From Mitsubishi press release:
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. has received two orders from PBMR (Pty) Ltd of the Republic of South Africa related to the core barrel assembly (CBA) of the company's demonstration power plant pebble bed modular reactor. One contract calls for MHI to undertake the basic design of the CBA, an integral component of the reactor pressure vessel, and another is for provision of forgings and procurement of items for the CBA. The contracts, together worth approximately US$15 million (1.8 billion yen), have already been signed.
The PBMR is a safe and cost-efficient reactor that uses silicon carbide-coated uranium particles encased in graphite for fuel spheres, making it free from risk of reactor core meltdown; helium is used as the coolant and energy transfer medium to a closed-cycle gas turbine and generator. The first PBMR commercial operation in South Africa is slated to commence in 2013. In South Africa, electricity demand is expected to increase by 30GW (gigawatts) in the next two decades. Strong support coming in from the South African government is prompting expansion of power generation capacity with the construction of PBMR power plants planned at a rate of three units per year. In 2020, the total number of PBMR units is expected to reach 24 and they are planned to produce 4 GW, about 13% of additional electricity demand.
South Africa sees the Pebble Bed reactor as its lowest cost and quickest answer to its urgent needs for more power. See earlier post for detailed description of pebble bed reactors. Thanks to NEI Nuclear Notes for the lead.
Resource: MHI Receives Orders from South Africa for Basic Design and Procurement Activity
For Core Assembly of Pebble Bed Modular Reactors, MHI Press release, December 7, 2005
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