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The Law on Accelerating the Deployment of Universal Advanced Nuclear Technologies (ADVANCE) of 2023, submitted to the US Senate by a bipartisan group, is aimed at supporting efforts to develop and implement, including diversification of supplies and technologies.
As measures that should implement the bill in practice, the authors highlight regulatory support for the deployment of advanced nuclear technologies and assistance in the conversion of traditional energy facilities.
The aforementioned law was introduced on March 30 by Senators Shelly Moore Capito, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW), Tom Carper and Sheldon Whitehouse.
This law will authorize the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to lead international forums on developing regulations for advanced nuclear reactors, as well as create a joint initiative of the U.S. Departments of Commerce and Energy to facilitate work with countries that seek to develop advanced nuclear energy programs.
To support the development and implementation of new technologies, the bill will reduce regulatory costs for companies seeking to license advanced reactor technologies, and will require the NRC to develop a way to "timely license" existing nuclear facilities. An award will also be created to stimulate the successful implementation of next-generation reactor technologies.
The document provides for the preservation of existing nuclear facilities by modernizing the rules restricting international investment and extending the Price-Anderson Act, the law on liability for nuclear damage, which provides for damages for US nuclear power plants, for 20 years. This will not only allow the operation of today's reactors to continue, but also provide confidence in capital investments in new nuclear projects.
But this is not the main thing in the law. The Americans are going to step up the search for options for the supply of fuel for its subsequent use at their nuclear reactors. These steps are positioned as diversification of uranium supplies "in the face of modern challenges."