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SHINE Advances Commercial Spent Fuel Recycling Facility Construction

U.S. electricity demand is growing at a rate rarely seen in decades, and nuclear energy is considered one of the key options to meet the incremental demand. Meanwhile, the current open nuclear fuel cycle still treats spent fuel primarily as single-use waste, failing to fully utilize most of the energy potential that remains within it. SHINE Technologies is developing spent fuel recycling technologies and plans to build a facility with spent fuel recycling capabilities. The company stated that multiple collaborations funded by the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) CURIE program are advancing the work from validated laboratory-scale chemical processes toward commercial scale...

2026-08-19

SHINE Joins GE Vernova-Led Project to Modernize Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing Materials Accountability

SHINE Technologies (SHINE) announced on August 18 that it has joined a nuclear fuel reprocessing materials management project led by GE Vernova (GE Vernova), with both parties collaborating on tracking, measurement, and nuclear materials accountability of spent fuel during the reprocessing process. The project is led by GE Vernova's Advanced Research Center and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), with the goal of introducing artificial intelligence technologies into reprocessing facilities to improve real-time monitoring of spent fuel flow and the efficiency of nuclear materials accounting. As a subcontractor to GE Vernova, SHINE will participate in improving sensor deployment schemes and developing an AI-supported materials tracking system, ensuring that nuclear materials control and accountability requirements are incorporated into the overall design at the early stages of reprocessing facility development.

2026-08-19

ASP Isotopes Subsidiary Evaluates Metal Hydrofluorination and Fluorination Project in Namibia

ASP Isotopes Inc. recently announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Quantum Leap Energy LLC, is evaluating metal conversion opportunities in Namibia, with work focusing on technologies and processes required for critical stages of the fission and fusion nuclear fuel cycles. According to the disclosure, the evaluation includes plans to construct a pilot-scale hydrofluorination and fluorination facility in the Walvis Bay area of Namibia. Public environmental and social impact assessments and consultation procedures for the project have already been initiated. The proposed facility will be used to develop, test, and demonstrate metal hydrofluorination and fluorination processes. In accordance with Namibian regulatory requirements, relevant public consultation notices have been published through customary local channels. The company...

2026-08-19

NANO Nuclear and QNI Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Advance Domestic HALEU Fuel Supply Cooperation in the U.S.

NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. (NANO Nuclear) and Quadrant Nuclear Industries, Inc. (QNI) announced on August 18 that the two companies have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) establishing a non-binding framework for future high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) fuel supply cooperation. Under the MOU, the parties will engage in discussions regarding the supply of HALEU to be produced by QNI in the future and long-term offtake arrangements. The fuel in question is planned to come from QNI's proposed Vanguard facility at Idaho National Laboratory (INL). QNI stated that once the facility operates at full capacity, its annual HALEU production...

2026-08-19

CCTE Commissions Kinectrics for Independent Review of ANEEL Fuel Qualification Program

Clean Core Thorium Energy (CCTE) has commissioned Kinectrics Inc. (Kinectrics) to conduct an independent technical review of its ANEEL fuel qualification program, advancing the fuel's technical and regulatory qualification preparations ahead of demonstration in commercial reactors. Kinectrics is a subsidiary of BWX Technologies Inc. (BWXT). Photo: Front row, left to right: John D'Angelo, President of Kinectrics, and Milan Shah, Chief Operating Officer of CCTE; Back row, left to right: Sean Donnelly, Vice President of New Nuclear Construction, Paul...

2026-08-19

Initial Testing Completed for Nine Fuel Handling Gripping Devices for MBIR Project

On August 17, 2026, Russia's InterPolaris completed initial testing of nine gripping devices for the Multipurpose Fast Neutron Research Reactor (MBIR) project. These devices will be used for fuel transport and handling operations, primarily serving the handling and transfer of fuel assemblies and fuel rod storage within the OTT fuel complex. The key focus of the device development is to enhance safety and reliability during the gripping, transfer, and positioning of fuel assemblies. Each gripping device consists of components including an eyelet, body, cover plate, head, cam, locking sleeve, indicator light, battery, stepper motor with electrical connections, and a backup device. Among these, the locking sleeve is used to prevent accidental cam opening, and the backup device...

2026-08-18

Fuel Loading Completed for Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant Unit 7, Entering Commissioning Phase with Nuclear Fuel

On August 18, with the completion of core loading correctness verification and the commencement of protective tube assembly reinstallation, the first nuclear fuel loading work for Unit 7 of the Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant in Lianyungang, Jiangsu Province, was successfully concluded, marking the entry into the commissioning phase with nuclear fuel. This laid a solid foundation for subsequent reactor criticality, grid connection, and commercial operation of the unit. Fuel loading is a key milestone in the entire lifecycle of nuclear power plant construction and a critical starting point for the unit's operation with nuclear fuel. Unit 7 of the Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant is the first VVER-1200 Generation III nuclear power unit to be constructed in China, and this fuel loading also marks the first-ever fuel loading for a VVER-1200 type nuclear power unit in China. The loading process commenced on the 12th and was fully completed by the 18th, with a total of 163 nuclear fuel assemblies loaded.

2026-08-18

South Korea's Nuclear Expansion Faces Fuel Supply Pressure as Enriched Uranium Costs Surge Nearly Sixfold in Seven Years

Against the backdrop of accelerating global nuclear power construction and surging electricity demand from AI data centers, the nuclear fuel supply chain is facing new tensions. Due to limited uranium enrichment capacity and sanctions affecting Russian-related supplies, international uranium enrichment prices have risen sharply over the past seven years. South Korea's nuclear expansion plans are consequently facing fuel procurement pressure, with industry experts concerned that if mid- to long-term nuclear fuel security proves insufficient, newly built nuclear units could face operational risks in the future. Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) recently disclosed that South Korea's domestic annual enriched uranium consumption is expected to increase from approximately 460 tons currently to about 540 tons next year. The rising demand mainly stems from the overlap between life-extension operations of some older nuclear units and the commissioning of new units...

2026-08-18

Fresh nuclear fuel delivered for Reactor 1 of the Akademik Lomonosov floating nuclear power plant

The fuel division of Russia's State Atomic Energy Corporation (Rosatom) has delivered a batch of fresh nuclear fuel to Pevek, Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, for Reactor 1 of the Akademik Lomonosov floating nuclear power plant. The plant, which is part of Rosatom's power division, is currently the only operating floating nuclear power plant in the world. The fuel was produced by Machine-Building Plant Joint-Stock Company (MSZ JSC) in Elektrostal, Moscow Oblast. Prior to delivery to the plant, the fuel assemblies had undergone acceptance testing and technical inspections, and received certification from the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping, the authority responsible for acceptance certification of nuclear fuel for marine reactor units.

2026-08-18

First American Nuclear Company's Regulatory Engagement Plan for Proposed HALEU Fuel Facility Accepted for Docketing by NRC

First American Nuclear Co. (FANCO) announced on August 17 that its regulatory engagement plan for the proposed Class II high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) conversion and fuel fabrication facility has been accepted for docketing by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The facility will serve the company's EAGL-1 small modular reactor project currently under development. According to the company's disclosure, the NRC ADAMS accession number for the letter of intent is ML26222A181, and the NRC ADAMS accession number for the regulatory engagement plan is ML26222A177. This submission advances the pre-application regulatory engagement between FANCO and the NRC regarding the proposed ceramic fuel fabrication facility. The facility is planned to support the EAGL-1 lead-bismuth...

2026-08-18

U.S. Poll Shows Majority of Respondents Support Prioritizing Permanent Disposal of High-Level Waste

A recent survey conducted by market research and data analysis company YouGov shows that more than 80 percent of U.S. respondents believe finding a permanent disposal solution for high-level radioactive waste should be a national priority; after learning about relevant technical information, a significant number of respondents viewed deep geological disposal as a credible option. Prototype canister for borehole disposal (Image: Deep Isolation) The survey was commissioned by nuclear waste disposal technology company Deep Isolation Inc. and conducted in April this year among 1,000 U.S. adults with a nationally representative sample. The survey covered public attitudes toward nuclear energy, concerns about radioactive waste management...

2026-08-14

Finland's Onkalo Spent Nuclear Fuel Final Disposal Facility Expected to Receive Operating License by Year-End

Finland's spent nuclear fuel final disposal project has entered the critical stage of operating license review. The Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority of Finland (STUK) issued a statement saying that the design and emergency response procedures of the Onkalo final disposal facility meet the safety requirements for granting an operating license. The Finnish government is expected to decide whether to approve the facility's operation before the end of the year. Onkalo is located on Olkiluoto Island in southwestern Finland. "Onkalo" means "cave" in Finnish. If licensed and operational, the facility will become the world's first deep geological final disposal facility for spent nuclear fuel from nuclear power plants, serving as a reference for other countries considering similar facilities...

2026-08-14

Idaho National Laboratory's Hot Fuel Examination Facility Named U.S. Nuclear Historic Landmark

The American Nuclear Society (ANS) recently designated the Hot Fuel Examination Facility (HFEF) at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) as a Nuclear Historic Landmark. Since becoming operational in 1975, the facility has conducted post-irradiation examination of nuclear fuel and materials, and continues to support research on advanced reactors, commercial nuclear fuel, and related energy security. HFEF is located within the Materials and Fuels Complex (MFC) at Idaho National Laboratory and houses the largest inert-atmosphere hot cell in the United States dedicated to nuclear materials research. The hot cell operates in an argon environment and features approximately 4-foot-thick shielding walls, enabling remote, non-destructive, and high-precision examination of highly irradiated fuel and material samples while reducing worker radiation exposure.

2026-08-13

Kazakhstan Advances Nuclear Fuel Cycle from Resource Development to High-Value-Added Manufacturing

Kazakhstan is advancing its nuclear fuel cycle industry from natural uranium mining toward deep processing and high-tech product manufacturing. As one of the world's major natural uranium producers, Kazakhstan has in recent years not only maintained its advantage in resource development but also continued to build capacity in uranium conversion, nuclear fuel component manufacturing, scientific research capabilities, and professional workforce training. The nuclear fuel cycle encompasses the entire process of nuclear materials, from uranium ore mining and processing, to fuel use in reactors, and to the management of spent fuel and radioactive waste. Depending on the technical route, relevant stages may include uranium mining and processing, conversion, isotope enrichment, fuel pellet fabrication, fuel assembly production, and spent fuel storage...

2026-08-13

Dong Baotong, Director of the National Nuclear Safety Administration: China's nuclear safety level remains among the top internationally, and during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, the number of operating nuclear power units in China will rank first in the world

The State Council Information Office held a series of press conferences on August 13 themed "Starting the '15th Five-Year Plan' with a Strong Beginning," introducing the progress of comprehensively advancing the construction of a Beautiful China. Dong Baotong, Vice Minister of Ecology and Environment and Director of the National Nuclear Safety Administration, stated at the conference that ecological environment safety encompasses several key aspects, including ecological security, nuclear safety, and environmental risk prevention and control. The Ministry of Ecology and Environment serves as the lead coordinating body for both the national ecological security work coordination mechanism and the nuclear safety work coordination mechanism. Over the years, together with relevant departments, we have actively responded to various risks and challenges, effectively safeguarding the bottom line of ecological environment safety. Among these, in the area of nuclear safety, we have consolidated the primary responsibility of nuclear facility operators...

2026-08-13