Nuclear Power Related Media Thread, page-5082

ICYMI.. US Department of @energy has issued a US$3.4 Billion Request for Proposals (RFP) for the purchase of Low-enriched #Uranium (LEU), the fuel used in the 94 operating US #Nuclear reactors.️⚛️⚡️I've done a deep dive into the RFP so let me break it down for U:⚠️The RFP stems from 3 legislative actions taken by the US Congress and signed into law by President Biden:The Nuclear Fuel Security Act of 2023 (NFSA) - Public Law 118-31The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 - Public Law 118-42The Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act, 2024 - Public Law 118-62The NFSA requires the US Department of Energy (DOE) to establish programs to build up stockpile reserves of Low-enriched Uranium (LEU), High Assay LEU (HALEU) for advanced small modular reactors, and US-mined yellowcake U3O8 in order to "support domestic production of low-enriched uranium" and "ensure that, in the event of a supply disruption in the nuclear fuel market, a reserve of nuclear fuels is available to serve as a backup supply" which, as needs arise, will be sold to US reactor operators at "fair market value".The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, provides $2.7 Billion towards funding the provisions of the NFSA. A further $700M is being added by DOE for a total of up to $3.4 Billion.⛔️The Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act effectively creates a "supply disruption in the nuclear fuel market" that the NFSA is meant to address, banning all US imports of Russian LEU until 2040, with waivers that DOE can issue up to the end of 2027 for individual reactors where there are no other viable sources of supply available. From 2028 to 2040, all Russian uranium imports are banned and no waivers can be issued.**Note that this $3.4 Billion RFP is only for procurement of LEU. HALEU will be addressed separately by DOE.**The $3.4B RFP (Solicitation 89243224RNE000039) issued on 27 June by DOE seeks to set up 10-year Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) base contracts with one or multiple suppliers able to provide quantities of LEU that MUST be enriched in the US by expanding or building new enrichment facilities inside the US, and MUST utilize mined/milled U3O8 produced in the US or an allied nation or partner (Canada, Australia, EU). Conversion from U3O8 to UF6 MUST also be done in the US or an allied nation or partner. The LEU purchased by DOE must also be stored inside the US as part of the DOE's Assured Fuel Supply Program. Details here: fedconnect.net/FedConnect/def…