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Russian physicists have discovered how to calculate the formation of nanocavities in nuclear fuel and other solid materials, according to the press service of the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT).  Details were published by in Journal of Nuclear Materials.

Date: Wednesday, 08 April 2020
Original article: neimagazine.com/news/newsrussian-researchers-calculate-void-formation-in-ageing-nuclear-fuel-7862457

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US-based UniTech Services Group continues to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) to the North American nuclear industry during the Covid-19 pandemic, and says it does not anticipate significant disruption to supplies in the second quarter of 2020.

Date: Wednesday, 08 April 2020
Original article: neimagazine.com/news/newsunitech-does-not-foresee-disruption-to-ppe-supplies-to-nuclear-industry-7862645

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Exact impact of Covid-19 pandemic ‘difficult to assess’ State uranium company Kazatomprom expects that the volume of uranium production in Kazakhstan in 2020 will decrease by no more than 4,000 tonnes, although the exact effect of the coronavirus pandemic remains difficult to assess.

The company’s original estimate production estimate for 2020 was production of 22,750 to 22,800 tonnes of uranium on a 100% basis.

The company said the fall in production is not expected to affect its obligations for 2020 in terms of sales volumes. It said it has told all its customers that contractual obligations will be fulfilled in full.

However, Kazatomprom chief executive officer Galymzhan Pirmatov, said measures imposed by the government of Kazakhstan, including restrictions on the movement of people and strict hygiene directives, are now covering all regions where Kazatomprom operates and “have been enforced at all of our sites and offices”.

Date: Wednesday, 08 April 2020
Original article: nucnet.org/news/uranium-production-expected-to-fall-by-4-000-tonnes-4-2-2020

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Report also warns energy companies might need support National governments and EU institutions should consider greater flexibility to allow specialised personnel to travel for inspection, operation and maintenance of critical installations and ensure that control centres and plants remain sufficiently staffed, a report on Europe’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic has said.

The report, published by electricity industry group Eurelectric, says energy companies needs support to tackle the financial pressure resulting from government decisions to postpone the payment of invoices.

It says European investment plans and economic recovery programmes should be fully compatible with EU climate objectives and support electrification and decarbonisation of the EU economy by targeting investment in technologies critical for the energy transition.

The report concludes that the pandemic has affected electricity demand differently across markets.

Date: Wednesday, 08 April 2020
Original article: nucnet.org/news/eu-electricity-group-calls-for-flexibility-to-ensure-plants-are-staffed-4-2-2020

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The Belarusian nucler power station. Photo courtesy Rosatom. Tests of technological safety systems have been completed at Unit 1 of the Belarusian nuclear power station, Russian plant supplier Atomstroyexport said.

The company, a division of Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom, said the testing is one of the most important stages of the hot hydraulic functional tests, including a simulated leak in the primary system. The automatic startup of all four diesel generator sets that form part of the emergency system was also tested.

Russia is constructing and commissioning two VVER-1200 pressurised water reactors at the Belarus site and expects the first unit to be connected to the grid this year.

Date: Wednesday, 08 April 2020
Original article: nucnet.org/news/key-tests-completed-at-belarusian-1-4-2-2020

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Installation has been completed of the reactor internals of the Hualong One reactor under construction at unit 3 of the Karachi nuclear power plant in Pakistan. Those for unit 2 were installed in January 2019. The units are scheduled for commercial operation in 2021 and 2022, respectively.

Date: Wednesday, 08 April 2020
Original article: world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Reactor-internals-installed-at-second-Pakistani-Hu

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Rosatom plans to resume normal working by the end of this month and sees no need to change the schedule of its new-build projects overseas, Director General Alexey Likhachov said in a video-address to the state nuclear corporation's employees.

Date: Wednesday, 08 April 2020
Original article: world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Rosatom-chief-hopes-for-business-as-usual-by-month

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Kazatomprom said today that it expects Kazakhstan's 2020 annual uranium production volume to decrease by up to 4,000 tU from previous expectations as the company introduces measures to comply with COVID-19 lockdown requirements. Measures that will result in a lower level of wellfield activity, and thus a reduction in production volume, are expected to remain in place for three months. Kazatomprom is the world's biggest uranium producer, accounting for 23% of global output of the metal in 2018.

Date: Wednesday, 08 April 2020
Original article: world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Kazatomprom-updates-operations-under-COVID-19-lock

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Russia’s Rusatom - Additive Technologies (RusAT, part of fuel company TVEL) has launched 3D printing of valves for ventilators. Meanwhile, another Rosatom company Sterion has stepped up efforts to sterile masks for Russian medical facilities.

Date: Tuesday, 07 April 2020
Original article: neimagazine.com/news/newsrosatom-supplies-valves-for-ventilators-and-mask-sterilisation-services-7858820

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Canada’s Ontario Power Generation (OPG) is utilising 3D printing technology to produce plastic face shields for frontline health-care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Date: Tuesday, 07 April 2020
Original article: neimagazine.com/news/newsontario-power-generation-produces-equipment-to-protect-health-care-workers-7858868

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