12 Dec (NucNet): A short-term shortage of isotopes for nuclear medicine is becoming a �chronic disease�, with the next production shortfall expected between now and the middle of January 2009.

The Vienna-based European Association for Nuclear Medicine (EANM) said on 2 December 2008 that the complex supply chain for the isotope Molybdenum-99, from which Technetium-99m is produced, �is very fragile and vulnerable at several points�. Technetium-99m is the most widely used radioisotope used in diagnostic nuclear medicine.

EANM said some short term solutions were implemented in the autumn, but a further shortage of Molybdenum-99 struck Europe in the middle of October.

The association has renewed calls for a �strategic partnership� to be established to find long-term solutions to guarantee supplies. �All relevant stakeholders such as the EU member states, the European Commission, producers, suppliers and users of nuclear substances for medical applications should be brought together to discuss solutions for the future,� EANM said.

Shortages of medical isotopes have arisen as a result of a combination of events at European facilities, including the unplanned outage of the Petten high-flux research reactor (HFR) in the Netherlands. The HFR is now scheduled to restart in February 2009.

>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)

Ministers Urged To Tackle Shortfall In European Nuclear Medicine Supplies (News No. 72, 9 September 2008)

Petten High-Flux Reactor Scheduled To Restart In February 2009 (News No. 77, 15 October 2008)

Source: NucNet

Editor: editors@worldnuclear.org

12 Dec (NucNet): Members nations of the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP) met this week to discuss common challenges in dealing with waste management.

GNEP�s infrastructure development working group discussed the issue on 8 December 2008 in Vienna, Austria, in response to a request from the UK.

The US Department of Energy said the workshop addressed �the challenges of managing radioactive waste in ways that address the common interests and concerns of the GNEP partners and that are consistent with internationally-accepted principles of radioactive waste management and safety standards�.

�The workshop was a result of GNEP partners� unanimous support for a proposal by the United Kingdom that GNEP seek to facilitate strategies for the responsible management of nuclear wastes,� the DOE said.

GNEP was announced by the US in 2006 and includes designing advanced burner reactors and establishing a fuel services programme that would allow developing nations to acquire nuclear energy while minimising the risk of nuclear proliferation. Twenty-five nations are currently members of GNEP.

>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)

US Extends Consultation Period For GNEP Programme (World Nuclear Review No. 14, 6 April 2007)

GNEP Set To Welcome New Wave Of Member Countries (News in Brief No. 101, 4 September 2008)

Source: NucNet

Editor: editors@worldnuclear.org

12 Dec (NucNet): South Korea is planning to construct four new nuclear reactor units by 2022 as part of a national plan to reduce CO2 emissions and meet an expected increase in electricity demand of 2.1 percent.

The Korea Atomic Industrial Forum (KAIF) said the Ministry of Knowledge Economy (MKE) announced the proposal on 5 December 2008 as part of its fourth general plan on electricity demand and supply.

KAIF said the proportion of electricity generated by nuclear will increase from the current 35.5 percent to 47.9 percent in 2022.

The plan also calls for decreases in the amount of electricity generated by coal, natural gas and oil, while electricity generation from renewable energy is planned to increase from 1.1 percent to 4.7 percent.

MKE�s director-general Kim Jeong-wan said if the plan pushes through the country�s electricity generation costs are expected to fall in the period by 16 percent and CO2 emission will decrease by 24 percent.

South Korea has 20 nuclear units in commercial operation and five listed by the International Atomic Energy Agency as under construction. The five are: Shin-Kori-1, -2 and -3, and Shin-Wolsong-1 and -2.

>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)

South Korea Five-Year Plan Focuses On �Next Generation� Research (News No. 82, 26 April 2006)

Jordan Discusses Nuclear Energy Cooperation With South Korea (News in Brief No. 138, 9 December 2008)

Source: NucNet

Editor: david.dalton@worldnuclear.org

12 Dec (NucNet): The US Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded a contract to Savannah River Remediation to manage the treatment and disposal of radioactive liquid waste at the DOE�s Savannah River site in South Carolina.

Areva Inc., the US arm of the French-based group which is a partner organisation in the project, announced the award yesterday. The contract is for a period of six years with a two-year option and has a total contract value of 3.3 billion US dollars (2.4 billion euro).

Areva said the contract includes the vitrification of high-level radioactive waste, treatment of other radioactive waste streams, the closure of 49 underground storage tanks, and deactivation of major facilities and equipment. The contract also includes management of other radioactive liquid waste generated at the site.

Other partners in Savannah River Remediation include the Washington division of URS, Babcock & Wilcox Technical Services Group, Bechtel National and CH2M Hill.

>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)

Joint Venture Company To Complete Construction Of US MOX Plant (World Nuclear Review No. 19, 23 May 2008)

Source: NucNet

Editor: editors@worldnuclear.org

12 Dec (NucNet): The proposed operating licence renewal of the US two-unit Vogtle nuclear power plant would pose no environmental impacts, say regulators.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) published its final environmental impact statement yesterday. Plant operator Southern Nuclear Operating Company submitted an application for renewal of the licences for the two pressurised water reactors in June 2007.

Vogtle is about 40 kilometres southeast of Augusta in the state of Georgia. The existing operating licences expire in January 2027 for Vogtle-1 and in February 2029 for Vogtle-2.

NRC staff will now complete a safety evaluation report, which will be evaluated by the NRC�s advisory committee on reactor safeguards before the agency gives a final decision on the application.

In August 2008, regulators said there were no environmental impacts that would preclude issuing an early site permit (ESP) that could lead to building new units at a site near Vogtle nuclear power plant in the US, regulators said yesterday.

A final decision on the ESP is expected in late 2009 after a safety evaluation report and the conclusion of a hearing on the Vogtle application by the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board.

Southern Nuclear has also applied for a combined licence (COL) to build and operate two AP1000 reactors on the Vogtle site described in the ESP application. The COL application was accepted for review by the NRC in June 2008.

� by John Shepherd

>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)

Application Filed For Possible New US Units Near Vogtle N-Plant (News No. 176, 17 August 2006)

Proposed Vogtle Early Site Permit �Has No Environmental Impacts� (News in Brief No. 93, 19 August 2008)

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Source: NucNet

Editor: editors@worldnuclear.org