U.S. President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi affirm their commitment to nuclear power as Kovvada plans intensify. The two leaders said that nuclear energy is a necessary resource for meeting climate, energy transition and energy security needs. They also mentioned “ongoing negotiations” for the construction of six AP1000 reactors in India. In addition, they discussed small modular reactor (SMR) development.
     Biden’s and Modi’s comments were made in a wide ranging joint statement issued during Modi’s visit to the U.S. this week. In the comments, they emphasized “the important role nuclear energy plays in global decarbonization efforts and affirmed nuclear energy as a necessary resource to meet our nations’ climate, energy transition, and energy security needs”.
     The two leaders mentioned “ongoing negotiations between the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and Westinghouse Electric Company (WEC) for the construction of six nuclear reactors in India” and “welcomed intensified consultations between the US DOE (Department of Energy) and India’s DAE (Department of Atomic Energy) for facilitating opportunities for WEC to develop a techno-commercial offer for the Kovvada nuclear project”.
     They also said that “the ongoing discussion on developing next generation small modular reactor technologies in a collaborative mode for the domestic market as well as for export”. SMRs are not currently mentioned in India’s formal nuclear energy plans. However, the government’s NITI Aayog policy think-tank has said that the government should consider including SMRs in the energy plans.
     India and the U.S. signed a civil nuclear cooperation agreement (also known as a 123 agreement) in 2008. This followed India reaching a safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agreement. India is not a signatory of the international Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT). Kovvada, in Andhra Pradesh, was selected for the construction of six AP1000 pressurized water reactors as long ago as 2016. However, contractual arrangements have yet to be finalized.
     In the joint statement, the U.S. also reaffirmed its support for India’s membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and said that it would “continue engagement with likeminded partners to advance this goal”. The NSG is a group of nuclear supplier countries that contributes to the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. It accomplishes this by controlling the export of materials, equipment and technology that could possibly be used in their manufacture. In 2016, India formally applied to join the NSG. However, to date the group has not reached a consensus on India’s proposed membership.
     India’s twenty-two nuclear power plants currently generate about three percent of India’s electricity needs. The country has confirmed plans for twenty-one new reactors. This includes eight reactors that are under construction and one reactor which has been grid-connected but is not yet in commercial operation. Most of India’s operating, and planned, reactors are indigenously designed pressurized heavy water reactors. However, two Russian-designed VVER pressurized water reactors are in operation in Kudankulam. Four more reactors are under construction. The French company EDF submitted a techno-commercial offer to build six EPRs at Jaitapur in Maharashtra to NOPCIL in 2021.

Ambient office = 125 nanosieverts per hour

Ambient outside = 133 nanosieverts per hour

Soil exposed to rain water = 136 nanosieverts per hour

Avocado from Central Market = 87 nanosieverts per hour

Tap water = 103 nanosieverts per hour

Filter water = 92 nanosieverts per hour

Ambient office = 89 nanosieverts per hour

Ambient outside = 72 nanosieverts per hour

Soil exposed to rain water = 69 nanosieverts per hour

Vine ripened tomato from Central Market = 66 nanosieverts per hour

Tap water = 68 nanosieverts per hour

Filter water = 62 nanosieverts per hour

Ambient office = 79 nanosieverts per hour

Ambient outside = 85 nanosieverts per hour

Soil exposed to rain water = 91 nanosieverts per hour

Tomato from Central Market = 123 nanosieverts per hour

Tap water = 100 nanosieverts per hour

Filter water = 95 nanosieverts per hour

Dover Sole from Central = 98 nanosieverts per hour

     Recently, the Norwegian company Norsk Kjernekraft (NK) has signed a letter of intent with TVO Nuclear Services (TVONS) to jointly investigate the deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs) in Norway. TVONS is a consulting company wholly owned by Finnish utility Teollisuuden Voima Oyj (TVO).
     The Norwegian company intends to identify suitable areas for SMRs in collaboration with power-intensive industries. It will prepare license applications in accordance with Norwegian national regulations and international standards. NK will follow the International Atomic Energy Agency’s approach for milestones. It will focus on what creates value in the early phase. Funding will take place in collaboration with capital-strong industry and solid financial partners.
     In the letter of intent with TVONS, NK said it will use the knowledge and experience of TVO in the “safe and secure operation of nuclear power plants”. In addition, TVO is also the majority shareholder in Posiva. Posiva is the company that succeeded in building a final geological repository for spent nuclear fuel in Finland. NK will plan for the entire life cycle of its activities from cradle to grave. NK added, “this aspect is of particular importance”.
     The collaboration will also include the assessment of the suitability and effectiveness of the development of nuclear power in the Norwegian municipalities of Aure, Heim, Narvik and Vardø. The municipalities are working together with NK to investigate the technical, financial and safety aspects of building one or more SMRs in their areas. They will take into account local conditions and input from the residents of the municipalities.
      Jonny Hesthammer is the CEO of Norsk Kjernekraft. He said, “When we develop nuclear power in Norway, we will take lessons from the time when Norway developed its now extraordinary capabilities in the oil and gas sector. Back then, we developed the petroleum industry in collaboration with countries and companies that had the necessary experience. The same recipe can be used to establish nuclear power in Norway.”
     Timo Palomäki is the CEO of TVONS. He said, “We in Finland have the latest nuclear power know-how from the Olkiluoto 3 project, which of course has taken longer than expected, but at the same time we have gathered a lot of valuable experience. We appreciate that NK sees us as an important partner, and we want to start working together to build environmentally friendly and safe nuclear power in Norway. This will be a great example of Nordic cooperation on the development of future energy solutions.”
     TVO subsidiary TVONS utilizes TVO’s experts and partners for consultation and development services. The mission of TVONS is to provide TVO’s fifty-year experience in the nuclear business to its customers. TVO said it has “40 years excellent operation experience of boiling water reactors, 25 years effective experience in construction and operation of a low and intermediate-level waste repository, and has unique experience of tendering, sourcing and constructing a first-of-a-kind modern nuclear power plant”.
     NK said, “Such an agreement for the safe and sustainable development of clean nuclear power has never been concluded between a Norwegian and Finnish organization before, which makes this a historic agreement. TVONS will assist NK in our work to deploy SMRs to supply Norwegian industry and households with clean, reliable and affordable energy in the decades and centuries to come.”

Ambient office = 80 nanosieverts per hour

Ambient outside = 113 nanosieverts per hour

Soil exposed to rain water = 119 nanosieverts per hour

Strawberry from Central Market = 73 nanosieverts per hour

Tap water = 140 nanosieverts per hour

Filter water = 131 nanosieverts per hour