International Nuclear Watch & Discussion

[Gerard]

Saudi Arabia has almost completed its first nuclear reactor site, satellite images reveal

[Gerard]

The Strategic Postures of China and India: A Visual Guide

[Gerard]

Nine nuclear-armed nations spent an estimated $72.9 billion on their 13,000-plus atomic weapons in 2019, according to a new paper by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN). At $35.4 billion in spending, the US accounts for nearly half the global total, ICAN says.

link to ICAN paper

[Gerard]

World’s ONLY floating nuclear power plant project goes fully operational in Russia

[Gerard]

France Test Fires A Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile In The Atlantic

The French Triomphant class nuclear ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) Le Téméraire test-fired an M51 submarine-launched ballistic missile in the Atlantic off of Finistère, France in the early hours of June 12th, 2020. Some sort of a test appeared to be in the works just three days ago when Le Téméraire was spotted sailing out of port with huge test instrumentation masts attached that are commonly fitted to submarines prior to developmental ballistic missile launches. Then, last evening, our good friend @aircraftspots began tracking a U.S. Air Force RC-135S Cobra Ball ballistic missile and rocket tracking aircraft flying out over the Caribbean. Not long after, a French Falcon 50 maritime patrol aircraft showed up in the area, indicating a launch was likely imminent.

[Amber G.]

Meanwhile there are reports from Nordic nations (Netherlands who analyzed the data is also reporting this) that there is a increase level of radioactivity - some where in Western Russia there is a damaged fuel element at a nuclear power plant.

[ArjunPandit]

Economist has an article on the fact taht US administration considered the resumption of nuclear testing in

On June 23rd the State Department told Congress that it suspected that Russia had conducted “nuclear weapons-related experiments that have created nuclear yield”, in violation of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (ctbt). It also said that excavation and other activity at China’s Lop Nur testsite “raise concerns regarding China’s adherence to its testing moratorium”
...
Most experts say the accusations are thin gruel. America itself does in Nevada much of what it says China is doing at Lop Nur. Moreover, all three countries conduct “subcritical” tests, in which there is no critical mass of plutonium, no chain reaction and therefore no yield. Under the ctbt, these are kosher. Some, however, can be outwardly indistinguishable from illicit tests with tiny yields. In 1997 a Russian “test” turned out to be an earthquake.
...
In May, according to the Washington Post, American officials considered conducting a “rapid test” to demonstrate the country’s nuclear prowess, with the intention of forcing Russia and China into trilateral nuclear talks, something that China has thus far resisted.

https://www.economist.com/united-states ... ar-testing

[ricky_v]

On Tuesday 28 July 2020, we will celebrate the Start of Machine Assembly at ITER in the virtual presence of French President Emmanuel Macron and government leaders from the seven ITER Members.

[vera_k]

US gives first-ever OK for small commercial nuclear reactor

Wonder if this tech can be scaled down to fit into a backyard, and be competitive to replace the half dozen Tesla batteries required to power a modern home.

[srikandan]

American start up called oklo claims to have an advanced fission plant that also does nuclear waste reprocessing.


https://twitter.com/oklo


https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/ ... sion-Plant

Oklo received a Site Use Permit from the U.S Department of Energy, successfully demonstrated prototype of its metallic fuel, was awarded access to recycled nuclear fuel from Idaho National Laboratory, and submitted the first advanced fission combined license application.