[Nucléaire] Relance du nucléaire aux USA.... ou pas ?

[energy_isere]

suite de ce post du 15 nov 2025 : viewtopic.php?p=2418373#p2418373

Anfield Energy starts blasting at historic Velvet-Wood uranium mine in Utah

Staff Writer | August 28, 2026


Anfield Energy’s Shootaring Canyon Mill project in southeast Utah. (Image: Anfield Energy )

Anfield Energy said this week it has completed the first underground blast at its Velvet-Wood uranium and vanadium project in San Juan County, Utah, following receipt of a permit in June.

This is the first underground blast conducted at the project in nearly 40 years and represents another key milestone in the ongoing underground rehabilitation and development program, the company said.

The Velvet deposit produced about 4 million pounds of U₃O₈ (uranium oxide) between 1979 and 1984 under previous owners.

Anfield has now rehabilitated the first 700 feet of the decline. Rehabilitation work completed to date includes the installation of rock bolts and wire mesh for improved ground support, road building, mucking (removal of waste rock from the decline), surveying, and the installation of mine ventilation and utilities. This includes a primary surface ventilation fan and attendant ducting, an air compressor, air line, water line, electrical power and communication infrastructure.

Construction of the water treatment plant and installation of the dewatering pump is nearly complete, the company said, adding that it expects to begin testing and sampling of the plant within the coming weeks.

Emerging US producer

Anfield currently has over 20 uranium assets in its pipeline across the Western US. The closest to production is Velvet-Wood, which the US government had selected for fast-tracked permitting as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to boost domestic production of critical minerals.

Located about 200 miles (322 km) south of Salt Lake City, the proposed mine comprises two separate areas that together hold 4.6 million lb. of uranium oxide equivalent (eU3O8) in the measured and indicated category, plus 552,000 lb. in the inferred category. Most of the work at the mine is expected to take place underground, targeting known mineral deposits left from earlier operations.

“Completing the first underground blast at Velvet-Wood since the mid-1980s, following the receipt of our ATF blast permit in June, is a concrete step in rehabilitating the decline and moving the project toward dewatering of the historic workings,” Anfield CEO Corey Dias said in a news release.

“The water treatment plant and dewatering pump are nearly complete, which gives us a defined path to the next phase of underground development,” Dias said.

“Continued engagement from Utah state and local officials underscores support for responsible development of domestic uranium and vanadium resources. We remain focused on advancing Velvet-Wood as a key component of our hub-and-spoke strategy centered on the Shootaring Canyon Mill.”

https://www.mining.com/anfield-energy-s ... e-in-utah/

[energy_isere]

suite de ce post du 1er nov 2025 : viewtopic.php?p=2417980#p2417980

Fuel loading under way for Palisades restart, Holtec announces

Tuesday, 1 September 2026

The loading of fuel into the reactor has begun at Palisades nuclear power plant in the US, as Holtec International continues to move towards the first restart of a closed-down unit.

The reactor core consists of 204 fuel assemblies, which includes some partially used assemblies from the Michigan plant's final operating cycles before it was closed down for decommissioning in 2022.

Holtec International Chief Nuclear Officer Fadi Diya said: "Loading fuel into the Palisades reactor is an important milestone and a reflection of the tremendous effort of the men and women who have brought this plant to this point ... we remain focused on disciplined execution of the remaining work and returning Palisades to safe and reliable operation."


Palisades is in the process of being restarted (Image: Holtec)

Palisades, a single-unit 805 MWe pressurised water reactor, began commercial operation in 1971. Owner Entergy announced in 2016 its plan to close the plant, with the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission approving in 2021 the transfer of the licence from Entergy to Holtec for the purposes of decommissioning it. The 805 MWe pressurised water reactor was licensed to operate to March 2031 but was removed from service - after 50 years - by Entergy on 20 May 2022, and defuelled by 10 June.

The unit's licence was transferred from previous operator Entergy Nuclear Operations to Holtec Decommissioning International, LLC and Holtec Palisades, LLC, for decommissioning the same month. Shortly afterwards Holtec announced plans to restart the plant and it began the process of obtaining the licensing approvals needed to return the plant to operational status for the remainder of its licensing term.

Since then, there has been a programme of "extensive inspection, maintenance, refurbishment, testing, and equipment upgrades across the station to ensure utmost reliability and resiliency for long-term operation", Holtec says.

The major work included "extensive reinforcement of tubes in the two steam generators; removal of accumulated corrosive species from their steam generation space; replacement of the plant's control rod drive mechanism nozzles; chemical decontamination and passivation of the primary system; reactor vessel inspections; and numerous equipment upgrades and modernisation projects".

Holtec notified the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission in 2024 that it intended to apply for a second, or subsequent, licence renewal for the plant. This would extend the plant's operating period by a further 20 years, to 2051. It is also advancing plans for the future deployment of its Pioneer 1 and 2 SMR-300 units at the Palisades site.

https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/arti ... -announces

[energy_isere]

Vaste programme de relance de construction de centrales nucléaires aux USA :

USA, South Korea targeting six AP1000 and two APR1400 units

1 October 2026

A USD120 billion framework agreement to build six Westinghouse AP1000 units and two of South Korea's APR1400 units in the USA has been outlined by the US Department of Commerce.

According to the US Department of Commerce, the location of the new units has yet to be specified, with USD100 billion "slated for construction costs (overnight costs) and USD20 billion for contingency reserves. These reserves are counted toward the investment amount".

In its description of the 'Project Power' scheme, it says that the eight units would be part of achieving the US president's goal of having 10 large reactors under construction by 2030.
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https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/arti ... 1400-units

[energy_isere]

suite de ce post du 12 juillet 2025 : viewtopic.php?p=2414084#p2414084

First construction permit issued for BWRX-300 SMR in the US

Wednesday, 30 September 2026

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued a construction permit for the Tennessee Valley Authority's planned GE Vernova Hitachi BWRX‑300 small modular eactor at the Clinch River site.


A rendering of the Clinch River SMR project (Image: TVA)
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) said its decision "paves the way for the nation's first commercial small modular reactor". It said it completed the review in 14 months, four months earlier than it had scheduled.

NRC Chairman Ho Nieh said: "Today's Clinch River decision demonstrates that the new NRC can make rigorous and credible safety decisions that enable major American nuclear projects to move forward."

Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), which is a government-owned power company, said that although no construction date has been announced, it is now the first US utility permitted to construct the BWRX‑300 small modular reactor (SMR). It said it "continues negotiations with industry partners to ensure responsible cost sharing and financial accountability throughout design and construction".
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https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/arti ... -smr-in-us

[energy_isere]

suite de ce post du 20 sept 2025 : viewtopic.php?p=2416765#p2416765

Peninsula’s uranium resource growth at Lance: ISR flow risks for mine planners

September 29, 2026 Reviewed by Joe Ashwell

Peninsula Energy’s Lance uranium project in northeast Wyoming has increased contained resources to 59 million lb. U3O8, including 15.5 million measured and indicated tonnes at 0.05% U3O8 and 38.5 million inferred tonnes at 0.04% U3O8, with the producing Ross area up nearly 16% to 7.4 million lb. Despite this, Peninsula has withdrawn its 2026 production guidance of 400,000–500,000 lb. U3O8 after low solution flow rates in ISR wellfields and has booked a US$50-million non-cash impairment on Units 1–3. The key technical risk now centres on whether the main Unit 4 at Ross can achieve design flow rates and head grades to support the maintained 2027 target of 500,000–600,000 lb. U3O8 and future development of the larger Kendrick and Barber areas.

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https://www.geomechanics.io/news/articl ... e-planners

[energy_isere]

suite de ce post du 20 sept 2025 : viewtopic.php?p=2416763#p2416763

U.S. Nuclear Fuel Independence Edges Closer as Urenco Expansion Hits 75%

By Haley Zaremba - Oct 15, 2026,

Urenco USA's National Enrichment Facility in New Mexico has 4.3 million SWU of capacity today, enough to cover about one-third of U.S. enriched uranium demand.

The only commercial-scale uranium enrichment plant in the United States is now three-quarters of the way through its latest expansion, a milestone for the country's push to build out a domestic nuclear fuel supply chain. Urenco USA said Oct. 8 that the sixth of eight new centrifuge cascades at its National Enrichment Facility in New Mexico has started production, with the seventh due later this year and the last in spring 2027. As the Trump administration works to reestablish the country as the global leader in nuclear energy, cutting reliance on foreign nuclear fuel imports is a priority for the domestic sector.

The National Enrichment Facility, located in Eunice, New Mexico, currently has a capacity of 4.3 million separative work units (SWUs) of enriched uranium and is installing 700,000 SWUs of new capacity through the eight-cascade project. Urenco aims to expand its capacity to more than 7 million SWUs over the next decade, including a new plant that would start construction in 2029. At present, the plant fulfills about one-third of the country's enriched uranium demand, but that demand is set to increase in coming years as a nuclear renaissance takes hold in the United States and abroad.
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https://oilprice.com/Alternative-Energy ... ts-75.html

[energy_isere]

Westinghouse invests USD1 billion in US LEU+ fuel plant

Wednesday, 21 October 2026

Westinghouse has announced a USD1 billion investment in the first new fleet-scale nuclear fuel factory to be built in the USA in more than 50 years, at the Columbia Fuel Fabrication Facility in Hopkins, South Carolina.


A fuel assembly (Image: Westinghouse)

Westinghouse Electric Company says it aims to begin operations in 2030.

LEU+ fuel has a higher level of uranium enrichment than the low-enriched uranium (LEU) fuel currently used in most commercial nuclear plants. Last year saw its first deployment in a commercial US reactor, when lead assemblies containing EnCore ATF Lead Test Assemblies with greater-than-5% LEU+ ADOPT fuel, manufactured at the Columbia Fuel Fabrication Facility, were loaded into Unit 2 of the Vogtle nuclear power plant.

This sort of fuel is expected to unlock advanced operating plant uprates that would provide near-term expansion of nuclear power output nationwide to meet the growing demand for baseload nuclear power, Westinghouse said. It aligns with the UPRISE (Utility Power Reactor Incremental Scaling Effort) programme launched earlier this year by the US Department of Energy, which is targeting a 5 GW increase in US nuclear capacity from the existing nuclear fleet by 2029. LEU+ fuel also offers the flexibility to extend operating cycles, helping to lower operating costs and deliver greater value to customers.

The existing Columbia Fuel Fabrication Facility, built in 1968, is one of the largest nuclear fuel plants in the world, producing fuel pellets, fuel rods, fuel assemblies and fuel components for a global base of customers, but its plant configuration and current process technology are not suitable for producing LEU+ fuel. The new facility is purpose-designed to produce nuclear fuel with a higher enrichment level using more advanced technology, and will be housed in a new building adjacent to the existing plant. It will feature modern standards with higher levels of automation and advanced technologies, worker ergonomics and production quality, while maintaining high levels of safety, Westinghouse explained. It will use an innovative "dry" process, similar to the one currently used at the company's facility in the UK.

"Westinghouse has been a leader in the nuclear industry for 90 years and continues innovating the next frontier in nuclear technology," said Westinghouse President and CEO Dan Sumner. "As we advance the next generation of fuel, we are positioned to create more value for our customers and unlock new nuclear generation to support the growing demand for baseload power. The Columbia LEU+ Fuel factory is our largest single manufacturing investment to support the operating fleet and marks a transformative milestone for our company and the industry."

Sumner also expressed gratitude to the Department of Energy's tax credit programme, and to the governments of the state and Richland County for their support.

The Columbia Fuel Fabrication Facility already employs more than 1,200 people, and the USD1 billion investment is projected to contribute USD4.9 billion in positive economic impact across South Carolina over the next 10 years, including some USD3.8 billion in Richland County through construction, new equipment and the creation of additional jobs, workforce development and career growth opportunities, according to an economic impact study commissioned by Westinghouse in partnership with researchers at the University of South Carolina's Darla Moore School of Business. At its peak, the new project is expected to host several hundred contractors in addition to an in-house team of 30-50 people, creating potential benefits for local businesses.

https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/arti ... fuel-plant

[energy_isere]

Constellation Energy obtient un engagement conditionnel de 5 milliards de dollars pour renforcer son parc nucléaire
Constellation Energy a annoncé avoir obtenu un engagement conditionnel de prêt pouvant atteindre 5 milliards de dollars auprès du département américain de l'Énergie. Ce financement doit permettre au premier exploitant nucléaire des États-Unis d'augmenter de 1,1 gigawatt la capacité de ses centrales existantes, dans un contexte de forte croissance de la demande électrique liée notamment à l'intelligence artificielle et à l'électrification des transports.

Esteban Tesson le 27/10/2026

Le groupe prévoit de moderniser huit installations situées dans l'Illinois, le Maryland et la Pennsylvanie, grâce à des opérations d'augmentation de puissance des réacteurs existants, appelées "uprates". Ces interventions permettraient de produire suffisamment d'électricité supplémentaire pour alimenter plus de 930.000 foyers américains, sans construire de nouveaux réacteurs ni de nouvelles lignes de transport. Selon Constellation, elles pourraient également améliorer la fiabilité des réseaux et contribuer à limiter les coûts de l'électricité dans les zones desservies par PJM Interconnection et MISO. Le soutien fédéral devrait réduire les coûts d'emprunt du groupe et accélérer la réalisation des projets.

Cette initiative s'inscrit dans la stratégie de l'administration Trump, qui souhaite quadrupler les capacités nucléaires américaines d'ici 2050 afin de répondre à l'essor des besoins énergétiques. Le secrétaire à l'Énergie, Chris Wright, a indiqué qu'une grande partie des ressources disponibles dans les programmes fédéraux de prêts devrait soutenir le secteur nucléaire. L'action Constellation progressait d'environ 1,8% après l'annonce. Déjà renforcé par l'acquisition du producteur Calpine, qui lui a apporté des centrales au gaz naturel et des installations géothermiques, le groupe poursuit ainsi la diversification et l'expansion de ses capacités de production. L'engagement de financement reste toutefois conditionnel et ne constitue pas encore un prêt définitivement accordé.

https://www.zonebourse.com/actualite-bo ... ddde8cf62c