Delay in removal of melted nuclear fuel from Fukushima No 1 Power plant, because of the pandemic
Pandemic delays melted nuclear fuel removal at Fukushima http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14059716, By YU KOTSUBO/ Staff Writer, December 25, 2020 The government and operator of the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant announced they had abandoned plans to start removing melted nuclear fuel and other contaminated debris from the stricken facility within 2021, citing delayed development in Britain of a robotic arm crucial for the purpose.They explained that the novel coronavirus pandemic was chiefly to blame for the delay.
The government and Tokyo Electric Power Co. had planned to start the hazardous task in 2021 but said Dec. 24 that is no longer feasible. In December 2011, nine months after the triple meltdown triggered by the March earthquake and tsunami disaster, the two parties set a goal of starting to retrieve the melted fuel “within 10 years” so reactor decommissioning could start. Since then, they have had to downsize the scale of debris that can be realistically be retrieved, mainly because the technology does not exist to accomplish such dangerous work. The No. 2 reactor, along with the No. 1 and No. 3 reactors, went into meltdown after tsunami generated by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake knocked out cooling systems at the plant. Debris retrieval constitutes the biggest obstacles to deciding how reactor decommissioning will progress in the years ahead. The debris is emitting extremely high levels of radiation, making it difficult to access the site even with robots. Little is known about the state of the debris or its composition. The government and TEPCO revised the timetable last December with the aim of retrieving a few grams of debris on an experimental basis in 2021 from the No. 2 reactor. The No. 2 reactor was chosen because the state of the containment housing is better understood than for the other reactors. Japan approached Britain to develop a special robotic arm because it has more experience in this field. But the work has experienced significant delays because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Trial tests for the robotic arm are planned to be held in Japan next spring or later with retrieval work postponed to 2022 or later. However, many questions remain about the reactor decommissioning of the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant as a whole due to a number of factors such as wrecked equipment at the site. For example, initial projections to complete the removal of used nuclear fuel from a fuel pool were delayed for 10 years. However, the government and TEPCO are sticking to their schedule to complete reactor decommissioning between 2041 and 2051. With regard to debris retrieval, this is to be done on a “step-by-step” basis. The two parties on Dec. 24 also announced they will postpone the start of probing the interior of the No.1 reactor’s containment vessel from the second half of fiscal 2020 to fiscal 2021. They have been working to secure a route that will allow robotic equipment to explore the interior but experienced huge hurdles because their current method caused radioactive substances to spread. The accumulated debris in the three reactors is estimated to total about 880 tons. Tentative plans call for increasing the amount of debris to be retrieved gradually after a few grams are collected with a metallic brush attached to the top of the robotic arm and analyzed. |
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Ohio lawmakers make no attempt to stop the corruptly set up nuclear power bailout
Ohio lawmakers ended their 2020 legislative session late Tuesday without repealing or replacing House Bill 6. The scandal-tainted bill will provide a $1 billion dollar bailout for two Ohio nuclear power plants. Customers across Ohio were to begin paying a monthly fee starting in January to subsidize the plants. A judge in Columbus gave the legislature a temporary reprieve Monday by issuing a preliminary injunction to stop fees from being collected. In July, the former speaker of the Ohio House Larry Householder and four others are facing federal charges in a bribery scheme to get the bill pass. Governor Mike DeWine says it up to the Ohio House and Senate to get something done.
“The legislature is a separate branch of government. They are working their will. We will see what they send me. I have made it clear that my preferences is total repeal and replace. Because I think when we look behind the curtain and saw how this bill became law it looks unseemly and was unseemly and this kind of stinks up the whole room,” says Gov. Mike DeWine. “And so we are better off starting over again.”
A new company acquired the nuclear plants and other first energy assets in February in a bankruptcy court deal.
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Russia marketing small nuclear reactors to the Arctic , (who cares about the toxic wastes?)
Rosatom to build small-scale land-based Arctic nuclear plant by 2028
Rosatom said it has reached an agreement with the government of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) setting out parameters for pricing energy that will be produced by the nuclear plant, which is expected to be completed by 2028……….
“I am convinced that a small-scale nuclear power plant will give a qualitative impetus to the development of the Arctic regions of Yakutia, stimulate the development of industry in Ust-Yansky ulus and improve the living standards of local residents,” said in a statement Head of the Sakha Republic Aysen Nikolayev.
The nuclear plant is expected to operate for 60 years but the press release did not specify how Rosatom plans to deal with the nuclear waste produced by it.
Rosatom officials said the small-scale nuclear plant is based on a proven technology that has already been tested in Arctic conditions.
RITM-200 reactors are already being used on the recently commissioned Arktika nuclear-powered icebreaker and six other 22220 design heavy Russian icebreakers that are being built, Rosatom officials said…….
“The implementation of this project strengthens the leading position of Rosatom in the world market of small nuclear power plants.”…….
Rosatom is also actively marketing the technology for export overseas, Likhachev said. https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/nuclear-safety/2020/12/rosatom-build-small-scale-land-based-arctic-nuclear-plant-2028
Russian Army Chief Warns of Nuclear Risks in Cyber Hacks, Space

Read more at: https://www.bloombergquint.com/politics/russia-general-warns-cyber-attacks-pose-nuclear-risks-tass-says
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Joe Biden administration might consider cutting nuclear weapons spending


President-elect promised to reduce ‘excessive’ spending on nuclear arsenal and shrink its role in strategy, but critics say updates are overdue, WSJ, By Michael R. Gordon, Dec. 24, 2020 WASHINGTON—The incoming Biden administration is planning a review of the nation’s $1.2 trillion nuclear-modernization program with an eye toward trimming funding for nuclear weapons and reducing their role in Pentagon strategy
President-elect Joe Biden promised during the campaign to reduce the U.S.’s “excessive expenditure” on nuclear arms and criticized President Trump’s decision to develop new sea-based weapons, including a submarine-launched cruise missile.
The new administration is also likely to review the Pentagon’s decision to develop a new land-based intercontinental ballistic missile, which is estimated to cost more than $100 billion when its warhead is included, some former officials said.
“We have to modernize our deterrent,” said one former official. “But we cannot spend the amount of money that is currently being allocated.”
The expectation that Mr. Biden will take a fresh look at the modernization programs has spurred a debate over the future of the U.S. nuclear deterrent……. (subscribers only) https://www.wsj.com/articles/biden-to-review-u-s-nuclear-weapons-programs-with-eye-toward-cuts-11608805800
U.S. Dept of Energy pouring $millions into new nuclear gimmicks

DOE expects to invest about USD600 million over the next seven years in ARDP, which aims to help domestic private industry demonstrate advanced nuclear reactors in the USA.
The department issued an ARDP funding opportunity announcement in May this year, which included the ARC-20 awards, the Advanced Reactor Demonstration awards, and the Risk Reduction for Future Demonstration awards. For the ARC-20 projects, DOE expects to invest a total of about USD56 million over four years with its industry partners providing at least 20% in matching funds. The goal of the ARC-20 programme is to assist the progression of advanced reactor designs in their earliest phases.
DOE yesterday announced the selection of three US-based teams to receive ARC-20 funding. These are:
- Inherently Safe Advanced SMR for American Nuclear Leadership. Advanced Reactor Concepts will deliver a conceptual design of a seismically isolated advanced sodium-cooled reactor facility that builds upon the initial pre-conceptual design of a 100 MWe reactor facility. The total award value over three-and-a-half years is USD34.4 million, with the DOE’s share being USD27.5 million.
- Fast Modular Reactor Conceptual Design. General Atomics will develop a fast modular reactor conceptual design with verifications of key metrics in fuel, safety and operational performance. The design will be for a 50 MWe fast modular reactor. Total award value over three years is USD31.1 million (DOE share is USD24.8 million).
- Horizontal Compact High Temperature Gas Reactor. Massachusetts Institute of Technology will mature the Modular Integrated Gas-Cooled High-Temperature Reactor (MIGHTR) concept from a pre-conceptual stage to a conceptual stage to support commercialisation. The total award value over three years is USD4.9 million (DOE cost share is USD3.9 million)………..
On 16 December, DOE selected five teams to receive USD30 million in initial funding for risk reduction projects under its ARDP programme. All five of the selected designs have the potential to compete globally once deployed, DOE said. The five projects are: the BWXT Advanced Nuclear Reactor; Westinghouse’s eVinci Microreactor; Kairos Power’s Hermes Reduced-Scale Test Reactor; the Holtec SMR-160 light-water small modular reactor; and the Molten Chloride Reactor Experiment, a project led by Southern Company Services Inc.
Two projects led by TerraPower and X-energy were selected in October to receive USD160 million in initial funding for under the DOE’s Demonstration projects pathway to develop and construct two advanced nuclear reactors that can be operational within seven years……https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/DOE-selects-advanced-reactor-concepts-for-funding
UK’s quest for nuclear fusion.
he science of nuclear fusion was proven in the early 1930s, after fusion of hydrogen isotopes was achieved in a laboratory. And we see fusion in action every day. The stars, including our Sun, are giant self-sustaining fusion reactors. ……..
Unlike nuclear fission, which breaks heavy atoms apart, nuclear fusion compresses light atoms together. This means there is far less harmful waste created by fusion. Neutron bombardment causes a fusion plant to become slightly radioactive, however these radioactive products are short-lived. Fusion therefore offers the tantalising potential for near-limitless, climate-friendly energy production that doesn’t come with a shadow of radioactive waste. Test reactors, such as the Joint European Torus (Jet) at Culham in England, have proved fusion is possible, albeit for short periods of time. The challenge is turning these experimental reactors into an ongoing process that is commercially viable. For this, it would need to generate more power than is needed to keep the fusion reaction going.
For decades, we have been promised that commercial fusion power plants will exist within 30 years. As far back as 1955, the physicist Homi J Bhabha claimed we would have fusion power within two decades. This claim, and many others since, have repeatedly failed to be achieved. The promise is eternal, but fusion always seems that same distance away………. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20201214-the-uks-quest-for-affordable-fusion-by-2040
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U.S. Congress approves nuclear energy funding for Financial Year 2021
Congress approves nuclear energy funding for FY2021, WNN, 23 December 2020The US Congress voted to approve appropriations for fiscal year 2021 that includes USD1.5 billion for the Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy. The appropriations also include USD150 million to initiate the uranium reserve programme to address challenges to the production of domestic uranium…….
The total appropriation for the Department of Energy (DOE) is USD42.04 billion, which is USD3.45 billion above the FY2020-enacted level and USD6.31 billion above the budget request. This includes USD1.5 billion allocated for nuclear energy research, development and demonstration activities, including USD280 million for the Advanced Reactors Demonstration Program, which was announced in May. The appropriation also includes USD27.5 million for DOE expenses necessary for nuclear waste disposal activities to carry out the purposes of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, including interim storage activities. Of this, USD7.5 million will come from the Nuclear Waste Fund. Congress’ approval of the FY2021 appropriations was welcomed by the Nuclear Energy Institute. …………… https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Congress-approves-nuclear-energy-funding-for-FY202 |
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Marketing nuclear technology to Slovakia
Mochovce new-build project receives loan boost, WNN, 24 December 2020
Italy’s Enel has announced that its subsidiary Enel Produzione and the Czech company Energetický a Průmyslový Holding (EPH) have agreed to a provide additional loans for the completion of Mochovce 3 and 4 in the Slovak Republic, and altered the terms for EPH to eventually buy out Enel’s stake in Slovenské elektrárne. They and EP Slovakia BV have signed a new agreement that modifies some of the terms and conditions of the 2015 contract concerning the sale of the stake held by Enel Produzione in the Slovak utility…….
Construction on the two Mochovce units was restarted in 2008 and aimed at having both units in operation by 2013, at a total cost of EUR2.8 billion. This was increased at the start of this month to about EUR6.2 billion. Fuel loading at unit 3 is expected by April 2021 and at unit 4 in 2023. ………. https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Mochovce-new-build-project-receives-loan-boost
Economic crisis forces North Korea to put new nuclear parade facilities on ice.
Kim Jong Un forced to put new nuclear parade facilities on ice. Satellite images show economic crisis is delaying North Korean leader’s vanity projects, Edward White in Seoul, DECEMBER 24 2020 “…….”…….The delays are the latest indications of the financial crisis unfolding in the secretive state, where the economy has been buffeted by sanctions, pandemic-linked border closures and damage from extreme flooding and typhoons this year. Rapid construction previously observed at Wonsan, as well as a new hospital in Pyongyang and facilities at a training ground for the regime’s theatrical nuclear weapons parades continue to “lose steam”, according to analysis of images published on Wednesday by 38 North, a programme run by the Stimson Center, a US think-tank. ……. https://www.ft.com/content/68dd3c40-5add-4ce7-979c-63cbb945aa58
Russia keenly marketing nuclear technology to Bolivia
![]() On March 6, 2016, Russia and Bolivia concluded an inter-governmental agreement on cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy and construction of a nuclear research center in El Alto MOSCOW, December 25. /TASS/. The Rosatom State Nuclear Energy Corporation is continuing the construction of the Center for Nuclear Research and Technologies in Bolivia, despite the difficult political situation in that country. Next year the company plans to commission the first and second stages of the facility, Head of Rosatom Alexey Likhachev said on Friday.”Despite two revolutions, work continues in Bolivia. Next year we will start commissioning facilities of the first and second stages of the Center for Nuclear Research and Technologies,” he said…….. Nuclear project in BoliviaOn March 6, 2016, Russia and Bolivia concluded an inter-governmental agreement on cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy and construction of a nuclear research center in El Alto, at an altitude of 4,100 meters above sea level. The Bolivian government-funded $300-million project will be implemented jointly with Russia’s nuclear power corporation Rosatom………. https://tass.com/economy/1239807 |
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