Yearly Archives: 2017

Under a newly signed contract, Holtec International will develop the BWR version of its extensively tested and validated Type B(U)F cask for PWR fuel, known as HI-STAR 180. HI-STAR 180 is a uniquely capable cask certified to transport spent nuclear fuel containing both uranium oxide and mixed-oxide fuel types for modern fuel cycles [32 kW Heat load/66GWD/MTU burn-up]. Development of the HI-STAR 180 was sponsored by AXPO starting in 2006 for Beznau NPP. It was licensed in 2009 by the USNRC and renewed in 2014 and is under fabrication at Holtec Manufacturing Division (HMD) under a controlled authorization regimen from ENSI (the Swiss regulator). As is well-known, HMD is a pre-eminent manufacturer of nuclear components and systems and holds the entire complement of ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code stamps, as well as the ISO-3834-2 certification (necessary for fabricating the wide variety of nuclear plant weldments supplied by Holtec to many international customers). (more…)

We are pleased to announce the award of a severely contested contract for turnkey supply of a Dry Cask Storage Facility at Krško Nuclear Power Plant in Slovenia to Holtec International. NEK’s (Nuklearna Elektrana Krsko) initial decision to award the contract to Holtec in May 2016 was strenuously protested by Areva leading to nine months of independent expert reviews under the auspices of the country’s “National Review Commission”. “Slovenia’s process for an exhaustive and deliberative consideration of the aggrieved bidder’s representations is exemplary in respect of fairness and transparency. Unfortunately, the project schedule has been admittedly strained to accommodate this process,” says Dr. Richard Springman, Holtec’s Director of International Projects. (more…)

The risk of an accidental pool drain-down precipitating the dreaded specter of zirconium fire, while non-credibly improbable, stalks the decision-making process of every nuclear plant owner preparing to draw down its work force after ceasing operations.  Addressing this concern has led Holtec to develop the proto-prompt decommissioning strategy, which we are pleased to unveil below in this news bulletin.  The proto-prompt decommissioning envisages conversion of the plant to green field in roughly 5-1/2 years after a reactor’s shutdown.  Meeting this ambitious schedule requires that the pool be defueled by transferring its used nuclear fuel to dry storage in no more than 2-1/2 years after the reactor’s shutdown. (more…)