Nuclear's landmark moments at COP28 - and Sama Bilbao y León's hopes for 2024

Professor Tim Tinsley prefers not to use the label of nuclear waste, instead referring to "legacy material". And it's not hard to see why, given the projects currently taking place to extract radionuclides from the material for use in pioneering treatments for cancer. It is also providing a new source of power and heat for spacecraft.Tinsley, Professor of Space Nuclear Power at the University of Leicester and Account Director for Space and Radioisotopes at the National Nuclear Laboratory in the UK, joins host Alex Hunt to give details on the life-saving and space-exploring projects and  explains what value there is hidden within what has long just been seen as a problem.With the promising early stage clinical trials, and the plans to provide power for a mission to Mars in 2028,  the newly discovered value in the legacy material is one of the factors which may be taken into account in plans for the safe longterm disposal of the material. There could yet be future discoveries that more of the material could become valuable in the years ahead, so, suggests Tinsley, being able to dispose of the material in a form that it is retrievable at minimal cost might be a good idea.Also this month, there is a report on the gathering of leaders and senior government representatives at the first-of-its-kind Nuclear Energy Summit in Brussels, including snippets of what the IAEA's Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi and co-host Belgian PM Alexander de Croo had to say. Plus Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban, French President Emmanuel Macron and COP29 host Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov. Key links to find out more:World Nuclear NewsLeaders commit to 'unlock potential' of nuclearNuclear Energy Summit DeclarationNational Nuclear LaboratoryUniversity of LeicesterNuclear Energy SummitWNN Email newsletter:Sign up to the World Nuclear News daily or weekly news round-upsContact info:[email protected] credit:  Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production 

The ambitious aim for NexGen Energy, is to be supplying 25% of the world's mined supply of uranium - and about 50% of the western world's mined supply - when its Rook 1 project in Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan, Canada starts production, says its CEO, President and founder, Leigh Curyer.He joins host Alex Hunt and Claire Maden to outline how he got into the industry and the decision to set up NexGen - and the good news that interrupted a Valentine's Day meal in 2014.As well as outlining the plans and likely timeline for the Rook 1 project - and further exploration in the area - Leigh also gives his thoughts on the global uranium market, and prospects more broadly for the nuclear energy sector in the coming years, including signs of a change of mood in his native Australia. The World Nuclear News reports this month are from Claire Maden, on India's growing nuclear energy plans, and Warwick Pipe, who covers the recent International Energy Agency's ministerial meeting communique recognising nuclear as one technology for achieving nergy security and decarbonisation.Key links to find out more:World Nuclear NewsNexGen EnergyIEA Ministerial Meeting recognises role of nuclear India to seek nuclear investors as Kakrapar units inaugurated Ministerial approval for NexGen uranium project mail newsletter:Sign up to the World Nuclear News daily or weekly news round-upsContact info:[email protected] credit:  Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production 

The UK operations managing director of Newcleo, Andrew Murdoch, joins host Alex Hunt to discuss the prospects for the company's lead-cooled fast reactor. It has Italian roots and expanding operations in France, but he says the company has the ambitious target  of having 20 reactors in the UK by 2050.January saw EDF revise the schedule and projected budget for the Hinkley Point C project in the UK. Hear how Hinkley Point C managing director Stuart Crooks explained the revision in a message to staff, and also stressed the benefits likely to flow at the replica project at Sizewell C.There is also a round-up from World Nuclear News's Claire Maden of the raft of encouraging news from the uranium sector, fuelled by soaring spot prices and a generally positive outlook for nuclear power.Key links to find out more:World Nuclear NewsNewcleoEDF announces Hinkley Point C delay and rise in project costMining to resume at McClean LakeIAEA's Grossi's UN press conference on UkraineEmail newsletter:Sign up to the World Nuclear News daily or weekly news round-upsContact info:[email protected] credit:  Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production 

The UK has plans to quadruple its nuclear energy capacity to 24GW by 2050. The government released its plan to get to that figure with its Civil Nuclear: Roadmap to 2050.  The arms-length delivery body established for new nuclear is Great British Nuclear, and in this episode, its Chairman Simon Bowen discusses the plans, and the changes proposed in how sites are chosen and in establishing other routes to market for new nuclear.Bowen also sets out the latest on the UK's on-going small modular reactor competition. At the moment there are six shortlisted - EDF, GE Hitachi, Holtec, NuScale, Rolls-Royce SMR and Westinghouse. The aim is to get the invitation to tender documents out very soon, he said, with contracts agreed later this year with up to four of them, which would take them through to a financial investment decision by 2029.Key links to find out more:World Nuclear NewsGreat British NuclearConsultation on siting new nuclearConsultation on alternative routes to marketUK SMR selection contest: Six companies into next stageEmail newsletter:Sign up to the World Nuclear News daily or weekly news round-upsContact info:[email protected] credit:  Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production 

A special report on nuclear's role at the 28th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties, better known as COP28, in Dubai. It was the first time nuclear energy has been formally specified as one of the solutions to climate change in a COP agreement.Jonathan Cobb, senior communication manager at World Nuclear Association, was in the UAE for the event and he reports on declarations by governments, and by industry, backing a tripling of nuclear capacity by 2050 as part of the Net Zero Nuclear intiative, as well as the inclusion of nuclear in the final  text of the Global Stocktake. Henry Preston, external communication manager for the association, reports on the many side events featuring nuclear, including a focus on potential newcomer countries such as the Philippines and Australia.As the new year gets under way Sama Bilbao y León, director general of World Nuclear Association, considers the significance of COP28  for nuclear and looks back at the sector's main achievements of 2023 as well as looking ahead to the coming year's main goals and key moments to watch out for.Key links to find out more:World Nuclear NewsNet Zero NuclearCOP28 agreement recognises nuclear's roleNet Zero Nuclear Industry Pledge backed by 120 companiesMinisterial declaration puts nuclear at heart of climate actionCOP28Email newsletter:Sign up to the World Nuclear News daily or weekly news round-upsContact info:[email protected] credit:  Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production 

Technology and function, ensuring their reliable and safe operation have long been the priorities when designing nuclear power plants. But why can't they look beautiful too?  Dutch architect and designer Erick van Egeraat says that part of the way to continue to build public support for nuclear energy is to make nuclear power plants look good, "to make people feel good" when they see them. The award-winning professor and director of Design Erick van Egeraat outlined his thinking at World Nuclear Symposium, explaining the background to the work he is doing at Akkuyu nuclear power plant, which is being built in Turkey. In the World Nuclear News monthly round-up Warwick Pipe reports on Sweden's plans for a "massive" expansion of nuclear energy and Claire Maden covers the end of NuScale and Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems'  Carbon Free Power Project. And David Hess looks at how the conversation about nuclear has evolved and changed  during his 14 years at World Nuclear Association, most recently as ESG programme lead.Key links to find out more:World Nuclear NewsAkkuyu Nuclear Power PlantDesign Erick van EgeraatNuScale CEO remains upbeat after CFPP cancellationSweden plans 'massive' expansion of nuclear energyEmail newsletter:Sign up to the World Nuclear News daily or weekly news round-upsContact info:[email protected] credit:  Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production 

With the projected growth of nuclear projects over the coming decades, how will the supply chain in different parts of the world cope? EDF's Laurent-Olivier Coudeyre is chairman of World Nuclear Association's Supply Chain and Long-Term Operation Working Group, he joins us to outline how the supply chain works, the focus on quality, localisation and how it can develop in the future. We also hear from Nathan Paterson, the staff director of the association's working group, about some of the key themes from the recently published World Nuclear Supply Chain Report.Also in this edition, Claire Maden joins host Alex Hunt to report on developments in Canada where Bruce Power is getting the ball rolling for a potential Bruce C plant and Alberta is looking into the possible use of small modular reactors in its oil sands industry.Key links to find out more:World Nuclear NewsSupply Chain and Long-Term Operation Working GroupSupply chain must expand to meet new build plans, report warnsEmail newsletter:Sign up to the World Nuclear News daily or weekly news round-upsContact info:[email protected] credit:  Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production

World Nuclear Symposium, held in London, brought together key figures from across the global industry, who took part in a variety of panel discussions on many of the current big issues in the sector. In this special edition of the podcast, World Nuclear News reports on those sessions:The topics covered, in order:The launch of the Net Zero Nuclear campaignPublication of World Nuclear Association's Nuclear Fuel ReportRecruitment and expanding the nuclear workforceHow nuclear can decarbonise different industriesOptimising plant life performanceInvesting in and financing of nuclearWe hear from, in order of appearance:Sama Bilbao y León, Director General of World Nuclear AssociationRafael Mariano Grossi, Director General, International Atomic Energy AgencyMohamed Al Hammadi, CEO, Emirates Nuclear Energy CorporationKaajal Desai, Senior Programme Lead for Fuel Cycle, World Nuclear AssociationMalcolm Critchley, President and CEO ConverDynChris Frankland, Director of Sales and Marketing, Nuclear Fuels CorporationJeanne Tortorelli, Director of Nuclear Fuel Supply at Constellation Energy GenerationTamer Albishawi, Chief Nuclear Officer at Hinkley Point CCallum Thomas, Chairman of Thomas ThorGrace Stanke, Nuclear Engineering Student, Nuclear Advocate and Miss AmericaCharlotte Griffiths, Sustainable Energy Division of the UN Economic Commission for EuropeTodd Noe, Director of Nuclear Technologies Strategy at MicrosoftMikal Bøe, Chairman and CEO Core PowerNaoki Chigusa, CEO of World Association of Nuclear OperatorsVinod Kumar, Station Director of Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited's Kaiga 3 and 4Catherine Cornand, Senior Executive Vice President FramatomeChris Cunningham, Vice President Nuclear Projects at Ontario Power GenerationWolfgang Denk, Managing Director, SwissnuclearKeisuke Sadamori, Director Energy Markets and Security, International Energy AgencyIain Smedley, Global Chairman of Banking, BarclaysKevin Kelly, CFO Bruce PowerJulien Bocobza, Partner, White & Case LLCSophie Macfarlane-Smith, Head of Customer Engagement Rolls-Royce SMRThomas Branche, Senior Vice President for Engineering, AssystemRumina Velshi, President and CEO of the Canadian Nuclear Safety CommissionErick van Egeraat, ArchitectTim Gitzel, President and CEO CamecoKey links to find out more:World Nuclear Symposium 2023Nuclear Fuel Report 2023Nuclear industry urged 'take advantage of window of opportunity'Net Zero Nuclear campaign launched, seeking to triple capacity by 2050The challenge of recruiting a rapidly growing nuclear workforcePositive trends continue for global nuclear fuel cycleSuccessful nuclear projects key for future investmentsContact info:[email protected] credit:  Presenter Alex Hunt. Reports from Claire Maden and Warwick Pipe. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production.

It was in 2003 that World Nuclear University was founded by World Nuclear Association, the International Atomic Energy Agency, World Association of Nuclear Operators and the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency,  with a mission to provide comprehensive leadership, communications and technical training to support the next generation of nuclear leaders.As it marks its 20th birthday, host Alex Hunt is joined by World Nuclear University (WNU)  director Isis Leslie to learn more about its work and also its exciting plans for the future. We also hear first-hand what the WNU experience is like from Estiner Katengeza, one of the fellows at this year's Summer Institute, which was held in Japan. In the World Nuclear News round-up Claire Maden reports on developments in Niger and considers the impact on the uranium sector, Warwick Pipe reports on the start of the discharge of treated water from Fukushima and there is also a report on the good news out of the USA from Vogtle. Key links to find out more:World Nuclear NewsWorld Nuclear UniversityWNU Alumni on LinkedinEmail newsletter:Sign up to the World Nuclear News daily or weekly news round-upsContact info:[email protected] credit:  Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production 

The annual World Nuclear Performance Report has all the statistics and numbers anyone interested in the nuclear energy sector could possibly want. It breaks down the performance of reactors across the world by type, by age and by country. The author behind it is World Nuclear Association's Jonathan Cobb, who joins us to discuss this year's findings.As well as explaining the reason why some parts of the world saw a small decline in nuclear energy output in 2022, he has a bundle of fascinating stats - including those which suggest the oldest reactors, ie over 50 years old,  are more than matching the performance of the newer and younger ones. In the July World Nuclear News round-up Claire Maden covers a bundle of good news stories from Canada, Warwick Pipe reports on developments in France and Poland, while host Alex Hunt hears from UK Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary Grant Shapps as he launched Great British Nuclear, the arms-length organisation intended to help the country hit its target of 24 GW of nuclear by 2050. Key links to find out more:World Nuclear NewsWorld Nuclear Performance Report 2023Great British NuclearEmail newsletter:Sign up to the World Nuclear News daily or weekly news round-upsContact info:[email protected] credit:  Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production