Nuclear fuel cycle
Nusano, a Utah-based company, has announced details of its project selected by the National Reactor Innovation Center. The initiative will concentrate on high-assay low-enrichment uranium (HALEU) production, marking a new direction for the company as it continues to develop a radioisotope production facility.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has announced its first investment in small modular reactor (SMR) technology, providing a convertible loan to Steady Energy. This funding will support Steady Energy's research and development, testing, and licensing activities for its LDR-50 SMR, a heat-only reactor designed for district heating and industrial applications. The investment aligns with the European Commission's goal to deploy SMRs by the early 2030s.
India aims to achieve 100 GW of nuclear energy capacity by 2047, a significant increase from its current 8.8 GW. This expansion relies heavily on the deployment of indigenously developed Bharat Small Modular Reactors (BSMRs) in decentralized industrial settings. However, the ambitious goal faces substantial institutional, regulatory, and human resource challenges.
New Mexico Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard has issued an executive order prohibiting new uranium mining leases and related activities on state lands. The order also prioritizes the cleanup of existing legacy uranium sites within the state.
The Savannah River Site has recommenced shipments of remote-handled legacy transuranic waste to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico. This resumption utilizes a new heavy-duty shielded container, with the first shipment successfully completed as announced by the Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management.
Orano and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) have signed a letter of intent to expand their collaboration in uranium enrichment, aiming to strengthen the nuclear fuel supply chain. This agreement builds on a previous memorandum of understanding and signifies a strategic move to diversify enrichment sources amidst global market uncertainties.
Westinghouse Electric Company, Nordion, and PSEG Nuclear have finalized agreements to produce cobalt-60 at the Salem nuclear power plant in New Jersey. This collaboration aims to establish the first commercial-scale cobalt-60 production platform in the United States, utilizing pressurized water reactors for medical isotope production.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has proposed a new rule addressing two key areas: establishing risk-informed criteria for protecting drinking water near uranium in situ recovery (ISR) sites and streamlining the process for extending decommissioning timelines for all licensees.
The US Department of Energy's Nuclear Energy Launch Pad initiative has selected 12 recipients for projects spanning reactor development and nuclear fuel cycle advancements, including fabrication, enrichment, and conversion technologies. This initiative, building on earlier pilot programs, aims to accelerate the deployment of advanced nuclear technologies by private industry.
Ampera and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) are partnering on the Thorium Unimodal Droplet Ejection for Reactors (Thunder) project to advance TRISO fuel manufacturing. This collaboration aims to optimize liquid-metal-jetting technology for producing thorium-232 kernels, supporting Ampera's strategy to establish a domestic advanced nuclear fuel supply chain for its subcritical thorium-based microreactors.
NTPC has announced a substantial capital expenditure plan of approximately ₹16.86 lakh crore to achieve 149 GW of installed power generation capacity by 2032 and 244 GW by 2037. A key component of this strategy is the expansion of its nuclear power footprint, with a target to contribute 30 GW of nuclear capacity towards India's national goal of 100 GW by 2047. The company is currently advancing the 2.8 GW Mahi Banswara nuclear project in Rajasthan and exploring additional opportunities across various states.
Niger's Council of Ministers has awarded a large uranium mining permit for the Arlit region to the state-owned Teloua Safeguarding Uranium Mining Company (TSUMCO SA). This follows the nationalization of SOMAÏR and the revocation of Orano's mining permits. Additionally, the Madouela project permit has been reallocated to the Madaouela Mining Company (MAMICO), a new entity in which the state of Niger holds a 40% stake.