Episodi

  • Martin Cheetham is the station director of the EDF-run Heysham 2 nuclear power plant on the Lancashire coast in northwest England. It has two advanced gas-cooled reactors which were first connected to the grid in 1988. They have a combined power of 1.24 GW and had an initial design life to 2023 before being extended to 2028.

    The second unit at Heysham 2 power plant set a record with 940 days of continuous operation from 2014 to 2016 and the plant is now closing in on setting a new record for electricity generated by a nuclear power plant in the UK. As it does so, there are currently checks going on which could see a further extension to its life.

    In this episode Cheetham talks about the similarities and differences between nuclear and his earlier work at thermal energy plants, he explains what decisions on Heysham's lifetime extension rest on, and why such decisions are different for the UK's fleet of AGRs compared with pressurised water reactors.

    He also highlights the potential for the Heysham site to become home to a new generation of nuclear power, in the form of small modular reactors.

    Key links to find out more:
    See pictures from inside Heysham 2
    World Nuclear News
    Kazatomprom, MonAtom join forces in strategic partnership
    Preliminary Czech ruling rejects Westinghouse and EDF appeals
    Engineering contract for Bulgarian units signed with Hyundai E&C and Westinghouse
    Slovenia's referendum on new nuclear cancelled


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    Episode credit: Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production

  • Global tech giants Microsoft, Google and Amazon have all announced deals which will see them using nuclear energy in the coming years. In this edition we outline what has been announced, why, and also consider the significance for new nuclear energy in the future.

    There is also a report from Claire Maden on what was a very timely session at last month's World Nuclear Symposium focusing on connecting end users with 24/7 energy. Those who featured on the panel include Todd Noe, Director of Nuclear & Energy Innovation at Microsoft, Claude Lorea, Cement, Innovation and ESG Director for the Global Concrete and Cement Association, Lou Martinez Sancho, Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President, R&D and Innovation, for Westinghouse and The Nuclear Company's Juliann Edwards.

    Key links to find out more:
    World Nuclear News
    Amazon invests in X-energy, unveils SMR project plans
    Google and Kairos Power team up for SMR deployments
    Constellation to restart Three Mile Island unit, powering Microsoft
    How end-users can help drive nuclear new-build


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    Episode credit: Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production

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  • A group of 14 global financial institutions have expressed their support for the call to triple nuclear energy capacity by 2050. Their message, during New York Climate Week, stated their recognition that global civil nuclear energy projects have an important role to play in the transition to a low-carbon economy and means they join 25 countries and more than 120 companies already signed up to that tripling goal.

    Jonathan Cobb, senior programme lead, climate, at World Nuclear Association, explains the significance of the pledge from the 14 institutions - Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Ares Management, Bank of America, Barclays, BNP Paribas, Brookfield, Citi, Credit Agricole CIB, Goldman Sachs, Guggenheim Securities LLC, Morgan Stanley, Rothschild & Co, Segra Capital Management, and Societe Generale.

    But how can that support be translated into firm investments? Well, in this finance-focused episode, we also hear what some of the senior decision-makers said at World Nuclear Symposium earlier in September, about the challenges for private finance in new nuclear, and their ideas for smoothing that path.

    Among those featuring are:
    Vicki Kalb, Global Head of ESG and Sustainability Research at UBS
    Seb Henbest, Group Head of Climate Transition at HSBC
    Bill Lacivita, Partner at McKinsey & Company
    Ed Cook, Global Head of Capital Markets at BlackRock
    Cosmin Ghita, Chief Executive Officer at Nuclearelectrica
    Kim Lauritsen, Senior VP, Enterprise Strategy & Energy Markets at
    Ontario Power Generation
    László Varró, VP, Strategy Insights & Scenarios at Shell International

    Key links to find out more:
    World Nuclear News
    International banks express support for nuclear expansion
    Net Zero Nuclear

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    Episode credit: Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production

  • Total nuclear electricity generation rose in 2023 despite a small drop in overall capacity, according to World Nuclear Performance Report 2024. In this episode, lead author Jonathan Cobb, senior programme lead, climate, at World Nuclear Association, joins us to pick out the key stats and trends from the annual collection of operating facts and figures.

    He explains how the average operating capacity of nuclear power plants has been increasing - with trends showing that older nuclear plants operating better than they ever have. That, and a better year for output in France, helps to explain how output was able to rise, despite overall capacity not following suit.

    Also in the episode, Juliann Edwards, chief development officer at start-up The Nuclear Company, explains the company's goals of getting fleet-scale nuclear energy projects up and running in the USA.

    Edwards, who is also chair of US Women in Nuclear, talks as well about the initiatives and progress made in improving the gender balance and wider diversity within the nuclear workforce.

    Key links to find out more:
    World Nuclear News
    World Nuclear Performance Report 2024
    Nuclear fleet maintained high performance in 2023
    Startup brings fresh approach to US nuclear deployment
    US Women in Nuclear



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    Episode credit: Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production



  • Steady Energy is developing the LDR-50 small modular reactor with the initial goal of decarbonising district heating systems. The CEO of the Finnish company, Tommi Nyman, explains why the decision to focus on heat rather than electricity was taken.

    The company was spun out of VTT, Finland's national research lab, and was prompted by its researchers noting that 10% of CO2 emissions come from heating water or steam to 150C and thinking "why not build something simple that would only cover low temperature heat markets". "In the context of the climate crisis, nuclear is a very good option, but the problem has been getting projects economically sound so that nuclear can be utilised without large subsidies. We know that the most economical way to use nuclear is just to generate thermal energy without using the heat to create electricity," he tells host Alex Hunt.

    Nyman added that simplicity has been key to their design, "by only producing heat you can reduce the amount of equipment in a nuclear power plant by 50%". The cost of energy they are aiming at is below EUR40 per MWh, depending on how the utility wants to operate it and the aim is to have a first plant delivered in 2030.

    Also in this episode World Nuclear News's Claire Maden reports on events in India, South Africa and uranium developments in the USA and Australia.

    Key links to find out more:
    World Nuclear News
    Finnish municipal decision-makers favourable to SMRs
    India's NTPC confirms plans for nuclear subsidiary
    South Africa pauses nuclear procurement process

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    Episode credit: Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production

  • Southern Nuclear's Senior Vice President for Vogtle 3 and 4, John Williams, discusses the achievement and "tremendous pride" from everyone involved in completing the first new nuclear units built in the USA for more than 30 years.

    He says that both AP1000s have been performing well, with Vogtle 3 operating at 98% capacity since being put into service a year ago. And, as well as the direct jobs - 9000 workers were on site at peak construction - he says that people can see the benefits of carbon-free energy being produced and understand how important it is for the future of energy in the US and further afield.

    The project had many well-documented challenges to overcome - the impact of Fukushima, Westinghouse's Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2017 and the global pandemic - and Williams says there have been many lessons learned which Southern Company is committed to sharing with utilities in the US and other countries as they embark on their own projects. The first lesson, he says, is the need for resilience, which has been demonstrated by the project partners Georgia Power, Oglethorpe Power, MEAG Power and Dalton Utilities.

    In the World Nuclear News round-up Claire Maden reports on the passing of the ADVANCE Act in the US, Kazakhstan's plans for a referendum later this year on new nuclear, and the latest uranium-mining developments in Niger.

    Key links to find out more:
    World Nuclear News
    Commercial operation marks completion of Vogtle expansion
    Kazakhstan's nuclear energy referendum to be held this year
    Niger revokes mining permit for Imouraren project
    Southern Nuclear: Plant Vogtle

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    Episode credit: Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production

  • The historian, author and academic Jean-Baptiste Fressoz explains why he thinks that the idea of energy transition is a simplistic and flawed one, noting that what has actually happened throughout history has been different energy sources piling up on top of each other - such as more wood being used after the "switch" to coal, and more coal being used after the emergence of oil.

    Even if nuclear and renewables manage to decarbonise the electricity sector, he says, the big issue will be what is done to cut carbon emissions from other sources, such as the cement industry, unless wider choices are made. Fressoz is the author of Une nouvelle histoire de l'énergie - which in English will be More and More and More, An All-Consuming History of Energy.

    Also in this episode we hear from Ian Chapman, CEO of the UK Atomic Energy Authority, about the achievements of JET (the Joint European Torus) which has ended its 40-year life full of breakthroughs on the fusion front. He explains that there is still much to learn from its decommissioning, with more lessons for future fusion projects as well as for the fission industry.

    In the news round-up Claire Maden reports on the US law prohibiting the importation into the USA of unirradiated, low-enriched uranium that is produced in the Russian Federation or by a Russian entity, and Warwick Pipe brings us up-to-date with progress on China's first small modular reactor.


    Key links to find out more:
    World Nuclear News
    Jean-Baptiste Fressoz: More and More and More
    As JET's vital role celebrated ... could UK rejoin Euratom in 2028?
    US President signs uranium import prohibition
    Control room commissioned at Chinese SMR

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    Episode credit: Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production

  • A special report on the World Nuclear Fuel Cycle 2024 international forum, co-organised by the Nuclear Energy Institute and World Nuclear Association. The two day event included discussions from leading industry figures on all aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle, including uranium mining, conversion, and enrichment companies, utilities, fuel suppliers and waste management specialists. One key question was the challenge of being able to supply the fuel which would be required for the tripling of nuclear energy capacity which many countries have pledged to aim for as part of their climate change goals. Also in Claire Maden's special report, hear about the use of innovative technologies in the nuclear fuel sector - including machine learning and neural network techniques and laser enrichment.

    The fuel cycle event was held alongside the World Nuclear Spotlight event, focused on Kazakhstan and its plans for a nuclear power programme.

    The news round-up includes BWXT announcing expansion plans, and International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi outlining why the agency is not pointing the finger of blame over the drone attacks on or near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

    Key links to find out more:
    World Nuclear News
    Fuel cycle players explore opportunities and challenges
    World Nuclear Fuel Cycle 2024
    BWXT announces expansion of Ontario manufacturing plant
    IAEA's Grossi explains why blame is not being attributed for Zaporizhzhia attacks

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    Episode credit: Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production

  • Professor Tim Tinsley prefers not to use the label of nuclear waste, instead referring to "legacy material". And it's not hard to see why, given the projects currently taking place to extract radionuclides from the material for use in pioneering treatments for cancer. It is also providing a new source of power and heat for spacecraft.

    Tinsley, Professor of Space Nuclear Power at the University of Leicester and Account Director for Space and Radioisotopes at the National Nuclear Laboratory in the UK, joins host Alex Hunt to give details on the life-saving and space-exploring projects and explains what value there is hidden within what has long just been seen as a problem.

    With the promising early stage clinical trials, and the plans to provide power for a mission to Mars in 2028, the newly discovered value in the legacy material is one of the factors which may be taken into account in plans for the safe longterm disposal of the material. There could yet be future discoveries that more of the material could become valuable in the years ahead, so, suggests Tinsley, being able to dispose of the material in a form that it is retrievable at minimal cost might be a good idea.

    Also this month, there is a report on the gathering of leaders and senior government representatives at the first-of-its-kind Nuclear Energy Summit in Brussels, including snippets of what the IAEA's Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi and co-host Belgian PM Alexander de Croo had to say. Plus Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban, French President Emmanuel Macron and COP29 host Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov.

    Key links to find out more:
    World Nuclear News
    Leaders commit to 'unlock potential' of nuclear
    Nuclear Energy Summit Declaration
    National Nuclear Laboratory
    University of Leicester
    Nuclear Energy Summit

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    Sign up to the World Nuclear News daily or weekly news round-ups

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    Episode credit: Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production

  • The ambitious aim for NexGen Energy, is to be supplying 25% of the world's mined supply of uranium - and about 50% of the western world's mined supply - when its Rook 1 project in Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan, Canada starts production, says its CEO, President and founder, Leigh Curyer.

    He joins host Alex Hunt and Claire Maden to outline how he got into the industry and the decision to set up NexGen - and the good news that interrupted a Valentine's Day meal in 2014.

    As well as outlining the plans and likely timeline for the Rook 1 project - and further exploration in the area - Leigh also gives his thoughts on the global uranium market, and prospects more broadly for the nuclear energy sector in the coming years, including signs of a change of mood in his native Australia.

    The World Nuclear News reports this month are from Claire Maden, on India's growing nuclear energy plans, and Warwick Pipe, who covers the recent International Energy Agency's ministerial meeting communique recognising nuclear as one technology for achieving nergy security and decarbonisation.

    Key links to find out more:
    World Nuclear News
    NexGen Energy
    IEA Ministerial Meeting recognises role of nuclear
    India to seek nuclear investors as Kakrapar units inaugurated
    Ministerial approval for NexGen uranium project

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    Episode credit: Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production

  • The UK operations managing director of Newcleo, Andrew Murdoch, joins host Alex Hunt to discuss the prospects for the company's lead-cooled fast reactor. It has Italian roots and expanding operations in France, but he says the company has the ambitious target of having 20 reactors in the UK by 2050.

    January saw EDF revise the schedule and projected budget for the Hinkley Point C project in the UK. Hear how Hinkley Point C managing director Stuart Crooks explained the revision in a message to staff, and also stressed the benefits likely to flow at the replica project at Sizewell C.

    There is also a round-up from World Nuclear News's Claire Maden of the raft of encouraging news from the uranium sector, fuelled by soaring spot prices and a generally positive outlook for nuclear power.

    Key links to find out more:
    World Nuclear News
    Newcleo
    EDF announces Hinkley Point C delay and rise in project cost
    Mining to resume at McClean Lake
    IAEA's Grossi's UN press conference on Ukraine

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    Episode credit: Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production

  • The UK has plans to quadruple its nuclear energy capacity to 24GW by 2050. The government released its plan to get to that figure with its Civil Nuclear: Roadmap to 2050. The arms-length delivery body established for new nuclear is Great British Nuclear, and in this episode, its Chairman Simon Bowen discusses the plans, and the changes proposed in how sites are chosen and in establishing other routes to market for new nuclear.

    Bowen also sets out the latest on the UK's on-going small modular reactor competition. At the moment there are six shortlisted - EDF, GE Hitachi, Holtec, NuScale, Rolls-Royce SMR and Westinghouse. The aim is to get the invitation to tender documents out very soon, he said, with contracts agreed later this year with up to four of them, which would take them through to a financial investment decision by 2029.

    Key links to find out more:
    World Nuclear News
    Great British Nuclear
    Consultation on siting new nuclear
    Consultation on alternative routes to market
    UK SMR selection contest: Six companies into next stage

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    Episode credit: Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production

  • A special report on nuclear's role at the 28th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties, better known as COP28, in Dubai. It was the first time nuclear energy has been formally specified as one of the solutions to climate change in a COP agreement.

    Jonathan Cobb, senior communication manager at World Nuclear Association, was in the UAE for the event and he reports on declarations by governments, and by industry, backing a tripling of nuclear capacity by 2050 as part of the Net Zero Nuclear intiative, as well as the inclusion of nuclear in the final text of the Global Stocktake. Henry Preston, external communication manager for the association, reports on the many side events featuring nuclear, including a focus on potential newcomer countries such as the Philippines and Australia.

    As the new year gets under way Sama Bilbao y León, director general of World Nuclear Association, considers the significance of COP28 for nuclear and looks back at the sector's main achievements of 2023 as well as looking ahead to the coming year's main goals and key moments to watch out for.

    Key links to find out more:
    World Nuclear News
    Net Zero Nuclear
    COP28 agreement recognises nuclear's role
    Net Zero Nuclear Industry Pledge backed by 120 companies
    Ministerial declaration puts nuclear at heart of climate action
    COP28


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    Episode credit: Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production

  • Technology and function, ensuring their reliable and safe operation have long been the priorities when designing nuclear power plants. But why can't they look beautiful too? Dutch architect and designer Erick van Egeraat says that part of the way to continue to build public support for nuclear energy is to make nuclear power plants look good, "to make people feel good" when they see them.

    The award-winning professor and director of Design Erick van Egeraat outlined his thinking at World Nuclear Symposium, explaining the background to the work he is doing at Akkuyu nuclear power plant, which is being built in Turkey.

    In the World Nuclear News monthly round-up Warwick Pipe reports on Sweden's plans for a "massive" expansion of nuclear energy and Claire Maden covers the end of NuScale and Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems' Carbon Free Power Project.

    And David Hess looks at how the conversation about nuclear has evolved and changed during his 14 years at World Nuclear Association, most recently as ESG programme lead.

    Key links to find out more:
    World Nuclear News
    Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant
    Design Erick van Egeraat
    NuScale CEO remains upbeat after CFPP cancellation
    Sweden plans 'massive' expansion of nuclear energy


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    Episode credit: Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production

  • With the projected growth of nuclear projects over the coming decades, how will the supply chain in different parts of the world cope? EDF's Laurent-Olivier Coudeyre is chairman of World Nuclear Association's Supply Chain and Long-Term Operation Working Group, he joins us to outline how the supply chain works, the focus on quality, localisation and how it can develop in the future. We also hear from Nathan Paterson, the staff director of the association's working group, about some of the key themes from the recently published World Nuclear Supply Chain Report.

    Also in this edition, Claire Maden joins host Alex Hunt to report on developments in Canada where Bruce Power is getting the ball rolling for a potential Bruce C plant and Alberta is looking into the possible use of small modular reactors in its oil sands industry.

    Key links to find out more:
    World Nuclear News
    Supply Chain and Long-Term Operation Working Group
    Supply chain must expand to meet new build plans, report warns


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    Episode credit: Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production

  • World Nuclear Symposium, held in London, brought together key figures from across the global industry, who took part in a variety of panel discussions on many of the current big issues in the sector. In this special edition of the podcast, World Nuclear News reports on those sessions:

    The topics covered, in order:

    The launch of the Net Zero Nuclear campaignPublication of World Nuclear Association's Nuclear Fuel ReportRecruitment and expanding the nuclear workforceHow nuclear can decarbonise different industriesOptimising plant life performanceInvesting in and financing of nuclear

    We hear from, in order of appearance:

    Sama Bilbao y León, Director General of World Nuclear AssociationRafael Mariano Grossi, Director General, International Atomic Energy AgencyMohamed Al Hammadi, CEO, Emirates Nuclear Energy CorporationKaajal Desai, Senior Programme Lead for Fuel Cycle, World Nuclear AssociationMalcolm Critchley, President and CEO ConverDynChris Frankland, Director of Sales and Marketing, Nuclear Fuels CorporationJeanne Tortorelli, Director of Nuclear Fuel Supply at Constellation Energy GenerationTamer Albishawi, Chief Nuclear Officer at Hinkley Point CCallum Thomas, Chairman of Thomas ThorGrace Stanke, Nuclear Engineering Student, Nuclear Advocate and Miss AmericaCharlotte Griffiths, Sustainable Energy Division of the UN Economic Commission for EuropeTodd Noe, Director of Nuclear Technologies Strategy at MicrosoftMikal Bøe, Chairman and CEO Core PowerNaoki Chigusa, CEO of World Association of Nuclear OperatorsVinod Kumar, Station Director of Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited's Kaiga 3 and 4Catherine Cornand, Senior Executive Vice President FramatomeChris Cunningham, Vice President Nuclear Projects at Ontario Power GenerationWolfgang Denk, Managing Director, SwissnuclearKeisuke Sadamori, Director Energy Markets and Security, International Energy AgencyIain Smedley, Global Chairman of Banking, BarclaysKevin Kelly, CFO Bruce PowerJulien Bocobza, Partner, White & Case LLCSophie Macfarlane-Smith, Head of Customer Engagement Rolls-Royce SMRThomas Branche, Senior Vice President for Engineering, AssystemRumina Velshi, President and CEO of the Canadian Nuclear Safety CommissionErick van Egeraat, ArchitectTim Gitzel, President and CEO Cameco

    Key links to find out more:
    World Nuclear Symposium 2023
    Nuclear Fuel Report 2023
    Nuclear industry urged 'take advantage of window of opportunity'
    Net Zero Nuclear campaign launched, seeking to triple capacity by 2050
    The challenge of recruiting a rapidly growing nuclear workforce
    Positive trends continue for global nuclear fuel cycle
    Successful nuclear projects key for future investments

    Contact info:
    [email protected]

    Episode credit: Presenter Alex Hunt. Reports from Claire Maden and Warwick Pipe. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production.

  • It was in 2003 that World Nuclear University was founded by World Nuclear Association, the International Atomic Energy Agency, World Association of Nuclear Operators and the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency, with a mission to provide comprehensive leadership, communications and technical training to support the next generation of nuclear leaders.

    As it marks its 20th birthday, host Alex Hunt is joined by World Nuclear University (WNU) director Isis Leslie to learn more about its work and also its exciting plans for the future. We also hear first-hand what the WNU experience is like from Estiner Katengeza, one of the fellows at this year's Summer Institute, which was held in Japan.

    In the World Nuclear News round-up Claire Maden reports on developments in Niger and considers the impact on the uranium sector, Warwick Pipe reports on the start of the discharge of treated water from Fukushima and there is also a report on the good news out of the USA from Vogtle.

    Key links to find out more:
    World Nuclear News
    World Nuclear University
    WNU Alumni on Linkedin


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    Episode credit: Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production

  • The annual World Nuclear Performance Report has all the statistics and numbers anyone interested in the nuclear energy sector could possibly want. It breaks down the performance of reactors across the world by type, by age and by country. The author behind it is World Nuclear Association's Jonathan Cobb, who joins us to discuss this year's findings.

    As well as explaining the reason why some parts of the world saw a small decline in nuclear energy output in 2022, he has a bundle of fascinating stats - including those which suggest the oldest reactors, ie over 50 years old, are more than matching the performance of the newer and younger ones.

    In the July World Nuclear News round-up Claire Maden covers a bundle of good news stories from Canada, Warwick Pipe reports on developments in France and Poland, while host Alex Hunt hears from UK Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary Grant Shapps as he launched Great British Nuclear, the arms-length organisation intended to help the country hit its target of 24 GW of nuclear by 2050.

    Key links to find out more:
    World Nuclear News
    World Nuclear Performance Report 2023
    Great British Nuclear

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    Episode credit: Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production

  • What is the current position with nuclear energy in the continent of Africa and what are the prospects for the future? Lassina Zerbo is the former head of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization and current chairman of the Rwanda Atomic Energy Board - he joins us to discuss the situation at the moment and look ahead to the future.

    He talks about the history and considers why there is only one country in the continent with an operating nuclear power plant, and how changes in public opinion and nuclear technology are helping to drive a wide range of planned developments. Director of World Nuclear Association's Harmony programme, King Lee, also outlines some of the many initiatives taking place which could transform the nuclear energy picture in Africa in the years to come.

    June has been another busy month for World Nuclear News and Warwick Pipe reports on developments with China's molten salt reactor, while Claire Maden sets out the USA's efforts to tackle the issue of HALEU fuel supplies for the next generation of nuclear reactors.

    Key links to find out more:
    World Nuclear News
    Emerging Nuclear Energy Countries
    Nuclear 'gaining traction' as option in many African countries, says IAEA
    Viewpoint: Nuclear energy is critical to Africa's agenda for sustainable development

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    Episode credit: Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production

  • The World Nuclear Fuel Cycle international forum is co-organised by the Nuclear Energy Institute and World Nuclear Association. As the name suggests, this conference is very much focused on the commercial nuclear fuel cycle and the economic competitiveness of nuclear energy, so as you'd expect, the programme is firmly based around the issues that are of significance in the fuel marketplace - and that's certainly a complex and challenging place right now.

    Claire Maden has put together a special report on this year's gathering, which took place in April in the Netherlands.

    There has been a dramatic fall in the price of electricity in Finland over the past six months. Can that be linked to Olkiluoto 3's recent move into commercial operation? World Nuclear Association's Alec Mitchell crunches the numbers and explains the price fluctuation.

    The past month has also seen the unveiling of Westinghouse's proposed AP300 small modular reactor. Warwick Pipe reports on the launch and the back-story to the latest SMR contender.

    Key links to find out more:
    World Nuclear News
    World Nuclear Fuel Cycle 2023
    Nuclear Power in Finland
    Westinghouse's AP300

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    Episode credit: Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production