Duke Energy won't do more MOX tests

> Nov 17 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Rob Pavey The Augusta
> Chronicle, Ga.
>
> Duke Energy, which has been testing French-made mixed-oxide
> nuclear fuels in its Catawba 1 reactor to gauge the suitability of
> similar fuels to be made at Savannah River Site, has exercised an
> option not to conduct a third 18-month testing cycle.
>
> "It was used for two operating cycles and we made a decision that
> an additional cycle is not required," said Rita Sipe, a nuclear media
> relations spokeswoman for Duke Energy.
>
> The reason, she said, is that the first two cycles provided
> sufficient data that will be analyzed as part of the evaluation
> process for MOX, which is made by blending plutonium from dismantled
> nuclear bombs with conventional reactor fuels.
>
> Duke has a pending "expression of interest" with the National
> Nuclear Security Administration in using MOX fuels that will be made
> at the
> $4.86
> billion facility under construction at SRS.
>
> The decision not to conduct a third test cycle at Catawba 1, she
> added, should not be construed as a lack of interest. "Duke remains
> very much interested in MOX."
>
> Tom Clements, the Southeast nuclear campaign coordinator for
> Friends of the Earth, said, however, that Duke's decision appears to
> indicate an intent to abandon its interest.
>
> "It is my feeling that Duke is trying to step politely and
> silently away from this troubled MOX test and will be glad to be rid
> of involvement in the whole program," he said.
>
> The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, he said, might be
> unwilling to license the fuel for commercial use without a more
> substantial series of tests.
>
> Jennifer Wagner, a spokeswoman for the National Nuclear Security
> Administration, said, however, that the two cycles already completed
> will satisfy the federal requirements.
>
> "Irradiation of the MOX lead test assemblies for two 18-month
> cycles was successfully completed as required by the Nuclear
> Regulatory Commission," she said in an e-mail. "After a
> post-irradiation examination of five rods from the LTAs is completed
> next year, sufficient data will exist from the two cycles of
> irradiation to demonstrate that MOX fuel performs satisfactorily."
>
> The most recent testing cycle ended in May 2008, after which some
> abnormalities were noted in the fuel rods. Ms. Sipe said some of the
> rods were sent to Oak Ridge National Laboratory for further
> evaluation, and the results remain incomplete.
>
> Those abnormalities included unexpected expansion of the rods and
> some bowing. Ms. Wagner said the conditions had nothing to do with the
> fuel being MOX and conventional uranium fuels are known to have
> similar conditions.
>
> NRC spokesman Roger Hannah said licensing authorities were made
> aware of the abnormalities.
>
> "In talking with our experts this is something that happens from
> time to time," he said. "It does not appear to be MOX-related but they
> want to fully understand it before they go any farther."
>
> The plant under construction at SRS is designed to dispose of 34
> metric tons of weapons grade plutonium. The main process building is
> about
> 21 percent complete, and the overall project is 38 percent complete.
> It is
> scheduled to open in 2016, with fuel delivery to clients two years
> later.
>
> In addition to Duke Energy, other potential users of the MOX
> fuels include Tennessee Valley Authority and at least one other entity
> the Energy Department has not publicly identified.
>
> Jim Giusti, an Energy Department spokesman at SRS, said federal
> authorities remain confident there will be ample clients to use the
> MOX fuels.
>
> "There are plenty of reactors interested but they have to know
> ahead of time when it will be available," he said, predicting there
> will be more clients formally involved as the project moves closer to
> actual fuel delivery.
>
> Reach Rob Pavey at 868-1222, ext. 119, or
> [email protected].
>
>