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KHNP Maps Out SMR Security System to Address Drone and Nuclear Material Threats

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) is preparing to establish a new security response system for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and decommissioned nuclear power plants. Due to their smaller size and more flexible deployment methods, SMRs may be distributed across different regions in the future, and the security risks they face are not entirely identical to those of traditional large-scale nuclear power plants. KHNP plans to launch a research service on physical protection implementation plans related to new nuclear energy projects in September, focusing on assessing risks such as terrorist attacks, external intrusion, theft of nuclear materials, facility sabotage, and drone attacks. Physical protection refers to a nuclear security system established for nuclear materials and nuclear facilities, encompassing prevention, detection, interdiction, and emergency response.

2026-08-15

SPIC Haiyang Nuclear Power Unit 3 Hot Functional Test Successfully Completed

At 17:30 on August 13, the hot functional test (HFT) of Unit 3 at SPIC Shandong Nuclear Power Haiyang Nuclear Power Plant was successfully completed, laying a solid foundation for subsequent fuel loading and first grid connection of the unit. ▲Aerial view of Shandong Nuclear Power Haiyang Nuclear Power Plant. The hot functional test is the most critical non-nuclear comprehensive verification phase before nuclear fuel loading, often referred to as the "final exam" or "mock exam" before a nuclear power plant officially generates electricity. By executing a series of tests simulating actual operating conditions within the pressure and temperature ranges of normal reactor operation, it comprehensively verifies the reliability of nuclear island and conventional island systems and equipment under hot operating conditions, ensuring that relevant parameters meet design requirements. ▲On July 4, during the normal residual heat removal system (RNS) test at the heat-up platform of the hot functional test...

2026-08-15

Russia to Conduct Comparative Measurements in Radiation Monitoring and Individual Dose Monitoring

In September, NIIEFA (D.V. Efremov Scientific Research Institute of Electrophysical Apparatus), a subsidiary of Rosatom, will jointly conduct comparative measurements in the fields of radiation monitoring (RM) and individual dose monitoring (IDM) with Ritverts JSC and the A.M. Nikiforov All-Russian Center for Emergency and Radiation Medicine. The work will be carried out under the supervision and support of experts from the D.I. Mendeleev All-Russian Research Institute for Metrology. The focus of these comparative measurements is to verify the accuracy, reliability, and consistency of measurement results obtained by different radiation safety monitoring methods and equipment. Through unified comparison, the performance of various instruments in workplace radiation level assessment, surface contamination monitoring, and individual exposure dose recording can be further confirmed, thereby enhancing the credibility of final radiation dose assessments.

2026-08-15

India Proposes Strict Approval System for Private Nuclear Power Projects

On August 14, India proposed a strict regulatory approval system for private nuclear power projects, aiming to create conditions for foreign reactor technologies with proven operating records to enter the Indian market while maintaining access and operational controls. Under the draft rules, companies could obtain in-principle approval before securing formal licenses, allowing them to hire suppliers, conduct preliminary development work, and acquire project land. Once projects enter the licensing phase, they would undergo phased regulatory reviews covering design, siting, construction, commissioning, and operation. The draft also seeks to grant regulators stronger oversight powers, including the authority to halt work at critical project stages. For a long time,...

2026-08-15

Function Health Secures $450 Million in Funding to Expand Laboratory Testing and Medical Imaging Platform

U.S. health technology company Function Health recently secured $450 million in growth funding from General Catalyst's Customer Value Fund. The company stated that the funds will be used to expand user coverage of its testing and medical imaging platform. Function Health launched as a beta version in 2023, with a platform integrating laboratory testing, medical imaging, and health data analytics services. Its membership includes over 160 laboratory tests, with testing scheduled twice a year, and annual plans starting at $365. Testing coverage encompasses cardiovascular health, hormones, thyroid and kidney function, inflammation, nutritional levels, and certain cancers...

2026-08-16

Survey of Japanese 18-year-olds: Nearly 60% support restarting or replacing nuclear reactors that meet safety standards

A survey of young people around age 18 in Japan shows that nearly 60% of respondents support restarting nuclear power plants that meet safety standards or replacing existing reactors with new units; meanwhile, over 70% of respondents have expectations or some expectations for advanced innovative reactors. The 18-year-old awareness survey conducted by the Nippon Foundation asked respondents to choose which of two statements was closer to their own view: one being that nuclear power plants meeting safety standards should be restarted or replaced with new units; the other being that nuclear power should not be relied upon due to accident risks and radioactive waste issues. The results showed that 28.5% of respondents said their view was "close" to the first statement, and 29.8...

2026-08-16

Philippine Steel Plant in Davao Raided: Radioactive Isotopes Detected in Finished Rebar and Multiple Materials at the Facility

On August 14, Philippine authorities conducted a raid on Davao Mighty Steel Corp., a steel manufacturing plant located in Barangay Ilang, Bunawan District, Davao City. The operation followed an investigation launched by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) after receiving reports that the company was involved in the production and sale of substandard steel rebar, with the scope of the investigation subsequently expanding after radioactive isotopes were detected in commercially sold DMS rebar. The operation was led by the National Bureau of Investigation, with the participation of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), and was supported by the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI), the Philippine Air Force, the Philippine Coast Guard's Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear emergency response units, the Coast Guard Special Operations Group, and the Army's 10th Infantry Division.

2026-08-15

Lucideon Plans £500 Million UK CMC Manufacturing Facility to Strengthen Aerospace, Defense, and Nuclear Supply Chains

UK materials science consultancy Lucideon plans to build a manufacturing and R&D facility for ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) at Keele University Science Park, with total project investment expected to exceed £500 million over the next 7 to 10 years. The plan aims to address the UK's capability gap in high-temperature ceramics and industrial-scale CMC manufacturing, serving key industries such as aerospace, defense, and nuclear energy, while enhancing the UK's autonomy and competitiveness in the global advanced materials supply chain. Ceramic matrix composites, consisting of ceramic fibers reinforcing a ceramic matrix, can withstand ultra-high temperatures, thermal shock, and mechanical impact, while offering weight reduction advantages over metallic materials, driving growing demand in high-performance engines, thermal protection...

2026-08-16

Bill Gates Visits South Korea to Promote TerraPower Small Modular Reactor Cooperation

Bill Gates recently held a series of intensive meetings in South Korea with government agencies, financial institutions, and nuclear power industry chain companies, discussing the commercialization of TerraPower's small modular reactor (SMR), supply chain development, and global market expansion. Gates is the founder of TerraPower, which is advancing a next-generation small modular reactor project based on sodium-cooled fast reactor technology. Korea Eximbank (KEXIM) President Hwang Ki-yeon said on the 14th that he had met with Gates, and the two sides discussed financial cooperation plans needed for SMR commercialization and global market entry. Korea Eximbank plans to provide Terra...

2026-08-15

The Energy Research Institute of Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center Achieves a Series of New Progress in Safety Assessment of Activated Corrosion Products under Magnetic Field Environments in Fusion Reactors

Recently, the Radiation Protection and Safety Research Center of the Energy Research Institute of Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center has made a series of significant progress in the field of safety assessment of activated corrosion products under magnetic field environments in fusion reactors. The research team conducted systematic studies on the corrosion behavior of China's low-activation ferritic/martensitic steel CLF-1 in magnetic field environments, from three dimensions: water corrosion characteristics, migration patterns of corrosion products, and the influence of surface roughness. The relevant results have been published as three papers in the journal *Nuclear Materials and Energy*, which is ranked in Zone 1 of the emerging journal classification table. This series of research outcomes provides key scientific evidence for the radiological safety assessment of cooling water systems in fusion reactors...

2026-08-15

U.S. nuclear company TerraPower partners with Korean firms to advance Natrium advanced nuclear deployment in America

U.S. nuclear company TerraPower, backed by Bill Gates, is accelerating the commercialization of its advanced nuclear reactors. The company announced on August 14 that it has reached cooperation agreements with South Korea's Hyundai Engineering & Construction and SK Innovation, aiming to advance the deployment of up to eight 345 MW Natrium reactors in the U.S. nuclear expansion. The first plant is expected to be completed by 2030, a timeline that underscores the urgency of deploying next-generation nuclear technology in the United States. Under the agreement, Hyundai Engineering & Construction has been selected as the engineering, procurement, and construction contractor for up to eight future Natrium reactor projects. The cooperation arrangement also includes related financing guarantee mechanisms, intended to enhance project bankability and reduce uncertainties in the early stages of large-scale construction. TerraPower President and CEO Chris Levesque stated that this marks a new phase of international cooperation with leading Korean institutions, reflecting the growing reliance of advanced nuclear projects on cross-border supply chains and engineering capabilities.

2026-08-15

CNNC Innovation Multi-functional Surface Modification Device Shipped and Delivered

On August 14, 2026, the multi-functional surface modification device developed by CNNC Innovation (Chengdu) Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "CNNC Innovation") was officially shipped and delivered. This multi-functional surface modification device utilizes CNNC Innovation's proprietary high-energy metal ion source, gas ion source, and supporting single-stage pulsed magnetron source power supply and DC-superimposed pulsed bias power supply. It can perform ion implantation surface modification, metal surface alloying, non-metal surface metallization, auxiliary heating, and other process operations. It can simultaneously achieve gas ion source cleaning and auxiliary deposition treatment. Through the DC-superimposed pulsed bias power supply, directional plasma functionality can be realized, which accelerates deposition efficiency while effectively suppressing abnormal arc discharge and improving film quality.

2026-08-15

Concrete Placement of the 16.5m Slab in the Reactor Building of Unit 4 at Zhangzhou Nuclear Power Plant Successfully Completed

At 21:58 on August 13, the concrete placement of the 16.5m slab in the internal structure of the reactor building of Unit 4 at Zhangzhou Nuclear Power Plant was successfully completed, with safety and quality under control throughout the process, laying a solid foundation for subsequent key path milestones such as crane availability and inner dome lifting. As the core load-bearing structure within the reactor building, the 16.5m slab of the internal structure serves as the critical support platform for the introduction, positioning, and installation of subsequent large-scale core equipment. The engineering structure features key challenges including large construction volume, staggered elevation differences, modular structural rebar installation, and high-precision installation of owner-supplied items, imposing extremely high requirements on overall construction organization, safety, and quality control. The total concrete volume placed this time was 2,297 cubic meters, with a continuous placement duration of 30.5 hours.

2026-08-15

CGN Research Institute Launches "Hehui" I&C Production Line Construction to Advance Domestic Autonomy of High-End Nuclear Power Equipment

Recently, CGN Research Institute held the kickoff meeting for the Hehui I&C production line construction project in Shenzhen, marking new progress in infrastructure and capacity building for the Hehui brand. The project will serve the domestic autonomy of high-end nuclear power equipment, provide support for ensuring the construction progress of nuclear power projects and meeting the safe operation needs of operating units, and help enhance the resilience and competitiveness of China's nuclear power industry chain. The meeting clarified the overall project planning, construction objectives, key milestones, and responsibilities of all parties, established the project management system, and deployed near-term key tasks. The meeting required all parties involved in the construction to increase resource investment, strengthen safety and quality management, strictly enforce technical review, uphold integrity standards, and ensure the production line is commissioned on schedule with high quality...

2026-08-15

Canada's Rook 1 Uranium Mine Breaks Ground, Could Contribute One-Fifth of Global Uranium Production

The Rook 1 uranium mine project in northern Saskatchewan, Canada, has officially commenced construction. The project, advanced by NexGen Energy, is located south of the Athabasca Basin, approximately 130 kilometers north of La Loche. Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Secretary of State for Rural Development Buckley Belanger, and local Indigenous representatives attended the groundbreaking ceremony. The total project investment is approximately CAD 2.2 billion, with an expected construction period of four years. External infrastructure work has already begun, shaft sinking is planned for 2027, and the on-site runway will be expanded to 1,780 meters. Rook 1 is regarded as one of the world's largest uranium mine projects. NexGen estimates...

2026-08-14