment minister has confirmed to parliament that he is negotiating an agreement with the plant's owners. Unconfirmed reports say that both government and the Borssele owners should contribute EUR 500 million for investment in "sustainable energy" out of the extra revenue and the avoided compensation for premature closure, and that the government is considering a new Nuclear Energy Law specifying 40-year licences for new nuclear plants.
Dutch Parliament & newspapers 7/9/05.
UK reactor life extension
The first of British Energy's Advanced Gas-cooled Reactors - two 571 MWe units at Dungeness B in Kent - have been granted a ten-year life extension, to 2018. The plant has been operating since 1983. BE is investigating other life extension possibilities for its AGRs.
BE 15/9/05.
UK publishes nuclear clean-up plan
The UK's new Nuclear Decommissioning Authority has published a draft plan for cleaning up the country's 20 civil nuclear sites which it is responsible for. Three months is allowed for public comment. The focus of the strategy is the higher-hazard legacy facilities at Sellafield and Dounreay, and a plan to accelerate the decommissioning of Magnox reactors - the only first-generation nuclear power plants in the world still operating. The draft also canvasses the need for new solutions to low-level waste disposal and evaluation of options for intermediate-level waste disposal.
NDA 11/8/05 - www.nda.gov.uk.
Canada intrudes on Chinese uncertainty
Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd (AECL) has signed a technology development agreement with the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) which opens the possibility of it supplying further Candu-6 reactors as part of China's accelerating nuclear construction program. At present CNNC is involved with plans to start construction of eight new PWRs next year. It has worked with overseas companies to develop the indigenous CNP-1000 PWR based on existing Framatome plants at Daya Bay and Ling Ao, and is a champion of this local technology which is intended for four of the new units. On the other hand the State Nuclear Power Technology Corporation (SNPTC) is in charge of technology selection for the other four new plants being bid from overseas and has favoured Framatome's EPR or Westinghouse's AP1000 plants on a turnkey basis, but with some technology transfer. However, negotiation on these bids has seriously faltered (though Areva is expecting a decision in October).
The AECL agreement with CNNC introduces a new element into the discussion. AECL built the Qinshan phase III 2-unit plant on schedule and under budget and estimates that it could be replicated for 25% less cost. Any replication would be on the basis of involving local engineering teams, not on a turnkey basis, but the technology is now well understood and the decades-old Candu-6 design is likely to pose less problems for technology transfer than state of the art 3rd-generation designs from Westinghouse and Framatome ANP. The later Korean Candu-6 plants at Wolsong had 75% local content. However, the agreement with CNNC does look further forward to collaboration on AECL's new ACR design later on.
Nucleonics Week 15/9/05, CNA.
Japan progress with MOX use
Japan's Nuclear & Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) on behalf of the Ministry (METI) has now approved the use of mixed-oxide (MOX) fuel in several reactors including Takahama 3 & 4, Fukishima I-3, Kashiwazaki Kariwa 3 and Genkai 3. This is expected to occur about 2010, after modifications to the reactors. Applications for Shimane 2 and Hamaoka 4 are pending. The Federation of Electric Power Companies has a goal of using MOX in 16 reactors by 2010.
Atoms in Japan 7, 12, 13/9/05.
Japan reaffirms nuclear policy
The Japanese Atomic Energy Commission has reaffirmed policy directions for nuclear power in Japan. The main elements are that a "30-40% share or more" shall be the target for nuclear power in total generation after 2030, including replacement of current plants with advanced light water reactors. Fast breeder reactors will be introduced commercially, but not until about 2050. Used fuel will be reprocessed domestically to recover fissile material for use in mixed-oxide fuel (MOX). Disposal of high-level wastes will be addressed after 2010.
Atoms in Japan 28/7/05.
South Korea's 20th reactor fully operational
Ulchin-6, South Korea's newest reactor, is now in commercial operation. This is the last of six Korean Standard Nuclear Power Plants (KSNP) incorporating many of the US advanced reactor features. The next four plants ready to start construction - Shin Kori 1 & 2 and Shin Wolsong 1 & 2 - are 950 MWe KNSP+ units with further substantial improvements.
Ux Weekly 15/8/05.
Japanese reactors shake out
Tohuku's three Onagawa nuclear power reactors shut down automatically when a magnitude 7.2 earthquake hit NE Japan on 16 August. They will be restarted after detailed checks over several weeks confirm no damage.
NucNet 17/8/05.
China lays out fast reactor plans
Due to competing demands for heavy industry capacity, China's first fast neutron reactor is not now scheduled to start up until 2008. The 25 MWe China Experimental Fast Reactor is being built 50 km south of Beijing. Meanwhile, design engineering for the 600 MWe China Prototype Fast Reactor has got under way and it is scheduled to come on line in 2020. A third phase calls for development of larger fast neutron reactors of 1000 to 1500 MWe capacity, but this has not yet received government approval. The main rationale for the fast reactor program is to more fully utilise uranium supplies, a secondary justification longer term is to incinerate minor actinides in used fuel from light water reactors. Despite some international interest in other coolants such as lead-bismuth, China intends to stay with sodium as coolant, since its safety is well established.
Nucleonics Week 18/8/05.
India's first large reactor in operation
Nuclear Power Corporation of India has put Tarapur-4 into commercial operation - the first of its large indigenous PHWR units. Construction of the 540 MWe unit began in March 2000, and it started up this year. Its twin - unit 3 - is expected to start up early 2006.
Meanwhile the Kalpakkam fast breeder reactor appears likely to be finished ahead of its 2010 schedule, despite a setback from December's tsunami. The 500 MWe unit is a key part of India's civil nuclear energy strategy involving use of thorium fuel.
Nucleonics Week 15/9/05.
India bids for international projects
The Chairman of the Indian Atomic Energy Commission has confirmed that his country wants to become a full partner in international fusion energy research. In a letter to the European Commission Research Directorate he referred to India's credentials in plasma research, said that India's contribution could be comparable with that of other ITER partners, and asked for the existing partners to specify terms for India to join the project.
In relation to the international development of 4th generation nuclear reactors, the Indian Prime Minister has flagged the desire to join. The Generation IV International Forum comprises ten countries led by the USA and collaborating on development of six new nuclear reactor designs. He also raised the prospect of India reaching 40,000 MWe of nuclear capacity rather sooner than earlier estimates of 20-30 years.
NucNet 24/8/05.
Iran weapons concerns continue
Iran has announced that it will continue its endeavours towards enriching uranium, despite international attempts to dissuade it. Concern arises from 22 years of undeclared work to 2003 in breach of IAEA safeguards commitments, and despite assurances of civil purposes. The 200 t/yr Chinese-designed conversion plant at Isfahan was started early in August, but uranium feed from Iran's own mines reportedly has significant levels of molybdenum and other contaminants which frustrate plans for any enrichment, and particularly so for high enrichment. Estimates vary widely regarding what is required to overcome these problems. With Iran's refusal to suspend work associated with uranium enrichment, the IAEA Board is considering referring the matter to the UN Security Council. The large Russian power reactor nearing completion at Bushehr will be supplied with fuel by Russia, obviating any need for other sources for many years.
IAEA 11/8/05, NuclearFuel 29/8/05.
North Korean accord
After several years of fraught negotiations, 6-party talks have achieved agreement that North Korea will abandon "all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs" and re-join the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), accepting IAEA safeguards "at an early date". In exchange, the parties undertake to negotiate a permanent peace regime for the Korean Peninsula, promote economic cooperation, and provide energy assistance to North Korea. In addition, the parties agreed "to discuss at an appropriate time" the provision of light water power reactors to North Korea. A subsequent North Korean announcement appeared to resile from this, saying that the reactors are a prerequisite for aborting its nuclear weapons program. The agreement echoes elements of the 1994 Agreed Framework which resulted in the partial construction of two South Korean reactors at Kumho, under the auspices of the Korean Energy Development Organization (KEDO). KEDO is a 1995 US, South Korean, Japanese and EU initiative, with 70% of the finance from South Korea. Work was suspended late in 2003 with the first of the 1000 MWe KSNP reactors about half complete, when North Korea withdrew from the NPT after being found acting illegally under it. The USA now wants to terminate KEDO by the end of the year.
FT 20 & 21/9/05, Nucleonics Week 22/9/05.
Ontario scraps two laid-up reactors
Ontario Power Generation has announced that it will not recommission Pickering 2 & 3 reactors which were closed in 1997. While refurbishing would be technically feasible, it would be uneconomic compared with building anew. OPG will now focus on improving the performance of its other ten reactors and seeking life extension for them, while defuelling and mothballing these two. Of the four 25-26 year old units laid-up in December 1997, unit 4 returned to service in 2003 and unit 1 has just restarted after a C$ 1 billion refurbishment. Each is 515 MWe net. The OPG decision increases the probability that the government will work out a deal with Bruce Power to refurbish one or two of the laid-up 769 MWe Bruce units.
OPG 12/8/05, Toronto Star 13/8/05.
Australian uranium policy addressed
Development of a national uranium policy for Australia has been initiated by the Industry Minister: "Australia is currently the worldıs second largest producer of uranium, but there are significant challenges facing the industry in this country while, globally, there are concerns about future supply," he said. "The Uranium Industry Framework will examine all sides of the issue through a science-based approach developed in partnership with relevant State and Territory governments, industry, indigenous and community stakeholders." Principal aims are to reduce impediments to exploration and mining and ensure a consistent and efficient regulatory regime.
Early in August the federal government had used a provision in the Northern Territory mining act to take control of uranium mining in NT, particularly the approval of new mining ventures.
I. Macfarlane 11/8/05.
Peak industry body calls for nuclear consideration
The Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry has called for the government to conduct a feasibility study on establishment of nuclear power facilities in Australia and to review its energy policy to allow for nuclear power. "Relying on renewables such as solar and wind power is currently not a viable solution for base-load energy requirements and their premature mandatory introduction would have a negative impact on jobs and economic prosperity. An energy source which provides base-load power while neither threatening economic growth nor contributing to greenhouse gas emissions should not be arbitrarily ruled out of consideration" as in the 2004 Energy White Paper.
ACCI 29/8/05.
Olympic Dam assessment under way
BHP Billiton has commenced the environmental assessment of the proposed A$5 billion expansion at its Olympic Dam operation in South Australia with the lodgment of the project proposal to the Federal and State Governments. While there is no formal commitment to undertake the expansion, this does mark the beginning of a two-year process of scientific analysis and extensive public consultation and will help the company incorporate necessary modifications into the final design.
BHPB 19/8/05.
New Australian Health & Waste Code
After seven years gestation, the new Code of Practice and Safety Guide: Radiation Protection and Radioactive Waste Management in Mining and Mineral Processing (2005) has been published. It is simpler than its two predecessors and moves away from undue prescription to performance-based and audited regulatory approach.
http://www.arpansa.gov.au/rps9.cfm
Ethical investment fund ticks uranium
In Australia, the Anglican Church's ethical investment fund, Australia's second largest, has scrapped its ban on buying uranium stocks, after a three-month review. As with BT Funds Management earlier, Glebe Asset Management cited global warming concern as the reason for the change. One third of the A$21.5 billion "socially responsible" investment in Australia is apparently from religious sources.
AFR 24/8/05.
Chernobyl report confirms extent of disaster
A multi-agency study under UN auspices has quantified the health effects of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. Some 56 people were killed or have subsequently died, including 9 children from thyroid cancer - which could have been avoided. Among some 200,000 workers exposed in the first year, 2200 radiation-related deaths can be expected. Among residents, apart from 4000 thyroid cancers, no evidence of increased leukaemia or other cancer was found. On the basis of statistical dose-effect models, a total of the order of 4000 eventual deaths from the accident are possible, though most scientists involved were reported to oppose publication of such a specific estimate.
A UNDP director said that "the impact was much smaller than anyone could have predicted" and now "the danger of radiation has largely passed". The 600-page report says that people in the area have suffered a paralysing fatalism due to myths and misperceptions about the threat of radiation, which has contributed to a culture of chronic dependency. Mental health coupled with smoking and alcohol abuse is a very much greater problem than radiation, but worst of all at the time was the underlying level of health and nutrition. There is no evidence or likelihood of congenital problems attributable to radiation. Apart from the initial 116,000, relocations of people were very traumatic and did little to reduce radiation exposure, which was low anyway. Some seven million people are now receiving or eligible for benefits as "Chernobyl victims", which means that resources are not targeting the needy few percent of them. Remedying this presents daunting political problems however. The Chernobyl Forum study involved over 100 scientists from eight specialist UN agencies and the governments of Ukraine, Belarus and Russia. Its conclusions are in line with earlier expert studies.
IAEA 5/9/05, Times 7/9/05, Nucleonics Week 8/9/05.
Depleted uranium study
The US Sandia National Laboratories has conclude a 2-year study of the health effects of depleted uranium during the 1991 Gulf war, where it was used in anti-tank munitions. Consistent with earlier studies, this concludes that reports of serious health risks from exposure to depleted uranium are not supported by medical statistics nor by analysis of other data. Civilian exposure was included.
DOE Sandia 24/7/05.
World Nuclear University concludes Summer Institute
The first intensive 6-week Summer Institute of the World Nuclear University at Idaho Falls, USA concluded successfully. Seventy-seven young professionals and postgraduate students (average 30 yo) from 34 countries were in the program, which was hosted by the Idaho National Laboratory. A quarter were women, and almost half were from less-developed countries, supported by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Sweden will host the 2006 SI course in Stockholm, and France will organise technical visits to French nuclear installations during its last week.
WNA Market Report updates outlook
The nuclear industry's 2-yearly report: The Global Nuclear Fuel Market - supply & demand 2005-2030 has been published by WNA. It shows that the key feature of this market "is likely to be the need for primary production to expand rapidly", despite the continuing importance of secondary supplies - mostly US and Russian demilitarised materials. However, recent reliance on these has led to neglect of the rest of the supply infrastructure, which needs to be remedied. The reference scenario suggests a doubling of world mine production by 2030. Copies available from WNA @ £200.
"ANA 2005 - The Facts on Nuclear Science, Uranium and Nuclear Power".
Australian Nuclear Association conference, 10 November at Westin Hotel, Sydney.
$250 if paid by 7 October and $300 thereafter. Contact: Hon. Secretary, ANA, PO Box 85, Peakhurst, NSW 2210.
Reactor table
Nuclear Fuel Cycle
Advanced reactors
Fast neutron reactors (new)
Energy analysis of power systems
The hydrogen economy
Asia's nuclear energy growth
Supply of uranium
Nuclear debate
History of nuclear energy
Canada's uranium and nuclear power
Australia's uranium and who buys it
Radioactive waste repository for Aust.
Chernobyl accident
Nuclear power in USA
Nuclear power in Russia
Nuclear power in Ukraine
Nuclear power in France
Nuclear power in China
Nuclear power in Japan
Australia's uranium mines (UIC mines paper)
Aust U deposits & prospective mines (UIC mines paper)
Uranium exploration in Aust (UIC mines paper)
See also Ux Consulting graphs
World reactor changes
Canada: remove 2x515 MWe from planned
Finland: Olkiluoto 3 under const 1600 MWe
Sweden: Forsmark-1 uprated 47 MWe to 1015 MWe
Iran: 2 x 950 MWe planned
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