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Kairos Power Launches Nuclear Manufacturing and Construction Workforce Collaboration Program

Kairos Power announced on August 21 the establishment of the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing and Prefabrication Center (NuCAMP), planning to advance nuclear manufacturing, construction method validation, and technical workforce development in eastern Tennessee to support advanced nuclear reactor deployment. The NuCAMP program was officially unveiled at Kairos Power's Advanced Reactor Demonstration Site in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Image credit: Amy Smotherman Burgess/ORNL, U.S. Department of Energy. The program was announced at Kairos Power's Advanced Reactor Demonstration Site in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Under a signed memorandum of understanding, Kairos Power will collaborate with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI), Barnard Construction Company, Roane State Community College, Chattanooga State Community College, and Oak Ridge Schools.

2026-08-22

Two U.S. National Laboratories Collaborate to Advance Arc-Based 3D Printing of Nuclear Pressure Vessels

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and Idaho National Laboratory (INL), both under the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), announced a collaboration focused on advancing wire-arc 3D printing technology for industrial pressure vessels and qualification capabilities for critical nuclear components, aiming to expand the U.S. domestic supply chain. The two laboratories unveiled the collaboration during the Materials and Manufacturing Innovation Day event hosted at Oak Ridge National Laboratory on August 19. The event focused on topics such as advanced manufacturing, nuclear infrastructure, energy security, and domestic supply chains, and featured demonstrations and tours of the DOE Manufacturing Demonstration Facility (MDF). This facility is a large-scale research platform open to industry, primarily...

2026-08-22

Global PET Market Expected to Reach $2.81 Billion by 2035, PET-CT Remains Dominant

A market research report shows that the global Positron Emission Tomography (PET) market size is expected to increase from $1.86 billion in 2025 to $2.81 billion by 2035, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.26% from 2026 to 2035. Increased demand for cancer diagnosis, expanded application of hybrid imaging technologies such as PET-CT and PET-MRI, and continued development of molecular imaging technologies are considered major factors driving market growth. The report notes that PET scans are being increasingly used in scenarios such as cancer detection and treatment evaluation, cardiac disease assessment, and diagnosis of neurological and psychiatric disorders. Meanwhile, population aging, rising healthcare expenditures, and growing demand for early screening are also driving...

2026-08-23

US Deployable Signs MOU with Utah on Nuclear Microreactor Siting

Deployable Energy Limited (Deployable) announced on August 21 local time that it signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Utah Office of Energy Development (OED) on August 18. The MOU establishes a non-binding cooperation framework for the two parties to jointly explore the feasibility of siting Unity nuclear batteries in Utah and supports subsequent information exchange. Deployable is a clean energy company engaged in the design and manufacture of compact, transportable nuclear microreactors. The company stated that signing this MOU is a step forward in advancing the research, development, testing, and commercial deployment of Unity nuclear batteries...

2026-08-22

Restart Plan for Unit 3 of Japan's Tomari Nuclear Power Plant May Face Uncertainty Due to Supplementary Review and Accident

Hokkaido Electric Power Co.'s Unit 3 of the Tomari Nuclear Power Plant was originally scheduled to restart in 2027, but the plan may face uncertainty due to additional review items and a fatal accident at the construction site. The Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) announced on August 20 that it will hold a supplementary review meeting on September 3 to deliberate on the approval of construction plans related to the restart of Unit 3 at the Tomari Nuclear Power Plant. This review requires new confirmation of fire safety measures. Hokkaido Electric Power stated that it will explain the construction plans at the September meeting and continue to work toward the 2027 restart target. Additionally, during the seawall construction at the Tomari Nuclear Power Plant, a...

2026-08-23

Japan Explains Plan for Spent Fuel Interim Storage Facility in Kaminoseki Town

Japan's Agency for Natural Resources and Energy recently held an explanatory meeting with the Kaminoseki Town Assembly regarding the Chugoku Electric Power Company's plan to construct a spent fuel interim storage facility in Kaminoseki Town, Yamaguchi Prefecture. The briefing covered the Japanese government's nuclear fuel cycle policy, facility safety, and related subsidy systems. The meeting was held on the 19th at the Kaminoseki Town Assembly. Previously, the Japanese government had decided to revise guidelines related to nuclear energy policy and included the Kaminoseki Town spent fuel interim storage facility plan within them. At the meeting, the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy stated that interim storage facilities are essential to supporting...

2026-08-23

JAEA Plans to Adjust Decommissioning Plan for Monju Fast Breeder Reactor

The Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) announced on August 21 that it plans to adjust the decommissioning plan for the Monju fast breeder reactor in Tsuruga City, Fukui Prefecture. Under the revised plan, the remaining neutron shielding layers and other components inside the reactor, along with 227 dummy fuel assemblies, will no longer be removed separately in the current phase as originally planned, but will instead be handled together during the subsequent reactor pressure vessel dismantling phase. Monju is currently in the decommissioning process. Previously, JAEA had planned to proceed with the removal of internal reactor components within the current fiscal year, but due to two equipment failures, the related work was temporarily suspended, and the overall schedule is expected to be delayed by approximately one year. As of May 25, 595 shielding layers and related components in the reactor...

2026-08-22

Kazakhstan's Kazatomprom to Supply Natural Uranium Concentrate to Russian and Chinese Companies

Kazakhstan's National Atomic Company Kazatomprom recently announced on the Astana International Exchange (AIX) that it has reached agreements with Russia's Uranium One and State Nuclear Uranium Resource Development Company (SNURDC) for the sale of natural uranium concentrate (U3O8). Under the relevant arrangements, Kazatomprom plans to deliver a batch of natural uranium concentrate to the Siberian Chemical Combine, with the shipment intended for Uranium One; simultaneously, the company also plans to deliver a batch of natural uranium concentrate to Alashankou Railway Station, intended for SNURDC. Kazatomprom stated that it plans to review the relevant major transactions at an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders to be held in September...

2026-08-22

South Korea Approves Restart of Shin-Kori Unit 1

The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) of South Korea announced on August 21 that it has approved the restart of Shin-Kori Unit 1, located in Ulju County, Ulsan. The unit has been under routine inspection since July 2. On the same day, the commission approved the unit to reach criticality. Criticality refers to the state in which a sustained nuclear fission chain reaction can be maintained within the reactor core, with a balanced neutron population. Once criticality is achieved, the reactor can gradually resume operation under safely controlled conditions. The NSSC stated that this routine inspection involved 98 inspection items required before the reactor could reach criticality, of which 86 have been completed, confirming that the unit meets the conditions for safely achieving criticality.

2026-08-22

Deaerator in Place for Unit 1 Conventional Island of Huaneng Shidao Bay Nuclear Power Expansion Project

Recently, the deaerator for Unit 1 conventional island of Phase I Expansion Project of Huaneng Shidao Bay Nuclear Power Station, undertaken by PowerChina Nuclear Engineering Company, was successfully hoisted and placed into position, marking a key milestone in the installation of conventional island equipment for the unit and creating conditions for subsequent turbine equipment installation, piping layout, and system commissioning. The Huaneng Shidao Bay Nuclear Power Base currently hosts a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor demonstration project, the world's first fourth-generation nuclear power plant to achieve commercial operation. The Phase I Expansion Project plans to build two Hualong One units, third-generation nuclear power units independently developed by China, each with a capacity of 1.225 million kilowatts. Upon completion, the project is expected to provide approximately 20 billion kilowatt-hours of clean electricity annually, reduce standard coal consumption by 5.78 million tons, and cut carbon dioxide emissions by 14 million tons.

2026-08-22

Qinshan Nuclear Power Receives On-Site Visit for WANO Enhanced Performance Monitoring and Achieves Highest Rating

Recently, experts from the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) Tokyo Center and Shanghai Office visited Qinshan Nuclear Power to conduct an on-site Enhanced Performance Monitoring (ePM) assessment for its nine units. Based on a comprehensive evaluation, the WANO on-site visit team unanimously concluded that Qinshan Nuclear Power has demonstrated steady overall performance improvement in recent years and currently operates at the industry's highest "benchmark" level, with expectations that performance across key areas will remain stable or continue to improve over the next six months. Additionally, WANO experts conducted follow-up evaluations on selected Areas for Improvement (AFIs) and Significant Operating Experience Report (SOER) recommendations arising from the 2025 WANO peer review of Qinshan Nuclear Power's nine units, deeming the overall results satisfactory. At a summary meeting held on August 20...

2026-08-22

ITER vacuum vessel assembly in France progresses steadily, with five European sectors at different critical stages

The vacuum vessel assembly work for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project in southern France is progressing steadily. As the core component of the ITER tokamak device, the vacuum vessel will contain the plasma confined by superconducting magnets, serving as the critical space where fusion reactions occur. This stainless steel ring-shaped structure weighs approximately 5,200 tonnes in total, measures 19.4 meters in diameter, and consists of nine sectors, five of which are manufactured by Europe. The European Fusion for Energy organization (F4E), together with the AMW consortium comprising Ansaldo Nucleare, Westinghouse Electric Italy, and Walter Tosto Company, is responsible for the related manufacturing work.

2026-08-21

Progress in Tritium Containment and Radiation Protection Materials Research at the Institute of Plasma Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Recently, Associate Researcher Huo Zhipeng of the Fusion Reactor Blanket and Safety Research Center at the Institute of Plasma Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, together with his supervised master's students Zhang Jie and Chen Zuoyang, developed a class of flexible PbWO4-B4C reinforced silicone rubber composites with dual functions of tritium safety containment and nuclear radiation protection. The related research results were published in Journal of Materials Research and Technology. Future fusion facilities require comprehensive performance from radiation protection materials in tritium safety containment systems, including airtight sealing, flexibility for easy assembly and disassembly, and radiation shielding capability, for penetration hole sealing, post-maintenance, and high-flux neutron and γ-ray radiation protection. The research...

2026-08-21

Ur-Energy Ships First Uranium from Shirley Basin Mine to Lost Creek Processing Plant

U.S. uranium producer Ur-Energy announced that on August 19, 2026, its Shirley Basin uranium mine in Wyoming shipped its first uranium to the Lost Creek processing plant in the same state. This marks the company's second in-situ recovery (ISR) uranium mine entering full production and beginning its ramp-up phase. Ur-Energy President and CEO Matt Gili stated that the shipment of first uranium signifies the full commissioning of the Shirley Basin project and represents the company's transition into a multi-asset U.S.-based uranium producer. According to him, the Shirley Basin project took approximately two and a half years from planning and construction to production. The Shirley Basin uranium mine is Ur-Energy's second in-situ uranium...

2026-08-21

UK Low-Level Waste Disposal Site STIM Project Rail Transport Completed Ahead of Schedule

The Southern Trench Interim Membrane (STIM) project at the UK's Low Level Waste Repository in Cumbria has completed its final aggregate rail deliveries, with related deliveries completed approximately one month ahead of schedule. Nuclear Waste Services (NWS) is progressing with capping works at the site, implementing long-term management of trenches and vaults used decades ago for the disposal of low-level radioactive waste. The current focus is on replacing the protective membrane above the southern trenches. This membrane reduces rainwater infiltration into the waste areas below, helping to lower environmental risks and creating conditions for the subsequent final capping of the northern trenches. The STIM project requires substantial quantities of aggregate to be placed on the trench cover. Since February 2025...

2026-08-21