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Unit 2 of Leningrad NPP-2 with a VVER-1200 reactor has been taken out of service as planned for a mid-term major overhaul

At 00:30 Moscow time on September 21, 2026, Unit 2 of Leningrad NPP-2 (Ленинградская АЭС-2 / Leningrad NPP-2) with a VVER-1200 (ВВЭР-1200) reactor was formally disconnected from the grid and entered a planned mid-term major overhaul (Плановый средний ремонт) in accordance with established approval procedures and the maintenance schedule of the Russian Power and Energy Group's Rosenergoatom Concern (АО «Концерн Росэнергоатом» / Rosenergoatom). The overhaul program covers hundreds of individual works, with a focus on the reactor and...

2026-09-24

Turkey and Danish Developer Sign Memorandum of Understanding on Thorium-Based Molten Salt Reactor Research

On September 9, 2026, the Turkish Ministry of Energy stated that the Turkish Energy, Nuclear and Mining Research Institute (TENMAK) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Danish advanced reactor developer Copenhagen Atomics (CA), under which the two parties will conduct collaborative research on the application of thorium as a potential nuclear fuel for molten salt reactors. Tenmak and Copenhagen Atomics signed the memorandum of understanding on September 7. Photo courtesy of the Turkish Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources. The Turkish Ministry of Energy stated that the cooperation aims to advance research in areas related to thorium as a potential fuel for nuclear reactors, with a focus on assessing...

2026-09-10

First concrete poured for turbine building foundation of Unit 3 VVER-1200 at Leningrad NPP Phase II

On September 9, 2026, concrete pouring began for the foundation of the turbine building of Unit 3 VVER-1200 at Leningrad NPP Phase II in Russia. Construction workers have completed the pouring of the central section of the future foundation, with concrete consumption approaching 5,000 cubic meters. This pour is the first stage of construction of the foundation structure for this building. According to the plan, the contractor will use nearly 5,000 tonnes of rebar and more than 20,000 cubic meters of high-strength concrete to build a monolithic foundation slab 2.5 meters high and more than 8,000 square meters in area. The related operations are currently being carried out simultaneously in 7 construction zones. Konstantin Khudyakov, head of the Leningrad NPP project at TITAN-2 Holding (TITAN-2), said that the foundation construction of the turbine building places high demands on concrete quality, pouring technology and curing conditions, especially in the first few days after pouring, when it is necessary to focus on controlling on-site temperature and humidity and preventing mechanical damage. After the concrete reaches design strength, the contractor will, together with the owner, use non-destructive testing methods to inspect the structure, including ultrasonic testing; at the same time, specimens made from the same batch of concrete will also be subjected to compressive tests on a hydraulic press to confirm that the foundation is capable of bearing the loads of walls, floors, piping and large operating equipment.

2026-09-10

Grid Connection of Unit 1 at Bangladesh's Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Delayed Again

The grid connection of Unit 1 at Bangladesh's Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant has been delayed once again. Fakir Mahbub Anam, Bangladesh's Minister of Science and Technology, stated that two critical safety valves of the unit exposed technical faults during testing, and the next phase of testing cannot be initiated for the time being. A specific timeline for troubleshooting and grid connection of the unit has yet to be determined. Located in the Pabna region of Bangladesh, the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is being constructed with financing and technical support from Russia, with plans for two VVER-1200 units totaling approximately 2,400 megawatts of installed capacity. On April 28 this year, the unit commenced fuel loading preparation and testing work, when the project...

2026-09-07

Progress on Contract Work for Vietnam's Ninh Thuan 1 Nuclear Power Plant

Alexey Likhachev, President of Rosatom, stated on September 3 during the Eastern Economic Forum that contract work for the construction and operation of Vietnam's first nuclear power plant, Ninh Thuan 1, is progressing. Likhachev said that relevant contract documents are being expedited, with the goal of reaching legally binding agreements on the project timeline and configuration options. He noted that the VVER-1200 Generation III+ reactor has been selected as the technical solution for the Ninh Thuan 1 Nuclear Power Plant. Meanwhile, both sides are also conducting preliminary research work on a research reactor. Vietnam's National Assembly decided in December 2024 to restart the Ninh Thuan 1 Nuclear Power Plant project. The project was previously suspended in 2016. According to an intergovernmental agreement signed during the Vietnamese Prime Minister's visit to Russia in March this year, the Ninh Thuan 1 Nuclear Power Plant will be built using advanced Russian technology and financed through a special loan provided by the Russian Federation.

2026-09-04

Hungary's Paks II Nuclear Project May Require Major Adjustments

According to sources familiar with Hungary's nuclear industry and discussions on the Paks II nuclear project, the new Hungarian government led by Peter Magyar believes that the Paks II project, based on Russia's Rosatom design, can only proceed if major adjustments are made. Sources said that due to factors such as ethics, technology, sanctions restrictions, licensing procedures, and existing contract terms, the Paks II project is difficult to continue under its original arrangement. However, industry insiders also believe that it would not be appropriate to abandon the project outright due to short-term sentiment or temporary setbacks. If more participants could be brought in,...

2026-09-04

Russia Says Will Advance Nuclear Cooperation with China, India

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Russia has multiple cooperation plans with China and India, including in the nuclear energy sector. Speaking at a lecture held by the Russian Znanie society during the Eastern Economic Forum, Lavrov stated that Russia has many plans with both China and India, specifically mentioning nuclear energy cooperation. In recent years, cooperation between Russia and China and India in the nuclear energy field has continued to advance. On the China-Russia front, physical startup of Unit 7 at the Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant was initiated on August 12, 2026. This unit, along with Unit 8 at Tianwan and Units 3 and 4 at the Xudabao Nuclear Power Plant, are part of the Russia-China nuclear cooperation projects, adopting Russia's VVER-1200 Generation III reactor design, with related construction work launched in the spring of 2022.

2026-09-04

Rosatom and the Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Atomic Energy Sign Contract for the Construction of a Nuclear Power Plant

Document Defines the Responsibilities of the Russian and Kazakhstani Parties in the Future Balkhash Nuclear Power Plant Project

2026-09-03

Hungary Plans Additional ~EUR 300 Million in Funding for Paks II Nuclear Power Plant

The Hungarian government plans to allocate an additional HUF 111.6 billion, equivalent to approximately EUR 305.5 million, to the Paks II nuclear power plant project. The funds have been included in the draft amendment to the 2026 budget, which is expected to be submitted to the Hungarian Parliament for review. According to the budget document, financial support for the Paks II project through the end of 2026 will increase from HUF 95 billion to HUF 206.6 billion, approximately EUR 565.5 million. Based on relevant calculations, over the past 12 years, the Hungarian government has directly allocated HUF 628.7 billion, exceeding EUR 1.7 billion, to the project; with the inclusion of this budget arrangement, cumulative financial support will exceed EUR 2.2 billion. The Paks II nuclear power plant involves the participation of Russia's State Atomic Energy Corporation (Rosatom)...

2026-08-31

Four Units of Egypt's Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant Under Simultaneous Construction

Alexey Likhachev, President of Rosatom, and Mahmoud Esmat, Egypt's Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, recently discussed the construction progress of the Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant. As Egypt's first nuclear power plant, the Dabaa project is planned to feature four VVER-1200 reactor units, which are expected to provide electricity for approximately 20 million people once completed. Likhachev stated that the project has entered a critical construction phase, with all four units progressing simultaneously. Among them, Unit 1 serves as the pilot unit for the project and is scheduled to be connected to the grid in 2028. To achieve this goal, the project team still needs to complete several tasks, including the delivery of nuclear fuel in 2027.

2026-08-26

Vietnam's National Assembly Approves Agreement for Ninh Thuan 1 Nuclear Power Project

Vietnam's National Assembly on August 24 approved agreements related to the Ninh Thuan 1 Nuclear Power Plant project at the first extraordinary session of the 16th National Assembly, advancing the country's first commercial nuclear power project into a new preparatory phase. The project plans to build two Russian-designed VVER-1200 pressurized water reactor units with a total installed capacity of approximately 2,400 MW. The Vietnamese government news website reported that Vietnam and Russia signed an intergovernmental agreement in Moscow in March this year, establishing a framework for cooperation on the construction of the Ninh Thuan 1 Nuclear Power Plant. Under the current plan, Russia will participate in the supply and construction of the project. On the same day, the National Assembly also voted to pass a resolution to split the original Ninh Thuan nuclear power project into three independent projects, namely Ninh Thuan 1...

2026-08-25

Egypt plans to add two more units at El Dabaa nuclear power plant

Egypt is planning to add two more nuclear power units at the Dabaa nuclear power plant on its Mediterranean coast. Currently, four units provided by Russia's State Atomic Energy Corporation (Rosatom) for the project are already under construction. Egypt's Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, Mahmoud Esmat, stated that the expansion plans will be discussed with Rosatom. According to Egyptian sources, no timeline has been set for the negotiations, and no final decision has been made on the expansion plan. The expansion concept is part of Egypt's efforts to increase the share of nuclear and renewable energy in power generation and reduce dependence on traditional fuels. Egypt is particularly seeking to reduce its reliance on natural gas. According to the U.S. Energy Information...

2026-08-20

Rosatom Public Council holds expanded meeting in Novovoronezh

The Public Council of Rosatom recently held an expanded field meeting in Novovoronezh and organized a technical tour of the Novovoronezh Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) for its delegation. The event was timed to coincide with commemorative activities related to Unit 6 of the Novovoronezh NPP. The unit features a VVER-1200 reactor and is one of Russia's flagship Generation III+ nuclear power projects. The meeting was held online and chaired by Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev. Participants included representatives of Rosenergoatom, Russia's nuclear power operator, Rosatom, the Voronezh Region government, the city of Novovoronezh, as well as public, environmental, and research organizations. Representatives from the scientific community of Primorsky Krai also took part in the visit, as the region plans to develop nuclear energy projects in the coming years.

2026-08-18

First Power Transmission Line Commissioned at Smolensk NPP-2 Construction Site

The first power transmission line has been commissioned at the construction site of Russia's Smolensk NPP-2. The line will provide stable power supply and round-the-clock lighting for the construction and installation base, freeing on-site work from natural daylight constraints. According to the project schedule, the construction site is currently connected to the 10 kV grid via a temporary scheme, with a switch to the permanent power supply system planned after the 110/10 kV permanent substation is put into operation. During construction, the contractor laid over 3 kilometers of cable and installed more than 60 transmission line towers under challenging weather conditions. During the construction phase of the installation base, stable power supply plays a fundamental role in project progress. The site needs to complete the construction of rebar module and rebar cage fabrication workshops on schedule, establishing a complete preparation flow from metal processing to finished component delivery. These components will be used directly in the subsequent construction of the main structures of the nuclear power units.

2026-08-18

Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant: Türkiye's Gateway to the Nuclear Supply Chain and a Platform for Long-Term Technology Acquisition

On August 15, Professor Şer Ergun, Head of the Nuclear Engineering Department at Hacettepe University, commented on the commissioning progress of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant in Mersin Province, emphasizing the project's strategic and technical significance for Türkiye. She noted that the VVER-1200 technology used at Akkuyu is operational in multiple countries worldwide, and Türkiye is seizing this opportunity to operate modern reactor technology while accumulating nuclear knowledge and experience and strengthening international cooperation through collaboration with other VVER-1200 user countries. She also stressed that Turkish engineers should actively participate in similar projects. Ergun stated that Akkuyu's value should not be assessed solely from the perspective of power generation, but also from its contribution to the nuclear technology ecosystem. The project provides...

2026-08-16