Putin Signs Decree Posthumously Awarding "Order of Courage" to Chief Engineer of Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant

Russian President Vladimir Putin recently signed a decree posthumously awarding the Order of Courage to Alexander Yakovlev, chief engineer of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, who was killed in an attack, in recognition of his bravery demonstrated in the line of duty. According to previously released information, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on July 15 stating that a service vehicle of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant was attacked by a drone that day, and Yakovlev was killed in the attack. The statement said the attack posed a threat to the safe operation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is one of the larger nuclear power facilities in Europe, and its operational safety has long drawn external attention...

2026-08-05

India's cumulative nuclear power generation surpasses 1 trillion units (1000 BU), NPCIL sets historic milestone

Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) announced on August 4 that cumulative nuclear power generation since the start of commercial operations has exceeded 100 billion kilowatt-hours (1000 Billion Units, equivalent to 1 trillion kWh) for the first time. The company stated that this milestone marks a significant achievement on India's path toward clean and sustainable energy, corresponding to avoiding approximately 860 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions—equivalent to approximately taking 187 million gasoline and diesel passenger vehicles off the road for a full year, or nearly the total annual greenhouse gas emissions of a single industrialized nation such as Germany or Japan. NPCIL data shows that electricity generated through nuclear power has effectively avoided substantial greenhouse gas emissions. Nuclear energy is recognized as one of the low-carbon and reliable energy sources, playing a critical role in addressing climate change...

2026-08-05

Croatia's Krško Nuclear Power Plant Only 3.4°C Away from Shutdown Threshold

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković on August 4 dismissed concerns that the Slovenia-Croatia jointly owned Krško nuclear power plant might be forced to shut down due to excessively high Sava River water temperatures, stating that power supply is secure and the situation is under control. However, the plant is actually approaching environmental cooling limits, and due to abnormally high temperatures and declining Sava River water levels, the safety limits at the Krško nuclear power plant are nearing critical thresholds. According to environmental regulations, the daily average temperature of the river at the complete mixing point must not exceed 28 degrees Celsius, and the daily temperature increase must not exceed 3 degrees Celsius. As of August 4, the Sava River in the area was 24.6 degrees Celsius, with a daily increase of 2.6 degrees Celsius, leaving only 3.4°C before the 28°C red line and 0.4°C before the 3°C daily increase red line...

2026-08-05

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

Russia's InterPolyaris Company Supplies Ball Valves for Nuclear Power Plants to Turkey

Russia's InterPolyaris Company is preparing a batch of equipment for overseas nuclear power plant projects, including various types of valves used for deep evaporation in liquid radioactive waste concentration systems and a type of steam disperser. This shipment is about to be delivered, aiming to ensure the safe operation and maintenance of nuclear power plants. Among the goods to be shipped to customers, ball valves are an important component. The main function of this type of valve is to partially or completely shut off pipelines, thereby achieving precise control and conveyance of the working medium flow. They will be used in a nuclear power plant project in the coastal region of Turkey as key components for regulating processes within the system. These ball...

2026-08-05

Students from 23 countries travel to the North Pole aboard the nuclear-powered icebreaker "50 Years of Victory"

The seventh "Knowledge Icebreaker" science and education expedition departed from Murmansk toward the North Pole, organized by Rosatom to coincide with the Year of National Unity in Russia. At the solemn departure ceremony, Captain Ruslan Sasov of the nuclear-powered icebreaker "50 Years of Victory" gave the order to set sail, with the vessel following the route Murmansk—North Pole—Franz Josef Land—Murmansk. The expedition team includes primary and secondary school students and vocational school students from eight federal districts of Russia, as well as their peers from 22 countries around the world. Those selected include winners of Russian and international open competitions, participants in the "Rosatom Youth"...

2026-08-05

U.S. NRC Approves Four SMR-300 Reactors at Oyster Creek Site in New Jersey

A retired nuclear power plant in New Jersey is getting a new lease on life with the construction of small modular reactors. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has approved the construction of four advanced small modular reactors (SMRs) at the site of the Oyster Creek nuclear power plant in New Jersey. The plant is currently in decommissioning, with more than half of the dismantling work completed. The Oyster Creek Generating Station, which began construction in December 1969 and operated for nearly 49 years until its closure in September 2018, was once the longest-operating commercial nuclear power plant in the United States. It produced over 192 terawatt-hours of carbon-free electricity in total. Supported by New Jersey's pro-nuclear legislation and stable local backing, Holtec plans to build...

2026-08-05

Ethiopia Advances Nuclear Power Regulatory Framework Development

The Ethiopian Technical Authority stated on August 4 that the country is strengthening its legal and regulatory framework in the nuclear energy sector, aligning with its strategic plan for future nuclear power generation and bringing relevant systems in line with international standards. As part of its nuclear power program, the Ethiopian Technical Authority has convened a stakeholder consultation forum bringing together government agencies, professional associations, and key partners to review the draft regulations for nuclear facility oversight. Solomon Getachew, Director General of the Ethiopian Technical Authority, stated at the forum that since the country formally notified the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of its intention to utilize peaceful nuclear technology for power generation, Ethiopia has undertaken various efforts in regulatory capacity building...

2026-08-05

U.S. and Paraguay Sign Civil Nuclear Energy Cooperation Agreement

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Paraguayan Foreign Minister Ruben Ramirez Lezcano signed a strategic civil nuclear energy cooperation memorandum of understanding in Washington on August 4. According to relevant information, the two sides signed what is commonly referred to as the "123 Agreement," which establishes the basic framework for bilateral cooperation in the field of civil nuclear energy. The 123 Agreement originates from Section 123 of the U.S. Atomic Energy Act, passed in 1954. This provision authorizes the United States to transfer civil nuclear technology for energy or scientific purposes to partner countries under specific conditions. As a prerequisite, the recipient country must comply with International Atomic Energy...

2026-08-05

NRC Preliminary Assessment Finds No Significant Environmental Impacts from Duane Arnold Nuclear Plant Restart

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued a draft environmental assessment for the restart of the Duane Arnold nuclear power plant, preliminarily concluding that the project would not result in significant environmental impacts. NextEra Energy plans to restart the Duane Arnold nuclear power plant in Palo, Iowa, as early as 2029, and has made significant progress. The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Advantage Financing participated as a cooperating agency in drafting the environmental assessment, as the department is considering providing financial support for the restart project. According to a notice in the Federal Register, NRC staff evaluated the potential impacts of restarting the 615-megawatt Duane Arnold nuclear power plant on land use, meteorology, air quality and...

2026-08-05

Arkansas Advances New Nuclear Power Plant Project, Hyundai Motor Supports SMR Construction

Entergy, Holtec International, and Hyundai Motor Group signed an agreement on August 4, 2026, to jointly advance a nuclear power generation project in White County, Arkansas. The project will utilize Holtec's technology for the design, manufacturing, and maintenance of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), while Hyundai Motor will be responsible for providing key equipment and technical support for the plant. This collaboration involves the construction of a new nuclear power plant in Arkansas, which is expected to provide reliable and clean electricity to the local area. Entergy will serve as the operator of the project, responsible for the safe operation and management of the nuclear power plant, and will also work closely with H...

2026-08-05

Amazon Withdraws Data Center Plans Near Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant

Amazon has withdrawn its plans to build data centers near the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant in Maryland. The decision comes after some local residents expressed concerns about the proposal, citing potential environmental and health impacts. Nevertheless, supporters argued that the move would bring new tax revenue to the region. Amazon had originally planned to establish seven facilities across three campuses on 2,000 acres of land near the nuclear plant. Calvert County Commission officials stated they would hold a public hearing on August 18 to consider a six-month temporary moratorium on any data center development projects. The proposed ordinance would establish a temporary pause...

2026-08-05

Oklahoma Strives to Build the Nation's First Nuclear Energy Innovation Hub

Oklahoma is actively competing to become the first nuclear energy innovation hub in the United States, having submitted a detailed 31-page proposal. The plan aims to cover the entire nuclear fuel lifecycle management, encompassing fuel fabrication, advanced reactor construction, spent fuel recycling, and permanent disposal of high-level radioactive waste. Oklahoma's goal is to establish the first permanent waste disposal solution in the U.S., achieving this before commercial nuclear power deployment. In the proposal, deep borehole drilling for radioactive waste disposal emerges as a key component. This method involves drilling thousands of feet deep and placing radioactive waste sealed in specially designed containers into the subsurface, followed by sealing the borehole.

2026-08-05

Rostov NPP Completes Preparations for Summer Peak Load

Russia's Rostov NPP has completed a series of preparations for the summer peak load period to cope with abnormally high temperatures in southern Russia and the growth in summer electricity demand, ensuring stable power supply. Located on the shore of the Tsimlyansk Reservoir, Rostov NPP is one of Russia's southernmost nuclear power plants and is part of the power division of Rosatom. The plant operates four VVER-1000 pressurized water reactor units, with each unit generating approximately 25 million kWh of electricity per day. Nuclear power accounts for more than 70% of electricity production in Rostov Oblast and approximately 30% of the unified power system of southern Russia. To cope with the high temperatures...

2026-08-05

U.S. Team Proposes New In-Situ Cleaning Method for Porous Tungsten Walls in Fusion Devices

Researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy's Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton University, and Pennsylvania State University have proposed an in-situ cleaning method for fusion system wall materials, which uses heating combined with neon plasma to remove contaminants from the surface of porous tungsten materials after components are installed and sealed within a vacuum chamber. The research findings have been published in *Nuclear Materials and Energy*. Image credit: Kyle Palmer / PPPL Communications Department. Fusion system walls must withstand extreme temperatures. Liquid lithium is considered a promising wall protection material, which can be retained within porous tungsten wall tile structures much like water absorbed by a sponge. However, this...

2026-08-05

Aternium to Build First U.S. Heavy Water and High-Purity Hydrogen Production Facility in Delaware

Aternium announced on August 4 that it has selected Dover, Delaware, as the site for its first commercial heavy water and electrolytic hydrogen production facility. The company has reached a definitive sales agreement for a parcel within Garrison Oak Technical Park, with the transaction expected to close by mid-Q4 2026. The project will serve as Aternium's flagship production initiative in the United States, planned to produce heavy water (deuterium oxide) and high-purity hydrogen. According to company disclosures, the project is expected to bring at least $226 million in capital investment to Dover, create dozens of direct and supporting jobs, and generate hundreds of construction jobs during the build-out phase...

2026-08-05

UK Office for Nuclear Regulation contributes to IAEA regulatory cooperation toolkit for advanced reactors

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recently published the Nuclear Harmonization and Standardization Initiative (NHSI) Regulatory Cooperation Toolkit. The UK Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) played a significant role in the development of this toolkit, which is designed to support cooperation among national nuclear regulators in the review of advanced reactor technologies. The toolkit is one of the key outputs of Phase 2 of the NHSI (2025–2026), developed jointly by multiple regulators participating in the NHSI Regulatory Track and the Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Regulators' Forum. The toolkit provides practical guidance, templates, and methodologies to help regulators conduct collaborative reviews, leverage existing regulatory assessment outcomes, and address...

2026-08-05

France's drought lowers river water levels, EDF shuts down three nuclear reactors

Affected by drought weather, water flows in France's Meuse and Moselle rivers have declined, and Électricité de France (EDF) has shut down three nuclear reactors in northeastern France. As of the afternoon of August 3, Units 1 and 2 at the Chooz Nuclear Power Plant in the Ardennes department, as well as one unit at the Cattenom Nuclear Power Plant in the Moselle department, remained offline. EDF shut down Unit 1 at the Chooz plant on Saturday evening to comply with the Meuse River management agreement signed between France and Belgium in 1998. Under the same agreement, Unit 2 at the Chooz plant has been offline since July 11. EDF stated that the agreement allows for adjustments to power generation arrangements based on hydrological conditions to safeguard water usage for users along the Meuse River in both France and Belgium.

2026-08-05

Westinghouse and Amentum Expand Cooperation to Support Scaled Deployment of APX Technology Platform

Westinghouse Electric Company announced on August 4 that it has reached a series of agreements with Amentum to expand cooperation around Westinghouse's APX technology platform, enhance the scaled deployment capability of AP1000 reactors, and advance the development and licensing of the AP300 Small Modular Reactor (SMR). Under the agreements, the two companies will collaborate to advance AP300 SMR regulatory approval from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Westinghouse stated that obtaining regulatory approval is a critical step for AP300's market entry, and Amentum's engineering capabilities and nuclear project experience will support these efforts. Westinghouse Electric...

2026-08-05

US BWXT in Discussions with Naval Reactors on Proposed Nuclear-Powered Warship Reactor Design

BWX Technologies is in preliminary discussions with the U.S. Naval Reactors program regarding a proposed nuclear-powered warship. According to company CEO Rex Geveden during the Q2 2026 earnings call, the project could begin long-lead procurement as early as 2028 if approved and funded by the U.S. Congress. Image credit: U.S. Navy. Geveden stated that the design could leverage the existing reactor design used in Ford-class aircraft carriers. Each Ford-class carrier is equipped with two large reactors, while the proposed warship could use one reactor of the same type. Given BWXT's existing naval propulsion systems business, this approach aligns directly with the company's current manufacturing capabilities...

2026-08-05

Nuvora Completes Independent Review of Pre-Feasibility Study for 300 MWth High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor Hydrogen Production

Nuvora Energy, Inc., a U.S. developer of advanced modular nuclear energy and clean hydrogen infrastructure, announced on August 3 that it has completed a pre-feasibility study for the integration of a 300 MWth prismatic high-temperature gas-cooled reactor with a solid oxide electrolyzer cell hydrogen island, along with an independent third-party review conducted by DBD International. The pre-feasibility study report, titled "Pre-Feasibility Study for Integrated Power Generation and Hydrogen Production Using a 300 MWth High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor," was released in May 2026, with revision number R01. DBD International was commissioned to conduct an independent review of the study and issued its review report, revision B, on May 20, 2026...

2026-08-05