Nuclear Power Program Research Articles

Knowledge, belief, and attitude of Bangladeshi youth toward the development of nuclear power

Public support is one of the major challenges for maintaining a sustainable nuclear power program for any country. Although Bangladesh’s decision to build its maiden nuclear power plant (NPP) has received significant scholarly attention, the study regarding public perception is largely ignored. To fill this gap, this study investigated how Bangladeshis view the government’s decision to build NPPs. The study evaluated Bangladeshi youth’s knowledge, belief, and attitude toward the development of nuclear power. Applying the survey research technique, we found that 49% of the 450 respondents were positive toward NPPs, while 12% had no idea about NPPs. Women, in comparison to men, were found to have less knowledge of nuclear energy. Additionally, 41% of the respondents believed that the decision for establishing the country’s first NPP at Rooppur was right. However, 54% of the respondents expressed concerns over the safety, security, and sustainability of NPPs. Most importantly, a significant distrust among the respondents was observed in the capability of the regulator and operator for maintaining the NPP in a safe, secured, and sustainable manner. The study concludes that more policy actions are necessary to increase public support for nuclear power.

Evolving from a hydrocarbon-based to a sustainable economy: Starting with a case study for Iran

Environmental and socioeconomic challenges facing many hydrocarbon-rich nations could help them evolve from hydrocarbon-based (black) into renewables-based (green) economies. In this paper, we present a case study for application of this Black Into Green (BIG) method for Iran. We show that with international cooperation Iran could indefinitely meet its energy and freshwater needs by leveraging large-scale renewable energy harvesting systems integrated with seawater pumped storage hydropower, reverse osmosis desalination, and enhanced distribution systems. This BIG transition could be facilitated by allocating a significant portion of Iran’s potential hydrocarbon-based income to acquire, develop, and deploy renewable energy technology that utilizes Iran’s immense solar and wind energy potential. Our analysis shows that developing just 1% of identified sites would provide over 30 TWh of annual renewable electricity generation and storage, and 221 million m3/day of renewably-powered desalination capacity to meet the freshwater needs of over 85% of its population. In addition to providing renewable energy design and manufacturing technology, the international community could also work with Iran to help evolve its nuclear power program toward small modular reactors for baseload power generation. Such an arrangement would contribute to regional and global security, and greatly reduce the Middle East’s carbon emissions of which Iran is the largest emitter. Results from this holistic approach could then serve as a model for the world economy to work with other resource-rich nations to reduce their environmental impact while modernizing their economies and helping them achieve the socioeconomic goals outlined in the UN’s Brundtland report.

Is West Kalimantan More Suitable for Constructing the First Nuclear Power Plant in Indonesia Compared with Bangka Belitung? Analysis of Public Surveys in those Two Provinces

Objectives: This study aims to analyze the public perceptions of Bangka Belitung and West Kalimantan towards developing nuclear power plants (NPP) in Indonesia so that the Government gets input in choosing a suitable location to construct the first NPP in the future. Methods: The survey in Bangka Belitung was held in 2017, while in West Kalimantan in 2019. Quantitative research methods were carried out through face-to-face interviews. Using a total sample of 800 respondents for Bangka Belitung and 600 respondents for West Kalimantan gave a margin of error of ±1.8% at a confidence level of 95.0%. Findings: The Bangka Belitung residents, whose electricity has been met with relatively more minor disruption and blackouts, tended to reject nuclear power plants (51.75% support and 48.25% reject). On the other hand, due to constraints in fulfilling electricity needs and the sentiment factor of electricity imports from Malaysia, the West Kalimantan public supports the Indonesian nuclear power program (87.17% support and 12.83% reject). Furthermore, West Kalimantan is more likely to be the first location for NPPs. Novelty: For the first time, a study to compare people\'s perceptions of the two provinces was conducted. Interestingly, there are similarities in those two provinces, which tend to choose renewable energy if available over nuclear energy. As the support from the West Kalimantan public for the nuclear power plant is probably for pragmatic reasons, it is to be questioned if this support will remain sustainable if coal-fired power plants can soon solve the electricity problem in the area. Keywords: Nuclear Energy, Indonesia, Bangka Belitung, West Kalimantan, public survey

Multi-criteria comparison of nuclear reactors using the MULTIMOORA method: A case of study for Chile

Technology selection is a major issue in nuclear power since it restrains further options. Once generally accepted by society, a methodology is needed to analyze and synthetize multidimensional parameters for an optimum selection. The International Atomic Energy Agency has developed Comparison criteria for innovative reactors and fuel cycles. Our task was to develop an extension of the Multi-Objective Optimization by Ratio Analysis (MULTIMOORA) for advanced nuclear reactor prioritization in developing countries. The objective of this work was to apply such multi-criteria analysis technique for decision making to a Chilean nuclear power programme based on policy recommendations. We selected a list of conceptual designs recognized by the Agency that were compatible with Chilean energy needs, applying the IAEA's INPRO methodology and proposing three priority sets, and we obtained Performance Rankings for those. Based on anticipated parameters, NuScale and EC6 reactors stood high based on their performance opposed by the ACP100 and VVER600 reactors. The SMART and SVBR100 reactors were sensitive to the priority set, as devised. Our model performed reasonably and needs further proofs for extended scenarios and conditions.

Systematic Approach to Transboundary Radioactivity Monitoring for Accidents in External Nuclear Power Plants

AbstractPast nuclear accidents demonstrated that radioactive materials from an accident in a nuclear power station (NPS) can disperse to other countries or even across the globe. This means all countries need to be prepared to respond to a nuclear power emergency even if they have no nuclear power program. This study aims to propose a structured framework to enable transboundary radio activity monitoring of accidental releases in external NPSs in such a country with limited calculation resources. A trial calculation of a hypothetical release from an interfacing system loss of coolant accident (ISLOCA) in Unit 1 of Fangchenggang NPS during different representative meteorological scenarios is carried out to demonstrate the usability of the proposed framework. It was found that a relatively large release can reach the border of Thailand within 24 h when the wind along the dispersion pathway is basically in northeast direction with significant amount of rainfall, though it may not be able to trigger the alarm at the radiation monitoring stations. However, it is highly likely that the release that fulfills the aforementioned conditions be detected by one of the stations within 48 h-timeframe. As the trial calculation could deliver insightful findings with limited calculation resources, the proposed transboundary atmospheric dispersion calculation framework can be used in other nonnuclear power countries to prepare for emergency response to accidents in external NPSs.

Nuclear power in the Middle East: Financing and geopolitics in the state nuclear power programs of Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates

The International Atomic Energy Agency proscribes contracting and ownership models for the construction and operation of new nuclear power plants, but a country-specific risk allocation strategy must contend with long-term interdependencies codified with nuclear leaders. Four case studies examine the State’s role in nuclear negotiations and illustrate an exchange of sovereign assurances for better financing to overcome the commercial obstacles to construction. Turkey is employing the Build-Own-Operate model for the first time ever in nuclear. Egypt’s state-owned industry model retains all the risk, and sovereign assurances are exchanged for favorable financial terms. Jordan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) occupy the middle ground by attempting joint-ownership models, but their energy demand and need for foreign financing is vastly different. In the complex security environment of the Middle East, sovereign assurances or the exposure of state assets may be left as a last resource to irreconcilable political realities, which means the negotiations must be analyzed in its historical context. There is a need for cooperation on a regional level to enhance the negotiating powers of nuclear newcomers. Commercially viable financing for nuclear construction can be awarded, but the State must identify the sovereign assurances it is willing to grant.

A Brief Scrutiny of Malawi’s Policy on Nuclear Power

Background: Malawi’s 2018 National Energy Policy includes nuclear power as an energy option with an operational 100 MW targeted for 2035. Materials and Methods: This paper challenges the scope of the policy on nuclear power by reviewing its implementation strategy and comparing it to: the strategy established for coal in the same policy; some experiences from other countries; and documents by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) relating to establishing a national position on nuclear power and infrastructural requirements for a nuclear power program. Results and Discussion: It is found that the pro-nuclear position is uninformed, and targets are unrealistic owing to a lack of understanding of nature of nuclear power including the requirements for safety, security and safeguards, and nuclear infrastructure. It is apparent that neither consultation nor a proper analysis were comprehensively conducted for nuclear. Though the national energy policy suggests a national position for nuclear energy, the content does not demonstrate that the position was arrived at knowledgeably. Conclusion: Thus, nuclear power may presently be viewed as a potential energy option that is yet to be seriously considered. It is important to build an appropriate level of literacy on nuclear science and technology for policy makers, key stakeholders, and the public to be better positioned for strategizing on nuclear power.

Development and strengthening of the nuclear and radiation safety infrastructure for nuclear power program of Bangladesh

Bangladesh, as a newcomer country, is expecting to start her nuclear power journey by 2022. Due to evident reasons, newcomer nuclear countries face several key challenges concerning the development of national nuclear safety infrastructure. The paper investigates the status of the 7 key safety infrastructure issues out of the 19 and readiness of the supportive organizations, laboratories, and workforces following the International Atomic energy Agency’s status evaluation guide at milestone 3 and foreign countries’ practice. Much progress has been achieved at phase 3 regarding the establishments of a few Acts, a regulator, and an operator. However, comprehensive regulatory frameworks, skilled workforces, establishments of a few supportive organizations, and laboratories for managing environmental radioactivity, radiological accidents, and radioactive wastes are yet to ready. Several suggestions are made for establishing and expediting radiation monitoring laboratories, a radiological emergency management center, a radioactive waste management company, and technical support organizations for the safety infrastructure. To avoid perceived risks, policymakers and competent authorities need to emphasize creating an optimized safety infrastructure before commissioning and operating the 1stnuclear power plant safely, securely, and cost-sustainably.

Nuclear policy-nuclear fuels for peaceful, safer co-generation and environmentally benign applications

Here, safer nuclear fuels which can sustain in the high temperature and fluence environment of the reactor core are investigated to utilize nuclear energy peacefully. At Nuclear Fuel Complex in Hyderabad, nuclear fuels are being manufactured which are best suited for high temperature and fluence environment of the reactor core even in accidental scenarios. In this paper, nuclear fuels manufactured at NFC, Hyderabad are presented. The developed nuclear fuels have higher equivalent hydraulic diameter and breeding capability to produce U^233. Nuclear fuels having higher equivalent hydraulic diameter reduce the reactor core temperature substantially. These fuels have negative temperature coefficient of reactivity. Thus, in case of an accident, the fuel temperature never exceeds the safety limit. Therefore, the thermal heat available across the secondary of a heat exchanger can be utilized for different industrial processes. This allows the development of key technologies, such as safer co-generation of electricity and Hydrogen. The Three-Stage Indian Nuclear Power Program has been explained for nuclear disarmament. The product Hydrogen gas has been utilized in many ways for different applications. Moreover, the processing of iron ore with the energy obtained from the IHX secondary side, eliminates the burning of coals and CO2 emissions into the environment. Several radioisotopes have been developed for medical applications from spent fuel.

Regulatory Perspective on Nuclear Cyber Security: The Fundamental Issues

We are living in a digital and information-driven age; hence need to retain information on virtually every aspect of our lives, nuclear information inclusive. Security in computer systems is strongly related to the notion of dependability. For such system to be reliable and secure in a nuclear facility, unauthorized logic changes must be prevented - confidentiality, field device inputs and outputs must remain immutable throughout their usable lifetime - integrity, and everything should remain in an operable state - availability. The dynamic and complex nature of cyber threats has made it a serious challenge to secure computer systems in nuclear facilities. Despite the adoption of varied cyber security services, policies, mechanisms, strategies and regulatory frameworks like confidentiality, integrity, availability, non-repudiation, encipherment, defence-in-depth, design basis threat, IAEA technical guidance documents such as: GS-R-1, GS-R-2, NSS13, NSS17, NST036, NST045, and NST047, IEEE standard 7-4.3.2-2010, NIST SP 800-53, NIST SP 800-82, NEI 08-09 and country-specific requirements such as: 10 CFR 73.54, 10 CFR 73.1, RG 5.71 (USNRC), KINS/RG-N08.22 (South Korea) respectively, the threats remain persistent. This paper is aimed at providing a regulatory perspective on nuclear cyber security, its relationship to nuclear safety and security, regulatory requirements and cyber security global best practice recommendations and strategies to prevent its occurrence. This is imperative as Nigeria prepares to join the league of countries with operational nuclear power plants and reactors by its approval and adoption of the nuclear power programme roadmap in 2007.

Social acceptance of nuclear power plants in Korea: The role of public perceptions following the Fukushima accident

After the Fukushima accident, most nations that use nuclear power programmes as their main energy facility reexamined their national energy and electricity plans and policies. Moreover, the accident resulted in huge losses of lives and capital, affecting public perceptions and acceptance of nuclear power plants (NPPs). Understanding the related motivations and hindrances that affect public perceptions is essential to revising these energy plans and policies. On the basis of a survey conducted in South Korea, this study investigates public perceptions of NPPs. Moreover, it explores the effects of four factors, perceived costs, system reliability, awareness, and environmental knowledge, on the perceived benefits, risks, and public attitudes that influence the public’s intention to use NPPs. This study finds that perceived benefits played a key role in determining the public’s intention to use NPPs. Furthermore, their perceived benefits are significantly affected by the four factors listed above. Moreover, both environmental knowledge and perceived costs have notable effects on perceived risks. On the basis of the obtained results, both implications and limitations of the study are presented.

Radioactive dispersion in groundwater resulting from postulated accident at a proposed nuclear power plant, northwestern coast of Egypt

Egypt announced a nuclear power program to secure and diversify the country's energy supply. The radiation risks to workers, public and to the environment that may arise from these applications have to be assessed and if necessary, controlled. The radioactivity concentration of groundwater has been predicted for 50 years after a postulated accident at a proposed Nuclear Power Reactor at El-Negila, Northwestern Coast of Egypt. The accident is assumed to be resulting from a loss of coolant accident (LOCA) of a 1000 MWe Nuclear Power Reactor of the pressurized water type. The radioactive releases were estimated and a conservative estimate of dispersion in air and the consequent contaminant transport of radioactive pollutants through groundwater around the reactor were modeled. Of greatest interest in terms of long term radiation contamination hazard of the surface are 137Cs and 90Sr isotopes as their radiological significance increased with time. The analysis results from RASCAL code are used as the input data to MODFLOW-MT3D model, to predict radioactive contamination of groundwater for 50 years of simulation. Two scenarios for groundwater dispersion are assumed. The 1stscenario considered no pumping, while the second scenario assumes stressing of the system through pumping wells. The results of groundwater modeling show that the radioactive concentration of 137Cs and 90Sr were higher at the point source location of the released source term compared to WHO limits on drinking water borne radionuclides and decreased in all directions during 50 years of simulation indicating radionuclides retention in the aquifer matrix taking into consideration that 90Sr was retained more than 137Cs. Applying the 2nd scenario revealed that still low concentrations appear in a pumping well at the coast for both 137Cs and 90Sr, due to the fact that several factors affect the dispersion in groundwater (half life time, dispersion, adsorption-desorption).

Nuclear energy for sustainable development: SWOT analysis on Ghana’s nuclear agenda

The development of clean and sustainable energy around the world has become a necessity as a result of the negative effect energy generated from fossil fuel have on the environment. Ghana intends to add nuclear power to its generation mix by 2029. This paper uses the SWOT analysis tool to assess the internal strengths and weaknesses as well as the external opportunities and threats in the country relative to its nuclear power program. We found out that despite the country’s effort towards meeting the requirements for the licensing, contracting, construction and operation of the facility, there are still some important loopholes which could delay the process. The research found out that Ghana has a lot of strengths and opportunities that makes an investment in nuclear power an economically viable option. However, issues such as porous security system, corruption, porous borders and policy discontinuity due to changes in political power are threats to the smooth implementation and operation of a nuclear power plant. The research therefore recommended to the government of Ghana to pay critical attention to some of these loopholes. We also looked at a particular weakness which is financing and provided some funding options for its development.

Land Suitability Determination of NPP’s Potential Site in East Kalimantan Coastal Using GIS

Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) site selection is the key phase of the nuclear power plant process and significantly influence the construction cost and safety. In order to prepare for nuclear power programs in East Kalimantan province, Geographical Information System (GIS) analysis along the coast of East Kalimantan province, especially the Berau district, East Kutai, Kutai Kartanegara, Samarinda, Balikpapan, Penajam Paser Utara and the Paser. The research purpose is to find suitable site for nuclear power plants location using spatial analysis and modeling. The potential Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) site is based on several criteria, such as: geology, slope, soil type, land use, hydrology, and existing road network. Based on the weighting and ranking results using GIS application: there are three locations serve as the potential NPP sites are obtained Kutai Kartanegara and Kutai Timur regency. Next, land suitability analysis is done by using GIS application which shows potential sites suitable general and specific criteria of the site evaluation process development.

Radiological dose assessment due to hypothetical nuclear power plant operation in Mersing, Johor, Malaysia

Malaysia has considered for some time to adopt nuclear power to cater to the increasing demand of electricity following other developed Asian countries such as Japan, Korea, and China. In implementing a nuclear power plant, strict regulations and guidelines by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) must be fulfilled before any construction license is given for a new nuclear power program. One of the assessments include the estimation of potential radiological risks to both humans and environment from routine and accidental release of radioactive effluent from the nuclear power plant (NPP). In this work, simulations of radionuclide dispersion from a hypothetical NPP site in Mersing, Johor will be presented. The simulation was performed based on the Lagrangian atmospheric dispersion model using the HYSPLIT software. The radioactive effluent release rate was approximated to the value found in the Fukushima Dai-ichi accident in 2011. Meteorological data of 2017 were utilized in this study. Simulation results showed that the dispersion of radioactive effluent from the hypothetical NPP can potentially affect areas around Johor Bahru district, Singapore, and even some areas in Indonesia.

Investigative Study of Neutronic Safety Parameters of HPR and EPR Using the MCNP Code

As part of technology assessment of proposed commercial nuclear power reactor technologies for Ghana’s Nuclear Power Programme, the neutronic safety parameters of the European Pressurized Reactor (EPR) and High Temperature Pressurized Reactor (HPR) reactor technologies are theoretically analyzed and compared. The MCNP neutronic code was employed as a computational tool to analyze the reactivity temperature coefficients, moderator void coefficient, criticality, and neutron behavior at various operating conditions. The HPR, which is still under construction and under theoretical safety analysis, showed good inherent safety features comparable to the already existing EPR technology.

Burst criterion for Indian PHWR fuel cladding under simulated loss-of-coolant accident

Abstract The indigenous nuclear power program of India is based mainly on a series of Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs). A burst correlation for Indian PHWR fuel claddings has been developed and empirical burst parameters are determined. The burst correlation is developed from data available in literature for single-rod transient burst tests performed on Indian PHWR claddings in inert environment. The heating rate and internal overpressure were in the range of 7 K/s–73 K/s and 3 bar–80 bar, respectively, during the burst tests. A burst criterion for inert environment, which assumes that deformation is controlled by steady state creep, has been developed using the empirical burst parameters. The burst criterion has been validated with experimental data reported in literature and the prediction of burst parameters is in a fairly good agreement with the experimental data. The burst criterion model reveals that increasing the heating rate increases the burst temperature. However, at higher heating rates, burst strain is decreased considerably and an early rupture of the claddings without undergoing considerable ballooning is observed. It is also found that the degree of anisotropy has significant influence on the burst temperature and burst strain. With increasing degree of anisotropy, the burst temperature for claddings increases but there is a decrease in the burst strain. The effect of anisotropy in the α-phase is carried over to α+β-phase and its effect on the burst strain in the α+β-phase too can be observed.

Breeding Soviet Progress

This article investigates an ambitious attempt to materialise the imaginary of atomic‑powered communism on the Southern periphery of the post‑Stalinist USSR: the nuclear complex of Shevchenko on Kazakhstan’s Caspian shore, which combined uranium mining, a fast breeder reactor and large‑scale nuclear‑powered water desalination in a modernist showcase city, to domestic and international acclaim. The analysis focuses on how political and technoscientific developments set each other’s pace in Soviet nuclear modernity, and points to a number of ways in which their diverging operational rationales were out of step, resulting in an uneasy combination of late‑Soviet technocratic visions with brute‑force modernisation carried over from Stalinist industrialization. It is argued that these contradictions aligned in large part with two competing ways in which key actors framed the Soviet nuclear power programme: first, in terms of a nuclear exceptionalism which aimed to synergise the mobilizational clout of the Soviet system with the transformative power of the atom to achieve revolutionary progress, prioritising quantity over quality, and second, in terms of a nuclear internationalism which saw the USSR at the forefront of universal technoscientific advancement, competing and cooperating across the bloc divide with countries such as France and the US to improve the efficiency and safety of nuclear power generation, with an emphasis on quality. The history of Shevchenko provides insights into both of these tendencies, which, it is claimed, already prefigured the idiosyncrasies of Russia’s present nuclear technopolitics.

Reflecting on the preparation of guidelines for strategic environmental assessment (SEA) of nuclear power programmes

ABSTRACTIn this paper, the ‘guidelines for strategic environmental assessment (SEA) of nuclear power programmes’ by the International Atomic Energy Agency are introduced. This includes a reflection on their preparation process and contents as well as consultation feedback. The preparation process started with two meetings of international nuclear and SEA experts and the creation of a writing team which prepared an initial set of draft guidelines. This was followed by various consultation exercises. The guidelines are organised along an allocation of tasks within a tiered system of energy related policies, plans, programmes and projects. Whilst consultation showed that there was agreement on the approach to most issues, no consensus was present on the extent to which economic and social issues should be fully integrated with environmental considerations. Strong support was given to the way quality review is designed, going beyond focusing on the main SEA reports to cover procedural and participatory aspects next to elements of a comprehensively tiered decision making framework, the ability to influence decisions as well as the quality (expertise and experience) of those involved in conducting the SEA.Abbreviation: SEA: Strategic Environmental Assessment; EIA: Environmental Impact Assessment; IAEA: International Atomic Energy Agency

Climate Change and Nuclear Developments: A Growing Security Nexus

Climate and nuclear trends are intertwining around the world in myriad ways. This article explores the growing nexus by highlighting classic nuclear weapons states, emerging nuclear power programs, and the changing geostrategic nuclear supplier set. In each of these examples, there are climate impacts that add a multifaceted layer to regional geopolitical dynamics. In many cases, such countries are already grappling with rapid population growth, political turmoil, technological changes, and resource insecurity. Nuclear strategies that include a climate dimension are critical to mitigate the confluence of stressors that could drastically increase the risk of instability, nuclear miscalculation, and other devastating disasters. It would be reckless not to consider the potential dangers such pathways could present to global security.