ML23340A014
| ML23340A014 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 12/06/2023 |
| From: | Schnoebelen K NRC/OCM |
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| Shared Package | |
| ML23307A078 | List: |
| References | |
| M231212 | |
| Download: ML23340A014 (1) | |
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© 2023 Urenco Limited Discussion of the Administrations Short-and Long-Term Domestic Uranium Strategy:
Industry Perspectives on Uranium Enrichment Capacities Kirk Schnoebelen President, Urenco, Inc.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission Public Meeting December 12, 2023
2 US Nuclear Power Enriched Uranium Sources US Energy Information Administration Report
3 Russian Invasion of Ukraine has Increased Demand for Non-Russian Enriched Uranium (EUP)
- 1) New demand from European operators of Russian design reactors seeking to replace Russian EUP (2024-2035) 37*
Total reactors 3,299 tSW requirement in 2023 34 VVER reactors
- Includes 6 reactors in Ukraine currently occupied by Russian forces, affects fuel demand in near-term 93 Total reactors 14,808 tSW requirement in 2023 Source: WNA fuel report, 2023
- 2) Increased demand from US nuclear operators seeking to both mitigate potential near-term disruptions in Russian supplies (2024-27) and add new non-Russian EUP contracts (2028-2046)
No disruptions in global delivery of Russian EUP supplies
4 Increasing EUP Availability in Near Term
- Reversal of underfeeding: EUP = Enrichment (SWU) + Uranium Hexafluoride (UF6) underfeeding example:
normal feeding example 10 kgEUP = 87 SW + 93 kgU 10 kgEUP = 71 SW + 113 kgU
- Moving to normal feeding means more EUP produced with same SW capacity.
- Requires more UF6 because normal feeding leaves more U235 in depleted uranium than underfeeding.
- Refurbish existing centrifuge capacity
- Use EUP Inventories
- Japanese utilities inventories
- Other commercial inventories
- Government inventories
5 New Capacity Can Be Added To Meet Increased Demand: United States Centrus (Ohio), HALEU project
+900 kg/a by 2024 UUSA (New Mexico) expansion
+700,000 SW/a by 2027 UUSA Potential to expand
+4,500,000 SW/a New capacity must be underpinned by contracts for future deliveries at sustainable prices
6 Orano (France), Georges Besse II expansion
+2,500,000 SW/a beginning 2028 Urenco (UK, Netherlands, Germany)
Potential to expand
+3,600,000 SW/a New capacity must be underpinned by contracts for future deliveries at sustainable prices New Capacity Can Be Added To Meet Increased Demand: Europe
7 Production of LEU > 5% U235 is Under Development Phase I - LEU+: 5.5 to 10% 235U production
- Supports existing nuclear fleet
- License amendment submitted
- Modest physical modifications
- Cost $20-$30 million
- Delivery in 2025 Phase II - HALEU: 10 to 20% 235U production
- Use existing centrifuge technology
- Supports advanced nuclear reactors
- New Cat. II facility at Urenco USA
- Completed cascade design
- Plant engineering design ongoing Urenco USA, Eunice, New Mexico
8 Conclusion
- Approaches to meet increased demand for non-Russian EUP Optimizing existing capacity through reversal of underfeeding and refurbishments Use commercial and/or government inventories Install new enrichment capacity
- Sufficient capacity could be added at existing licensed sites in the US and Europe, and/or at new sites, but investments in both brownfield and potential greenfield projects require:
Regulatory certainty regarding the role of future Russian fuel imports; and Long-term contracts at sustainable prices to support that investment.
Disclaimer: While the information contained in this presentation is believed to be accurate, it is not guaranteed and may be subject to change. References to information relating to third parties are based on information obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but they are not guaranteed to be accurate. Nothing presented here should be relied upon without doing your own independent research and exercising your own independent judgment. The images shown are for illustrative purposes only. Nothing in this presentation represents a commitment to take action by any person or entity.