Page 13 - AsiaElec Week 49 2022
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AsiaElec NUCLEAR AsiaElec
Kazakh-Chinese nuclear fuel JV
makes first delivery to China
CHINA THE world’s biggest uranium producer, Kaza- high value added Uranium product. Successful
tomprom, has reported the delivery of a first product delivery to the Chinese partners con-
batch of fresh nuclear fuel AFA 3G ТМ fuel firmed the reputation of Kazatomprom as a reli-
assemblies (FA) by the Ulba-FA plant, run as a able and favorable supplier on the global nuclear
Kazakh-Chinese partnership, to China. fuel market,” announced Yerzhan Mukanov,
Railway platforms with 34 shipping con- CEO of Kazatomprom.
tainers containing fuel assemblies at a volume The fuel is made from uranium material
slightly exceeding 30 tonnes of low-enriched mined in Kazakhstan and processed at Ulba
uranium escorted by special-purpose security Metallurgical Plant.
were delivered to a nuclear power plant in China Ulba-FA started operating in November
and accepted by end-customer Chinese General 2021 after passing qualification terms set b the
Nuclear Power Corporation CGNPC-URC. owner of AFA 3G FA manufacture technology,
“Implementation of the innovative project the French company Framatome, and getting
of nuclear fuel manufacture for the NPP is an acknowledged as a qualified nuclear fuel supplier
example of Company’s contribution to mitigat- by CGNPC-URC.
ing the consequences of global climate change It is the only plant manufacturing nuclear
and achieving the global goal of low-carbon fuel in Kazakhstan for nuclear power plants and
development. Ulba-FA plant allowed Kazatom- that has a guaranteed sales market for 20 years
prom diversifying production by extending the into the future. The plant’s capacity stands at 200
lineup and producing high-tech, export oriented tonnes per year.
Saudi Arabia backs Thai
green hydrogen
THAILAND SAUDI Arabia’s ACWA Power is giving its sup- The country benefits from solar irradiation of
port to one of Thailand’s first major green hydro- around 2.64-3.88 kWh per second, and average
gen projects, priced at some $7bn in investment. wind speeds of around 6.15 metres per second.
Thai state-owned oil company PTT has At present, the country has only 1.5 GW of wind
signed a memorandum of understanding and 3.5 GW of solar power generation installed,
(MoU) with ACWA on developing a renewa- representing only 12% of its power mix.
ble energy-powered facility capable of produc- Thailand is striving towards net zero by 2065,
ing 225,000 tonnes per year of green hydrogen. although the government has yet to elaborate
That would be the equivalent to 1.2mn tpy of on how great a role green hydrogen will play in
green ammonia production, ACWA said, with- realising this ambition. But what is considered
out specifying the ratio between hydrogen and the most useful application is the Thai refining
ammonia production. sector, where local firm TOP, owned by PTT,
ACWA anticipates that the project would purchased a stake in US electrolyser start-up
cost $7bn, but precise details about its scope, Versogen earlier this year.
and even where it would be located, are yet to be In the electricity sector, it is less clear how
revealed. But the plan is to provide Thailand with hydrogen could play a role. Thailand currently
hydrogen as a “new alternative energy source,” relies heavily on natural gas and coal for its
and possibly support hydrogen and ammonia power supply, as well as a lot of oil for its primary
exports. energy. Hydrogen could be employed for the
Thailand has strong renewable potential, even transport sector, and not only industrial uses.
though it has yet to be significantly exploited.
Week 49 06•December•2022 www. NEWSBASE .com P13
