European companies are preparing a shipment of MOX fuel to Japan, according to a World Nuclear News report:
Areva of France manufactured the MOX. The UK's Pacific Nuclear Transport Limited (PNTL), a subsidiary of International Nuclear Services which is itself owned by the UK's Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), will transport the fuel to Japanese utilities Chubu, Kyushu and Shikoku.
On January 29, 2009, Frank von Hippel, IPFM co-chair, presented elements of the IPFM Draft FM(C)T for discussion at the Berlin meeting of the Article VI Forum, organized by the Middle Powers Initiative. The presentation, which is available here, focused on questions of the scope & verification of a Fissile Material (Cutoff) Treaty.
U.S. Supreme Court ruled that imported low enriched uranium processed outside the United States is subject to anti-dumping laws, since it can be considered "goods" rather than "services". The ruling in two consolidated cases - U.S. v. Eurodif and USEC Inc., v. Eurodif - reversed an earlier decision of the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which ruled that enrichment is a service.
See also detailed description of the ruling at the Cornell University Law School site.
U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration released to the public its Ten-Year Site Plan, which outlines NNSA's vision for the future of nuclear complex.
Brazilian uranium enrichment facility in Resende is expected to begin commercial-scale operations soon. Verification, Implementation and Compliance blog estimates that the facility has about 400-500 centrifuges, each with 7-8 SWU/year capacity. (More information about Resende in another post.)
