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U.S. Department of Energy Awards $271 Million to Support Extended Operation of Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently awarded $271 million to Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) to support the continued operation of the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant. The funding will be used to ensure the plant maintains safe and reliable power generation during the license extension period and to support workforce stability. In April of this year, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approved a 20-year extension of the operating licenses for both units at Diablo Canyon. Under the previous schedule, the plant's two units were originally slated to cease commercial operation in 2025. Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy Ted Garrish stated that keeping Diablo Canyon operational is of great significance in meeting California's growing demand for affordable, reliable, and safe electricity. The Civil Nuclear Credit Program is helping protect this critical baseload power source and prevent premature retirement of reliable generation facilities from the grid.

2026-08-15

Public Security Ministry's Economic Security Department holds thematic conference on national security safeguards for nuclear energy in Khanh Hoa Province

On the morning of August 14, the Economic Security Department of the Ministry of Public Security, in coordination with the Khanh Hoa Provincial Police Department, held a thematic conference to assess national security safeguards in the process of Vietnam's nuclear energy development. The conference was co-chaired by Lieutenant General Nguyen Sy Quang, Director of the Economic Security Department of the Ministry of Public Security, and Major General Nguyen Huu Phuc, Director of the Khanh Hoa Provincial Police Department. Representatives from relevant professional units of the Ministry of Public Security, Lam Dong Provincial police authorities, Dong Nai City police authorities, relevant departments of the Khanh Hoa Provincial Police Department, and grassroots police forces in Phuoc Vinh and Vinh Hai attended the conference. The conference focused on discussing the potential impacts of nuclear energy development on national security, social order, and public safety, and assessed the role of nuclear power in Vietnam's national energy development strategy from the perspective of energy security.

2026-08-15

Survey of Japanese 18-year-olds: Nearly 60% support restarting or replacing nuclear reactors that meet safety standards

A survey of young people around age 18 in Japan shows that nearly 60% of respondents support restarting nuclear power plants that meet safety standards or replacing existing reactors with new units; meanwhile, over 70% of respondents have expectations or some expectations for advanced innovative reactors. The 18-year-old awareness survey conducted by the Nippon Foundation asked respondents to choose which of two statements was closer to their own view: one being that nuclear power plants meeting safety standards should be restarted or replaced with new units; the other being that nuclear power should not be relied upon due to accident risks and radioactive waste issues. The results showed that 28.5% of respondents said their view was "close" to the first statement, and 29.8...

2026-08-16

RITVERTS Multiple Radionuclide Solution Specific Activity Reference Standards Added to Register

RITVERTS JSC has added multiple radionuclide solution specific activity reference standards to the register, covering nuclides such as americium-241, europium-152, cesium-137, barium-133, cobalt-60, cobalt-57, strontium-90 + yttrium-90, tritium, plutonium-239, uranium-238, and plutonium-238. The reference standards added to the register this time include GSO 13340-2026 (americium-241), GSO 13339-2026 (europium-152), GSO 13338-2026 (cesium-137), GSO 13337-2026 (barium-133), GSO 13336-2026 (cobalt-60), GSO 13335-2026 (cobalt-57) from the SO UAR-G-RT dataset; GSO 13334-2026 (strontium-90 + yttrium-90), GSO...

2026-08-12

UK Office for Nuclear Regulation Publishes New Safeguards Guidance

The UK Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) published updated guidance on 10 August to help nuclear facility operators meet new requirements under the Nuclear Safeguards (EU Exit and Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2026. The amending regulations, which came into force in July this year, are regarded as a significant adjustment to the UK's nuclear safeguards regime. Safeguards measures are primarily used to verify whether a state complies with its international obligations, ensuring that nuclear materials in civil nuclear programmes are not diverted to non-peaceful purposes. The amendment modernises safeguards reporting requirements, with operators transitioning from the previous basic technical characteristics reports to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) standardized design information questionnaire. The new regulations also...

2026-08-11

South Korea to Launch Real-Time Query System for CT and MRI Records in December to Reduce Duplicate Tests for Patients Transferring Hospitals

The Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) of South Korea announced on August 10 that it has established the "Appropriate Medical Utilization Review Committee" and, at its first meeting, included computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations in the review scope of the real-time medical utilization management program. According to the plan, the program will be managed through the "Medical Care Benefit Details Confirmation System" following approval by the Minister of Health and Welfare. The system, built pursuant to Article 41-6 of the revised National Health Insurance Act, is expected to officially operate starting December 24. Once the system is in place, medical personnel will be able to query in real time the timing and relevant records of patients' CT and MRI examinations at other medical institutions before the patients undergo examinations, thereby reducing...

2026-08-11

CMS records highest-energy lepton pairs to date, testing the possibility of a composite Higgs boson

The CMS experiment recently used the complete proton-proton collision dataset collected during Run 2 of the Large Hadron Collider and the first two years of Run 3, namely 2022 to 2023, to search for clues that the Higgs boson may be composed of smaller constituents. The analysis results show that the experimental data are consistent with Standard Model predictions, with no evidence pointing to new physics yet. Whether the Higgs boson is an elementary particle or a composite particle with deeper structure is a long-standing question in particle physics. To test this possibility, the CMS team adopted two complementary approaches: on one hand, directly searching for new heavy particles that could be produced at the Large Hadron Collider; on the other hand, indirectly probing the effects of new particles with higher masses that are difficult to produce directly through subtle deviations in high-energy electron pair and muon pair production processes.

2026-08-10

Vietnam's Nuclear and Radiation Safety Inspectorate Accelerates Year-End Efforts: Surprise Inspections + 20 National Standards + Institutional Closure

Vietnam's Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Inspectorate (ATBXHN) entered an accelerated implementation phase for key tasks in the final months of 2026, with work priorities including completing the annual inspection plan, strengthening surprise inspections of facilities showing signs of violations, strictly handling violations in accordance with the law, and promptly completing the legal framework for inspection, review, and supervision in the field of radiation protection and nuclear safety. Pham Xuan Linh, Chief Inspector of Nuclear Safety and Security of Vietnam, stated that the relevant inspections are not only aimed at detecting and handling violations but also at enhancing legal compliance awareness among organizations and individuals engaged in atomic energy activities, ensuring nuclear and radiation safety, and protecting public health and the environment. According to the year-end work arrangements, the inspectorate will concentrate...

2026-08-10

Radioactivity test results for agricultural and fishery products in North Chungcheong Province, South Korea, pass standards in first half of the year

The Chungcheongbuk-do Institute of Health and Environment announced on August 7 that it conducted radioactivity safety testing on agricultural and fishery products sold and used within the province in the first half of this year, and the results showed that all relevant samples met food radioactivity safety standards. The testing covered 119 types of agricultural products and 274 types of fishery products sold at large supermarkets, local food direct-sale stores, or used as ingredients for school meals. Testing items included indicators such as radioactive iodine, radioactive cesium, and tritium. The test results showed that the levels of radioactive iodine and radioactive cesium in the samples did not exceed the permissible limit of 100 Bq/kg for food radioactivity; tritium was not detected in any of the 80 seafood samples. The relevant test results can be found on the Chungcheongbuk-do Institute of Health and Environment website.

2026-08-07

South Gyeongsang Province Completes 380 Food Radioactivity Tests in First Half of Year, All Meeting Standards

The Gyeongsangnam-do Institute of Health and Environment recently announced that in the first half of this year, it conducted radioactivity testing on agricultural products, aquatic products, and processed foods already in circulation, completing tests on 380 samples. Testing items included radioactive iodine, radioactive cesium, and tritium, with all results meeting food radiation-related standards. According to the institute, it continues to conduct radiation monitoring on foods with high market consumption to ensure the daily dietary safety of residents. Of the 380 tests completed in the first half of this year, 338 were for iodine and cesium, and 42 were for tritium, with no samples exceeding permissible levels. In terms of monitoring methods, the institute has established a...

2026-07-27

Vietnam Issues 470 International Nuclear Energy Standards Covering the Full Chain of Nuclear Power Plants, Research Reactors, SMRs, and Radiation Protection

Vietnam is preparing for nuclear energy development, with the Ministry of Science and Technology recently issuing a list of 470 international and foreign standards directly applicable to the atomic energy sector. These standards cover multiple aspects including safety, design, operation, equipment, personnel, radiation protection, nuclear security, and accident response, aiming to ensure the safe and reliable operation of nuclear facilities throughout their entire lifecycle. The list encompasses requirements across a wide range of fields, from nuclear power plants and research reactors to fuel technology, monitoring systems, radioactive waste management, and nuclear security. For nuclear power plants, the standards cover analysis, safety assessment, design, commissioning, equipment classification, accident management, aging management, maintenance...

2026-08-06

Temelín Nuclear Power Plant in Czech Republic Records Second-Highest Monthly Generation in July

Despite prevailing high temperatures, the Czech Temelín Nuclear Power Plant achieved its second-highest monthly electricity generation this year. In July, the plant delivered 1,603,637 MWh of electricity to the transmission grid, nearly matching the May record of 1,617,093 MWh. This is sufficient to cover the electricity needs of all Czech households for more than one month. Thanks to its cooling tower system, the Temelín plant was unaffected by the hot and dry weather. In contrast, some nuclear power plants abroad were forced to reduce output or even shut down due to falling river levels and rising water temperatures. However, Temelín's closed cooling cycle and its cooling towers enable it to operate independently of direct water source suppl...

2026-08-06

Vietnam to Develop 88 National Standards and 6 National Regulations Supporting Nuclear Power and Atomic Energy Applications from 2026–2030

Vietnam will develop standards and regulations for nuclear power development to support the construction of future nuclear power plants and advancements in atomic energy applications. To align with this goal, the country plans to establish 88 national standards and 6 national regulations during the period from 2026 to 2030, covering key areas such as nuclear power plant safety, radiation safety, environmental monitoring, and related equipment. These standards will reference existing practical experience from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and will be periodically reviewed and adjusted based on project progress and actual management needs. The development of these standards is carried out in four phases, each with clearly defined focal objectives...

2026-08-05

Uranium Levels Exceed Standards in Water Supply on Seogyeom Island, Ganghwa County, Incheon; Government Denies Impact from North Korea's Pyongsan Uranium Mine Wastewater

Uranium levels exceeding standards have been detected in the water supply facilities at the groundwater source on Seogyeom Island, Ganghwa County, Incheon, and the government has stated that this is not attributable to wastewater from North Korea's Pyongsan uranium plant. According to the Ministry of Climate and Energy Environment, a recent detection at the Seogyeom Island water supply facility recorded a uranium concentration of 45 micrograms per liter, exceeding the drinking water quality standard of 30 micrograms per liter. The government stated that, following concerns raised over wastewater discharge from the Pyongsan uranium plant, the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission has conducted monthly regular inspections since July 2025, and quarterly inspections starting in 2026. The most recent inspection (June 2026) showed uranium concentrations ranging from 0.133 to 3.025 micrograms per liter at seven points, including the downstream Han River and areas near Ganghwa Island...

2026-08-04

U.S. Navy Awards General Dynamics Electric Boat Contract for Construction of 14 Nuclear Submarines

General Dynamics Electric Boat announced that the U.S. Navy has awarded it a contract package for the construction of 14 nuclear submarines, with a total contract value of $76.6 billion. According to information released by the company, under this announced U.S. Navy contract framework, General Dynamics Electric Boat will receive $29.5 billion for the construction of five Columbia-class submarines, and an additional $42.1 billion for the construction of nine Virginia-class submarines. The contract also includes funding to support shipyard infrastructure construction. General Dynamics Electric Boat serves as the prime contractor for the program. A portion of the construction work will be subcontracted to Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries. ...

2026-08-01