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Senegal Seeks to Leverage Nuclear Energy to Boost Agricultural Productivity

Senegal is actively exploring the use of nuclear technology to enhance agricultural productivity. Facing numerous agricultural challenges, the country believes that nuclear science applications can effectively improve crop cultivation, soil health, and aquaculture, among other areas, with particular attention focused on the regional conference on nuclear science applications in agriculture held in Dakar from August 3 to 7. The event, organized by the Plant Biotechnology Laboratory led by Professor Diaga Diouf at UCAD University in collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), is part of the Atoms4Food initiative launched in 2023. The conference brought together university presidents, faculty deans, directors of national agricultural research centers, and other experts and scholars in related fields,...

2026-08-05

Russia Plans to Complete Domestic MRI Scanner Development by 2027

On August 1, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin stated that Russia should complete the development of a domestically produced MRI scanner by 2027. Mishustin learned about the relevant progress during his visit to the Consultative Diagnostic Center in the Republic of Tyva. While inspecting the MRI equipment installed at the center, he asked Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko about the development of domestic devices. Murashko stated that the research and development work is being carried out by Rosatom, and noted that the device is expected to be completed next year. Mishustin then expressed hope that Russia would have its own domestically developed MRI scanner next year. If the device is completed as planned, it will be used in the field of medical imaging diagnostics.

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

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

ASP Isotopes PET Lab Revenue Grows Over 50% in First Half of Year, Isotope Enrichment Facilities Advance Toward Commercial Production

ASP Isotopes Inc. recently released a letter to shareholders outlining operational progress across its business segments ahead of the company's second-quarter 2026 financial results announcement. The company stated that its PET lab segment achieved organic revenue growth of more than 50% in the first half of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. Based on current expectations, the segment's full-year 2026 revenue is projected to be approximately $14 million, up from $6 million in 2025. PET-related operations are typically closely associated with radiopharmaceutical preparation, molecular imaging, and nuclear medicine diagnostic applications. On the isotope front, ASP Isotopes stated that its silicon-28 and ytterbium-176 enrichment facilities have entered the final stage before commercial production, with first deliveries expected in the second half of 2026...

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

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

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

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

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