Supply chain
India aims to significantly increase nuclear power capacity to 100 GW by 2047, as part of a broader strategy to raise electricity's share in its total energy mix to 45-50 percent. This ambitious goal necessitates robust supply chain resilience for critical equipment, including reactors.
The nuclear industry is undergoing a significant transformation, marked by the extension of existing plant operating lives, the progression of new reactor technologies from concept to construction, and increased investment in domestic manufacturing and fuel production. Utilities are also focusing on strengthening supply chains to support future operations.
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.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Idaho National Laboratory are collaborating to advance wire arc 3D printing for industrial pressure vessels, including those used in nuclear energy. This initiative aims to strengthen domestic supply chains and accelerate the deployment of advanced manufacturing technologies.
India is preparing to introduce a new incentive program valued at up to Rs 13,000 crore ($1.37 billion) for advanced battery cell component manufacturers. This initiative aims to reduce the cost disparity with Chinese producers and enhance energy security by fostering a domestic battery supply chain.
The Indian government has directed the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) to develop a roadmap for the indigenization of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems, aiming to eliminate imports by 2030. This initiative addresses concerns about supply chain disruptions and national energy security due to reliance on foreign technologies for critical power infrastructure.
India's Central Electricity Authority has published a roadmap to localize production of supervisory control and data acquisition systems for the national power grid, aiming to eliminate import dependence by 2030.
Kazakhstan's state uranium producer reports strong financial performance and signs new supply agreements as utilities move away from spot-market reliance, while a critical sulphuric acid plant project faces construction delays.
Major Indian utilities are adopting locally designed pressurised heavy water reactors to overcome project delays and leverage established domestic supply chains as the country pursues an elevenfold increase in nuclear capacity.
The South Korean manufacturer will supply core internals for TerraPower's sodium-cooled fast reactor, marking a milestone in the commercialization of advanced SMR technology.
The South Korean supplier will deliver eight large forged components for two additional units at the Laiyang nuclear power project in Shandong province by 2029.
Urenco is constructing a major new enrichment plant in New Mexico, adding 2.1 million separative work units of capacity by 2036 to address growing nuclear fuel demand and the US ban on Russian-enriched uranium imports.