24 Aug (NucNet): US companies Energy Solutions and Exelon Nuclear have agreed on a target date for decommissioning of the two-unit Zion nuclear power plant, which has been permanently shut down since 1998.
The two companies said they have reached an agreement to transfer Zion’s licences from plant owner and operator Exelon to Energy Solutions so the “accelerated decommissioning” of the two 1,040-megawatt pressurised water reactor units can begin.
The anticipated date for officially transferring the licences is 1 September 2010. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) conditionally approved the licence transfer in 2008.
Energy Solutions said the licence initiative is a “first-of-its-kind” approach to accelerate the decommissioning of nuclear power plants. Energy Solutions will acquire the Zion plant’s assets and carry out decommissioning work as plant owner and NRC licensee.
Energy Solutions will process and dispose of all Zion’s low-level radioactive waste at its Utah facility and will place the spent nuclear fuel in NRC-approved dry cask storage containers on site.
The goal of the programme is to complete decommissioning at least 12 years ahead of schedule, enabling the land to be restored for “beneficial reuse” sooner than originally planned.
>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)
ComEd to Close Zion N-Plant on Economic Grounds (News No. 26, 16 January 1998)
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