THE WORLD'S NUCLEAR NEWS AGENCY

World Nuclear Review - week ending 17th December 2004

UK Sets Out New Radwaste 'Substitution' Policy

The UK government has given the go-ahead for the substitution of High Level Waste (HLW) for Intermediate Level Radioactive Waste (ILW) resulting from the reprocessing of overseas-spent fuel.

The decision, announced on 13th December 2004, followed a three-month public consultation that ended in April 2004. The UK's Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said that more than 90% of the 325 responses received were in favour of the "substitution" policy.

Waste substitution means that British Nuclear Fuels (BNFL) will return a small amount of high-level waste (HLW) to overseas customers - in addition to that for which the customer is responsible - in return for retaining the customer's intermediate-level waste (ILW) and LLW.

The DTI estimates that the additional amount of ILW being retained would represent about 1.4% of the UK's total of ILW. A radiological equivalent of HLW will be returned to BNFL's overseas customers in its place - "so achieving radiological neutrality for the UK".

The DTI described the decision as "both environmental and economic".

Source: DTI

Full report: NucNet News in Brief No. 69, 15th December 2004

Notice Filed With Safety Commission For Bruce-1 and -2 Restart

Canadian utility Bruce Power has filed notice with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) of its intent to restart units one and two at Bruce A nuclear power plant in Ontario.

The notice says Bruce Power intends to return units one and two to operational status and extend their life to the end of 2043. The notice also includes the possible extended operational life of units three and four to 2043 and the potential use of CANFLEX low void reactivity fuel (CANFLEX-LVRF) in all four units at Bruce A.

A statement from the CNSC said an environmental assessment began on 14th December 2004 and would "identify the possible environmental effects of the project and determine whether these can be mitigated before the project is allowed to proceed".

As a condition of its licence, Bruce Power must get approval from the CNSC before reactors can be loaded with fuel and operated at power.

In September 2004 the government of Ontario announced it was taking decisive action to address Ontario's electricity needs by beginning discussions with Bruce Power to restart units one and two at Bruce A.

CANFLEX-LVRF - suitable for the current generation and next generation of CANDU reactors - is a new fuel developed by Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd (AECL). It can be used with natural uranium or slightly enriched uranium. According to AECL, the primary aim of the new fuel is to improve the safety margin and enhance the reliability of reactors, allowing them to operate at the full power level they were designed for.

Source: CNSC / Bruce Power / AECL

Full report: NucNet News in Brief No. 70, 16th December 2004

Current Policies 'Not Enough To Meet UK Emissions Target' Says Minister

The UK cabinet minister in charge of environment issues has announced that existing policies on climate change will not be enough to meet the government's goal of a 20% cut in carbon dioxide emissions by 2010.

Margaret Beckett, Secretary of State for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), said the government had identified opportunities to further reduce carbon emissions. She said: "It is clear that we are on track to go beyond our Kyoto target, as emissions of the key greenhouse gases have fallen significantly.

However, we will not, on the basis of current policies alone, achieve our ambitious 2010 domestic goal of a 20% cut in carbon dioxide emissions." The UK's domestic goal to reduce emissions was part of the country's climate change programme published in November 2000. It detailed how the UK planned to deliver its Kyoto target to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 12.5% - and cut carbon dioxide emissions by 20% below 1990 levels by 2010.

In her statement, published on 8th December 2004, the minister said the government had launched its planned review of the programme on 15th September 2004, including a 12-week consultation period involving organisations throughout the UK. The deadline for responses to the consultation is 2nd March 2005 and a revised programme of climate change measures will be published in the first half of 2005.

Source: Defra

Full report: NucNet News No. 215, 13th December 2004

SKI Approves Uprates for Ringhals-1 And -3

The Swedish nuclear power inspectorate (SKI) has proposed to the government that Ringhals be given permission for power uprates at two reactor units at Ringhals nuclear power plant.

In a statement on 14th December 2004, SKI also proposed that as a condition for being given the go-ahead for the uprates at Ringhals-1 and -3, the reactors should not be allowed trial operation or permanent operation without SKI's approval. SKI is also calling for the government to authorise SKI to decide on further conditions for granting safety approvals.

In March 2004 Ringhals applied for power uprates of 1.6% at Ringhals-1 and 13.5% at Ringhals-3. SKI's proposals to the government follow its review of that application, which also included an environmental impact assessment of the uprates.

In its statement SKI said "conditions are prevailing" for uprates in both units to be carried out in such a way that requirements for safety are achieved. SKI added, however, that 'further analysis and measurements' are needed for making sure those safety requirements are met.

Source: SKI

Full report: NucNet News in Brief No.70, 16th December 2004

President And CEO Timbers Leaves USEC

US enrichment company USEC announced that president and chief executive officer William Timbers is leaving and that chairman James Mellor has assumed his responsibilities.

In a statement on 14th December 2004, USEC said the board would form a committee to look for a new president and CEO. "The board expressed its appreciation to Mr Timbers for the key role he played in the development and privatisation of the company," said the statement.

From 1994 Mr Timbers served as president and CEO of what was then the government-owned United States Enrichment Corporation. He was elected president and CEO of USEC in 1998 following the company's privatisation.

Source: USEC

Full report: NucNet News in Brief No. 69, 15th December 2004

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