[Nucléaire] Relance du nucléaire aux USA.... ou pas ?

[energy_isere]

suite de ce post du 15 nov 2025 : viewtopic.php?p=2418373#p2418373

Anfield Energy starts blasting at historic Velvet-Wood uranium mine in Utah

Staff Writer | August 28, 2026


Anfield Energy’s Shootaring Canyon Mill project in southeast Utah. (Image: Anfield Energy )

Anfield Energy said this week it has completed the first underground blast at its Velvet-Wood uranium and vanadium project in San Juan County, Utah, following receipt of a permit in June.

This is the first underground blast conducted at the project in nearly 40 years and represents another key milestone in the ongoing underground rehabilitation and development program, the company said.

The Velvet deposit produced about 4 million pounds of U₃O₈ (uranium oxide) between 1979 and 1984 under previous owners.

Anfield has now rehabilitated the first 700 feet of the decline. Rehabilitation work completed to date includes the installation of rock bolts and wire mesh for improved ground support, road building, mucking (removal of waste rock from the decline), surveying, and the installation of mine ventilation and utilities. This includes a primary surface ventilation fan and attendant ducting, an air compressor, air line, water line, electrical power and communication infrastructure.

Construction of the water treatment plant and installation of the dewatering pump is nearly complete, the company said, adding that it expects to begin testing and sampling of the plant within the coming weeks.

Emerging US producer

Anfield currently has over 20 uranium assets in its pipeline across the Western US. The closest to production is Velvet-Wood, which the US government had selected for fast-tracked permitting as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to boost domestic production of critical minerals.

Located about 200 miles (322 km) south of Salt Lake City, the proposed mine comprises two separate areas that together hold 4.6 million lb. of uranium oxide equivalent (eU3O8) in the measured and indicated category, plus 552,000 lb. in the inferred category. Most of the work at the mine is expected to take place underground, targeting known mineral deposits left from earlier operations.

“Completing the first underground blast at Velvet-Wood since the mid-1980s, following the receipt of our ATF blast permit in June, is a concrete step in rehabilitating the decline and moving the project toward dewatering of the historic workings,” Anfield CEO Corey Dias said in a news release.

“The water treatment plant and dewatering pump are nearly complete, which gives us a defined path to the next phase of underground development,” Dias said.

“Continued engagement from Utah state and local officials underscores support for responsible development of domestic uranium and vanadium resources. We remain focused on advancing Velvet-Wood as a key component of our hub-and-spoke strategy centered on the Shootaring Canyon Mill.”

https://www.mining.com/anfield-energy-s ... e-in-utah/

[energy_isere]

suite de ce post du 1er nov 2025 : viewtopic.php?p=2417980#p2417980

Fuel loading under way for Palisades restart, Holtec announces

Tuesday, 1 September 2026

The loading of fuel into the reactor has begun at Palisades nuclear power plant in the US, as Holtec International continues to move towards the first restart of a closed-down unit.

The reactor core consists of 204 fuel assemblies, which includes some partially used assemblies from the Michigan plant's final operating cycles before it was closed down for decommissioning in 2022.

Holtec International Chief Nuclear Officer Fadi Diya said: "Loading fuel into the Palisades reactor is an important milestone and a reflection of the tremendous effort of the men and women who have brought this plant to this point ... we remain focused on disciplined execution of the remaining work and returning Palisades to safe and reliable operation."


Palisades is in the process of being restarted (Image: Holtec)

Palisades, a single-unit 805 MWe pressurised water reactor, began commercial operation in 1971. Owner Entergy announced in 2016 its plan to close the plant, with the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission approving in 2021 the transfer of the licence from Entergy to Holtec for the purposes of decommissioning it. The 805 MWe pressurised water reactor was licensed to operate to March 2031 but was removed from service - after 50 years - by Entergy on 20 May 2022, and defuelled by 10 June.

The unit's licence was transferred from previous operator Entergy Nuclear Operations to Holtec Decommissioning International, LLC and Holtec Palisades, LLC, for decommissioning the same month. Shortly afterwards Holtec announced plans to restart the plant and it began the process of obtaining the licensing approvals needed to return the plant to operational status for the remainder of its licensing term.

Since then, there has been a programme of "extensive inspection, maintenance, refurbishment, testing, and equipment upgrades across the station to ensure utmost reliability and resiliency for long-term operation", Holtec says.

The major work included "extensive reinforcement of tubes in the two steam generators; removal of accumulated corrosive species from their steam generation space; replacement of the plant's control rod drive mechanism nozzles; chemical decontamination and passivation of the primary system; reactor vessel inspections; and numerous equipment upgrades and modernisation projects".

Holtec notified the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission in 2024 that it intended to apply for a second, or subsequent, licence renewal for the plant. This would extend the plant's operating period by a further 20 years, to 2051. It is also advancing plans for the future deployment of its Pioneer 1 and 2 SMR-300 units at the Palisades site.

https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/arti ... -announces