Search Results

France to Invest €18 Million in Nuclear Fission Research Program

The French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) recently announced the launch of a new scientific research program on nuclear fission. The program will run for six years, from 2026 to 2031, with a total funding of €18 million. Financed by the French government under the France 2030 initiative and coordinated by the French National Research Agency (ANR), the program aims to strengthen the scientific foundation required for the development of current and future nuclear fission technologies. Under the arrangement, approximately half of the funding will be allocated to human resources development, including doctoral and postdoctoral projects; the remaining funds will be directed toward research equipment and infrastructure, covering particle accelerators, experimental reactors, and radiochemistry laboratories, among others....

2026-09-08

Armenian NPP Unit 2 Reconnected to Grid After Overhaul

September 3 news, Armenian Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure David Khudatyan stated that Unit 2 of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant has resumed operation and been connected to the country's unified power grid after completing a five-month planned overhaul. Khudatyan said that on September 1, 2026, Unit 2 of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant was restarted after scheduled maintenance and connected to the national unified power grid. Currently, the unit is operating normally, with power output gradually increasing in accordance with established process requirements. The planned overhaul began on April 1 and lasted 153 days as scheduled. During the overhaul, approximately 20 measures were implemented at the plant to enhance unit reliability, safety, and operational efficiency...

2026-09-08

Global nuclear power generation hits record high in 2025

According to the World Nuclear Outlook Report released by the World Nuclear Association (WNA), global electricity generation from nuclear reactors reached 2,702 TWh in 2025, up from 2,667 TWh in 2024, setting a new historical record. The report estimates that if all countries' stated nuclear energy targets are fully achieved, global nuclear installed capacity could more than triple current levels by 2050. The report assesses the progress made by 38 countries toward the goal of tripling global nuclear capacity by 2050, and puts forward policy recommendations for governments, industry, financial institutions, and regulators. In terms of operating nuclear units, the report notes that despite the increasing service life of individual units, global nuclear power plants...

2026-09-08

US Kairos Completes First Phase Testing of ETU 3 Reactor Model

Kairos Power announced on September 7 that its Engineering Test Unit 3 (ETU 3) has completed the first phase of testing. The testing, centered on the Hermes 2 reactor cavity model, validated the precast concrete shielding design as well as remote operation and maintenance capabilities, providing support for the design of the Hermes 2 demonstration plant and subsequent commercial units. Reactor cavity model (Image: Kairos Power) ETU 3, located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, is part of Kairos Power's iterative development program for its fluoride salt-cooled high-temperature reactor (KP-FHR) technology. The unit is a scaled, non-nuclear mockup cavity consisting of a reactor pressure vessel and precast concrete shielding structures.

2026-09-08

Argentina Plans to Commission RA-10 Multipurpose Reactor in 2027

Argentina's National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA) and the Nuclear Affairs Secretariat recently stated that the RA-10 multipurpose research reactor at the Ezeiza Atomic Centre is planned to begin commissioning before the end of this year, with the goal of achieving operation in 2027. (Image source: CNEA) According to the project site, RA-10 is currently in its final phase, with approximately 530 workers completing the remaining construction and system testing in preparation for subsequent reactor commissioning and operation. The project is currently about 96% complete overall. RA-10 is a 30 MW open-pool multipurpose research reactor that will provide products and services to the medical, scientific, technological, and industrial sectors once completed. Among these, molybdenum-99 will be one of its key products...

2026-09-08

UK Report Says Russia's Uranium Supply Share Could Rise to 36% by 2040

The UK-based non-governmental organization Center for Strategic Advantage (CSA) recently released a report stating that if countries advance uranium production according to existing plans and operate all deposits at full capacity, Russia's share of global uranium supply could rise from roughly one-quarter at present to 36% by 2040. The report argues that Western countries face issues such as insufficient investment and delays in permitting new mine development, making it difficult to meet future demand. Meanwhile, Russia's uranium mining capacity is expected to continue growing. Project director Gareth Heywood stated that by 2040, some countries' dependence on Russian uranium production could approach the level of their dependence on Russian natural gas and oil around 2022.

2026-09-08

Restart of Unit 3 at Japan's Tomari Nuclear Power Plant May Be Delayed to After End of 2027

The restart of Unit 3 at the Tomari Nuclear Power Plant, operated by Hokkaido Electric Power in Tomari Village, Hokkaido, Japan, may be delayed to after the end of 2027. The company currently maintains its stated target of a restart in early 2027, but has not yet provided a specific date. Key factors affecting the restart schedule include delays in the construction of the tsunami protection embankment, a fatal accident during construction that occurred during the review process by the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) of Japan, and certain technical matters that remain under confirmation and consultation. Hokkaido Electric Power has stated that the embankment is expected to be completed by mid-August 2027. The project was originally scheduled for completion around March 2027, but has been extended due to blizzard conditions and additional...

2026-09-08

UK's First TerraPower Natrium Reactor Could Generate Power by 2034

TerraPower, the US nuclear power company backed by Bill Gates, expects its Natrium sodium-cooled reactor could generate electricity in the UK as early as 2034. If the project progresses smoothly, the UK will become the company's first market for deploying this technology outside the United States. TerraPower CEO Chris Levesque said that given the company's first Natrium reactor project is scheduled for completion in 2031, the Natrium technology is highly likely to become a reality in the UK by 2034. The technology has already met relevant US regulatory requirements, and the first unit is under construction in Wyoming. In recent years, the UK has accelerated the development of small modular re...

2026-09-08

Russian nuclear power plants generated 149.1 billion kWh of electricity in 2026 as of September 7

Rosenergoatom, a subsidiary of Russia's State Atomic Energy Corporation (Rosatom), recently stated that as of September 7, Russian nuclear power plants had generated a cumulative total of 149.1 billion kWh of electricity in 2026. This output exceeds the target set for the same period by the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) by 6.73%. Data previously released by the Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat) shows that from January to July this year, electricity generation at Russian nuclear power plants increased by 2.2% year-on-year, reaching 126 billion kWh. In 2025, Russian nuclear power plants generated a total of 218.35 billion kWh for the full year. Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom, stated that the company plans to exceed the government's electricity generation target for the full year of 2026. The target is no less than 214 billion kWh.

2026-09-08

China officially promotes Hualong One 2.0 Gen-III+ nuclear power technology to the global market

Nine key safety indicators of the Hualong One 2.0 Gen-III+ nuclear power technology have been significantly improved, the number of cabinets in the new-generation Harmony system has been reduced by approximately 40%, and the world's first 8.6-meter-aperture solar thermal collector, Yuanyao-1, can achieve a photoelectric efficiency of 17%... These were the highlights reported by this journalist at the CGN 2026 Sustainable Development Conference held in Shenzhen on September 7. At the conference, CGN officially released the "2025 CGN Sustainable Development Report," and simultaneously launched its global responsibility brand, the "CGN Firefly Plan." As the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting draws near, Shenzhen is becoming the focus of Asia-Pacific attention. On September 7, CGN, headquartered in Shenzhen, hosted a sustainable development conference themed "Green Energy Illuminating Mountains and Seas, Joining Hands to Create the Future," showcasing China's clean energy development landscape and its latest progress in going global to think tanks, media, and other stakeholders from APEC member economies and countries jointly building the "Belt and Road."

2026-09-07

Kenya seeks IAEA review support to advance nuclear power project by 2034

Kenya is seeking a new round of review and expanded technical support from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to advance its long-planned nuclear power program toward construction readiness by 2034. According to relevant meeting briefings, Kenya hopes the IAEA will conduct a Phase 2 Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) mission in the fourth quarter of 2026, along with support in training nuclear engineers and nuclear scientists. Kenya also plans to leverage the IAEA's 70th General Conference, to be held in Vienna from September 14 to 18, to secure advisory services, skills training, and technical assistance for advancing its nuclear power project and nuclear research reactor construction. Kenya is expected to send a high-level delegation of approximately 30 people...

2026-09-07

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

Turkey's Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1 to Generate Electricity by End of 2026

Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar stated that Unit 1 of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant has entered the testing phase, with Turkey aiming to complete commissioning and begin electricity generation by the end of 2026. Bayraktar said construction of the remaining units at the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant is still progressing, and the project team also plans to build a data center near Units 3 and 4. He also noted that due to factors such as the pandemic, rising commodity prices, and increased construction costs, the total cost of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant has exceeded the initially planned $20 billion. However, the project has made progress in localization, including equipment, materials, and services...

2026-09-07

Tottori Prefecture nuclear safety advisory council approves safety of MOX fuel plan for Shimane Unit 2

The Tottori Prefecture Nuclear Safety Advisory Council held a meeting in Yonago City on September 6 and submitted an opinion on the MOX fuel power generation project planned by Chugoku Electric Power Co. for Unit 2 of the Shimane Nuclear Power Station. The opinion stated that, based on explanations provided by Chugoku Electric Power Co. and the Japanese government, the safety of the project can be ensured. The Shimane Nuclear Power Station is located in Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture. Chugoku Electric Power Co. plans to use mixed oxide fuel, or MOX fuel, consisting of uranium and plutonium, in Unit 2. This type of power generation is also referred to as plutonium thermal power generation in Japan. The opinion also...

2026-09-07

Kairos Power Completes Phase 1 of ETU 3 Hardware Demonstration in the U.S.

On September 4, Kairos Power announced the completion of Phase 1 of the Engineering Test Unit 3 (ETU 3) hardware demonstration at its Oak Ridge, Tennessee site. The unit, a non-nuclear engineering test platform, is primarily designed to reduce technical risks in reactor construction, operation, and maintenance, and to provide validation data for the Hermes 2 demonstration plant and subsequent commercial reactor deployments. Kairos Power stated that Phase 1 of ETU 3 focused on design validation of precast concrete shielding structures and testing of remote operation and maintenance capabilities. Construction of the Hermes 2 demonstration plant began earlier this year in Oak Ridge, and ETU...

2026-09-06