PG&E selects vendor to transfer spent fuel to storage at Diablo Canyon
All spent fuel to be transferred to dry storage in approximately two years after plant’s scheduled closure in 2025
All spent fuel to be transferred to dry storage in approximately two years after plant’s scheduled closure in 2025– Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) announced this week that it has selected Orano USA as its vendor to safely transfer all of its remaining spent fuel from Diablo Canyon Power Plant operations to onsite interim dry storage. The announcement supports fulfilling PG&E’s commitment to move spent fuel from wet to dry storage following the cessation of operations at the plant in 2025.
PG&E used a competitive bid process to determine the appropriate vendor for the work. Orano’s storage system has been reviewed and approved by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and has been employed at several facilities.
“Stakeholder input was incorporated throughout the vendor selection process, including recommendations from the Diablo Canyon Decommissioning Engagement Panel related to spent fuel storage,” said Maureen Zawalick, PG&E’s vice president of decommissioning and technical services. “Additionally, PG&E collaborated with the California Energy Commission during the review process for this project and partnered with B. John Garrick Institute for the Risk Sciences at UCLA to conduct a first-of-a-kind risk assessment of fuel storage and transfer strategies. These additional steps ensure a thorough process to mitigate risk and keep us, as a company, true to our stand that everyone and everything is always safe.”
PG&E will safely store spent fuel on-site at DCPP until the federal government fulfills its obligation to store fuel at a permanent repository or another licensed interim facility in the United States.
The system design that will be used includes enhanced thermal and seismic capabilities, which will require additional safety reviews. Once approved, this results in the transfer of all spent fuel to dry storage in approximately two years after the plant’s scheduled closure in 2025.
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