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Bulgarian Expert Says Belene NPP Restart Technically Feasible

Bulgarian energy expert Bogomil Manchev recently stated that the long-dormant Belene NPP project remains technically viable for restart. If Bulgaria and Ukraine jointly participate in financing and establish a co-ownership mechanism, the project could become a new nuclear power project built through bilateral cooperation. Manchev believes that Ukraine will still face significant electricity demand for a long period in the future. If funding can be secured for the project, Bulgaria could proceed with nuclear power plant construction at the original Belene site. His proposed options include joint financing and co-ownership by both countries, or Ukraine signing a long-term power purchase agreement to support project financing...

2026-07-23

U.S. Confirms Order for Nine Virginia-Class Block VI Nuclear Submarines

The U.S. Department of Defense has confirmed that it has signed a contract modification agreement with General Dynamics Electric Boat to order nine Virginia-class Block VI multi-purpose nuclear-powered submarines. The statement said the contract is an incentive-based modification, and the submarines will be used by the U.S. Navy. Despite delays in General Dynamics' previous orders, both parties have moved forward with this new contract. On July 15, U.S. President Donald Trump had asked the company's management to accelerate the construction progress of U.S. Navy submarines. In addition to the Virginia-class submarines, the U.S. Department of Defense has also ordered five Columbia-class Type II ballistic missile nuclear submarines from Newport News Shipbuilding. Under the contract arrangement, related work is expected to be completed before July 2038...

2026-07-31

China Fusion Energy Co., Ltd. Holds 2026 Mid-Year Work Conference and Semi-Annual Economic Operation Analysis Meeting

On July 29, China Fusion Energy Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as China Fusion or the Company) held its 2026 mid-year work conference and semi-annual economic operation analysis meeting to thoroughly implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and all previous plenary sessions, earnestly implement the spirit of the 2026 mid-year Party Leadership Group (Enlarged) Meeting of China National Nuclear Corporation, solidly advance the study and education on establishing and practicing a correct view of political achievements, comprehensively summarize the progress and effectiveness of the Company's operations and reform and development in the first half of the year, study and deploy work for the second half of the year, continuously promote the "Pursuing Excellence · Breaking New Ground through Reform" annual special action, and strive for a high-quality start to the 15th Five-Year Plan period. The Company's Party Secretary and Chairman, and the Party Secretary of the Southwestern Institute of Physics (hereinafter referred to as SWIP)...

2026-07-31

Germany to Establish Fusion Technology Research Center at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

The German federal government is advancing the layout for the country's first fusion reactor. According to a decision announced on July 29, 2026, by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR), one of three newly established fusion research centers will be located at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), focusing on fuel cycles, new materials, and engineering technology research for fusion power plants. In line with Germany's Fusion Action Plan, the new research centers will integrate the efforts of scientific institutions and industry to concentrate on solving key technical challenges before the application of fusion energy. The center at KIT will leverage the institute's expertise in fusion fuel cycles, high-performance materials, and core reactor components to advance related achievements...

2026-07-30

Russian flaw detection robots to be deployed for the first time at Egypt's El Dabaa NPP

Engineers from Russia's Ural Atomenergo and the Atomic Energy Non-Destructive Testing Center (NDTC) have developed an automated metal non-destructive testing system, which includes specialized inspection devices for reactor pressure vessel equipment. The system will be sent to Egypt's El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant for related equipment inspection. This is also the first deployment of such a standardized system at a nuclear power project outside Russia. The system consists of multiple robotic arms and a magnetic wheeled robot, capable of delivering ultrasonic flaw detection sensors and measuring devices to positions that are difficult for humans to access. The developer stated that the main goal of the system is to replace manual operations in high-radiation areas, reducing the risk of personnel entering hazardous zones for inspection tasks.

2026-07-30

Annual outage maintenance of Loviisa Nuclear Power Plant begins on August 2

Fortum, the Finnish state-owned energy company, announced that the annual outage maintenance of the Loviisa Nuclear Power Plant will commence on August 2, starting with Unit 2 and then transitioning to Unit 1. The maintenance is scheduled to continue until October 18. During this period, the two units will be taken offline for maintenance in rotation, with the other unit remaining in operation. As planned, Unit 2 will undergo a major annual overhaul conducted every eight years. During the maintenance, staff will unload the reactor fuel, inspect and pressure test the reactor pressure vessel, replace approximately one-quarter of the fuel, and complete a series of equipment maintenance and servicing tasks. Unit 1 will undergo a shorter routine annual maintenance, primarily involving fuel replacement and related maintenance work.

2026-07-30

The Institute of Plasma Physics, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, hosted the 2026 China-Korea Bilateral Workshop on Tungsten Metal First Wall and Plasma-Wall Interactions

Recently, the 2026 China-Korea Bilateral Workshop on Tungsten Metal First Wall and Plasma-Wall Interactions (2026 CN-KO  Workshop on W-based metal Wall and  Plasma-Wall Interactions) was held. This meeting, hosted by the Institute of Plasma Physics, is a series of conferences under the framework of bilateral science and technology cooperation between the Chinese and Korean governments. More than 40 researchers from institutions including the Korea Institute of Fusion Energy, the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, the Korea Institute of Materials Science, Pohang University of Science and Technology, the Institute of Plasma Physics, the Institute of Solid State Physics, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei University of Technology, and Beihang University participated...

2026-07-30

South Korea launches design of 250 MWe sodium-cooled fast reactor Helios

The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI), in collaboration with Hyundai Engineering & Construction and KEPCO E&C, has initiated the design of the next-generation sodium-cooled fast reactor Helios. The reactor is planned to have an electrical output of 250 MWe, based on the existing 100 MWe-class sodium-cooled fast reactor Salus-100 design, targeting large-scale power consumption applications such as AI data centers and industrial parks. Lee Je-hwan, head of the Fourth Generation Reactor Technology Development Department at KAERI, stated that future demand for large-scale carbon-free electricity around AI data centers and industrial parks...

2026-07-30

Hoisting in Place! Global Largest "Artificial Sun" Core Module Installation Progress Exceeds Two-Thirds

On July 28, local time in France, the sixth vacuum vessel module of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) tokamak device—Sector Module 1—successfully completed its overall hoisting and precise positioning. Thus, the assembly progress of ITER vacuum vessel modules has exceeded two-thirds. As the general assembly enters a new phase of multi-disciplinary cross-construction, the China Nuclear Engineering Consortium led the coordination of the international team to successfully complete this critical hoisting, laying a solid foundation for subsequent assembly tasks, while fully demonstrating the cross-cultural project management and overall coordination capabilities of the Chinese team in international mega-science projects. The vacuum vessel is a core component of the tokamak device, consisting of nine large sector modules installed and connected sequentially,...

2026-07-30

Romanian National Nuclear Power Company Responds to Review Comments on the Doicești SMR Project

SN Nuclearelectrica SA (SNN) responded on July 28 to the content involving the Doicești Small Modular Reactor (SMR) project in the summary of a report by the Romanian Prime Minister's supervisory body. The company stated that strategic nuclear energy projects should be comprehensively evaluated based on technological maturity, economic conditions, and regulatory requirements. Such projects remain in a complex development phase, with schedules and plans subject to updates as engineering, licensing, and technical verification work progresses. SNN noted that the initial development plan for the Doicești SMR project was based on information available at the project's launch, with an estimated timeline jointly developed with technology partners NuScale and Fluor (...

2026-07-29

SNPDRI's Comprehensive Surveying and Mapping Capabilities in Air, Space, Ground, and Sea Fully Upgraded

Recently, approved by the competent natural resources authority, the State Power Investment Corporation's State Nuclear Electric Power Planning, Design & Research Institute (SNPDRI) has completed an expansion of its Class A surveying and mapping qualifications, adding two new Class A professional categories: Aerial Photogrammetry and Photogrammetry & Remote Sensing. With this, SNPDRI has now obtained all five Class A surveying and mapping qualifications: Engineering Surveying, Marine Surveying, Geographic Information System Engineering, Aerial Photogrammetry, and Photogrammetry & Remote Sensing. Its integrated surveying and mapping capabilities across air, space, ground, and sea have achieved a leapfrog upgrade, and the enterprise's comprehensive geographic information service strength has reached a new height. The Class A surveying and mapping qualification is the highest industry entry permit. The simultaneous acquisition of these two qualifications is an authoritative recognition by the competent authority of SNPDRI's technological R&D, professional talent, quality management, and performance capability in major projects.

2026-07-29

Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute and SK Hynix to Jointly Use Proton Accelerator and Other Facilities for Semiconductor Radiation Reliability Research

The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute announced on July 29 that its Proton Science Research Group has signed a mutual cooperation agreement with SK Hynix to jointly utilize research facilities such as the proton accelerator to advance research on semiconductor radiation reliability. According to the agreement, the two parties will conduct joint research on proton beams and neutron beams generated by the proton accelerator and the HANARO research reactor, and explore methods to simulate real atmospheric and cosmic radiation environments using high-energy proton beams, gamma-ray beams, and neutron beams for radiation impact assessment of semiconductors and other products. In outer space and high-altitude aircraft flight environments, the shielding effect of the atmosphere and magnetic field against cosmic radiation is relatively weakened. After being exposed to cosmic radiation, semiconductors may experience malfunctions or damage. Therefore, semiconductors used in mobile devices such as automobiles and satellites need to have their radiation resistance verified before being put into use.

2026-07-29

Institute of Plasma Physics Visits ITER Headquarters in France for Exchange Activities

From July 7 to 9, 2026, a delegation from the Institute of Plasma Physics (ASIPP) visited ITER headquarters in France to engage in in-depth discussions regarding the joint commissioning plan for the device and the on-site commissioning of key ITER systems

2026-07-27

Zhang Guangjun, Vice Minister of Science and Technology, Attends the Opening Ceremony of the ITER International School and Visits the Southwestern Institute of Physics

On July 20, 2026, the opening ceremony of the 15th International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) International School was held in Leshan City, Sichuan Province. Spanning five days, this edition of the ITER International School focused on the the

2026-07-27

The Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, has made progress in developing heat-tolerant industrial lactic acid bacteria strains via heavy-ion beam mutagenesis.

Recently, researchers from the Institute of Modern Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the National Key Laboratory of Heavy Ion Science and Technology relied on the carbon ion beam provided by the Lanzhou Heavy Ion Research Facility (31111.02.H

2026-07-27