Ukraine's Nuclear Power Plants Generate 26.8 Billion kWh in First Half of Year

On July 29, Ukraine's national nuclear energy company Energoatom reported that from January to June 2026, the country's nuclear power plants generated a cumulative 26.8201 billion kWh (26.82 TWh), an increase of 163.1 million kWh compared to the same period in 2025. Nuclear power continues to serve as the backbone of Ukraine's electricity system baseload, with its share exceeding 67% during certain periods between 2019 and 2025 (according to data from Ukraine's National Energy and Utilities Regulatory Commission, NKREKP), supporting system stability amid repeated attacks on the power grid during wartime. Data shows that from 2019 to 2025, the share of electricity generated by Ukraine's nuclear power plants even exceeded 67% of the country's total energy output during certain periods. This stable power supply capability remains effective in maintaining the stable operation of the energy system even as Ukraine's energy sector faces persistent challenges...

2026-07-31

Brazilian Nuclear Safety Authority Opens Public Consultation on Updates to Nuclear Power Plant and Industrial Nuclear Instrumentation Regulations

The Brazilian National Nuclear Safety Authority (ANSN) has launched a public consultation to update regulations for nuclear power plants and industrial applications. The initiative aims to revise requirements for notification of operational events at the Angra Nuclear Power Plant and establish unprecedented radiation protection rules for measurement instruments in the production sector; comments will be accepted until September. The regulatory body's action is part of the industry's institutional improvement schedule, calling on power generation companies, operators, universities, and supply chain participants to submit technical contributions to the new normative texts. The revision aims to standardize information processes at nuclear power plants, improve technical oversight, and expand governance of operational data at the Almirante Álvaro Alberto Nuclear Power Plant located in Angra dos Reis...

2026-07-31

US NRC Approves Oyster Creek Nuclear Power Plant License Termination Plan

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has approved the license termination plan for the Oyster Creek Generating Station. Located in Lacey Township, New Jersey, the plant is now more than halfway through its decommissioning and dismantlement work. With this approval, the project will proceed with the final phases of decommissioning and site restoration in accordance with the approved document. Before dismantlement of the Oyster Creek Generating Station in Lacey Township, New Jersey, Holtec International stated that the approval of the license termination plan involved coordinated efforts across multiple departments, including engineering, radiation protection, environmental services, work management, project controls, licensing, communications, and security, led by the regulatory affairs department. The Vice President of Oyster Creek Nuclear Power Plant...

2026-07-31

QST completes first gyrotron 170 GHz microwave output test at ITER site

The National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST) of Japan announced on July 31 that it has completed the integration and operational testing of the first gyrotron system at the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) site in southern France, successfully producing 170 GHz microwave output. This system is used for ITER plasma generation and heating, and is one of the key devices for ITER's plan to commence operations in 2034. The core equipment of this test is the gyrotron, a high-power microwave source. Gyrotron operation requires the coordinated work of peripheral equipment such as power supplies, superconducting coils, and cooling systems. QST previously completed performance testing of eight ITER gyrotron systems at the gyrotron test facility of the Naka Fusion Institute in Japan, and transported components including gyrotrons, superconducting coils, and quasi-optical matching units to the ITER site. Over the past three years, QST has advanced system installation, commissioning, and operational preparation at the site.

2026-07-31

Two Units of Kozloduy NPP Operating at Full Capacity as Scheduled

On July 30, Kozloduy NPP stated that its two units are currently operating at full capacity in accordance with the power generation plan. Affected by the persistently low water level of the Danube River, the plant established a special working group in early July and activated relevant response measures to ensure the safe and reliable operation of the units under conditions of prolonged river water level decline. Kozloduy NPP is maintaining close communication with the Executive Agency for Exploration and Maintenance of the Danube River to continuously track water level trends. Monitoring data from recent days show that the Danube River water level has dropped to its lowest in recent decades...

2026-07-31

South Korean University Team Files Patent for Fusion Reactor Optimization Design Method

Professor Hong Bong-geun of the Department of Quantum System Engineering at the College of Engineering, Jeonbuk National University, South Korea, has recently filed a patent for a fusion reactor optimization design method. This method can determine device dimensions and key component structures while enabling customized performance design for fusion reactors based on different applications such as power generation, thermal energy utilization, and transmutation neutron sources. According to reports, this design technology targets the early-stage R&D phase of fusion devices and can be used to rapidly assess the technical and economic feasibility of proposals, thereby reducing trial-and-error, shortening development cycles, and lowering development costs, providing design support for fusion energy commercialization...

2026-07-31

Vietnam's Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Plant Phases 1 and 2 Accelerate: Resettlement and Land Clearance Take Priority

On July 31, 2026, the Vietnam News Agency reported that the People's Committee of Khanh Hoa Province is urgently implementing tasks assigned by the central government to advance Sub-projects No. 1 and No. 2 of the Ninh Thuan 1 Nuclear Power Plant (Phuoc Dinh Commune) and the Ninh Thuan 2 Nuclear Power Plant (Vinh Hai Commune) — namely, resettlement and land clearance works. The Khanh Hoa Provincial Investment and Construction Project Management Board has been designated by the Provincial People's Committee as the investor for the two sub-projects. Regarding Sub-project No. 1 (resettlement and land clearance) of the Ninh Thuan 1 Nuclear Power Plant, the Provincial Project Management Board has completed the approval of construction drawings and budgets and is currently selecting contractors for 6 construction and installation packages. Among them, Package No. 15 (technical infrastructure for the resettlement area) has completed contractor selection and signed the construction contract. The construction unit has received 34.7 hectares of land and coordinate markers out of the 65.12-hectare resettlement area, and the temporary camp and project headquarters have commenced construction. The remaining packages pending bidding include: Package No. 14 (water supply facilities for the resettlement area), Package No. 16 (social infrastructure for the resettlement area), Package No. 17 (fishing vessel berthing area and revetment embankment), Package No. 18 (cemetery facilities), and Package No. 33 (construction and renovation of medium-voltage power lines and substations).

2026-07-31

IAEA Launches ATLAS Initiative: Building a New International Governance Framework for Maritime Nuclear Applications

As global shipping demand for alternative fuels continues to grow and small modular reactor technology matures, nuclear applications in the maritime sector are accelerating from concept to reality. However, offshore nuclear deployment involves a complex set of issues including safety, security, safeguards, legal liability, insurance, and jurisdiction. The existing international regulatory framework is fragmented and ill-suited to the deployment needs of modern reactor designs. Against this backdrop, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has officially launched the Atomic Technologies Licensed for Applications at Sea (ATLAS) initiative, aiming to establish an integrated framework encompassing nuclear saf...

2026-07-31

Polish cable manufacturer FPE secures PSE framework contract to support national grid infrastructure for nuclear power

Energy Cable Factory (FPE) in Będzin has signed a framework agreement with Polish Power Grid Company (PSE) for the supply of cables used in the construction and upgrade of high-voltage transmission lines. The contract is valued at PLN 362.1 million net, equivalent to PLN 445.4 million gross. Under the agreement, FPE plans to expand the production capacity of its Będzin plant. This cooperation is not merely a commercial contract but also a vote of confidence in and recognition of Poland's industrial capabilities, proving its ability to undertake the modernization of national strategic infrastructure. The company emphasizes that it can deliver not only cables but also ensure the secure transmission of tomorrow's energy. The agreement covers the supply of phase conductors from 2026 to 2031, with a total length of...

2026-07-31

Poland Accelerates Nuclear Power Construction, New Bill Approved by Senate

Poland's nuclear power construction has made new progress, with the Senate passing an amendment to a bill aimed at simplifying the preparation and implementation of nuclear energy investments. The amendment allows investors to initiate partial civil works and preparatory activities before obtaining a full construction permit, thereby accelerating the progress of nuclear power plant projects. The bill is currently awaiting the President's signature to take effect, and is expected to enter into force 14 days after its publication in the Journal of Laws. The core of this new regulation lies in introducing a new type of permit—a construction permit covering preliminary civil works. This means investors can begin partial construction preparation before completing the full permitting and investment documentation approval for the entire nuclear power plant. Previously...

2026-07-31

German state of Lower Saxony approves production of Russian-designed VVER nuclear fuel at Lingen plant under additional strict conditions

The government of Lower Saxony in northwestern Germany has approved a nuclear project linked to Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom. The project, operated by French company Framatome, aims to produce Russian-designed nuclear fuel rods and fuel assemblies in the city of Lingen, with key components to be supplied by Rosatom's subsidiary TVEL. Nevertheless, to address potential security risks, particularly threats of espionage and sabotage from Russian participants, the approval was granted with strict conditions. Under the terms of the approval, employees of Rosatom and TVEL will be barred from entering the facility, except in exceptional circumstances and when accompanied by nuclear regulatory authorities. Additionally, all...

2026-07-31

UK's largest nuclear power station Sizewell B placed on standby due to nearby wildfire

On July 30, the UK's largest nuclear power station, Sizewell B, was placed on "standby" status due to a heathland fire at Dunwich Heath, less than 5 kilometers from the plant site. There is currently no risk of the fire spreading toward the facility given wind direction. EDF stated it is "continuously monitoring, with no threat to facility safety," but approximately 120 firefighters and 18 fire engines were deployed to tackle the blaze in the Liston area. Suffolk Fire Service assessed the fire as "active and changing," warning it could last two days, with hundreds of homes evacuated. Suffolk Fire Service warned the fire is expected to last two days and described it as an active and evolving situation. Hundreds of properties have been evacuated as firefighters continue to battle the raging forest fire. Experts noted...

2026-07-31

Hungary's Paks Nuclear Power Plant Faces Full Shutdown Due to Record Low Danube Water Level

Affected by persistent drought and high temperatures, the water level of the Danube River at the Budapest section dropped to 23 cm (fixed datum reading, a record low), restricting cooling water intake at the Paks Nuclear Power Plant. Starting Wednesday, July 29, Unit 3 was the first to be shut down; the operator, MVM Paks Nuclear Power Plant Ltd, subsequently stated on its official website that all four units would inevitably be disconnected within the next 24 to 72 hours, with power generation coming to a complete halt. MVM explained that the existing water volume of the Danube is still sufficient to cool the reactors, but the intake pumps can no longer draw water because the riverbed is exposed and the pump inlets are too far from the water surface—an equipment failure rather than an absolute shortfall in cooling water volume. To this end, the Hungarian side deployed 4 pumping barges and 2 floating cranes near the plant as an emergency measure, but with water levels expected to continue falling, a preventive full shutdown remains unavoidable.

2026-07-31

France's Golfech nuclear power plant shut down for third time this summer due to high temperatures

France's Golfech nuclear power plant has been shut down three times this summer. Located approximately 100 kilometers northwest of Toulouse, the plant is operated by Électricité de France (EDF). On the evening of July 29, one of its reactors was shut down again due to extreme heat. EDF had previously shut down the reactor twice, from June 23 to July 3 and from July 9 to 27, to prevent cooling water discharged into the Garonne River from exceeding the 28-degree Celsius limit set by a 2006 decree. The Golfech nuclear power plant is located in the Tarn-et-Garonne department, and its cooling water is discharged into the Garonne River. Currently, another reactor at the plant is also shut down for maintenance and refueling. France has experienced its fourth heatwave since the start of summer...

2026-07-31

IAEA Training Course for Owner/Operator Organizations of New Nuclear Power Projects Concludes in Russia

On July 30, the Interregional Training Course on the Establishment of Owner/Operator Organizations for New Nuclear Power Projects, jointly organized by Rosatom and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), concluded at the Rosatom Technical Academy. Eighteen experts from 15 countries in Asia and Africa completed the five-day training. The participants were primarily from national nuclear energy institutions, regulatory bodies, and relevant competent authorities responsible for nuclear infrastructure development in their respective countries. The course focused on the establishment and capacity building of owner/operator organizations for new nuclear power projects, covering topics such as license applications, change management, feasibility study preparation, personnel competency development, organizational structure design, and contract management.

2026-07-31

Vietnam and Russia Join Forces to Accelerate Nuclear Science and Technology Research Center Project

On the afternoon of July 30, Vietnamese Minister of Science and Technology Vu Hai Quan received a delegation led by Ilja Vergizajev, General Director of Rosatom Construction Technology Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Russia's State Atomic Energy Corporation (Rosatom), in Hanoi. During the meeting, the Vietnamese side put forward three specific requests: accelerating the construction of the Vietnam Nuclear Science and Technology Research Center (CNST); supporting Vietnam in gradually mastering small modular reactor (SMR) technologies; and training human resources for Vietnam in the fields of atomic energy, radiation, and nuclear safety. Both sides confirmed that nuclear cooperation holds strategic significance and has long been a focus of high-level attention between the two countries. The CNST has been defined by the Vietnamese side as a...

2026-07-31

Crusoe and Aalo Atomics Forge Strategic Partnership: First Nuclear-Powered AI Facility Planned

U.S.-based Crusoe and Aalo Atomics have reached a strategic partnership aimed at deploying the first nuclear-powered artificial intelligence facility. This commercial collaboration builds on Aalo's recent criticality achievement, underscoring U.S. leadership in AI and energy. Crusoe's Spark modular AI data centers will be co-located with Aalo Atomics' nuclear reactor buildings at Idaho National Laboratory. The project aims to validate the effectiveness of nuclear energy for AI workloads. Cully Cavness, co-founder, president, and chief strategy officer of Crusoe, stated that next-generation AI infrastructure requires reliable, abundant, clean, and scalable power, and Aalo's reactors are designed precisely for that purpose. Crusoe's core value is "bending the energy arc toward sustainability," guided by the principle of leveraging its market position to support and accelerate energy innovation...

2026-07-31

Unit 4 of Leningrad NPP Phase II completes installation of first major equipment

Unit 4 of Russia's Leningrad NPP Phase II recently completed the installation of the core melt catcher vessel. This is the first major equipment of the unit to enter the installation stage, and also the first passive safety system equipment to be installed. The steel structure weighs 157 tonnes, and the installation was carried out using a heavy crawler crane, taking about one work shift of approximately 8 hours, nearly 3 months ahead of the original schedule. Valery Zhemchugov, Acting Director of Leningrad NPP, stated that the installation of the core melt catcher vessel is a key milestone in the construction of Unit 4, a VVER-1200 pressurized water reactor unit, and that the relevant work was completed in accordance with quality requirements, providing more time for subsequent reactor building civil and installation works.

2026-07-31

South Korea Confirms Operating Nuclear Power Units Unaffected by Strong Earthquake in Kyushu, Japan

Following the strong earthquake in the Kyushu region of Japan, related aftershock signals have been detected in southern South Korea. The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) of South Korea stated that inspections confirmed all operating nuclear power units within the country remain unaffected. The NSSC noted that after the earthquake, inspections were conducted on all 27 operating nuclear power units, including the Kori Nuclear Power Plant in Busan and the Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant in Gyeongju, with no significant abnormalities or safety issues found. Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) also stated that no reports of damage to nuclear facilities have been received so far. The NSSC will continue to monitor the operational status of nuclear power plants to respond to potential subsequent aftershocks....

2026-07-31

NuAlaska Initiative Launched: Long-Life Nuclear Microreactors Target Remote Alaskan Regions

An initiative in Alaska called NuAlaska is working to bring long-life nuclear microreactors to remote areas. This collaboration, co-launched by NuCube Energy Inc. and the Alaska Fund, aims to develop, finance, own, and operate advanced nuclear energy projects in Alaska. The plan combines NuCube's NuSun-1 micro-modular reactor technology with the Alaska Fund's mission to support projects that meet Alaska's unique energy and infrastructure needs. The initiative targets remote communities, mines, military installations, and other isolated locations where harsh weather, long transportation routes, and reliance on imported diesel fuel...

2026-07-31

Mangoceuticals to Merge with Nuclea to Advance Morpheus Microreactor to Market

Mangoceuticals announced on July 30 that it has signed a definitive business combination agreement with advanced nuclear technology company Nuclea Energy Inc., aiming to bring the latter's Morpheus microreactor to the public capital markets. Nuclea was founded in August 2023 and is headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, focusing on the development of lead-cooled, factory-fabricated micro-modular reactors. Under the agreement, a newly formed subsidiary of Mangoceuticals will merge with Nuclea, and the combined company will operate as an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Mangoceuticals. Upon completion of the transaction, holders of Nuclea common shares will receive...

2026-07-31