Molten Salt Reactors: Maritime’s Nuclear Option
A race is being run by nuclear scientists and ship designers. The prize? “Decarbonization’s” holy grail — believed to be a “small” thorium-fueled, molten-salt rector’s unlimited power to propel sea trade. At the same time, a recently revived discussion among leading marine-nuclear thinkers revolves now around how to put an ultra-modern, as-yet non-existent marine reactor aboard a modern commercial vessel. As with nuclear power generally, shipborne reactors produce national discussion first, then discovery. Now its global, and vessel designs are on the table.The word is, “Don’t be afraid” of upcoming marine nuclear.
Rolls-Royce bags first nuclear power contract in China
Rolls-Royce has signed a contract to modernise rod control system equipment in 14 of CGN’s CPR1000 nuclear power units in China. It’s the first contract of its kind for Rolls-Royce in China and was signed with CGN subsidiary, Suzhou Nuclear Power Research Institute (SNPI). The newly formed partnership will also allow the CGN group to achieve cost reduction and efficiency improvements for the operations of its power plants. Liu Xiaowei, China Country Head, Rolls-Royce Nuclear, said: “SNPI is a leading nuclear technology institution in China, dedicated to ensuring safe and efficient operation of power plants. “CGN is a much-valued customer of Rolls-Royce.
Iran Berates Total for Gas Field Delays
Iran's oil minister has criticised French oil company Total for its decision to delay signing a contract to develop a gas field in southern Iran, saying that the reasons given by Total's chief executive were "unacceptable" to Tehran. Total was the first Western energy company to sign a major deal with Tehran since the lifting of international sanctions with its South Pars 11 project in the Gulf to develop a part of the world's largest gas field that Iran shares with Qatar. Total's chief executive, Patrick Pouyanne, said last week that it aimed to make a final investment decision on the $2 billion project by the summer, but the decision hinges on the renewal of U.S.
Japan to Supply India with Nuclear Power Equipment, Technology
Japan and India signed a civilian nuclear accord on Friday, opening the door for Tokyo to supply New Delhi with fuel, equipment and technology for nuclear power production, as India looks to atomic energy to sustain its rapid economic growth. It was the first time Japan, the only country to have suffered a nuclear attack, had concluded such a pact with a country that is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT). "Today's signing ... marks a historic step in our engagement to build a clean energy partnership," Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told a joint news conference with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe.
India Holds Nuclear Talks with China
India said it had held "substantive" talks with China on Tuesday on its bid to become a fully fledged member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), a club of nations that trades in civil nuclear technology. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is campaigning to join the NSG to back a multi-billion-dollar drive to build nuclear power plants in partnership with Russia, the United States and France, and reduce India's reliance on polluting fossil fuels. Yet his bid to win accession to the 48-member group that was founded in response to India's first atomic weapons test in 1974 has so far failed to win over strategic rival Beijing…
LR to help China Design Shipborne Nuclear Power
Lloyd’s Register announced a co-operative Framework Agreement with the Nuclear Power Institute of China (NPIC) in Chengdu, to assist in the design and development of a safe and secure floating vessel containing a Small Modular Reactor (SMR) – a first for China. Mark Bassett, Nuclear Director at Lloyd’s Register Energy, says: “NPIC recognises Lloyd’s Register’s unique combination of experience in nuclear, offshore and marine safety and regulation. The first contract under this Framework Agreement is to develop new nuclear safety regulations, safety guidelines…
U.N. Security Council Endorses Iran Nuclear Deal
The United Nations Security Council on Monday endorsed a deal to curb Iran's nuclear program in return for sanctions relief, but it will be able to re-impose U.N. penalties during the next decade if Tehran breaches the historic agreement. The 15-member body unanimously adopted a resolution that was negotiated as part of the agreement reached in Vienna last week between Iran and the world's major powers. In return for lifting U.S., EU and U.N. sanctions, Iran will be subjected to long-term curbs on a nuclear program that the West suspected was aimed at creating an atomic bomb, but which Tehran says is peaceful.
China Nuclear Power Firms Merge to Fuel Global Clout
China Power Investment Corporation and State Nuclear Power Technology Corp have officially announced their merger, as Beijing moves to consolidate its nuclear power sector, aiming eventually to export reactors. China Power producer currently controls about a tenth of China's nuclear power market, while the State Nuclear was formed in 2007 to handle nuclear technology transferred from U.S.-based Westinghouse Electric Co. The new company, State Power Investment Corporation, is expected to own assets over 700 billion yuan ($112.94 billion) and to post revenue of over 200 billion yuan annually…
Iran: Nuclear Deal Okay if Sanctions Lifted "same day"
Tentative nuclear agreement reached last week; possible differences over timing of sanctions removal. Iran will only sign a final nuclear accord with six world powers if all sanctions imposed over its disputed atomic work are lifted on the same day, President Hassan Rouhani said in a televised speech on Thursday. Iran and the powers reached a tentative agreement last week in the Swiss city of Lausanne aimed at restricting Tehran's nuclear programme in return for removing the economic penalties. All sides are working towards a June 30 deadline for a final deal on the nuclear work…
India, US Trying to Get Nuclear Deal Over Line
India and the United States were trying to narrow differences on nuclear trade on Thursday ahead of President Barack Obama's visit, but New Delhi ruled out a change in its liability law that has choked off U.S. investment. Nuclear commerce worth billions of dollars was meant to be the centrepiece of a new strategic relationship between the United States and India, allowing New Delhi access to nuclear technology and fuel without giving up its weapons programme. But the 2010 Indian nuclear liability law that makes equipment suppliers ultimately responsible for an accident has held back firms including GE-Hitachi…
France Expected to Win Few Big Nuclear Deals
Areva, France's struggling reactor builder, is unlikely to win much in the way of big new nuclear export contracts despite a major government-backed effort to woo customers at a trade show this week. The Oct. 14-16 World Nuclear Exhibition (WNE), at the same venue as the Le Bourget airshow, is designed to boost Areva and France's associated nuclear industry, which comprises over 2,500 companies with combined revenue of 46 billion euros ($58 billion) and 220,000 employees. French utility EDF has just won EU approval to build two Areva-designed EPR reactors in Britain, which will be Areva's first reactor sale since 2007.
Narendra Modi Eyes Breakthrough Nuclear Pact with Japan
India is hoping to win Japanese backing for a nuclear energy pact during a visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and lure investment into its $85 billion market while addressing Japan's concern about doing business with a nuclear-armed country. India has been pushing for an agreement with Japan on the lines of a 2008 deal with the United States under which India was allowed to import U.S. nuclear fuel and technology without giving up its military nuclear programme. But Japan wants explicit Indian guarantees not to conduct nuclear tests and more intrusive inspections of its nuclear facilities to ensure that spent fuel is not diverted to make bombs.
Payment Problems Disrupting Iran Food Deals
Payment problems are disrupting commercial food cargoes to Iran, with hundreds of thousands of tonnes of grain and sugar stuck in transit, as Western banking sanctions complicate deals and trade financiers scale back exposure. Iran is not barred from buying food or other "humanitarian" goods under sanctions imposed over Tehran's pursuit of nuclear technology, but measures by the European Union and the United States have made trade more difficult over the past two years. Several international trade sources, with knowledge of deals that have been affected…
China Buying for $24b Nuclear Projects
Westinghouse in talks to sell eight AP1000 Reactors; Nuclear plants, with machinery and services, may cost $24 billion. China may sign as early as next year the first of several contracts for eight new nuclear reactors from Westinghouse Electric Co, as the government presses ahead with the world's biggest civilian nuclear power expansion since the 2011 Fukushima disaster in Japan. China's main nuclear power companies are moving forward with talks to buy the third-generation Westinghouse AP1000 reactors, said Timothy Collier, China managing director of the U.S.-based company. The eight projects, including machinery and services, are expected to cost $24 billion.
