Operations & Maintenance

Westinghouse preps for new plants in Czech Republic

National Security Complex, DOE, Beaver Valley, American Nuclear Society, Toshiba, and Exelon

Weekly Intelligence Brief 1 – 7 December 2011

Westinghouse preps for new plants in Czech Republic

Westinghouse Electric Company has signed an MOU with Czech company Vitkovice, in preparation for the potential construction of Westinghouse AP1000  nuclear power plants in the Czech Republic.

According to the agreement, Westinghouse intends to procure many important components from Vitkovice if their AP1000 reactor is selected for the completion of the Temelin Nuclear Power Plant. Equipment would include steelwork for the containment vessel and shield building, various sub-assemblies for structural and mechanical modules, and major components of the reactor circuit.

Shaw wins APS nuclear maintenance contract

The Shaw Group has signed a new contract with Arizona Public Service to provide maintenance, modifications, construction and radiological protection services to its Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station in Arizona. Palo Verde is located 55 miles west of Phoenix and is the largest nuclear power plant in the US with three reactors capable of producing more than 4,000 megawatts of electricity.

The undisclosed value of the three-year contract will be included in Shaw’s Plant Services segment’s backlog of unfilled orders in the first quarter of fiscal year 2012.

Nuclear Facility Risk Reduction project moves forward at Y-12

The Y-12 National Security Complex has received final approval for a $76m project that aims to maintain decades-old equipment – some dating to World War II – until the site constructs a new facility to ensure that the nation has essential uranium processing capability long-term.

The Nuclear Facility Risk Reduction (NFRR) project includes two Y-12 production buildings – Building 9212 and Building 9204-2E – and will replace items including steam stations, cooling water distribution systems, ventilation systems, vacuum pumps, and electrical switchgear, motor control centers, transformers, and breakers.

The Department of Energy (DOE) recently gave Critical Decision 3B – Start of Construction approval for the project, after initial approval a year ago of the design, minor construction, and some initial demolition and procurement.

Shaw mitigates environmental impacts in Japan

Shaw Global Services are performing, as designed, to help recovery at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station in Japan. After a tsunami and earthquake hit Japan in March, the Toshiba Corp. led Shaw, Babcock & Wilcox, Westinghouse and Exelon Nuclear Partners to provide emergency response support.

Shaw deployed water treatment, radiation monitoring and consulting services.

“Experts from Shaw have been working closely with our partners in Japan since the massive earthquake and tsunami struck,” said J.M. Bernhard Jr., Shaw’s chairman, president and chief executive officer.

“Our technical systems at the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station were brought online very quickly and safely through the help of our subcontractors and already have demonstrated successful operations,” he said.

Shaw has had experience with some of the biggest nuclear, environmental and natural disasters in history, including Three Mile Island and Chernobyl; hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma; and the Haiti, Northridge, Calif., and Sumatra earthquakes.

South Korea pushes for spent fuel recycling

South Korea is reportedly pushing for US permission to recycle spent nuclear fuel for power generation as the two countries resumed talks to revise a 1974 pact on the use of atomic energy, according to an AFP report and Yonhap news agency.

South Korea's foreign ministry said earlier that the talks were aimed at preparing a legal framework to expand cooperation in the peaceful use of atomic energy. It did not give further details.

This week Park Ro-Byug, South Korea's envoy for the talks and a former ambassador to Ukraine, and Robert Einhorn, the US State Department's special adviser for non-proliferation and arms control, will lead their delegations.

Beaver Valley receives American Nuclear Society award

FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company ‘s Beaver Valley Nuclear Power Station Unit 1 has been honoured with the 2011 Utility Achievement Award for Best Performance by the American Nuclear Society (ANS).

The award recognizes Beaver Valley Unit 1 for being the top performing plant among all US  nuclear plants for 2010.  This is the second time Beaver Valley earned this distinction; the station also was presented the award for its performance in 2006.