Nuclear waste is now stored at nuclear power plants, pending a long-term repository for nuclear waste. Waste storage cask manufacturer Transnuclear has announced plans to fabricate its first NUHOMS horizontal storage module on site.
Beginning in March 2011, the company will build 40 HSM-102s at the Constellation Energy Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station. As part of the contract, Transnuclear will also install the HSMs and supply its NUHOMS 61BT and 61BTH Type 1 dry shielded canisters.
“Fabricating HSMs at reactor sites clearly gives our customers better control of oversight and reduces transportation risk,” said TN Vice President for Business Development Mike Williams.
Transnuclear is offering the on-site fabrication option to counter the on-going volatility in oil prices which impacts transportation costs. It also eliminates the potential risk of damage that can occur during transit from an offsite fabricator.
Sue Buyaskas, TN’s project manager for the Nine Mile Point project, noted that schedule control for the transportation element of the project is a further consideration.
“State transportation permitting and inspection processes can be unpredictable at times. The size and weights of the HSM components require special permits and sometimes police escorts, which introduce a level of unpredictability,” said Buyaskas. “On-site fabrication eliminates these issues.”
