THE WORLD'S NUCLEAR NEWS AGENCY

World Nuclear Review - week ending 2nd January 2004

Increased US Nuclear Generating Capacity Predicted Up To 2025

The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) has published an overview of its Annual Energy Outlook 2004 - a reference case scenario which predicts that nuclear generating capacity in the US will rise to 102.6 gigawatts (GW) in 2025 from 98.7 GW in 2002.

The EIA, the independent statistical and analytical agency within the US Department of Energy, says: "While no new nuclear plants have been built in many years in the US, existing facilities have substantially improved their performance and reduced operating costs."

The forecast assumes that unit one of the Browns Ferry nuclear power plant will begin operation in 2007, but projects that no new nuclear facilities will be built before 2025 - "based on the relative economics of competing technologies".

In terms of other energy sources, the EIA predicts lower natural gas demand and higher natural gas prices. Coal is predicted to remain the primary fuel for electricity generation in the US through 2025. The coal share is predicted to rise from 50% in 2002 to 52% in 2025 - with 112 GW of new coal-fired capacity expected to be built between 2002 and 2025.

Total US energy demand, according to the EIA, is expected to increase from 97.7 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu), to 136.5 quadrillion Btu between 2002 and 2025 - an average annual increase of 1.5%.

The full EIA report will be released in January 2004.

Source: EIA

Full report: NucNet News No. 343, 29th December

Bruce A Unit Declares Commercial Operation

Unit four at Canada's Bruce A nuclear power plant in south-west Ontario entered commercial operation on 22nd December, the Cameco Corporation has announced.

The 750-megawatt unit was synchronised to the grid in October 2003 after regulators gave the go-ahead to remove it from its five-year shut-down state

Cameco, which indirectly has a 31.6% interest in the Bruce Power Limited Partnership (which leases and operates the Bruce nuclear plants), said the development was a "significant milestone".

Meanwhile, Cameco said Bruce A unit three, which was moved out of its shut-down state in early December 2003, is still "in the process of being reconnected to the grid".

Source: Cameco

Full report: NucNet Business News No. 70.1, 23rd December

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