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U.S. Team Advances Offshore Engineering System for Uranium Extraction from Seawater, Accelerating Toward Industrial-Scale Application

Nuclear fuel startup SuperCritical Materials and the University of Michigan (U-M) have formally established a research collaboration to jointly design and test an offshore mechanical system for uranium-from-seawater extraction, aiming to advance this cutting-edge technology toward industrial-scale engineering application. SuperCritical Materials had previously obtained an exclusive commercial license for a patented adsorbent manufacturing process that captures dissolved uranium in seawater. This joint research and development effort shifts the focus to the field of engineering machinery, primarily developing the capability to support high-frequency deployment and long-duration...

2026-09-24

US Department of Energy Study Shows: Deep Borehole Disposal Option Can Significantly Reduce Nuclear Fuel Cycle Back-End Waste Disposal Costs

Results from a three-year US Department of Energy (DOE)-funded project show that Deep Boreholes technology can provide a safe and low-cost permanent disposal pathway for radioactive waste remaining after Nuclear Fuel Recycling. Deep Isolation Nuclear conducted a systematic assessment of multiple recycling waste disposal scenarios, and the results showed that the estimated costs for all tested scenarios were below the project's control target of "0.1 cents per kilowatt-hour of electricity generation." Long-term safety modeling also confirmed that under normal expected conditions, all options meet...

2026-09-24

Ethiopia Plans to Join Forces with Russia to Accelerate the Construction of Its Nuclear Power Project

Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation (Госкорпорация «Росатом» / Rosatom), stated that Ethiopia (Эфиопия / Ethiopia) is actively seeking to accelerate the development of its nuclear power industry. Likhachev noted that the two sides had previously reached a preliminary cooperation agreement, but before formally launching the construction of the nuclear power plant project, multiple statutory and technical preparatory procedures in the early preparation stage still need to be completed. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali (Абий Ах...

2026-09-24

Afrikantov Experimental Design Bureau of Mechanical Engineering Completes Manufacture and Delivery of MBIR Fast Reactor Primary Coolant Circulation Pumps

The machine-building division of Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation (Госкорпорация «Росатом» / Rosatom), Afrikantov Experimental Design Bureau of Mechanical Engineering (АО «ОКБМ Африкантов» / OKBM Afrikantov), has completed the manufacture and delivery of the primary coolant circulation pumps (Главные циркуляционные насосы, ГЦН) for the multi-purpose fast neutron research reactor (МБИР / MBIR). As core equipment of the reactor facility, these circulation pumps will be responsible for driving the coolant to circulate within the reactor core...

2026-09-24

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

Rosatom's Podolsk Machine-Building Plant Completes Manufacture of the Second RITM-200S Reactor for the First PEB-106 Floating Nuclear Power Plant

The Moscow Region enterprise Podolsk Machine-Building Plant (PAO ZiO-Podolsk), part of the mechanical engineering division of the State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom (Госкорпорация «Росатом» / Rosatom), has successfully manufactured the second RITM-200S (РИТМ-200С) reactor unit. This reactor will be installed on the PEB-106 (ПЭБ-106) floating nuclear power unit, designed specifically to ensure power supply for the large copper mining industrial cluster in the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug (Чукотский автономный округ / Chukotka Autonomous Okrug). The equipment has successfully passed hydraulic tests (Гидравлические испытания) confirming its structural strength, and a full-scale trial assembly (Контрольная сборка) verified absolute conformity of components with the design drawings.

2026-09-24

Balakovo NPP in Russia Conducts Steam Generator O&M Experience Exchange and Technical Support

Recently, at the Balakovo NPP in Saratov Oblast, Russia, a peer support mission focused on steam generator (Steam Generators / Парогенераторы) O&M technology and experience was successfully held. This event was a routine technical exchange organized by the WANO Moscow Centre (WANO-MC / ВАО АЭС-МЦ), aimed at bringing together industry expertise from multiple parties to further enhance the safety and reliability of nuclear power unit operation. The team participating in this support mission was composed of technical backbone personnel from multiple industry organizations and nuclear power plants, including the World Association of Nuclear...

2026-09-24

Rwanda Plans to Achieve Its First 110 MW Nuclear Power Generation Target by 2033

Rwanda's Minister of Infrastructure, Damien Murwanashyaka, disclosed this on Tuesday, September 22, while attending a meeting of the Senate Committee on Economic and Financial Affairs to discuss the government's initiatives to increase electricity access. Committee Chairperson Fulgence Nsengiyumva said the committee inspected electricity consumers and project sites to assess government planning, power capacity, efforts to promote off-grid energy, and the role of the private sector in increasing electricity access. Murwanashyaka said Rwanda is advancing the various procedures needed to build nuclear power facilities, including obtaining international certification and identifying suitable sites. As the Rwandan government works to expand national power generation capacity, Rwanda is expected to begin using nuclear energy to generate 110 megawatts of electricity between 2030 and 2033.

2026-09-23

AtkinsRéalis Joint Venture Wins $1.7 Billion Nuclear Power Plant Refurbishment Contract

The joint venture formed by Candu Energy, a subsidiary of AtkinsRéalis, and Aecon Group has signed a three-year, $1.7 billion contract with Ontario Power Generation (OPG) to officially launch the refurbishment of Unit 5 at the Pickering CANDU nuclear power plant. The scope of work includes retubing, feeder replacement, and steam generator replacement (RFBR). It is understood that the project is part of Ontario's larger nuclear expansion and life extension program. The program also includes the Bruce and Darlington nuclear...

2026-09-23

Bechtel Exits TerraPower's Sodium-Cooled Reactor Project

U.S. engineering, procurement, construction (EPC) and project management company Bechtel has decided to withdraw from TerraPower's Natrium nuclear reactor project. TerraPower stated that both parties have decided to develop independently and will re-tender the project's engineering, procurement and construction contract for building the first Natrium nuclear reactor in Kemmerer, Wyoming, USA.

2026-09-23

Mochovce Nuclear Power Plant Unit 4 Officially Connected to the Grid

According to the operator Slovenské elektrárne, Unit 4 of the Mochovce Nuclear Power Plant in Slovakia officially began generating electricity at 15:33 on Monday. This marks the last major stage before the unit enters commercial operation. The unit reached criticality and minimum controlled power in early August. Before approving entry into the latest stage of trial operation, the Nuclear Regulatory Authority of the Slovak Republic conducted a comprehensive inspection and assessed the relevant documents. The transition from physical startup to energy startup means that the heat generated by the reactor will be used to heat water and produce steam, thereby driving the turbine to generate electricity. Next, the reactor's output power will be gradually increased in stages—5%, 20%, 35%, 55%, 75% and 90%—with inspections and tests at each power level before further increases. When power reaches 20%, the unit will be officially connected to the Slovak power system. The final test will be continuous operation at 100% full power for 144 hours. Branislav Strýček, Chairman of the Board and CEO of Slovenské elektrárne, said: "With the successful completion of this stage, Slovakia will gain a new stable source of electricity. In the coming decades, it will make an important contribution to the country's energy security and the achievement of climate goals." Martin Mráz, Director of the Mochovce Completion Project, said: "We have successfully completed the fuel loading and physical startup stages... The achievement of this milestone is a recognition of the high level of professionalism of the Slovenské elektrárne project team and the quality of work of all those involved in the completion."

2026-09-23

Framatome of France Secures First U.S. High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium Nuclear Fuel Contract

French nuclear company Framatome announced that it has signed a commercial contract to supply one operating nuclear reactor in the United States with the world's first nuclear fuel with uranium-235 concentration higher than the industry standard of 5%, for use in replacing reactor fuel. Under the agreement, as part of the Advanced Fuel Management (AFM) program, Framatome will use AFM technology to supply higher-concentration fuel in batches starting in early 2028. The agreement includes the supply of a range of fuels to support long-term use of AFM fuel in the reactor, and includes additional fuel supply options for the future. The company did not disclose the name of the reactor that will use the fuel. Uranium-235...

2026-09-23

Samsung C&T Teams Up with GE, Hitachi and Synthos to Enter Europe's Small Modular Reactor Market

Samsung C&T's construction division has partnered with GE Vernova, Hitachi and Synthos Green Energy (SGE) to expand into Europe's small modular reactor (SMR) market. By integrating technology, engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) and business development capabilities, the parties aim to establish a business model for the repeat deployment of standardized small modular reactors across European countries. Samsung C&T announced on the 23rd that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the 22nd (local time) with GE Vernova, Hitachi and SGE to pursue market development and commercial...

2026-09-23

Palisades Nuclear Power Plant Restart Suspended Due to Fuel Assembly Issue

The Palisades Nuclear Power Plant in Covert Township, Michigan, encountered a problem during fuel loading operations, causing its ongoing restart process to be suspended. The 50-year-old nuclear power plant, located along the shore of Lake Michigan, had previously been planned to become the first decommissioned nuclear power plant in the United States to be restarted. Holtec, the operator of the nuclear power plant, confirmed that while loading radioactive fuel rods into the reactor, a fuel assembly unexpectedly tilted after being released by the handling device and became stuck in a non-vertical position. Due to this situation, the reactor is currently...

2026-09-23

Kairos Power Secures $100 Million Investment from Samsung to Build Nuclear Reactors for Google

Recently, Kairos Power received a $100 million investment from Samsung C&T to build nuclear reactors for Google. Samsung C&T Engineering will participate in the construction of Kairos Power's 50-megawatt demonstration reactor, which is planned for completion by 2030. As part of the deal, Samsung C&T will make an equity investment in Kairos Power and provide in-kind engineering services, with the combined value reaching up to $100 million. Kairos Power stated that the equity investment will account for $70 million of the total investment. Samsung C&T has participated in or helped build approximately a dozen nuclear reactors worldwide, possessing extensive...

2026-09-23