Nuclear Industry in Gristol-Serkonos

Gristol-Serkonos has an active nuclear business and research sector, producing 45% of its electricity needs in nuclear power plants, majority of which are nuclear reactors of domestic design. While Gristol-Serkonos imports the majority of its uranium needs from foreign nations, it does possess some proven reserves. The country is also a producer of Technetium-99m medical isotopes, contributing X% of the world’s “raw material” isotope supply.

History

Nuclear Technology

The Nuclear Industry in Gristol-Serkonos began in 1958 when Marklin-Ashton Energy with the University of Gristol-Serkonos, and the National Scientific Research Council partnered with Auringneria, a Latin-based nuclear engineering firm to construct the National Nuclear Reactor Demonstrator, the first experimental nuclear reactor in the city of Valberg, Crown Land of Drachten, Gristol-Serkonos. The National Nuclear Reactor Demonstrator achieved criticality in 1961, reaching a net capacity of 19 MW. The NNRD was later shut down in 1981 when the Valberg Laboratory and its personnel was moved to the new Neys River Nuclear Laboratories.

In 1960, Marklin-Ashton Energy, UGS, and the NSRC began work on a domestic reactor design. Designated as the RR1-100, it was completed at the grounds of the Neys River Nuclear Laboratories in 1963. The domestically-designed RR1-100 reactor achieved criticality in 1963, reaching a net capacity of 100 MW. It is now the country’s largest research reactor as well as a medical isotope producer. The success of the RR1-100 became the basis for the successful fleet of the G-series of reactors built and operated in Gristol-Serkonos.

Gristol-Serkonos debuted the G-series of pressurised heavy water reactors in 1964, with the Aureille, Sela, Ulstrand, and Verwolde Nuclear Generating Stations were the first power plants to use the first generation of the reactor design. Marklin-Ashton Energy received an exclusive license to market and construct the reactor design.

Radioisotopes

Nuclear research in Gristol-Serkonos and in particular the NNRD and the RR1-100 research reactors, nurtured a medical isotope and nuclear medicine research and development community at several locations across the country. The Neys River Nuclear Laboratories became the country's top nuclear research location, with the first use of cobalt-60 cancer therapy in the country administered at the Neys River Nuclear Medicine Centre in 1965.

Regulatory framework

The National Office of Environment and Natural Resources and the National Office of Energy jointly-oversees nuclear power research and development and regulation in Gristol-Serkonos. They have joint-oversight of the Neys River Nuclear Laboratories, Marklin-Ashton Energy, and the National Nuclear Safety Commission. Operations of the Neys River Nuclear Laboratories include reactor design and development of the G-series nuclear reactors. Marklin-Ashton Energy is responsible for the construction, provision of reactor services and technical support for the G-series of nuclear reactors.

Power generation

The constituent country of Gristol produces majority of its energy from nuclear power, and contains most of the country's nuclear power generating capacity. The Kingdom of Gristol operates 41 nuclear reactors of various types from Marklin-Ashton's G-series pressurised heavy water reactors to Latium-designed pressurised heavy water reactors. A further 6 small modular reactors are also in various stages of development. The League of Serkonos operates 9 reactors, all Zacapine-designed pressurised water reactors.

Medical radioisotopes

X% of the world's medical and industrial isotopes is produced in Gristol-Serkonos. The medical-use cobalt-60 is produced in the RR1-100 reactor in the Neys River Nuclear Laboratories while industrial-use radioisotopes are produced in selected G3 series reactors.

The Neys River Nuclear Laboratories set up Medical Radiation Applications, the country's first radiation therapy company on the facility grounds. Today, MRA is the xth largest manufacturer of cobalt-60 therapy machines and medical sterilizers.

Uranium production

Uranium was discovered in the northern Gristol in 1959. Prospector Philippe LaFontaine discovered pitchblende, leading to his company Northern Minerals to set up the Northern Gristol Uranium Mine in 1960. Uranium found in the mine were used in the National Nuclear Reactor Demonstrator a year later.

Nuclear waste management

In order to comply with National Nuclear Safety Commission Report after a Level 3 Incident at the Atheclaghque Nuclear Generation Station, the nuclear energy suppliers jointly-operate the Hektoen National Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing Centre. Located in Hektoen in the northern Gristol region, the Hektoen NNFRC has been in operation since 1968 and has a capacity of about 1,700 tonnes per year. The Hektoen NNFRC utilizes an aqueous nuclear reprocessing method known as PUREX where 96% of the spent nuclear fuel are recovered. The site also operates a deep geological repository adjacent to the site where the non-recyclable fission products are vitrified along with compacted nuclear control rod hulls and endplates.

In compliance with federal regulations, vitrified fission products and compacted waste from spent nuclear fuel received from foreign countries are returned to the country of origin.