Wedoany.com Report-Jun 2, Norwegian nuclear project developer Norsk Kjernekraft has partnered with Aurum Green Energy, a private company exploring uranium resources in Northern Norway, to assess the potential for using domestic uranium in future nuclear power plants. Meanwhile, Norwegian Nuclear Decommissioning (NND) has selected Amentum, in collaboration with Multiconsult Norge AS, for the next phase of Norway’s nuclear clean-up program, focusing on safety case management and training.

Norsk Kjernekraft, a private entity, aims to develop and operate small modular reactor (SMR) power plants in Norway, collaborating with power-intensive industries, municipalities, and energy companies. Aurum Green Energy is mapping uranium deposits in Northern Norway, with initial geological surveys indicating promising sites near ports and main roads. The agreement between the two companies explores the feasibility of powering nuclear plants in Norway and other Western countries with Norwegian uranium. Norsk Kjernekraft will support Aurum with expertise in regulatory, commercial, and operational aspects of nuclear energy.

Jonny Hesthammer, CEO of Norsk Kjernekraft, stated: “Energy security and self-sufficiency are becoming increasingly important, both for Norway and for Europe. Uranium processing facilities are located in Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and France, where uranium product can be converted into fuel that could power Norwegian and European nuclear power plants for many decades.” Barry Stoffell, CEO of Aurum Green Energy, added: “Norsk Kjernekraft has shown that it is possible for communities, politicians, and industry to support building nuclear power plants in Norway. We are pleased to work with them to do the same when it comes to the search for domestic sources of uranium.”

In June 2024, the Norwegian government formed a committee to evaluate the potential for nuclear power in the country, with a report due by April 1, 2026. Historical geological surveys by the Geological Survey of Norway from the 1950s to 1980s, along with recent exploration efforts, support the renewed focus on uranium resources. Hesthammer noted: “We can currently buy uranium from allied countries such as Australia, Canada, the USA, and Ukraine, as well as several other countries. In the future, if exploration is successful, we may also be able to buy it from Norway and Sweden.”

Separately, Amentum and Multiconsult Norge AS will work with NND, established in February 2018 under the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Fisheries, to enhance safety protocols for Norway’s nuclear clean-up. This includes decommissioning research reactors at Halden and Kjeller, and managing the KLDRA facility in Himdalen for low and intermediate-level radioactive waste. Andy White, Amentum’s senior vice president, said: “This contract award is a strong vote of confidence from a client and comes at a pivotal time when Norway is considering the deployment of small modular reactors to meet its future energy needs.”

These initiatives reflect Norway’s commitment to advancing nuclear energy and ensuring safe management of nuclear facilities, supporting sustainable energy development and regional economic growth.