The final stage of reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel involves the separation of plutonium in a solvent phase (tributyl/phosphate/odourless kerosene) from the uranium/plutonium/fission product mixture. The solvent containing plutonium as nitrate at about 10E+6 Bq/ml is sampled in a number of lightly shielded cabinets before the solvent is stripped to leave plutonium nitrate in the aqueous phase. On 12 January flow of solvent to an instrument in a cabinet became restricted and caused an overflow of plutonium laden solvent to the floor of the cabinet and then to the operating area floor of the reprocessing plant via a leak path from the cabinet. No abnormal doses were received. No air contamination resulted. The area has been decontaminated. Total spillage was 6 x 10E+9 Pu (alpha) plus a.8 x 10E+10 Bq Pu 241, equivalent radiologically to 1 x 10E+10 Bq Pu (alpha). "On site" spillage criteria require comparison with the radiological equivalence of "a few hundred GBq of Ru 106". Pu (alpha) is about 10E+4 times more radiologically restrictive per Bq than Ru 106. Hence the spillage is radiologically equivalent to about 1 x 10E+14 Bq Ru 106. Level 2 is therefore appropriate.
Jan vd Putte quickly changed from dressing as the pied piper at the protest during the IAEA nuclear power conference to warn for the Russian nuclear power conglomerate Rosatom and its role in Ukraine.
Anke Herold, Executive Director Oeko-Institut, Freiburg (Germany), in Brussels about the claim to triple nuclear by 2050: IPCC scenarios vs forecast development of nuclear.
Yesterday, the ANVS, the Dutch nuclear supervisor, authorized the transport of up to six shipments of fissile enriched uranium from Russia to Urenco in Almelo. This is remarkable because after the Russian invasion, almost two years ago, the uranium-enriching state-owned company in Almelo claimed to be "very concerned" about developments in Ukraine and therefore "stopped […]
[The Guardian]: "As nuclear plant is hit by further delay, real cost will be far higher after inflation is included, as project uses 2015 prices. The owner of Hinkley Point C has blamed inflation, Covid and Brexit as it announced the nuclear power plant project could be delayed by a further four years, and cost […]
From WNN: In 2022, 13 EU countries with nuclear electricity production generated 609,255 GWh of nuclear electricity - down 16.7% compared with 2021, according to figures released by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. It noted this is the lowest level registered in the period from 1990, the first year for which comparable […]