Nuclear Energy Program Research Articles

Türkiye’s nuclear energy aspirations: policy challenges and legal trajectory

Abstract This article provides a comprehensive overview of Türkiye’s nuclear energy aspirations, focusing on the historical evolution, international cooperation, organizational structure, legal framework, and policy dimensions. It elaborates on Türkiye’s endeavours to integrate nuclear energy into its national power infrastructure, particularly highlighting the progress made in the development of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). Initiated in 1968, the Akkuyu NPP project remained stagnant for decades. It gained momentum in the late 2010s when Rosatom, under an agreement between the Turkish and Russian states, began construction as part of its nuclear export strategy. The article mainly discusses the significant legislative and regulatory advancements made post-2021, propelled by the near completion of the Akkuyu NPP. These actions signify a crucial phase in creating a robust legal framework for nuclear energy in Türkiye. Moreover, the article presents proposals for law and policy, considering geopolitical, economic, and technical constraints, to guide the future direction of Türkiye’s domestic nuclear energy programme. In conclusion, the evolution of nuclear energy law in Türkiye, highlighted by the development of the Akkuyu NPP and subsequent legal and regulatory measures, presents an essential case study.

Cross-sections for nuclear transmutation of long-lived fission product 126Sn using (p,n) reaction

For a sustainable nuclear energy program using fission reactors, the reduction or elimination of long-lived radioactive waste is essential. The hazardous Long-Lived Fission Products (LLFP), which are by-products of the operation of nuclear reactors, need to be converted to short-lived or stable nuclei. For nuclear transmutation, the knowledge of reaction cross-sections is important. The cross-section and half-life for the proton-induced transmutation of the LLFP, [Formula: see text]Sn, produced as nuclear waste from the reactor have been calculated. The cross-section for the (p,n) reaction on unstable [Formula: see text]Sn has been calculated using phenomenological as well as microscopic models of optical potentials and level densities in the framework of the statistical nuclear model using the latest version of the code TALYS-1.96. The Koning–Delaroche (KD) and Jeukenne–Lejeune–Mahaux–Bruyeres (JLMB) optical models, as well as back-shifted Fermi gas model (BFM) and Hartree–Fock (HF) level density, based on the Skyrme force from Gorielys tables, have been used. The renormalized optical model parameters and level density models obtained by comparing cross-sections with data for protons incident on stable [Formula: see text]Sn isotopes were extended to make a prediction of (p,n) cross-section on unstable [Formula: see text]Sn isotope. The excitation function obtained using JLMB-HF calculation for [Formula: see text]Sn reveals a peak at an incident proton energy of 8.5[Formula: see text]MeV with a corresponding cross-section of 269[Formula: see text]mb. It would be of interest to perform experiments for measurements of cross-section where data are unavailable, especially in the peak regions and beyond, to validate the predictions of this work. It is found that for a proton flux of [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]s[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]cm[Formula: see text], and a peak cross-section calculated using JLMB-HF calculation, the effective half-life of transmutation of [Formula: see text]Sn is about 65 years, thus justifying its feasibility.

An Analysis of National Position, Opportunity, and Challenge of Indonesia’s Nuclear Program to Support Net-Zero Emissions by 2060

Coal contributed 303 million tons of CO2 (49% of total emissions) in Indonesia in 2021. The Indonesian government plans to retire all coal-fired power plants (CFPPs) to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060. Nuclear power plants (NPPs) have low CO2 emissions. This research aims to analyze the status of the nuclear program and examine the opportunities and challenges of NPPs in supporting net-zero emissions. The method used is a literature study of national positions and a simulation of the use of NPPs with the low emissions analysis platform (LEAP) up to 2060. The Business as Usual (BaU) scenario still relies on CFPPs. The retired CFPP scenario consists of NPP utilization of 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%. It was found that the national position of Indonesia is in phase 1 (considering), because legally there is no policy on the use of NPPs in laws, the National Development Plan, or energy policies. A Nuclear Energy Program Implementation Organization (NEPIO) has not yet been established. The simulation results conclude that with limited renewable energy potential, NPPs have the opportunity to fulfill electricity production needs and reduce CO2 emissions significantly. The challenge of using NPPs is the increasing production and investment costs of electricity that come along with the increase in the use of NPPs.

SAUDI ARABIA'S NUCLEAR ENERGY PROGRAM: CHALLENGES AND CONCERNS IN THE US-SAUDI ARABIA NUCLEAR COOPERATION NEGOTIATIONS

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has long been interested in nuclear technology and working towards developing the country’s nuclear energy infrastructure and nuclear legal framework. In view of recent advancements in Saudi nuclear energy, it is apparent that Saudi Arabia intends to pursue its nuclear energy program with the assistance of nuclear cooperation agreements. So far, the Kingdom has concluded several nuclear cooperation agreements with various foreign governments in order to advance its nuclear energy program. Although the United States (the US) and Saudi Arabia has not concluded a nuclear cooperation yet, the negotiations are currently underway. This study focuses on the Kingdom’s nuclear energy program particularly focusing on the challenging issues in the nuclear cooperation negotiations with the US. It puts that the two countries has not been successful to conclude a “nuclear cooperation agreement” (“123 Agreement”) due to several challenges and concerns. Major challenging issues are originating from the US insistence on its stringent conditions including restrictions on enrichment and reprocessing activities (“gold standard”) and Saudi implementation of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Additional Protocol (AP). The study first provides a short overview on the Saudi national atomic energy project and then focuses on the US provisions to conclude 123 agreements with other states. In the light of the US-Saudi nuclear negotiations, the study examines Washington’s demand for additional nonproliferation requirements and international concerns regarding the Saudi nuclear program. It concludes that due to ongoing disagreements on these two additional conditions and other concerns including Saudis possible covert intents, regional proliferation risks and nuclear security threats, nuclear cooperation between the two countries has remained at a low level.

The UAE’s energy system and GHG emissions: pathways to achieving national goals by 2050

Abstract In recent years, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has developed strategies to increase renewable power generation and reduce emissions to net zero by 2050. Electricity generation and energy-intensive industries (EII) have the largest potentials for emission reduction. Therefore, an up-to-date inventory of greenhouse gas emissions and a study of the pathways to achieving the 2050 targets are essential. This study focuses on power production and EII (aluminium, steel and cement). The structure of these sectors is modelled and simulated up to 2050 using a system dynamics (SD) methodology. The SD model is validated to reflect the real-world state of the system using the emissions inventory projections as reference modes. Nineteen mitigation policies are considered in the selected sectors and four policy scenarios were simulated. The results show that implementing the Energy Strategy 2050 in the power sector can result in a reduction of 63.5% in emissions in that sector, which translates into a reduction of 33.5% overall by 2050. Additionally, implementing all identified mitigation strategies to full utilization in EII yields a 94% reduction in that sector, which translates into a 78% reduction overall. Decarbonizing the aluminium industry yields the highest emissions reductions, followed by power production, then cement and finally steel. In the best-case scenario, 22.1% of the business-as-usual emissions are still released and further decarbonization—mainly in the power sector—will be required. This is achievable given the trajectory of the UAE’s successful nuclear energy programme and the prospect of utilizing carbon capture, utilization and storage even further.

A new meteorological pressure index to support a sustainable nuclear energy programme

Today, the evaluation of a site for innovative nuclear installations represents a fundamental step in supporting the implementation of a sustainable nuclear power program. One major concern is the potential for radioactive releases and their effects on the biosphere, particularly on human health. To address this issue, a new Meteorological Pressure Index (MPI) has been developed to identify sites with resilience capacity in terms of transport phenomena correlated to natural wind actions on a regional scale. The MPI utilizes a fuzzy approach that combines data on 3D wind speed, direction, and frequency, providing maps that are useful in the site selection process. The application of MPI in the Sicily region of Italy has allowed to identify bordering areas that that are more affected by efficient air mass transport mechanisms. Consistency analyses have been conducted among MPI maps, observed wind distributions using wind rose charts, and stagnation S and recirculation R factors. The results confirm the MPI's ability to aggregate meteorological data on a regional level, making it a suitable tool when compared to disaggregated data that may not always provide a comprehensive viewpoint.

Negating Non-proliferation? The Potential Sino-South Challenge to Nuclear Market Regulation

ABSTRACT Developing industrial-scale nuclear energy projects requires substantial technical expertise, access to complex fuel supply chains and long-term financial capital. For developing countries investing in civil nuclear energy programmes, securing external support is crucial. However, the nuclear technology trade market is heavily regulated and rather thin. Exporter states must balance commercial opportunity with security interests, given nuclear technology’s dual use. Because of this, incumbent exporters bear responsibility in crafting and enforcing market regulations. As highlighted by the budding Chinese-Argentinian relationship, newly capable market entrants, particularly the People’s Republic of China (PRC), have the potential to challenge international non-proliferation norms by fulfilling market demand where other, predominately Western, states have demurred. The strength of nuclear markets’ non-proliferation-oriented regulatory structures hinges on nascent relationships between entrepreneurial exporters and participating Global South states.

Sorption of ruthenium on aniline-siloxane composites

ABSTRACT Indian nuclear energy program adopts the closed fuel cycle, which involves reprocessing of the spent fuel and offers an option for the recovery of valuables from radioactive waste. Some of the useful isotopes present in radioactive wastes, of societal and industrial applications, are 137Cs, 90Sr, Platinum Groups Metals (PGMs: Pd, Rh, and Ru), 238Pu, 241Am, etc. Among PGMs, Ru is used in electrical, electrochemical industries and radioactive isotope of Ru is being applied for the treatment of eye cancer. In the present work, we are focusing on the pre-concentration of Ru from aqueous media by sorption method. Sorption studies were carried out using inactive Ru as well as its radiotracers. EDXRF, γ-ray spectrometry and spectrophotometry were used as the tools for monitoring the sorption processes. For preliminary studies, polyaniline and manganese dioxide were used as sorbents. The sorption was found to be better using polyaniline. For the ease of separation process, composite polymers of aniline with tetraethoxysilane were synthesized and used. The composites were characterized using SEM-EDS, FTIR and elemental analysis techniques. Sorption studies with and without presence of Zr were done with the aim of separation of radioactive Ru from irradiated Zr alloy and recovery of Ru.

Technification and Securitisation: The Mechanism of ‘Rendering Technical’ in Polish Nuclear Energy Politics

Technology is changing how we live our lives – of this there is no doubt. But how technology affects political deliberation, through which pathways, and how such processes compare to other forms of social mechanisms at play are less clear. Critical security studies have yet to reflect much on this. While the Copenhagen School outlined the workings of the securitisation mechanism and inspired further research into its dynamic together with analytical enquiries into other grammars, logics and security mechanisms operating in different sectors, the role of ‘the technical’ in the broader political processes remains under-researched. The article conceptualises the social mechanism of technification, outlines three possible forms to be found in practice and illustrates them using the example of the development of the nuclear energy program in Poland. Technification et sécurisation : « Techniciser » les politiques énergétiques nucléaires en Pologne

Evaluating the performance of Indonesia’s nuclear energy program using INPRO methodology

Abstract A project was initiated to assess the sustainability of Indonesia’s planned nuclear energy system using the IAEA INPRO Methodology to develop an awareness of sustainability issues to support nuclear energy development strategic planning and decision making. Accordingly, for a nuclear energy system to be sustainable, fulfilment of current needs should not compromise the ability of future generations to meet theirs. The sustainability of the planned nuclear energy system was assessed based on the basic principles, user requirements and criteria in the areas of economics, infrastructure, waste management, proliferation resistance, physical protection, environment, and safety. The assessments covers the sustainability of a large reactor completed in 2014 to support the Pre-Feasibility Study in Bangka Belitung, and of a small and medium-sized reactor (SMR) currently ongoing to support the study in West Kalimantan. The results indicate that evidence of achieving sustainability exists in many respects, but there remain gaps to be addressed in due time on aspects such as economics, investment climate, availability of technology, and global development on non-renewable resources. A preliminary study on fuel cycle arrangements is being performed in parallel, focussing on collecting data including on fuel cycle services abroad. Collecting data has been the main challenge for a newcomer country that has yet to decide on the exact reactor technology. The paper is intended to evaluate the performance of Indonesia’s nuclear energy program using the INPRO Methodology to address the sustainability of its planned NES, i.e., reactors and fuel cycle facilities, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the efforts to achieve the purpose. Awareness of sustainability issues plays a key role in nuclear energy policy, especially for determining the energy mix by 2040, to achieve the Net Zero Emission policy target by 2060 or earlier.

Атомная энергетика как инструмент внешней политики России на Ближнем Востоке

Introduction. The article examines the development of the nuclear industry and the successes of the State Corporation “Rosatom” which allows Russia not only to ensure the growth of this important sector of industry and economy, but also to occupy a leading position in the world nuclear energy markets. In addition to the economic effect, this direction of state activity allows solving a wide range of foreign policy tasks. The article analyzes how the Russian state, using the potential of its nuclear industry and its competitive advantages, simultaneously realizes its interests in the Middle East. Methods and materials. During preparing the article, the authors used a synthesis of institutional and systemic approaches, a comparative historical approach, research in the development of diplomacy and the balance of “powers” in the foreign policy of the state, as well as predictive analysis within the problem field of the implementation of the foreign policy instrument under consideration. Analysis. At present, state corporation Rosatom is one of the leaders in the global nuclear industry and is implementing projects for the construction of 35 power units around the world, including the Middle East. Nuclear energy programs are currently planned or are under way in six countries in the region. Of the projects noted, Rosatom has firm agreements with Egypt, Iran and Turkey. Also, the Russian leadership is optimistic about the possibility of concluding contracts for the construction of nuclear power plants in Jordan and Saudi Arabia. The competitive advantages of a Russian company have a wide range from technological advantages to the most flexible terms of cooperation, regardless of the foreign policy and global conjuncture. At the same time, the activities of Rosatom are converted into political advantages that ensure the strengthening of Russia’s influence in the Middle East region. Discussion. The authors assess the further development of the Middle East programs for the development of the peaceful atom, Russia’s participation in these processes, as well as the identification of associated risks. Results. The authors conclude that by using and developing nuclear energy, Russia is promoting its national interests in the context of the continuing negative economic and political background in the world. The country’s leading positions in this industry make it possible to build favorable forecasts regarding the application of nuclear energy in the field of foreign policy, including the Middle East, where Russia has many competitive advantages. Authors’ contribution. D.A. Mirgorod developed the content of the article and carried out its scientific edition. E.F. Parubochaya analyzed cases related to the implementation by Russia of nuclear power plant projects in Iran and Turkey.

2009–2022 Thailand public perception analysis of nuclear energy on social media using deep transfer learning technique

Due to Thailand's nuclear energy public acceptance problem, the understanding of nuclear energy public perception was the key factor affecting to re-consideration of the nuclear energy program. Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology and its alliances together developed the classification model for the nuclear energy public perception from the big data comments on social media using Facebook using deep transfer learning. The objective was to insight into the Thailand nuclear energy public perception on Facebook social media platform using sentiment analysis. The supervised learning was used to generate up-to-date classification model with more than 80% accuracy to classify the public perception on nuclear power plant news on Facebook from 2009 to 2022. The majority of neutral sentiments (80%) represented the opportunity for Thailand to convince people to receive a better nuclear perception. Negative sentiments (14%) showed support for other alternative energies due to nuclear accident concerns while positive sentiments (6%) expressed support for innovative nuclear technologies.

A framework of examining the factors affecting public acceptance of nuclear power plant: Case study in Saudi Arabia

The Saudi National Atomic Energy project aims to adopt peaceful nuclear technologies and be part of the country's energy mix. As emerging nuclear energy, it is essential to understand public concerns and acceptability of nuclear energy, as well as the factors influencing acceptance to develop nuclear energy policy and implement nuclear energy programs. The purpose of this study is to analyze the public attitudes and acceptance of nuclear energy among Saudi Arabian citizens by utilizing protection motivation theory and theory of planned behavior. A total of 1,404 participants answered a questionnaire which was distribute by convenience sampling approach. A Structural Equation Modeling framework was constructed and analyzed to understand public behavior toward building the country's first Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). Before analyzing the data, the model was validated. The research concluded that the benefits of nuclear power plants were essential in determining people's acceptance of NPPs. Surprisingly, the effect of the perceived benefits was found higher than the effect of the perceived risks to the acceptance. Furthermore, the public's participation in this study revealed that the NPPs location has a significant impact on their acceptance. Based on the finding, several policy implementations were suggested. Finally, the study's model results would benefit scholars, government agencies, and the business sector in Saudi Arabia and worldwide.

‘Nuclear power is not just economics’:1 atomic energy and economic development in the Karachi Nuclear Power Plant Project (Kanupp), 1955–1965

ABSTRACT This paper investigates Pakistan’s atomic energy programme during the years of Ayub Khan’s rule by focusing on the negotiations leading to the construction of the Karachi Nuclear Power Plant.Drawing for the first time on primary sources obtained from the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, the paper shows how nuclear power and research were key elements of a controversial development strategy elaborated by part of the Pakistani elite as well as the entanglement among foreign aid, political ambitions and predicted economic growth, with Cold War considerations claiming the lion’s share in determining the conditions and eventual kick-off of the project.

Palladium telluride within nuclear waste containing borosilicate glass

As a part of its clean nuclear energy program, India is developing Fast Breeder nuclear reactor. High level nuclear wastes, which are likely to be produced upon reprocessing of its spent fuel will contain platinum group of elements in concentrations higher than their respective solubility limits within borosilicate melts. Towards this, interaction study of palladium telluride (PdTe) with sodium barium borosilicate base glass and waste glass were carried out. Mostly, spherical PdTe got settled down at the bottom of ceramic crucibles without any compositional exchanges with base glass. However, significant compositional variations took place in case of waste glass. Interaction studies between Alloy 690 and base glasses show development of wide reaction zones (including intergranular attacks within Alloy 690 coupons, formation of Cr2O3 layer and crystallization of needle shaped phases within adjacent glass domains) at the interfaces. In case of waste glass, tiny PdTe beads crystallized at the reaction zone/borosilicate glass interfaces.

Radioactive waste management in the UAE: Proposal for an inventory management system

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is currently heavily reliant on the burning of fossil-fuels to generate most of its electric power needs. Owing to the newly set 2050 vision in combating climate change, the UAE has set an objective to considerably reduce its carbon footprint associated with power generation facilities. This vision materialized in the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) project, marking the first peaceful civil nuclear power plant in the Arab world. Nuclear power generates radioactive waste. In the UAE, the government's policy is to institute a safe and permanent geological disposal facility (GDF) for the final disposal of higher activity radioactive wastes (HAW). Currently, the UAE does not have a comprehensive radioactive waste inventory database on which an effective management strategy can be built on. Having a comprehensive radioactive waste data collection system will enable the UAE to not only address international reporting commitments, but also provide a transparent record of radioactive waste, which might assist in providing further public assurances. Additionally, the database will provide essential data that will support strategy development, and early waste management planning. It is not possible for the UAE to have an effective radioactive waste management strategy without implementing a system that correctly and accurately defines, records and presents radioactive waste arisings from its nuclear energy program. This paper reviews the overall radioactive waste scene in the UAE and provides a suggestion with regards to a new radioactive waste inventory management system that is based on international best practices.

Toksyczne przedmieścia. Radioaktywne dziedzictwo St. Louis w soczewce projektów Allany Ross

The article follows the radioactive history of St. Louis featured in the works of the artist and activist Allana Ross. Her artistic practice presents an interesting, interdisciplinary approach to the social and environmental problems connected to the radioactive contamination of the city. The aforementioned contamination (apart from the workers directly involved in the processing of the uranium ore) affected mainly the lower middle-class families living in the outskirts. From the early 1940s until the late 1960s St. Louis based chemical company Mallinckrodt was the major manufacturer of uranium utilized in the Manhattan Project and later on in the development of the American national atomic energy programme. As the result of the negligence of many social and political actors, the radioactive waste produced by Mallinckrodt spread over the city’s suburbs contaminating air, soil and water. These facts, however, were not publicly known for many years. Just recently they received the publicity that they demanded. Even though the radioactive contamination of St. Louis dates back to the 1940s, the affected areas had not been taken care of till the late 1980s, when the city was included into FUSRAP and Superfund programmes, which were established by the U.S. government to “clean the radioactive mess”left recklessly in the American landscape some decades ago. The author of the article adopts the notion of negative heritage introduced by Lynn Meskell (2002) to interpret the significance of the radioactive contamination of the region and contextualize the works of Ross. The artist herself understands her projects, which may as well fall into the recently established category of artivism, as adaptive strategies for the slowly approaching environmental catastrophe. In a more general sense Ross calls out not only for the redefinition of St. Louis negative radioactive heritage, but also for the new culture of nature and new modes of human –environment relations.

The importance of uranium prices and structural shocks: Some implications for Greenland

Over the past decade, Greenland has lifted and restored its ban on uranium mining amid the uncertainty of global uranium prices. This article investigates the dynamic interrelations between uranium commodity prices and the impacts of structural shocks, sketching key economic implications for Greenland. Using a structural vector autoregressive model, this work analyses the changing relations between uranium prices, coal prices as well as real and financial variables from 1980 to 2019. The main findings are that the dynamics of uranium spot prices are diversely affected by shocks in combined real GDP, total electricity production from nuclear power, the interest rate, the real effective exchange rate, and the price of coal. The estimates also show that the pricing dynamics are important for future production and capital investment decisions. The analysis illustrates that despite the prevailing depressed uranium market, Greenland can still capitalize on future market developments. The country can anticipate benefiting from a short-run world supply disruption, a positive combination of macroeconomic shocks, and the long-term expansion of nuclear energy programs.

Rethinking Nuclear Cooperation in Argentina’s and Brazil’s Competition for Prestige, 1972–1980

This article advances several arguments about scientific and diplomatic collaboration on peaceful nuclear energy technologies between Argentina and Brazil. First, although 1972–1980 is generally viewed as an acrimonious period in the neighbors’ bilateral relationship, nuclear energy officials in these South American countries made significant and unexpected progress toward technical cooperation, motivated by a shared geopolitical position. Furthermore, technological differences between the two nuclear energy programs, and experts’ ideas on their potential implications for agreement between key officials, opened potential avenues for diplomatic cooperation. Finally, this article illuminates a surprising quality of diplomatic behavior of the military dictatorships in Brazil and Argentina. Against the backdrop of the Cold War, Argentina and Brazil shared nearly identical stances on the unfettered right to pursue advanced nuclear technology. In combination with increased technical cooperation, this ideological alignment supported a landmark bilateral presidential summit in 1980 on nuclear energy collaboration.

Uwagi do projektu uchwały Rady Ministrów w sprawie aktualizacji programu wieloletniego pod nazwą „Program polskiej energetyki jądrowej”

Comments to the draft resolution of the Council of Ministers on update of the multi-annual program under the name “Polish nuclear energy program” The government presented a draft resolution for public consultation on the future of nuclear energy. The article contains detailed expert comments on the text of the resolution and its justification.