S'abonner

USA: Framatome modernizes reactor 2 at Arkansas power plant

Framatome has teamed up with Entergy Nuclear to replace the vessel cover on Reactor 2 of the Arkansas Nuclear One plant, scheduled for the spring 2026 unit outage, in order to improve safety and reliability.

Share:

Framatome has signed a contract with Entergy Nuclear to replace the vessel cover on reactor number 2 at the Arkansas Nuclear One (ANO) plant.
The replacement, scheduled for the spring 2026 unit outage, is a major operation designed to ensure the safety and reliability of the facility.
This modernization is crucial to maintaining reactor performance and guaranteeing stable energy production.

Details of the modernization project

The project involves the complete replacement of the mechanical structure of the tank cover, cluster control mechanisms, electromagnetic assemblies and connectors.
It also includes heavy handling and restoring the equipment buffer to its original configuration.
Precise coordination between Framatome and Entergy Nuclear ensured the success of this complex operation.

Implications for the plant and energy supply

Arkansas Nuclear One, located in Russellville, Arkansas, supplies around 65% of the energy demand of Entergy’s 730,000 customers in the state.
The modernization aims to enhance the facility’s performance and sustainability to maintain this essential contribution. Erik Dorman, Framatome’s Executive Vice President for North America, emphasizes the importance of this project in ensuring safe, reliable power generation.

A complex technical operation

The project requires advanced technical skills and meticulous coordination.
Teams must carry out in-depth analyses and follow rigorous procedures to ensure the success of each stage of the replacement.
Cluster control mechanisms and electromagnetic assemblies, key components of the reactor, are being replaced to improve safety and performance.

Background and implications for the industry

This modernization is part of a broader trend to upgrade nuclear infrastructures, essential to meet future energy challenges.
By optimizing existing equipment, the nuclear industry can continue to provide reliable, sustainable energy.
The collaboration between Framatome and Entergy Nuclear illustrates the importance of partnerships in the industry to maintain the performance of nuclear facilities.

  • Populaires ​
Sonatrach and ENI Seal $1.35 Billion Contract in Algeria
Rio Tinto: five strategic priorities to close a 40% valuation discount
Masdar and Iberdrola invest €5.2bn in UK offshore wind
Turkey plans to start gas supplies to Syria soon, says energy minister
Envision inaugurates the world’s largest green ammonia plant in China
Ukraine: Energoatom signs major agreements with Westinghouse and Holtec
Energoatom signed strategic agreements with Westinghouse and Holtec at the Ukraine Recovery Conference, aiming to establish nuclear fuel production and small modular reactor capabilities in the country.
Iran Relaunches Nuclear Dialogue to Negotiate with the United States, Russia Supports a No-Enrichment Deal
Tehran agrees to reopen its nuclear facilities to the IAEA, aiming to resume negotiations with Washington, while Moscow pushes for a “zero enrichment” agreement without getting involved in supervision.
TerraPower awards three major contracts for its Natrium reactor in the United States
TerraPower has selected three new American suppliers for its advanced Natrium nuclear reactor, confirming progress on the project located in Kemmerer, Wyoming, intended to replace a retiring coal-fired power plant.
EnergyX acquires 35,000 acres of US lithium from Pantera Lithium
Energy Exploration Technologies acquires Daytona Lithium, an Australian subsidiary of Pantera Lithium, for AUD40mn ($27mn), bringing its strategic lithium basin footprint in Smackover, USA to nearly 50,000 acres.
Canada: CCSN approves the ARC-100 reactor design review
The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission has identified no major barriers to licensing the ARC-100 reactor, announces ARC Clean Technology.
Lithuanian nuclear operator SE Ignalina signs agreement with Newcleo
SE Ignalina, the Lithuanian nuclear operator, has signed a memorandum of understanding with French firm Newcleo to explore the integration of small modular reactors (SMRs) using lead-cooled fast reactor (LFR) technology in Lithuania.
Egypt: Supplementary agreements signed for the El Dabaa nuclear power plant
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi oversaw the signing of new agreements for the construction of the El Dabaa nuclear power plant, thus strengthening the strategic cooperation between Egypt and Russia.
Vistra obtains approval to extend Perry nuclear plant operations
Vistra Corp receives green light to extend Perry nuclear plant operations in Ohio by 20 years, securing regional electricity supply until 2046 and ensuring operational continuity for all its nuclear reactors in the United States.
EDF injects €1.3 billion into Sizewell C, its second British EPR
EDF will hold a 12.5% stake in the Sizewell C nuclear project in the UK, a €1.3 billion investment announced during Emmanuel Macron’s official visit to London, confirming the strategic nuclear energy alignment between the two countries.
France: Cigéo nuclear waste underground storage project makes significant progress
The French Cigéo project, designed to bury the most hazardous radioactive waste deep underground, obtains a crucial technical validation before its final authorization, expected by the end of 2027.
EDF launches its nuclear Technocentre in Fessenheim, estimated investment of €450 million
EDF confirms the continuation of its industrial project in Fessenheim for recycling very low-level radioactive metals, a first in France requiring specific regulatory authorizations, following a public debate concluded last February.
NANO Nuclear signs strategic agreement with UrAmerica on Argentine uranium
NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. formalizes its collaboration with UrAmerica Ltd. to strengthen Argentina’s uranium supply, aiming to secure future nuclear fuel supply chains for the U.S. market.
SHINE and Standard Nuclear form strategic partnership on recycled fuel
American companies SHINE Technologies and Standard Nuclear partner to recycle uranium and plutonium, supplying advanced fuel to the nuclear reactor sector and enhancing the national energy security of the United States.
Floating nuclear power plants evaluated to supply Mediterranean regions
The American Bureau of Shipping and two nuclear sector companies are studying the potential deployment of floating nuclear power plants to meet the energy needs of island and coastal regions in the Mediterranean, notably via electricity and desalination.
Lithuania explores nuclear option with small modular reactors
Lithuania establishes a working group tasked with assessing the feasibility of modular nuclear reactors to meet electricity demand estimated at 74 TWh by 2050.
Framatome wins two major contracts to extend Belgian nuclear operations
Framatome has secured two significant contracts from Electrabel covering modernisation and technical support for the Tihange 3 and Doel 4 nuclear reactors, as part of their extension agreed upon between Engie and the Belgian government.
Egypt accelerates El-Dabaa national grid connection for 2026
Cairo is stepping up connection works for the planned 4,800 MW El-Dabaa nuclear plant, developed with Rosatom, to feed the grid from 2026 with output equal to about seven % of national electricity.
EDF postpones restart of Flamanville EPR to August 13
EDF extends Flamanville EPR's shutdown to August 13 to conduct technical checks on three valves of the reactor's primary circuit, initially scheduled to resume production this week.
United States selects Westinghouse and Radiant to test their nuclear microreactors
The US Department of Energy has selected Westinghouse and Radiant Nuclear to conduct the first nuclear microreactor tests at the DOME experimental centre located in Idaho, with operational start expected in spring 2026.
GE Vernova and Fortum launch major nuclear project in Scandinavia
GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy and Fortum announce partnership aimed at preparing for the potential deployment of small modular reactors in Finland and Sweden, with commissioning scheduled for the 2030s.

LEGAL

FOSSILS

POLICY

RENEWABLE

PLUS

© XMARKET PUBLISHING