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The US Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Savannah River Site (SRS) says the H Canyon facility recently initiated actions to recycle a small amount of used highly enriched uranium (HEU) stored in the Site’s H Area in order to down-blend it into high-assay low enriched uranium (HALEU). “The projected demand for HALEU far exceeds the current supply,” said HALEU Programme Manager Jeff Hasty for Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, the site’s managing and operating contractor.

Date: Wednesday, 05 April 2023
Original article: neimagazine.com/news/newshaleu-production-planned-for-savannah-river-site-as-clean-up-continues-10731144

Kathryn Huff also addressed impact of Russian invasion of Ukraine Ms Huff addressed a number of topics including the existing nuclear fleet and new reactor technologies. Courtesy US Senate/DOE. Kathryn Huff told a Senate energy and natural resources committee hearing that if she is confirmed to head the Department of Energy’s office of nuclear energy she will prioritise activities to preserve the existing fleet of nuclear power plants, deploy advanced reactor technologies, manage spent nuclear fuel and work with international partners to support technological transfer and American innovation.

During the hearing’s question-and-answer portion, Ms Huff addressed a number of topics, including investment in domestic uranium conversion and enrichment infrastructure to eliminate US dependence on Russia for nuclear fuel.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine, she said, “puts into stark contrast the importance of our energy security. I completely agree that we need to build out the capacity for a Western alternative to the Russian component of the uranium market, including conversion and enrichment capacity.

Date: Wednesday, 23 March 2022
Original article: nucnet.org/news/nuclear-nominee-plans-to-preserve-existing-fleet-deploy-advanced-reactor-technologies-3-2-2022

Milestones achieved within a recent two-week period demonstrate what nuclear technology is all about, what it is doing and can do for humanity, Agneta Rising, World Nuclear Association director general, said ahead of the Association's Strategic eForum 2020.

Date: Wednesday, 09 September 2020
Original article: world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Speech-Worlds-of-possibilities-with-nuclear-techno

The US Department of Energy (DOE) on 5 August published a Notice of Intent in the Federal Register announcing that the it will develop an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to study the impacts of building a Versatile Test Reactor (VTR) to test future fuels and materials that industry is designing for advanced civilian nuclear plants.
 
The 300MWt reactor will be a smaller version of the GE Hitachi PRISM power reactor, which is based on the EBR-II, an integral sodium-cooled fast reactor prototype that operated at Argonne National Laboratory from 1963-1994. VTR, like PRISM, would use metallic alloy fuels. DOE has previously said the facility could be in operation by the end of 2026.
 
The VTR will be used to provide a source of fast neutrons to support  development of advanced reactor technologies. Similar facilities are currently available in only a few locations worldwide and the USA has not operated one in over 20 years.
 
“This testing capability is essential for the United States to modernise its nuclear energy infrastructure and for developing transformational nuclear energy technologies that reduce waste generation and enhance nuclear security,” said Energy Secretary Rick Perry. “Lack of a domestic reactor with versatile fast-neutron-spectrum testing capability is a significant national strategic risk affecting the ability of DOE to fulfil its mission to advance the energy, environmental, and nuclear security of the United States and promote scientific and technological innovation.”
 
Rita Baranwal, Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy said DOE needs to develop this capability on an accelerated schedule.

Date: Monday, 12 August 2019
Original article: neimagazine.com/news/newsus-looks-to-develop-fast-reactor-7360758

US nuclear reactor startup Transatomic Power announced on 25 September that it is shutting down operations, after deciding that it can see no viable path to bringing its molten salt reactor designs to scale. However, it still wants its technology to play a role in the future of advanced nuclear reactors. Transatomic’s CEO and co-founder Leslie Dewan, noted: “We haven’t been able to scale up the company rapidly enough to build our reactor in a reasonable timeframe. It is therefore with a heavy heart that I must announce that Transatomic is suspending operations.” He added that the company will be “open-sourcing our intellectual property, making it available for any researchers — private, public or nonprofit — who want to continue the work we’ve started.”

Date: Tuesday, 02 October 2018
Original article: neimagazine.com/news/newstransatomic-announces-it-closure-6779325

The first shipment of highly enriched uranium (HEU) liquid used nuclear fuel from the IIN-3M research reactor in Tashkent for reprocessing in Russia has been completed.

Date: Monday, 28 September 2015
Original article: world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Uzbek-research-reactor-fuel-shipped-to-Russia