Latest news with #nuclearsafety
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mirion's Focus on Digital Innovation: Is it a Sign for Further Growth?
Mirion Technologies MIR is actively involved in digital innovation, particularly within the nuclear and radiation safety sectors. The company focuses on integrating digital technologies into its radiation safety solutions. To this end, last month, the company inked a deal with Westinghouse Electric Company to enhance nuclear instrumentation with digital solutions. The objective of the deal is to upgrade analog systems to modern digital Ex-core Nuclear Instrumentation Systems. Utilizing the high-performing Mirion proTK product line, this collaboration aims to deliver digital upgradation to existing analog neutron flux systems. This digital upliftment will naturally reduce operational burdens and enhance performance in nuclear power plants. Digital equipment is capable of delivering precise and accurate measurements. Unlike analog counterparts, digital systems of Mirion are less susceptible to spectrum degradation caused by changes in gain resulting from environmental temperature variations. The resultant stability ensures that the collected data is of the highest quality, boosting the confidence of researchers and reducing time wasted on troubleshooting. The transition from analog to digital creates the opportunity to quickly record and store data in a standardized, preset format during acquisition and transmission. This guarantees data integrity and facilitates reproducibility. Another advantage associated with digital solutions is the ability to interface with equipment remotely. The Mirion Lynx II system enables real-time monitoring and control of germanium and neutron detectors. This remote access not only offers convenience but also allows continuous observation over extended periods. Taking a Look at Some Other Nuclear Energy Stocks Constellation Energy CEG is an industry leader in operating nuclear plants safely, efficiently and reliably. CEG's nuclear fleet capacity factor was an impressive 94.6% in 2024. This indicates continued strong production in the current year. The acquisition of NRG Energy's 44% ownership stake in the South Texas Project Electric Generating Station should help Constellation Energy expand operations in the country. The South Texas Project is a two-unit nuclear plant located southwest of Houston, with a total capacity of 2,645 MW. BWX Technologies BWXT manufactures and sells nuclear components in the United States, Canada and internationally. BWXT supplies precision-manufactured components and services to the commercial nuclear power industry. BWX Technologies has landed deals and partnerships with the U.S. Department of Defense to help build a cutting-edge micro-nuclear reactor. The company is also working alongside key commercial nuclear energy companies such as GE Vernova and SMR standout TerraPower. MIR's Price Performance, Valuation & Estimates Shares of MIR have gained 24.8% so far this year, outperforming the Zacks Technology-Services' 13.2% uptick in the same timeframe. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research From a valuation perspective, Mirion is trading at a premium compared with the industry average. Its 12-month forward price-to-sales of 5.6X is higher than the industry average of 3.29X. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MIR's second-quarter, third-quarter and full-year 2025 earnings has remained stable over the past 60 days. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research MIR's Zacks Rank MIR currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Mirion Technologies, Inc. (MIR) : Free Stock Analysis Report Constellation Energy Corporation (CEG) : Free Stock Analysis Report BWX Technologies, Inc. (BWXT) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research
Free Malaysia Today
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Russia claims Ukrainian drones hit training centre at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant
Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant, Europe's biggest facility, remained offline but continued needing power to keep its nuclear fuel cool. (AP pic) KYIV : Ukrainian drones attacked a training centre at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant on Sunday evening, the Russian-installed administration of the Russia-held plant in Ukraine said on Monday. 'The enemy used three unmanned aerial vehicles,' the administration said on the Telegram messaging app. It added that 'no critical' damage was recorded. Reuters could not independently verify the Russian report. The report comes a day after the United Nations nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, said that it had heard hundreds of rounds of small arms fire late on Saturday at the plant. Russian forces seized the Zaporizhzhia plant in the first weeks of Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Each side regularly accuses the other of firing or taking other actions that could trigger a nuclear accident. The station, Europe's biggest nuclear power plant, is not operating but still requires power to keep its nuclear fuel cool. The plant's Russia-installed management said in its statement that the station 'continues to operate normally, with all necessary safety precautions in place.'
CNA
11-07-2025
- Science
- CNA
Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Institute to receive S$66m grant
Singapore is setting aside S$66 million in grants to boost nuclear safety research. The new Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Institute will also assess the potential use of nuclear energy in the country. Located at the National University of Singapore campus, the institute will expand its future research areas to include methods for detecting radiation. It aims to hire 100 staff by 2030. Nicolas Ng reports.
CNA
11-07-2025
- Business
- CNA
Nuclear energy research in Singapore boosted with S$66 million grant, new radiation-proof facility in NUS
SINGAPORE: A key institute on nuclear energy research was boosted with a S$66 million (US$52 million) grant as it unveiled its new premises at the National University of Singapore (NUS) on Friday (Jul 11). With the grant, the Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Institute (SNRSI) will expand its research into nuclear safety, NUS and the National Environment Agency NEA) said in a joint media release. The institute now has a 12,900 sqm building located at 16 Prince George's Park, which is part of NUS' campus. Singapore has yet to make a decision on the deployment of nuclear energy, with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong saying during Budget 2025 that the government will study the potential deployment of nuclear power in Singapore and take further steps to systematically build up capabilities in this area. He noted steps taken in this aspect, including agreements signed between Singapore and the US on civil nuclear cooperation. Singapore has also announced plans to build a pool of about 100 nuclear energy experts in the medium to long run. While thought to be unfeasible for Singapore in the past, nuclear technology has since advanced and small modular reactors (SMR) present a viable option for the land-scarce country, as they are a fraction of the size of conventional nuclear reactors and are safer. Singapore is monitoring the progress of SMR and other advanced nuclear technologies as possible energy options for the future. NUCLEAR SAFETY A REGIONAL PRIORITY Attending the launch of the new building on Friday, Chairman of National Research Foundation Heng Swee Keat said that the S$66 million will be committed to nuclear safety research over two-and-a-half years, starting from December last year, under the Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) 2025 plan. "As we draw up our RIE2030 plan, nuclear safety will also remain a key priority, given its strategic imperative for Singapore and the region," Mr Heng said. Early on, Singapore decided to build its capability in understanding nuclear energy and safety for two key reasons, Mr Heng added. Nuclear technology will continue to evolve and Singapore must have the ability to evaluate options as technology progresses. Singapore must also be able to respond effectively should there be a regional radiological emergency. Mr Heng, the former deputy prime minister who retired from politics in the General Election 2025, noted that countries within the region were considering nuclear energy as part of their energy portfolio. "While no countries in ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) have an operational nuclear plant yet, some have announced plans for deployment, such as the Philippines by early 2030s and Indonesia by 2040," said Mr Heng, adding that Malaysia and Indonesia have experience in the technology and have operated research reactors for some time. He said the "operating contexts" of neighbouring countries were different from Singapore in terms of geography and exposure to natural hazards among other factors. Given the potential diversity of nuclear technologies that may be deployed, the expertise Singapore develops in the area will contribute to regional efforts in developing "robust safe and secure frameworks and norms," Mr Heng said. "Capability building will help us understand the implications of nuclear developments in the region and ensure that we are prepared if our neighbours choose to deploy nuclear energy." SNRSI's expanded research scope is part of Singapore's efforts to strengthen its capabilities to better understand and assess nuclear technologies and safety. Its core research includes reactor safety, how radioactive materials can spread in the environment, the impact of radiation on living organisms and nuclear policy. Originally conceived in 2014 as the Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Initiative, it is now a full-fledged institute. It also aims to double its current pool of 50 experts by 2030. NUS president Tan Eng Chye noted how the growth of the SNRSI necessitated the need for a larger, purpose-built space. With the new building, the institute plans to build its capabilities in the areas of simulation, and perform physical experiments on reactor safety. It also has plans to develop new methods for the rapid detection of radioactive substances, and to study the possible adaptive effects on living organism exposed to low dosages of radiation, among other goals. The new premises will also host educational activities for members of the public to "dispel common misconceptions and provide a deeper understanding of radiation", Prof Tan said. "This includes sharing information on the various applications of ionising radiation areas such as medicine, industry, and even agriculture," he added. WHAT THE FACILITY HOUSES SNRSI's new premises comprise five floors above ground and a basement. The facility has three levels of wet laboratories and a computer simulation laboratory. "Housing a dedicated computer simulation lab, it will advance our research efforts in modelling nuclear reactors. Researchers will be able to better simulate and also study unlikely but significant scenarios, such as potential meltdown processes, helping to assess the safety levels of different nuclear technologies," said Prof Tan. In addition to X-ray and gamma irradiators that could expose biological samples to radiation at high and low dose rates, for both short- and long-term, the institute has other specialised equipment, such as state-of-the-art software for accident simulation, and machines that could measure radio-contaminants. SNRSI will be working closely with the agencies such as the NEA, the regulatory authority for radiation safety and environmental protection. NEA's scientific facilities for radiation monitoring are co-located in the building. These include the National Radiochemistry Laboratory and advanced ambient radiation monitoring station. It also has a Secondary Standards Dosimetry Laboratory, a facility for radiation measurement standards and calibration services. This is where personal dosimeters - a device used to monitor the amount of radiation an individual has been exposed to - are calibrated for workers who may be exposed to radiation as part of their jobs, for example those from the healthcare, industrial or research sectors. Area monitoring instruments used in radiation-controlled workplaces are also calibrated here. The gamma irradiator used for these purposes is housed in the basement space with 65cm-thick concrete walls that resemble a bunker. Apart from walls, safety controls such as emergency shut-offs, real-time monitoring systems and restricted access are in place to protect workers. With its new premises, SNRSI is looking towards hosting regular visits by international experts, building on existing partnerships, as well as expanding partnerships with other research labs and research institutes around the world. The institute already participates in regional forums and collaborations, including the ASEAN Network on Nuclear Power Safety Research. SNRSI director, Associate Professor Chung Keng Yeow, said that the SNRSI's new facility and establishment as a full-fledged institute has put the institute in "good stead to expand our team and research capabilities". "With our strong capabilities and expertise in research and policy, we are well-poised to be at the forefront of research in nuclear safety, as well as enhance regional collaboration and develop talent in this area," he added.
Japan Times
06-06-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
Japan law comes into force to extend nuclear plant lifespans
A law allowing nuclear reactors to operate beyond 60 years took effect in Japan on Friday, as the government turns back to atomic energy 14 years after the Fukushima catastrophe. The world's fourth-largest economy is targeting carbon neutrality by 2050 but remains heavily reliant on fossil fuels — partly because many nuclear reactors were taken offline after the meltdown at the Fukushima No. 1 plant. The government now plans to increase its reliance on nuclear power, in part to help meet growing energy demand from artificial intelligence and microchip factories. The 60-year limit was brought in after the 2011 disaster, which was triggered by a devastating earthquake and tsunami in off the Tohoku coast. Under the amended law, nuclear plants' operating period may be extended beyond 60 years to compensate for stoppages caused by "unforeseeable circumstances," the government says. This means, for example, that one reactor in Fukui Prefecture, suspended for 12 years after the Fukushima crisis, will now be able to operate up until 2047 — 72 years after its debut, the Asahi Shimbun daily reported. But operators require approval from the country's nuclear safety watchdog for the exemption. The law also includes measures intended to strengthen safety checks at aging reactors. The legal revision is also aimed at helping Japan better cope with power crunches, after Russia's invasion of Ukraine sparked energy market turmoil. Japan's Strategic Energy Plan had previously vowed to "reduce reliance on nuclear power as much as possible." But this pledge was dropped from the latest version approved in February, which includes an intention to make renewables the country's top power source by 2040. Under the plan, nuclear power will account for around 20% of Japan's energy supply by 2040 — up from 5.6% in 2022. Also in February, Japan pledged to slash greenhouse gas emissions by 60% in the next decade from 2013 levels, a target decried by campaigners as far short of what was needed under the Paris Agreement to limit global warming. Japan is the world's fifth largest emitter of carbon dioxide after China, the United States, India and Russia.
