Canada’s Terrestrial Energy has completed a regulatory evaluation of packaging and cross-border transportation of Integral Molten Salt Reactor (IMSR) nuclear fuel in collaboration with France’s Orano.
This demonstrates that nuclear fuel packaging used by Orano today to service the nuclear industry is suitable for the transportation and supply of IMSR fuel, said the companies.
The scope of the evaluation covered compliant packaging and transportation for Canada, the USA, UK and selected EU countries. “This outcome avoids the costly and lengthy process of developing, licensing and manufacturing new nuclear fuel packaging and has important commercial implications for early deployment of IMSR plants in key markets,” the statement said.
Packaging and transportation of nuclear reactor fuel are subject to strict regulatory requirements that ensure safety and protect property and the environment. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and regional governmental authorities have established regulations for the safe and secure handling of radioactive material. The regulations are administered in Canada by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), in the USA by the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), in the UK by the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), and in France by the Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN).
"Orano has long been a trusted nuclear fuel cycle partner to the global energy industry, including managing and performing more than 5,000 transports of nuclear material every year," said Amir Vexler, President and CEO of Orano USA. "Next-generation technologies such as Terrestrial Energy's IMSR will deliver new and valuable commercial applications of nuclear energy. We are pleased to apply our nuclear fuel cycle expertise to help advance the development of these nuclear energy facilities of the future."
"This outcome is possible because the IMSR plant is fuelled with Standard Assay Low Enriched Uranium, which is commercially available and widely used in reactors today," said Simon Irish, CEO of Terrestrial Energy. "Terrestrial Energy's IMSR plant uses a molten salt reactor for high-temperature heat supply, which is essential for direct industrial use and high efficiency electric power generation. Using Standard Assay Low Enriched Uranium fuel ensures this transformative reactor technology incorporates the existing capabilities of the nuclear industry, such as those provided by Orano, for a clear path to early deployment."
Orano and Terrestrial Energy completed this evaluation as part of a broad-scope agreement that includes services such as uranium enrichment, chemical conversion to IMSR fuel form, its production, transportation, packaging and logistics. The agreement is part of Terrestrial Energy's multiple-sourcing strategy for IMSR fuel supply and reflects Orano's intention to support next-generation reactor commercialization with its broad range of fuel services.
Image: Terrestrial Energy's IMSR plant (courtesy of Terrestrial Energy)