Holtec, Entergy, and Hyundai Engineering & Construction Partner to Evaluate SMR-300 Deployment Opportunities in the Southern United States

On August 4, local time, Holtec International, Entergy Services, LLC, and Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd. (HDEC) announced a strategic collaboration to jointly evaluate potential opportunities for deploying Holtec's SMR-300 advanced small modular reactor within Entergy's service territory to power large-load customers. The collaboration is established through a non-binding memorandum of agreement. Under the arrangement, the three parties will conduct assessments around a potential two-unit SMR-300 project, focusing on customer demand,...

2026-08-05

Low Danube Water Levels Impact Nuclear Power Plant Operations in Romania and Hungary

On August 4, amid persistently low Danube River water levels, Romania was rushing to build temporary dikes to divert more river water toward the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant to secure cooling water for its remaining operational reactor. Meanwhile, Hungary stated that the only still-operating turbine unit at the Paks Nuclear Power Plant was running in a safe condition. Both Hungary's Paks Nuclear Power Plant and Romania's Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant rely on Danube River water for cooling. Recently, the Danube's water level dropped to historic lows, leading to a significant decline in nuclear power output in both countries. Budapest and Bucharest have had to increase electricity imports and call on residents and businesses to reduce consumption to ease grid pressure...

2026-08-05

Kalinin NPP Reaches 850 Billion kWh of Cumulative Power Generation

On August 4, Russia's Kalinin NPP reported that since the commissioning of its first unit, the plant has generated a cumulative total of 850 billion kWh of low-carbon electricity. This output is equivalent to approximately 3.5 years of electricity demand in Russia's Central Federal District. Kalinin NPP is part of the power division of Rosatom. Viktor Ignatov, the plant's director, stated that the cumulative generation of 850 billion kWh is the result of the long-term dedication and professional commitment of several generations of nuclear workers, built upon the expertise of the operating team, reliable unit performance, and the consistent prioritization of safety...

2026-08-05

Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant Briefly Loses External Power, Restored via 330 kV Line

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported on August 4 that the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant briefly lost external power supply that day. This marked the 24th occurrence of external power interruption at the plant since the outbreak of the related conflict. According to the report, the plant lost connection with the Ferrosplavnaya-1 transmission line, currently the only one still in service, in the afternoon, and emergency diesel generators provided backup power thereafter. The IAEA stated that the cause of the incident remains unclear. The plant management said the brief external power interruption was related to a technical fault in the automatic control system, and power supply was restored in less than an hour. Currently, the plant's auxiliary power is supplied by the 330 kV Fer...

2026-08-05

Turkey's Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1 Expected to Begin Power Generation by End of Year

Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar stated on August 4 that Unit 1 of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant is planned to begin power generation by the end of this year. Bayraktar said that the startup process for the plant's first reactor is being accelerated, with Turkish and Russian sides concentrating efforts to advance related work, aiming to complete preparations and initiate trial power generation before year-end. He also noted that approximately 2,000 tests need to be completed before the plant goes into operation. Currently, these testing activities are underway...

2026-08-05

Krško Nuclear Power Plant Operates at Full Capacity; Low Sava River Water Level May Affect Unit Output

Slovenia's Krško Nuclear Power Plant continues to operate at full capacity, but due to low water levels and elevated water temperatures in the nearby Sava River, a reduction in reactor power cannot be ruled out in the future. The plant stated that it is utilizing its cooling tower system and operating in compliance with environmental restrictions related to the Sava River. Due to insufficient recent precipitation, the Sava River's water level remains low, and river water temperatures are also staying in a higher range. Plant management also noted that increased cooling demands have already had a certain impact on the unit's power generation efficiency. Krško Nuclear Power Plant has notified relevant authorities in Slovenia and Croatia that if environmental restrictions are further tightened, it may be necessary to...

2026-08-05

South Korea to Launch Hearings on 12th Power Supply and Demand Plan, New Nuclear Projects Under Review

South Korea's Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment stated on August 4 that the government will advance procedures for the 12th Basic Plan for Power Supply and Demand, with the issue of new nuclear power plants to be included in public discussion and subsequent review. Kim Sung-hwan, Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment of South Korea (Photo source: Yonhap) South Korea's Climate Change Minister Kim Sung-hwan stated that the format and number of sessions for the public hearings on the 12th Basic Plan for Power Supply and Demand will be finalized this week, with plans to accelerate related procedures starting next week. Under the current schedule, the government intends to form a planning proposal in September or October and submit it for review through established procedures after completing public consultation. Regarding the issue of new nuclear power plants, Kim Sung-hwan stated...

2026-08-05

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to Fully Develop Small Modular Reactors, Targeting Commercialization in Japan

Against the backdrop of the Japanese government's push to expand nuclear energy utilization, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has decided to proceed with full-scale development of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), with the goal of achieving commercial application in Japan. This is seen as a significant step forward by a Japanese private enterprise toward the practical deployment of SMRs. The Basic Energy Plan approved by Japan's Cabinet last year calls for maximizing the use of nuclear energy. At a ministerial meeting held last week, the Japanese government once again confirmed its commitment to advancing the research, development, and deployment of next-generation nuclear reactors. SMRs represent one of the technology pathways for next-generation nuclear reactors. Due to their smaller unit size and higher degree of modularization, the industry generally...

2026-08-05

Shimane Nuclear Power Plant Unit 2 Completes Fuel Replacement and Installs Containment Vessel Head

Chugoku Electric Power Co. on August 4 disclosed the installation work of the containment vessel head for Unit 2 of the Shimane Nuclear Power Plant. The unit is currently undergoing periodic inspection, with major procedures such as nuclear fuel replacement already completed. Unit 2 of the Shimane Nuclear Power Plant, located in Matsue City, Japan, was restarted two years ago. Chugoku Electric Power Co. halted the unit's operation in February this year and has been conducting periodic inspections as scheduled. To date, all 560 nuclear fuel assemblies in the unit have been removed, and safety confirmation of the reactor core has been completed. Approximately 120 of these fuel assemblies were replaced with new nuclear fuel assemblies, followed by the phase of resetting related equipment and confirming seal integrity...

2026-08-05

Finland's Olkiluoto Spent Nuclear Fuel Final Disposal Facility Passes Regulatory Safety Assessment

The Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority of Finland (STUK) released a safety assessment report on August 4, concluding that Posiva's spent nuclear fuel encapsulation plant and final disposal facility at Olkiluoto, Finland, meets the safety requirements for an operating license. This conclusion brings the project, regarded as the world's first industrial-scale geological final disposal facility for spent nuclear fuel, one step closer to obtaining government approval for operation. The facility is located on Olkiluoto Island in the municipality of Eurajoki, southwestern Finland, and is designed to dispose of spent nuclear fuel generated by the Olkiluoto nuclear power plant units of Teollisuuden Voima Oyj (TVO) and the Loviisa nuclear power plant units of Fortum. Posiva submitted its operating license application in December 2021...

2026-08-05

Approximately 13,000 liters of water found in Unit 3 of Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant; Chubu Electric continues investigation into data falsification

Japan's Chubu Electric Power announced on August 4 that water accumulation totaling approximately 13,000 liters was found in the turbine building and related areas of Unit 3 at the Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant. The company stated that the accumulated water contains no radioactive substances and is currently investigating the specific cause. According to Chubu Electric Power, at around 11:00 a.m. on the 4th, a worker from a partner company discovered approximately 5 liters of water in a passageway on the northwest side of the first basement floor of the turbine building adjacent to the reactor building of Unit 3. Subsequently, company personnel continued on-site inspections and confirmed at around 3:00 p.m. the same day that approximately 13,000...

2026-08-05

South Korea Designates SMR and MMR as National Strategic Technologies; South Gyeongsang Province Says It Will Promote Transition of Nuclear Power Companies

South Gyeongsang Province said on August 4 that it welcomes the South Korean government's designation of Small Modular Reactors (SMR) and Micro Modular Reactors (MMR) as national strategic technologies in the 2026 tax reform plan. Under the relevant arrangement, the South Korean government will revise the Special Tax Treatment Control Act and its enforcement decree to include industries related to small modular reactors of 300 MW or less and micro modular reactors of 20 to 30 MW class within the scope of national strategic technologies. Going forward, companies conducting R&D on SMR and MMR technologies or investing in related facilities will be eligible for higher tax credits for R&D and facility investment. South Gyeongsang Province believes that this policy will provide an opportunity for local nuclear power companies to transition into the SMR...

2026-08-05

South Korea Accelerates Safety Reviews of Long-Term Operating Nuclear Reactors and Advances Licensing of First Spent Fuel Dry Storage Facility

The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) of South Korea stated at its second-half work report meeting on August 4 that it will accelerate safety reviews of long-term operating nuclear reactors while simultaneously advancing regulatory efforts such as licensing systems for spent fuel dry storage facilities and small modular reactors. Under the plan, the NSSC will conduct safety inspections on nine reactors applying for continued operation, with review standards referencing newly built nuclear power plants and confirming safety margins in consideration of the characteristics of long-term unit operation. Among these, whether Kori Nuclear Power Plant Units 3 and 4 will be approved for continued operation in the second half of this year, and whether Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant Units 1 and 2 will be approved for continued operation in the first half of next year, are the near-term review priorities...

2026-08-05

Hungary's Paks Nuclear Power Plant may fully resume operations in about a week

Hungarian authorities stated that if weather forecasts hold true, rainfall in the Danube basin areas of Austria and Germany on Thursday will raise river water levels, and the Paks Nuclear Power Plant may fully resume operations in about a week. Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar said on social media that if meteorological and hydrological calculations are accurate and significant precipitation occurs in the relevant Danube basin regions, water levels are expected to rise to the level required for plant operation. At that point, the turbines and units at the Paks Nuclear Power Plant can be restarted. Located along the Danube River in Hungary, the plant's unit operations are closely linked to river hydrological conditions...

2026-08-05

Czech Republic Leads EU Project to Assess Application of Commercial-Grade Items in VVER Nuclear Power Plants

The Czech State Office for Nuclear Safety (SÚJB) has launched a two-year EU project focused on assessment methodologies for the application of high-quality commercial-grade items in nuclear power plants equipped with VVER reactors. The project aims to establish a unified, expert-judgment-based evaluation process that provides methodological support for nuclear facilities when introducing relevant items, while ensuring that nuclear safety requirements are not compromised. As the nuclear power supply chain landscape evolves, certain plant-specific components may face the need to be replaced by commercial-grade products. In response, regulatory authorities need to establish clear rules to review the suitability, quality assurance, and safety implications of substitute items. The project will focus on evaluating...

2026-08-04

First H-mode plasma with ELMs achieved on WEST

Recently, the C13 experimental campaign on the French tungsten tokamak WEST achieved a major breakthrough, successfully producing H-mode plasmas with Edge Localized Modes (ELMs). This is a key step in preparing for plasma scenarios relevant to the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) and future fusion power plants. Over the past nearly three months, scientists, engineers, and technicians from the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) at Cadarache, together with international collaborators, conducted the C13 experimental campaign. This campaign aimed to address a series of key scientific and technical challenges in magnetic confinement fusion, covering the behavior of plasma-facing components and advanced plasma scenarios. The experiments focused on...

2026-08-04

Unit 2 of Romania's Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant can only operate for about 5 more days due to the continuously declining water level of the Danube River

Unit 2 of Romania's Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant is expected to operate for only about five days due to the declining water level of the Danube River. Romeo Urjan, the plant's director, stated that if the Danube's water level continues to drop at a rate of 2 to 3 centimeters per day, Unit 2 will soon cease operation. Unit 1 has already been shut down due to insufficient water flow. Urjan emphasized that despite this, Unit 2 continues to operate within normal parameters, and nuclear safety is not under any threat. To alleviate the situation, relevant authorities are preparing to deploy four barges to divert more water to the plant, hoping to raise the water level by 7 to 8 centimeters, thereby extending the plant's operating time. Related...

2026-08-04

Romania purchases nuclear electricity from Ukraine via Moldova to fill gap left by Cernavoda Unit 1 outage

Romanian state-owned nuclear power company Nuclearelectrica announced on August 3 that it purchased electricity from Ukraine, using Moldova's state-owned power supplier Energocom as an intermediary. Although the specific transaction amount is confidential, the price will be determined at market rates. This purchase is intended to compensate for the power gap caused by the shutdown of Unit 1 at the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant, thereby mitigating the impact on Romania's energy market. According to the statement, the purchase price will reference official prices on regional spot exchanges, particularly during peak demand hours from 7 PM to 10 PM. Given the widespread heatwave and tight electricity demand currently affecting Romania and Europe, the market...

2026-08-04

IAEA Inspects Ukrainian Energy Company Substations

On August 3, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) completed its latest inspection of key substations belonging to a Ukrainian energy company. The inspection aimed to assess energy infrastructure, particularly critical facilities affecting the safe operation of Ukraine's nuclear power plants. The Ukrainian side granted the IAEA delegation access to critical high-voltage substation systems for comprehensive monitoring. This comprehensive monitoring of substations was made possible by the expansion of the IAEA's mandate in September 2024. Under the new mandate, international inspectors can monitor not only the safety status of nuclear power plants but also the critical transmission system facilities that ensure their stable operation. Notably...

2026-08-04

Moscow Cable Company Shield to Supply 4 km of Busbar Trunking for Units 3 and 4 of Leningrad NPP Phase II

Moscow Cable Company (Shield) will supply four kilometers of transmission lines for the Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant. The company will manufacture 10 kV and 24 kV generator voltage transmission lines for Units 3 and 4 of Leningrad NPP Phase II. These transmission lines meet the highest reliability and safety requirements of the nuclear industry and are equipped with current transformers and voltage transformers produced by Cable Shield Company. The transmission lines will be manufactured at the enterprise in the city of Kovrov, where new production capacity for cable trays was built last year. Currently, the plant's annual production capacity reaches 12,000 meters of cable trays. According to statistics, over 400,000 meters of transmission lines produced by the company have been put into operation...

2026-08-04

Greece to Set Up Cross-Ministerial Group to Study Nuclear Energy Deployment, with Focus on Small Modular Reactors

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced that Greece will establish a cross-ministerial group to study the scientific basis and legal framework required for the potential deployment of nuclear energy. The Greek government has approved the establishment of the relevant cross-ministerial body, laying the institutional foundation for subsequent assessment work. At a cabinet meeting held on July 30, Mitsotakis stated that an increasing number of countries are considering generating electricity using small modular reactors, and Greece cannot ignore this trend. He said Greece should at least conduct research and obtain complete data before making any decisions. The effort aims to keep Greece abreast of international nuclear technology developments and build a professional...

2026-08-04