Romania's Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant to Shut Down Completely Due to Low Danube Water Levels

Affected by persistent drought and low Danube water levels, the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant in Constanța County, southeastern Romania, is expected to be completely shut down within the next 48 hours. Sorin Lindasu, a representative of Romania's water utility company Apele Române, stated that based on current hydrological forecasts, the shutdown of the nuclear power plant is unavoidable and there is no other solution. On Tuesday local time, the Danube's flow rate at its Romanian estuary dropped to 1,370 cubic meters per second, below the previous historical low of 1,450 cubic meters per second. Meteorological forecasts indicate no significant rainfall in the Danube basin over the next five days. Cristian Bușoi, State Secretary of the Romanian Ministry of Energy...

2026-08-12

New Progress in Containment Construction of Unit 1 at Egypt's El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant

The Egyptian Nuclear Power Plants Authority announced that the fourth-layer concrete pouring of the containment inside the reactor building of Unit 1 at the El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant has been completed. This construction milestone raised the reactor building height from 24.4 meters to 34.0 meters above ground level, marking continued progress of Egypt's first nuclear power plant toward the key equipment installation phase. The pouring operation lasted 30 consecutive hours, utilizing 5 concrete pump trucks with placing booms and pouring approximately 1,608 cubic meters of concrete. During construction, about 80 professionals participated in each of the day and night shifts, with an additional 20 personnel ensuring round-the-clock stable operation of construction equipment and machinery, demonstrating the high-intensity advancement of the project in organizational scheduling and on-site coordination...

2026-08-12

South Korea Designates Small Modular Reactors and Nuclear Fusion as Key Future Growth Technologies

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung will chair a briefing session on the "Seven Seeds for Future Growth Engines" at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae on the afternoon of August 12, focusing on the development pathways for advanced technologies including Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and nuclear fusion, as well as related industrial ecosystems and supply chain security measures. According to Cheong Wa Dae, the meeting aims to jointly study advanced technology deployment with the science and industry communities, support artificial intelligence (AI) transformation, and strengthen South Korea's future industrial foundation capabilities. The seven areas designated as priorities include Small Modular Reactors, nuclear fusion, renewable energy, quantum technology, aerospace, advanced biotechnology, and advanced materials and component supply chains....

2026-08-12

Finland's Loviisa Nuclear Power Plant Launches Turbine Island Upgrade to Support Operation Until 2050

Finnish utility Fortum has launched a large-scale modernization project for the turbine island at the Loviisa Nuclear Power Plant. The project aims to increase the plant's electrical output and ensure the continued, safe, and reliable operation of both units through the end of 2050 under the new operating licenses. The Loviisa plant consists of two VVER-440 pressurized water reactor units and is Finland's first nuclear power plant, currently supplying more than 10% of the country's electricity. Unit 1 entered commercial operation in 1977, followed by Unit 2 in 1981, and the Finnish government approved the extended operating licenses in February 2023. The core of this upgrade is the modernization of the low-pressure turbines, which is the largest single undertaking in the Loviisa turbine island upgrade...

2026-08-12

Three units at France's Gravelines nuclear power plant automatically shut down due to jellyfish intrusion

French utility EDF recently stated on its website that three units at the Gravelines nuclear power plant in northern France automatically shut down after a large influx of jellyfish clogged the filtration system, triggering safety measures. The statement indicated that the incident occurred on August 10, 2026. Due to the jellyfish intrusion, three units at the Gravelines plant automatically shut down, while a fourth unit reduced its power output. The plant has a total of six reactors, of which the fifth reactor had already been shut down for planned maintenance, and the sixth reactor remained in operation. The Gravelines plant experienced a similar situation a year earlier, when a large number of jellyfish entered the relevant water intake and filtration systems, causing four reactors to automatically shut down...

2026-08-12

Japan's Mutsu Spent Fuel Interim Storage Facility May Expand Participants; KEPCO and Hokuriku Electric Power Say They Are Considering

Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) and Japan Atomic Power Company (JAPC) began contacting eight other domestic electric power companies that own nuclear power plants on August 10, asking whether they would be interested in participating in the expansion of the entities responsible for transporting spent fuel to the interim storage facility in Mutsu City, Aomori Prefecture. Among the eight companies contacted, Kansai Electric Power Company (KEPCO) and Hokuriku Electric Power Company indicated in response to the inquiries that they are considering whether to participate. In December 2025, TEPCO and JAPC had submitted a proposal to Aomori Prefecture and Mutsu City regarding the expansion of operating entities, and at that time they had also sought the intentions of these eight companies...

2026-08-12

North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea, increases temporary radiation disaster shelters to 96

North Gyeongsang Province announced on August 11 that it has increased the number of temporary radiation disaster shelters from 56 to 96 to enhance resident evacuation and accommodation capabilities in nuclear accident scenarios. The expansion primarily targets the areas surrounding Uljin County, where the Hanul Nuclear Power Plant is located, focusing on addressing the shortage of nearby accommodation capacity and strengthening the reception capability for evacuees in areas related to the Hanul radiation emergency planning zone, including Uljin, Yeongyang, and Bonghwa. Previously, due to limited shelter capacity in Uljin County, approximately 33,000 people were expected to require evacuation in the event of a nuclear accident, while local shelters could only accommodate about 13,000 people. To meet accommodation needs, Uljin County also had to utilize 5 shelters in Gyeongju and 2 in Pohang, with long-distance transfers being unfavorable for rapid evacuation.

2026-08-12

Automatic Reactor Trip at Unit 3 of Shin-Kori Nuclear Power Plant During Commissioning

Unit 3 of the Shin-Kori nuclear power plant in Ulju, Ulsan, South Korea, is undergoing commissioning ahead of its planned commercial operation this year. The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) stated that it had received a report from Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) that the unit's reactor automatically tripped at approximately 20:56 on the 11th. Unit 3 of the Shin-Kori plant received its operating license from the NSSC in December last year and is currently in the power ascension testing phase. KHNP reported that during the commissioning test, when reactor power reached 80%, the unit experienced a loss of power transmission, and the reactor subsequently tripped automatically. The unit has been confirmed to remain in a safe shutdown condition...

2026-08-12

UK PhD Students Travel to Canadian Nuclear Laboratories for Hands-On Nuclear Energy Training

On August 10, 2026, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) welcomed its first cohort of PhD students from the United Kingdom. The visit is part of a five-year collaboration with the UK's Skills and Training Alliance for a Nuclear Renaissance Centre for Doctoral Training (SATURN CDT), marking the launch of a new long-term partnership in the international development of nuclear energy talent. SATURN CDT is funded by the UK's Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and led by the University of Manchester, in partnership with seven UK universities. The program aims to provide the next generation of nuclear energy professionals with hands-on training beyond the classroom...

2026-08-11

U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration Extends Savannah River Site Management and Operating Contract to September 2027

The U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) announced on August 10 that it has exercised the remaining option on the Savannah River Site (SRS) Management and Operating contract with Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC, extending contract performance through September 30, 2027, with an estimated contract value of $2.3 billion. NNSA stated that exercising this remaining option will help maintain continuity and stability of the contractor workforce, allowing related work to continue advancing around the agency's critical missions. The current SRS Management and Operating contract was originally scheduled to expire on September 30, 2026...

2026-08-11

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

UK's Materials Detritiation Facility at Culham Resumes Operations to Support JET Fusion Decommissioning Materials Research

The UK Atomic Energy Authority recently announced that the Materials Detritiation Facility (MDF) at Culham has resumed operations following a 12-month engineering shutdown and upgrade. Experimental data produced by the facility has already been used to support research related to the removal of materials from the Joint European Torus (JET) device, providing a basis for waste management strategies under the JET Decommissioning and Repurposing (JDR) project. Over three years of plasma operations, deuterium-tritium (DT) experiments conducted at JET have left residual amounts of tritium in the tokamak's walls and internal components. This phenomenon is associated with tritium's tendency to enter materials under high-power fusion operating conditions. For JET decommissioning work, accurately determining the tritium...

2026-08-11

Spain plans renewable energy innovation center to address industrial transition after Vandellòs nuclear plant closure

The municipality of Vandellòs i l'Hospitalet de l'Infant in Catalonia, Spain, is promoting the construction of a research, training, and innovation center for renewable energy to address the potential industrial gap left by the future closure of the Vandellòs II nuclear power plant. The project, named the Innovation, Research, and Training Center for Efficiency and Renewable Energy (CIRFER), will be located on municipal land in the Les Tàpies industrial estate, aiming to sustain the technical foundation and employment ecosystem that has long developed around the energy industry in the area. According to the plan, the first phase of the project is expected to launch in 2028, with a budget of 3.9 million...

2026-08-11

Argentina Advances Private Capital Introduction in Nuclear Sector, Plans Life Extension for Atucha I Nuclear Power Plant

The Argentine government is pushing forward a new round of adjustments in the nuclear energy industry, with the core measure being the allowance of private capital into the state-owned nuclear power operator Nucleoeléctrica Argentina. Under the new regulatory framework, the state will retain 51% of shares and maintain control over strategic decisions, while up to 44% of equity can be offered to investors through public tenders, aiming to attract capital into this key industry of energy sovereignty significance. Government officials stated that proceeds from the partial equity sale will be directed toward projects considered energy infrastructure priorities, including the life extension project for Atucha I Nuclear Power Plant and fuel storage at Atucha II Nuclear Power Plant...

2026-08-11

Argentina's nuclear system faces cutback pressures; unions go to Senate to warn of strategic capability loss

Representatives from the Central of Argentine Workers (CTA Autónoma) and several nuclear sector unions recently met with the Peronist Senate caucus to express concerns over the current state of the national nuclear system. Attendees from Nucleoeléctrica Argentina S.A. (NA-SA), Dioxitek S.A., the Heavy Water Industrial Plant (PIAP), the National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA), and the Nuclear Regulatory Authority (ARN) argued that the current government's fiscal austerity policies are having a significant impact on the nuclear industry. The unions pointed out that Argentina's nuclear system is facing issues such as insufficient funding for public institutions, reduced investment, and stalled strategic projects. These projects are not only related to power generation and nuclear fuel...

2026-08-11

Mexico's Nuclear Power Planning Enters Critical Window, Pre-2035 Decisions Become Watershed for Energy Transition

Against the backdrop of major global economies reassessing the value of nuclear energy, Mexico's nuclear power policy is at a critical juncture of hesitation. The country currently operates only the Laguna Verde Nuclear Power Plant in Veracruz state, with two reactors totaling 1,552 megawatts of installed capacity, contributing approximately 3% of the nation's electricity. Despite its modest share, the plant's unit utilization rate approaches 88%, making it one of the most stable power generation sources in Mexico's electricity system and significant for ensuring baseload power supply. The operating licenses for Laguna Verde have been extended to 2050 and 2055 respectively, providing Mexico with a buffer period of roughly two decades. However, the issue lies in the fact that life extension does not equate to replacement planning...

2026-08-11

Romania Plans to Allocate 51 Million Lei for Danube Dredging to Ensure Operation of Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant

The Romanian government will allocate 51 million lei for Danube River dredging works, an arrangement specifically highlighted as crucial to the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant. The Danube is not only an important shipping route for Romania but is also closely linked to the operation of energy infrastructure—river water depth, flow conditions, and water intake safety all affect the stable operation of coastal industrial and power facilities. The Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant is a key asset in Romania's power system, and its operation requires stable water source conditions as cooling assurance. If the Danube experiences low water levels, sediment accumulation, or navigational obstructions, it could increase operational management pressure on the nuclear power plant and also affect the transport of fuel, equipment, and...

2026-08-11

EDF plans to add cooling towers at Golfech nuclear plant to cope with repeated shutdowns due to high temperatures

French utility EDF is planning to adapt the Golfech nuclear power plant in Tarn-et-Garonne to cope with increasingly frequent heatwaves. Since June this year, the plant has been shut down multiple times due to high temperatures, with another outage in early August, highlighting the growing operational pressure on nuclear facilities that rely on river water for cooling in the context of climate change. The direct cause of the Golfech shutdowns is not that the reactors themselves cannot operate, but rather that the Garonne River water temperature is too high. Under regulations dating from 2006, when the daily average water temperature of the Garonne downstream of the plant exceeds 28 degrees Celsius, EDF may reduce unit output or temporarily shut down. This restriction is primarily intended to protect the river ecosystem...

2026-08-11

French nuclear power sets record unavailability rate due to high temperatures and drought, one-sixth of capacity constrained

France's nuclear power system is under exceptional strain. Affected by persistent high temperatures and low river water levels, nuclear reactors operated by French utility EDF have recorded unprecedented unavailability. According to an AFP tally based on data published by EDF since 2015, on the afternoon of Sunday, August 9, 2026, the nuclear capacity shortfall caused by drought and extreme heat reached 15.6% of installed capacity, equivalent to roughly one-sixth of France's nuclear power capacity being temporarily unable to supply electricity normally. The cause of this disruption is not simply equipment failure, but is closely linked to the natural environment on which nuclear plant operations depend. Many nuclear plants draw water from rivers for cooling; when river levels are too low or water temperatures too high, the...

2026-08-11

KEPCO KPS Q2 Results Miss Expectations; Nuclear Maintenance Demand Expected to Drive Recovery in H2

KEPCO KPS's Q2 results significantly missed market expectations, mainly due to factors such as extended long-term planned preventive maintenance cycles for nuclear power plants and a reduction in external and overseas variable works. Data shows that the company's preliminary Q2 sales stood at KRW 437.9 billion, down 3.5% year-on-year; operating profit was KRW 43.6 billion, down 33.6% year-on-year, approximately 30.1% below market consensus; net profit attributable to controlling shareholders was KRW 38.3 billion, down 24.8% year-on-year. The operating margin fell to 10.0%, down 4.5 percentage points from the same period last year, indicating pressure on both the revenue side and, to some extent, the cost side. The nuclear maintenance business was one of the key factors dragging down Q2 performance. In Q2...

2026-08-11

South Korea's Honam Region Visits Busan Gijang for SMR Experience, Seeking New Solutions for Stable Semiconductor Power Supply

South Korea's South Jeolla Province and Gwangju region are paying attention to Small Modular Reactors (SMR) as a potential alternative for semiconductor industry power supply. On August 7, members of the "South Jeolla-Gwangju SMR-AI Energy Forum" visited the Gijang-gun Jangan-eup Gilcheon-ri Village Hall in Busan to hold discussions with the local nuclear safety consultative body, village representatives, the Gori headquarters of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, and relevant Gijang-gun departments, focusing on understanding Gijang's autonomous pursuit process and resident communication experience in the siting of the innovative Small Modular Reactor (i-SMR). The direct background of this visit is the potential stable power supply challenge that the semiconductor industry in the Honam region may face in the future. Semiconductor manufacturing relies heavily on continuous, reliable large-scale...

2026-08-11