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Entergy's Grand Gulf Site Issued Early Site Permit
Posted by Paul Gladieux - Monday, April 02, 2007The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has voted unanimously to issue an Early Site Permit (ESP) for Entergy’s Grand Gulf site, POrt Gibson, MS.
The Grand Gulf ESP is the second to be granted by the NRC. The first was granted to Exelon’s Clinton site earlier this month. Two further ESP applications, for Dominion Nuclear’s North Anna and Southern Nuclear Operating Company’s Vogtle, are under review.
Entergy Nuclear
Source: WNA Website
Framework Agreement > France | Russia = Double Nuclear Energy Capacity 2030
Posted by Paul Gladieux - Monday, April 02, 2007April 2, 2007
“World Nuclear News”
French engineering group Alstom signed a framework agreement with Russia’s Atomenergomash to form a joint venture for the manufacture of the conventional islands of Russian nuclear power plants.
The planned joint venture – which will be 51% owned by Atomenergomash and 49% by Alstom – will manufacture the entire conventional island of nuclear power plants (essentially most of the nuclear power plant except the reactor), drawing on Alstom’s ‘Arabelle’ half-speed turbine technology.
Atomenergomash, through its ZiO-Podolsk machine engineering plant, will provide an empty building at Podolsk, near Moscow, as its part of the authorized capital. Alstom will transfer technology to the joint venture company, namely for the manufacture of the ‘Arabelle’ steam turbine and generator.
The joint venture will focus on the Russian nuclear power plant market, but will also compete in the international market. Turbines to be manufactured by the joint venture are expected to be supplied to nuclear power plants to be built under the federal program ‘Development of Nuclear P ower and Industry Complex for 2007-2010 and until 2015’. Under the program, Russia plans to double its nuclear power capacity by 2030 .
The Russian market is one of the top three countries for the future development of atomic energy generation, along with China and the United States.” Kron said the joint venture would build, on average, between two-and-a-half and three conventional islands annually until 2030.
Atomenergomash (short for Atomnoye i Energeticheskoye Machinostroyenie, Nuclear and Power Generation Machine Engineering) is a subsidiary of Atomenergoprom, the state-owned company responsible for producing equipment for Russia’s civil nuclear program. Atomenergomash is part of the Rosatom system. The company specializes in the production, supply, installation and repair of equipment for nuclear power plants.
Source: WNA’s Nuclear Power in Russia Information Paper http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/corporate/020407-Alstom_forms_joint_venture_with_Russia_s_Atomenergomash.shtml?jmid=807623011
Fluor - Another Flagship Focused on Nuclear Power
Posted by Paul Gladieux - Friday, March 23, 2007The latest in a number of nuclear power plant headliners – “Fluor Forms New Business Line to Focus on Nuclear New Build Power Market.”
Headline – -
http://www.electricenergyonline.com/IndustryNews.asp?m=1&id=64999
MHI Gets Their Turn
Posted by Paul Gladieux - Wednesday, March 14, 2007Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, one of the major players in the fast re-emerging nuclear energy industry, made headlines twice in three days.
“Washington Group International to Provide Services for MHI Advanced Nuclear Plant Design” – Source: The Charlotte Observer
www.charlotte.com
“Mitsubishi Heavy Indusutries Wins $4-5 bln Texas Utilities Reactor Deal” – Source: Reuters
www.reuters.com
Commercial Nuclear Supply-Chain to be Challenged Soon
Posted by Paul Gladieux - Wednesday, February 28, 2007A milestone for the U.S. nuclear supply-chain today involves the contract for four Westinghouse AP1000 reactor systems. Even though the reactors are for plants in China, it’s expected U.S. suppliers will agressively pursue lucrative purchase orders & contracts.
“The Challenge” > Can the various tiers of suppliers truly align their quality management systems to meet the performance requirements for nuclear safety-related products & services or will certain requirements “get lost in translation” ?
Having possed this question, we at GQM hope to receive comments for this most important industry performance issue.
Headline is at: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/business/s_495654.html
Source: e-Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, March 1, 2007
The Shaw Group
Posted by Paul Gladieux - Tuesday, February 27, 2007Feb. 20, 2007, Shaw’s Environmental & Infrastructure business unit was awarded a 5 year contract. Shaw will provide services including engineering design; chemical agent, industrial chemical, and pollutant monitoring services; technical services; quality assurance; safety, security, and identification and protection services; training; and testing in support of the safe elimination of chemical warfare material.
Source: News Release: www.shawgroup.com
U.S. Nuclear Power Plant Site - Idaho
Posted by Paul Gladieux - Monday, February 26, 2007Considering the “quiet” interest in the usae of nuclear power plants in the U.S. for addressing the inevitable “clean energy” issues, it was only a mtter of when a U.S. company would announce a plant site.
Interestingly enough the most recent announcement comes from a Virginia-based energy company that has an agreement to purchase 4,000 acres of land in Idaho along the Snake River. Virginia-based Alternate Energy Holdings, Inc. in December revealed plans to build a 1,500 megawatt nuclear plant near Bruneau, Idaho.
GQM – - logistically, it makes sense while the location will no doubt draw talent from the Hanford Site in eastern Washington and the Idaho National Laboratory.
Areva Wins $5bn China Nuclear Order
Posted by Paul Gladieux - Monday, February 26, 2007February 14, 2007, Just a few weeks after hearing about Westinghouse / Toshiba receiving a multi-billion dollar contract to supply four AP1000 reactor systems to China, Areva receives a $5bn order from China for two EPR reactor systems.
Source: Power Engineering – online
GQM – - The global nuclear supply-chain is not ready for the impending flow-down of nuclear safety-related orders for products and services.
China Selects Westinghouse AP1000 Nuclear Power Technology
Posted by Paul Gladieux - Monday, February 26, 2007Pittsburgh, PA, December 16, 2006, Westinghouse Electric Co. was selected to supply four AP1000 advanced reactor systems to be constructed at the Sanmen & Yangjiang sites. Westinghouse stated this will create or sustain 5,000 well-paying design, engineering, and manufacturing jobs throughout the U.S. (see www.Forbes.com).
Quality - No Quick Fix
Posted by Robin Gladieux - Friday, April 07, 2006
This letter is from Dr. W. Edwards Deming to Time Magazine. In the letter Dr. Deming is addressing one of his pet peeves, as one would say. Managements’ misconception – the Quality “QUICK FIX.”
Continued...For more articles visit the Archive.