Hyundai E&C says Kozloduy signals South Korea's nuclear resurgence

26 February 2024

The Bulgarian Parliament has given the go-ahead for talks to take place with Hyundai Engineering & Construction, as the sole shortlisted constructor for engineering, construction, delivery and commissioning of the new AP1000 units planned for the Kozloduy site.

Kozloduy currently has two operating reactors (Image: Kozloduy NPP)

As well as giving approval for the talks to begin, parliamentarians also set out a series of requirements for the Bulgarian side in the negotiations, according to the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA).

These included:

• the requirement to be offered a fixed price
• construction of the first block within 60 months
• construction of the second block within 54 months
• 30% of the project to be taken by Bulgarian contractors

Last week Kozloduy NPP - New Builds announced that South Korea's Hyundai Engineering & Construction (Hyundai E&C) was deemed, by a commission reviewing the expressions of interest, to have been the only one of the five candidates to have met the requirements for the construction and commissioning of the two new Westinghouse AP1000s.

The others to have been interested in the project were Fluor BV, Bechtel Nuclear Power Company Limited, a consortium led by China National Nuclear Corporation Overseas and partner China Energy Engineering Group Tianjin Electric Power Construction Co, as well as China Energy Engineering Corporation Limited.

According to BTA there was more than three hours of debate, including at least one vote where a call for at least one other bidder - Bechtel - to be reinstated to the process was rejected.

Hyundai E&C said, following the parliamentary approval, that its return to the overseas market after 15 years was a visible reflection of the South Korean government's support for the restoration of the nuclear industry.

A spokesperson said: "The selection as the preferred bidder for the Kozloduy nuclear power plant in Bulgaria will be a signal for the resurgence of the Korean nuclear industry, which has been somewhat stagnant due to the nuclear phase-out policy.” They noted the European Union green taxonomy and said that "as the positive atmosphere toward nuclear energy spreads ... large-scale orders are expected, and we will strive to deliver more orders through multilateral channels as well as participation in Team Korea."

The Bulgarian Parliament has set 15 April as the date by which negotiations on the specific clauses of the contract must have taken place, with the chairman of the Energy Committee looking for a final investment decision to be taken by the middle of 2025. The aim is for the first new unit - unit 7 at Kozloduy - to be operational in 2035 and the second one - unit 8 - to be operational in 2037.

Kozloduy units 1-4 were VVER-440 models which the European Commission had classified as non-upgradeable and Bulgaria agreed to close them during negotiations to join the European Union in 2007. Units 5 and 6 feature VVER-1000 reactors that were connected to the grid in 1987 and 1991, respectively. Both units have been through refurbishment and life extension programmes to enable extension of operation from 30 to 60 years. The 2300 MWe capacity of the two new units would exceed the 1760 MWe capacity of the closed first four units. The Bulgarian government has also said that further units will be needed to replace units 5 and 6 by 2050.

Westinghouse will hold overall Design Authority responsibility for the AP1000 plant, the expression of interest document said.

South Korea has 26 reactors providing about a third of the country's electricity and has long been one of the world's most prominent nuclear energy countries, but in 2017 then President Moon Jae-in introduced a policy of phasing out nuclear power over a period of 45 years. However President Yoon Suk-yeol, elected March 2022, scrapped this policy, and laid out a new energy policy supporting reactor construction and a renewed export push.

India's newest nuclear unit connected to grid

26 February 2024

Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd has announced that Kakrapar 4 was connected to the grid on 20 February. The 700 MWe unit reached first criticality on 17 December.

The Kakrapar site is also home to two operating 202 MWe PWHR, seen here on the right (Image: DAE GODL-India)

The company announced the grid connection following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 22 February visit to the plant in Gujarat, during which he formally dedicated the first Indian-designed 700 MWe pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWRs) to the nation.

"These reactors have been designed, constructed, commissioned and operated by Nuclear Power Corporation Of India Limited (NPCIL) with the supply of equipment and execution of contracts by Indian industries/companies reflecting the true spirit of Atma Nirbhar Bharat," the company said. (Atma Nirbhar Bharat translates to "self-reliant India".)

Modi said during his visit that "the role of nuclear power in electricity generation is going to increase in 21st century India and it is a matter of pride that India is Atma Nirbhar in this advanced technology", the company added.

"Two days earlier on February 20, 2024, KAPS-4 (700 MW) was connected to the western grid for the first time."

A further eight reactors with a total capacity of 6800 MW are under construction by NPCIL, the company said, while pre-project activities are under way for 10 reactors with a total capacity of 7000 MWe for completion "by 2031-32" to enable India to reach an installed nuclear power capacity of 22,480 MWe.

Reactors under construction at NPCIL's sites include the next two 700 MW PHWRs which are being built as Rajasthan units 7 and 8 at Rawatbhata in Rajasthan, and four Russian-supplied VVER pressurised water reactors at Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu. Site works are also under way for the construction of two 700 MW units Gorakhpur in Haryana. In addition to these, a 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor is being built by BHAVINI at Kalpakkam in Madras.

Ten further 700 MW PHWRs have received administrative approval and financial sanction: Kaiga units 5 and 6 in Karnataka; Gorakhpur units 3 and 4 in Haryana; Chutka units 1 and 2 in Madhya Pradesh; and Mahi Banswara units 1 and 2 and units 3 and 4 in Rajasthan.

Tractebel to assist Thorizon in MSR development

26 February 2024

Following the signing of a strategic three-year partnership with Thorizon of the Netherlands, Belgian engineering firm Tractebel - a subsidiary of France's Engie - will provide engineering services including support on the conceptual design, computational modelling, cost estimates and design reviews of the Thorizon One molten salt reactor.

The signing of the agreement (Image: Thorizon)

Thorizon - a spin-off from NRG, which operates the High Flux Reactor in Petten - is developing a 250 MWt/100 MWe molten salt reactor (MSR), targeted at large industrial customers and utilities. Thorizon aims to construct a pilot reactor system before 2035.

MSRs use molten fluoride salts as primary coolant, at low pressure. They may operate with epithermal or fast neutron spectrums, and with a variety of fuels. Much of the interest today in reviving the MSR concept relates to using thorium (to breed fissile uranium-233), where an initial source of fissile material such as plutonium-239 needs to be provided. There are a number of different MSR design concepts, and a number of interesting challenges in the commercialisation of many, especially with thorium.

The molten salt fuel adopted by Thorizon uses a combination of long-lived elements from reprocessed used nuclear fuel and thorium. The reactor will be able to recycle long-lived waste from existing nuclear facilities.

The Thorizon One concept is unique in that the core is composed of a set of cartridges that is replaced every five to ten years.

Thorizon's molten salt reactor design (Image: Thorizon)

According to Thorizon, its concept offers additional advantages in terms of safety, time to market and costs. Firstly, the reactor only generates energy when salt is circulated through the cartridges. If the pump stops, the reactor shuts down. Secondly, the cartridge design enables the use of existing and proven materials and components, minimising development and licensing timelines. Thirdly, cartridges are efficiently produced in series off-site. They contain all primary systems, together with low-pressure operations, which results in a lean reactor building.

"For several years, Tractebel has been a frontrunner in the deployment of SMRs, which we believe will contribute to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050," said Vincent Schryvers, Business Manager of the Netherlands, Tractebel. "We are now proud to support Thorizon for the development of a Generation IV reactor. This ground-breaking technology will close the fuel cycle and make the circular economy a reality in the nuclear sector. Thanks to its flexibility, this advanced nuclear reactor concept could contribute to addressing the challenges both of industry decarbonisation by providing heat for industrial processes and of energy security by producing electricity for households."

"The expertise Tractebel has built while supporting operating nuclear power plants across Europe for decades, and more recently working on multiple small modular and innovative reactor concepts is invaluable for a start-up like ours," added Thorizon CEO Kiki Lauwers. "The large and experienced team in Belgium is ideally suited to help us make the connection between the Netherlands and France. We very much look forward to working together with the Tractebel team in our offices in Amsterdam and Lyon."

Thorizon said in August 2022 that it will collaborate closely with several parties on the development of its reactor concept, such as France's Orano and NRG, the Dutch producer of medical isotopes and operator of nuclear research infrastructure. Together with EPZ, operator of the Borssele nuclear power plant, Thorizon will investigate the possibility of building the first reactor on the plant site. A broader consortium of research institutions including TU Delft and DIFFER, component suppliers and industrial service providers are supporting this development.

Earlier this month, Thorizon announced it had signed a strategic partnership agreement with French ultra-compact molten salt fast neutron reactor developer Naarea to advance the development of MSRs in Europe. That partnership aims to create the best conditions to: pool resources for safety and security demonstrations and chemical, industrial and strategic knowledge in molten salt technology; develop shared laboratories and test facilities; secure access to reprocessed fuel materials needed for molten salt fuel synthesis; provide the market with a range of complementary energy solutions with a common technology basis; and increase political and public support for MSR technology.

Researched and written by World Nuclear News