Belgium reverses phase-out policy as Denmark reconsiders nuclear
Belgium's federal parliament has voted by a large majority to repeal a 2003 law for the phase-out of nuclear power and banning the construction of new nuclear generating capacity. Meanwhile, the Danish parliament has approved an analysis of the potential use of nuclear, which has been banned for the past 40 years.
Belgium's federal law of 31 January 2003 requires the phase-out of all nuclear electricity generation in the country. Under that policy, Doel 1 was originally set to be taken out of service on its 40th anniversary – 15 February 2015. However, the law was amended in 2013 and 2015 to provide for Doel 1 to remain operational for an additional ten years. Duel 3 was closed in September 2022 and Tihange 2 at the end of January 2023. Unit 1 of the Tihange plant is set to shut in October this year, with Doel 2 following in December.
Belgium's last two reactors - Doel 4 and Tihange 3 - were scheduled to close in November 2025. However, following the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in February 2022 the government and Electrabel - the Belgian subsidiary of Engie - began negotiating the feasibility and terms for the operation of the reactors for a further 10 years, with a final agreement reached in December, with a balanced risk allocation.
A legislative text was submitted to parliament in July last year by Member of Parliament Mathieu Bihet, prior to him becoming the country's energy minister, together with his colleagues, calling for the nuclear phase out policy to be revoked.
During a 15 May plenary session, the Chamber of Representatives, the lower house of parliament, passed the legislation - referred to as the 'Bihet Law' - with 102 votes in favour, eight against and 31 abstentions.
"This day will go down in history as a turning point in Belgian energy history," the government said. "By approving with a large majority the law that heralds the return of nuclear energy in our country, the federal parliament leaves behind two decades of blockages and hesitations to pave the way for a realistic and resilient energy model.
"By opening the door to new nuclear capacity, the government confirms its desire to strengthen our energy independence, guarantee competitive prices and accelerate the decarbonisation of our production."
"With this new law, Belgium is finally giving itself the means to guarantee an energy mix that is based on today's reality," Energy Minister Bihet said. "It is no longer a matter of pitting energy sources against each other in a binary and sterile way, but of using them pragmatically and complementary."
The government said the implementation of the reform will be carried out in consultation with industrial players, sector experts and safety authorities.
Industry welcomes reversal
The approval of the law was welcomed by the Belgian Nuclear Forum, which said the phase-out law had "turned out to be an aberration, with negative consequences for Belgian energy policy that we feel to this day ... this aberration is now being rectified, the outdated nuclear exit law is relegated to the history books".
Serge Dauby, managing director of the Belgian Nuclear Forum, added: "It is not just a symbolic victory, this is really a historic milestone. At last, we as Belgium, a country with an enormous amount of nuclear know-how, are signaling to the rest of the world that we are once again taking a rational look at energy policy and the climate challenge, by no longer ideologically excluding nuclear energy as part of the solution."
"At the same time, this is only a first - but necessary - step in the nuclear revival. To successfully realise the nuclear revival, we urgently need to gather all stakeholders in a 'task force'. We have already lost too much time during the last legislature. We need a realistic and fact-based long-term strategy for Belgian energy policy. Our industry and our citizens deserve a serious approach, away from ideological dogmas. The nuclear sector is already putting itself at the disposal of the Minister of Energy to help him and his administration achieve our country's goals of energy transition and energy security."
Denmark to consider nuclear
Forty years ago, in 1985, the Danish parliament passed a resolution that nuclear power plants would not be built in the country.
But in a parliamentary vote on Thursday, two-thirds of Danish MPs supported the country launching an investigation into the possible use of nuclear power to enhance its energy security.
"Denmark has no recent experience with nuclear power, which is why it is important that we start analysing the potential," Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities Lars Aagaard was cited as saying by Reuters. "Can this technology complement what will be dominant in our country: solar and wind? We all know that of course we can't have an electricity system based on solar and wind alone. There has to be something else to support it."
He added: "Can we say with confidence that this technology is safe? Where do we dispose of the nuclear waste? Are our authorities prepared if something goes wrong? And so on and so forth. We don't have that knowledge, but we need it."
A report on the potential benefits of new nuclear power technologies is expected to be completed next year, Aagaard said in a public hearing in parliament on 14 May.
Article researched and written by WNN's Warwick Pipe
Westinghouse grows Bulgarian supply chain
Memorandums of understanding signed with seven Bulgarian suppliers will support the project to build two AP1000 pressurised water reactor units at the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant site.
The agreements establish the potential for supplying a variety of products and services including cranes, logistics and transportation, electrical and industrial equipment, instrumentation and control equipment, and piping, and are a direct result of the Westinghouse Bulgaria Supplier Symposium held earlier this month, Westinghouse said.
The seven suppliers - Balkansko Echo EOOD, Bon Marine Ltd, Contragent 35 Ltd, El Kontrol EOOD, ELPROM Heavy Industries JSC, Kozloduy Ltd and Zekalabs Ltd - join the 30 Bulgarian suppliers with which Westinghouse has already signed MoUs as part of its "buy where we build" philosophy of localisation. The Kozloduy project will also provide Bulgarian firms the opportunity to support other AP1000 projects in Europe and globally.
"We continue to make excellent progress on our Engineering Services Contract to deliver two advanced AP1000 reactors at the Kozloduy site, thanks in large part to the deeply experienced Bulgarian nuclear supply chain," said Westinghouse Energy Systems President Dan Lipman. "With this supply chain expansion, we look to tap into the expertise of local construction, electrical and logistics suppliers, which will be critical in delivering the project on time and on budget."
Kozloduy is home to two operating VVER-1000 reactors that were connected to the grid in 1987 and 1991, respectively, and together provide around a third of Bulgaria's electricity. Both units have been through refurbishment and life-extension programmes to enable extension of operation from 30 to 60 years. Four older VVER-230 units were closed ahead of Bulgaria joining the European Union in 2007.
The USA and Bulgaria signed an intergovernmental agreement to cooperate on the development of Bulgaria's civil nuclear programme, including the plan for the new units at Kozloduy, in early 2024, and Hyundai Engineering & Construction, Westinghouse and Kozloduy NPP-New Builds signed an engineering contract in November. The aim is for unit 7 to be operational in 2035 and unit 8 in 2037.
The symposium held in Sofia on 1 May was the second held in Bulgaria by Westinghouse to provide a forum for regional suppliers to learn more about supporting the Kozloduy AP1000 project. It was attended by more than 150 attendees from 60 companies and industry organisations, as well as speakers including Bulgaria’s Minister of Energy Zhecho Stankov who said the project is key to the country’s energy security and independence. Kozloduy unit 7 will be the first AP1000 to be built in Europe, and will be "key to preserving and expanding Bulgaria's role as a strategic hub for the production of sustainable, emission-free energy at competitive prices in Southeast Europe", he said.
Article researched and written by WNN's Claire Maden
Second fund launched to boost French nuclear supply chain
Following an earlier funding round, France's EDF and private equity specialist Siparex have announced a second round of funding to strengthen strategic companies in the country's nuclear supply chain.
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This first round of financing, known as the Fonds France Nucléaire (FFN), was launched in October 2021. When that round concluded at the end of 2024, EUR100 million (USD112 million) had been investments in 11 nuclear companies, with contributions from EDF, Framatome, Orano, TechnicAtome, major clients in the nuclear industry, as well as Siparex Associés, sponsor of the Siparex Group funds.
A second round of funding - named Fonds France Nucléaire 2 (FFN2) - has now been launched as a continuation of FFN with the target of raising EUR300 million.
"The aim of FFN2 is to support SMEs and mid-sized companies with significant expertise in the nuclear sector, in order to address the growing needs of the sector, which contributes to the challenges of energy sovereignty and defence," EDF said. "The FFN2 aims to invest tickets up to EUR50 million, alone or in co-investment, in a majority or minority position."
EDF said FFN2 will also bring together new leading institutional, industrial, and private investors "seeking to invest in the challenges of industrial and energy sovereignty, reindustrialisation, and the decarbonisation of the economy, and benefit from the associated strong momentum. Indeed, with more than 2000 companies and 220,000 employees contributing to the economic vitality of the regions, the French nuclear industry is the third-largest industrial sector in France".
EDF noted that the FFN2 fund has already made its first investment in Ekoscan Integrity Group, a global provider of advanced non-destructive testing solutions for critical industrial and infrastructure applications, alongside the company's founder and management team, Eurazeo, and ALIAD (Air Liquide Venture Capital).
"The establishment of the Fonds France Nucléaire 2 is in line with what the first fund successfully implemented, demonstrating the value of targeting both strategic objectives for industry players and financial performance objectives," said Benoit Desforges, Managing Partner, Fonds France Nucléaire. "I am very pleased to see the industry's major clients subscribing to the FFN2 alongside EDF, and to see institutional investors joining them, thus strengthening the support system as well as the investment capacity."
Xavier Ursat, Executive Director of the EDF Group, in charge of the Strategy, Technologies, Innovation and Development Department, added: "With the Fonds France Nucléaire 2, the objective is to prepare for the future by working alongside companies in the nuclear sector and giving them the means today to develop, innovate and gain sovereignty."
In February 2022, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that the time was right for a nuclear renaissance in France, saying the operation of all existing reactors should be extended without compromising safety and unveiling a proposed programme for six new EPR2 reactors, with an option for a further eight EPR2 reactors to follow. The first three pairs of EPR2 reactors are proposed to be built, in order, at the Penly, Gravelines and Bugey sites. Construction is expected to start in 2027.
Article researched and written by WNN's Warwick Pipe
Funding secured for Kazakh sulphuric acid plant
Kazakhstan's national atomic company Kazatomprom has secured a credit facility for the construction of a new 800,000 tonnes per year sulphuric acid plant in Taikonur, in the Turkestan region.
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The Development Bank of Kazakhstan JSC and Taiqonyr Qyshqyl Zauyty LLP (TQZ) "have concluded an agreement on opening a credit line to finance the construction" of the plant, Kazatomprom announced. The total investment cost for the project is about KZT113 billion (USD2.6 million). The loan financing from the Development Bank of Kazakhstan is expected to be KZT85 billion, it added.
Sulphuric acid is used in Kazatomprom's in-situ leach uranium operations, but uncertainties over the supply of the vital reagent significantly impacted production plans in recent years.
TQZ is a partnership of Italian company Ballestra's Kazakh partner, the licensor and supplier of technology and equipment, with a 60% ownership interest, and Kazatomprom-SaUran LLP with a 40% ownership interest. The partnership was founded by Kazatomprom in 2023 to implement the construction of the new plant.
The plant is scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2027, and will make a "significant contribution to the economic and social development of the region", Kazatomprom said. Some 500 jobs are expected to be created during the construction phase, and about 270 when it is in operation.
Article researched and written by WNN's Claire Maden
Italian joint venture to study nuclear deployment opportunities
Enel, Ansaldo Energia and Leonardo have signed the constitution for the establishment of Nuclitalia, a company that will be in charge of studying advanced technologies and analysing market opportunities in the new nuclear sector.
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Nuclitalia will be responsible for assessing "the most innovative and mature" nuclear power reactor designs, with an initial focus on water-cooled small modular reactors (SMRs). The process will include defining specific requirements for the Italian system and selecting the most promising solutions based on in-depth technical-economic analysis.
The company will also evaluate opportunities for industrial partnerships and co-design with an approach based on innovation, environmental and economic sustainability, as well as enhancing the skills of the Italian supply chain.
The stakes held in the capital of Nuclitalia, a limited liability company, are Enel (51%), Ansaldo Energia (39%) and Leonardo (10%).
Nuclitalia's board of directors will be composed of seven members and chaired by Ferruccio Resta, former Rector of the Politecnico di Milano. Luca Mastrantonio, head of Enel's Nuclear Innovation unit, will take on the role of CEO.
In the coming weeks, a technical committee will also be set up with the aim of supporting Nuclitalia's technological analysis activities.
The creation of Nuclitalia follows the signing of a collaboration agreement in March 2024 by Enel and Ansaldo Nucleare. Under the agreement, the partners agreed to jointly examine and evaluate new technologies and business models for the generation of nuclear energy - such as SMRs and advanced modular reactors - and their industrial applicability.
Italy operated a total of four nuclear power plants starting in the early 1960s but decided to phase out nuclear power in a referendum that followed the 1986 Chernobyl accident. It closed its last two operating plants, Caorso and Trino Vercellese, in 1990.
In late March 2011, following the Fukushima Daiichi accident, the Italian government approved a moratorium of at least one year on construction of nuclear power plants in the country, which had been looking to restart its long-abandoned nuclear programme. In a poll held in June of that year, 94% of voters rejected the construction of any new nuclear reactors in Italy. However, a poll conducted in June 2021 showed that one-third of Italians were in favour of reconsidering the use of nuclear energy in the country, with more than half of respondents saying they would not exclude the future use of new advanced nuclear technologies.
In May 2023, the Italian Parliament approved a motion to urge the government to consider incorporating nuclear power into the country's energy mix. In the September of that year, the first meeting was held of the National Platform for Sustainable Nuclear Power, set up by the government to define a time frame for the possible resumption of nuclear energy in Italy and identify opportunities for the country's industrial chain already operating in the sector.
Enel and Ansaldo Nucleare have been operating in the nuclear sector outside of Italy for several years. They are both part of the National Platform for Sustainable Nuclear Power.
Article researched and written by WNN's Warwick Pipe
Belgium begins consultation on SMR design
Belgium's Nuclear Research Centre and the national nuclear regulator have announced the start of a formal preliminary consultation on an innovative small modular reactor using lead-cooled technology.
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The preliminary consultation is part of the development of a lead-cooled SMR within the European EU-SMR-LFR project, in which Belgium's Nuclear Research Centre (SCK-CEN) collaborates with partners in Italy and Romania. In the long term, the project provides for the construction of two precursors: the first on the SCK-CEN site in Mol, followed by a second in Pitesti, Romania.
The process, which will last two and a half years, should identify and, if possible, resolve potential obstacles to a possible permit application. "Such consultation is informative and advisory in nature and does not imply a preliminary granting of a permit," the Federal Agency for Nuclear Control (FANC) noted.
The consultation will take place through workshops and exchange of technical documentation on nuclear safety, security and non-proliferation. A top-down approach will be used: first the fundamental principles will be examined, then possibly focusing in on more technical details.
SCK-CEN Director General Peter Baeten said: "For SCK-CEN, this consultation is an essential step to ensure that our innovative technologies are not only scientifically advanced, but also meet safety standards. The collaboration with the FANC and foreign regulators strengthens the robustness of our trajectory."
"For FANC, nuclear safety is always central, even when it comes to new technologies, which come with greater challenges," said FANC Director General Pascale Absil. "Such innovative projects are really exciting and offer young talent the opportunity to develop."
The Romanian nuclear regulator (CNCAN) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) are also taking part in the consultation. For FANC, this is the first time that it is working with international partners so early in a project within an exploratory framework. "This international dimension is an important added value in this process," Absil said. "It allows us to exchange insights with other safety authorities, which is valuable for a careful and objective assessment."
FANC emphasises that the consultation does not mean that a permit application will automatically be approved. "Our role as an independent supervisor remains guaranteed: we do not take a position on the desirability of nuclear projects, but we ensure that if they do come, this is done safely and in accordance with the law."
The EU-SMR-LFR project is being carried out by a consortium of European partners: SCK-CEN, ENEA (the Italian national agency for new technologies, energy and sustainable economic development), Italy's Ansaldo Nucleare, and Romania's Regia Autonoma Tehnologii pentru Energia Nucleara (RATEN). The focus is not only on research into lead-cooled, fast reactor technology, but also on the actual commercialisation of the technology.
The commercial rollout will be preceded by extensive research and intensive testing. The consortium has outlined a clear vision, based on a step-by-step approach. The partners will systematically agree all the requirements together.
Initially, a small-scale reactor is to be constructed in Mol, Belgium, with completion scheduled by 2035. With this reactor, the partners want to demonstrate its technological and construction aspects. A step towards the next phase of development, the construction of the 300 MWt Advanced Lead-cooled Fast Reactor European Demonstrator (ALFRED) in Pitești, Romania. With ALFRED, the partners focus on the technical and economic feasibility of future commercial SMRs. It will leverage and expand the work done over the past 10 years by Ansaldo Nucleare, ENEA and RATEN under the Fostering ALFRED Construction (FALCON) consortium toward this objective. The third step will be the global commercialisation of the SMR-LFR.
Article researched and written by WNN's Warwick Pipe
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