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Japan to Establish New Decontamination Base in Okuma, Fukushima

Japan's Ministry of the Environment has decided to establish a new work base in Okuma Town, Fukushima Prefecture, in the next fiscal year to coordinate decontamination and house demolition work in difficult-to-return zones following the accident at Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO)'s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, aiming to accelerate environmental recovery in the affected areas. Within seven municipalities surrounding the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, approximately 309 square kilometers have been designated as difficult-to-return zones. These areas remain under strict control, with restrictions on residential habitation and entry, and evacuation orders remain in effect. Within the difficult-to-return zones, the Japanese government has established "specified return residential areas" and plans to advance decontamination, house demolition, and other measures based on residents' intentions to return. The proposed new base in Okuma Town will be responsible for on-site management and project coordination, with approximately 30 staff members expected to be assigned, and the relevant branch office currently located in Hirono Town will be relocated to Okuma Town.

2026-08-30

Japanese Nuclear Regulator Inspects Horonobe Geological Disposal Research Facility for High-Level Radioactive Waste

On August 28, Shinya Nagasaki and other members of Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) inspected an underground research facility in Horonobe Town, Japan. The facility, operated by the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), conducts technical research on deep geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste. Geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste involves encapsulating the waste and burying it deep underground, achieving long-term isolation through engineered and natural geological barriers. During the inspection, Nagasaki and his delegation examined test facilities used to evaluate the corrosion resistance of iron containers. The tests simulate the environment of containers holding heat-generating radioactive waste after being buried underground...

2026-08-30

Japan's Fukui Prefecture Approves KEPCO's Construction of Dry Cask Storage Facilities for Spent Fuel

Fukui Prefecture Governor Tatsuji Sugimoto announced on August 28 that he approved Kansai Electric Power Company's (KEPCO) plan to construct dry cask storage facilities for spent fuel within the premises of the Mihama and Takahama nuclear power plants in Fukui Prefecture. The decision was made in accordance with the safety agreement between Fukui Prefecture and KEPCO. KEPCO plans to apply to the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) for approval of the relevant design and construction plans as early as August 31. KEPCO plans to build dry cask storage facilities at three nuclear power plants in Fukui Prefecture to temporarily store spent fuel and prepare for future transport to an interim storage facility outside Fukui Prefecture. Among these, the plans for the Mihama and Takahama nuclear power plants...

2026-08-29

South Korean survey shows 80% of respondents support including new nuclear power plants in power planning

An energy public perception survey released by the Korea Energy Information Culture Foundation on August 28 showed that 82.9% of respondents believed it is necessary to include plans for new nuclear power plants in the 12th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand currently being formulated, in response to future growth in electricity demand. The survey was commissioned by the Korea Energy Information Culture Foundation and conducted by Korea Research International via telephone interviews from June 12 to 15, targeting 2,000 adults aged 18 and above. The response rate was 10.0%, with a sampling error of...

2026-08-30

CNNC Changchun Nuclear Medicine Base Obtains Production License

On August 28, the Jilin Provincial Drug Administration approved and issued the "Radiopharmaceutical Production License" to Changchun Atomic Hi-Tech Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Changchun Hi-Tech"), a subsidiary of Atomic Hi-Tech under China Isotope & Radiation Corporation (CIRC). The acquisition of this license marks that Changchun Hi-Tech is now fully qualified for the production of technetium-labeled drugs. Radiopharmaceuticals are characterized by short half-lives, high transportation requirements, and strict time sensitivity. Long-distance transportation not only increases transportation and time costs but also poses greater challenges to the stability and timeliness of clinical medication. With the production qualification, Changchun Hi-Tech will be able to complete the production and distribution of technetium-labeled drugs locally in Jilin Province, which will help improve the clinical use of nuclear medicine in the Northeast region...

2026-08-29

Lufeng Nuclear Power Achieves Outstanding Results in First Provincial Quality-Trustworthy Team Selection

On August 19, the Quality Assurance Department of Lufeng Nuclear Power led multiple teams from the company's Mechanical Department Valve and Pipe Section, Hualong Operation Department Shift 1, Electrical Department Power Distribution Section, Technical Support Department Specification Control Section, Production Service Department Installation Management Section, and Quality Assurance Department Engineering Quality Assurance Section to participate in the 12th Quality-Trustworthy Team Construction Experience Exchange Conference organized by the Guangdong Quality Association. This selection covered a wide scope with stringent review criteria, bringing together outstanding teams from various industries across the province to compete on the same platform. Lufeng Nuclear Power made its debut at this provincial-level quality event, and all participating teams stood out among numerous competitors by leveraging solid foundational management, standardized process control, and well-established improvement mechanisms, achieving impressive overall results.

2026-08-29

CIAE Neutron Measurement Patent for Nuclear Waste Wins China Patent Excellence Award

On August 28, the results of the 26th China Patent Award, the highest government honor in China's intellectual property field, were announced. The invention patent for the calibration method of a neutron measurement device for drummed nuclear waste, completed by Zhu Liqun, Senior Engineer, and Xu Xiaoming, Associate Researcher, from the Department of Radiochemistry at the China Institute of Atomic Energy (CIAE), won the China Patent Excellence Award. Since 2020, CIAE has won the China Patent Award for six consecutive sessions, securing a total of 11 awards including 2 gold and 1 silver medals, further demonstrating the institute's formidable strength in technological innovation and intellectual property. The calibration method invention patent for the neutron measurement device for drummed nuclear waste has achieved multiple world firsts...

2026-08-29

IAEA Technical Meeting on Indicators for the Management of Disused Ionizing Radiation Sources

From 24 to 28 August 2026, a technical meeting was held at the IAEA headquarters, focusing on indicators for the status of disused ionizing radiation sources and their application in sustainable management. The meeting emphasized how these indicators can serve as measurement tools to support countries in the long-term, safe, and traceable management of disused radiation sources. The Ukrainian delegation participated in the meeting, including Oleksii Zhyvotenko, Head of the Department for Production and Technical Issues and Radioactive Material Management at the "Radon" Association of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, as well as representatives of the central nuclear power plant management. During the meeting, the Ukrainian side delivered a presentation on the practical experience of integrating key IAEA indicators into Ukraine's national management system for disused ionizing radiation sources.

2026-08-28

UK Fusion Energy Company Files 50th Patent Application

UK Fusion Energy (UKFE) filed its 50th patent application this week, marking new progress in the UK's efforts to advance fusion energy commercialization and related intellectual property development. UKFE is a government-backed organization responsible for developing and protecting intellectual property arising from the STEP fusion prototype plant project and driving the transfer of related innovations to industry. Since 2025, the organization has filed 52 patent applications and published 108 technical disclosures and 2 patent applications. These achievements cover key technologies required for the construction of the STEP prototype facility, as well as some innovations applicable beyond the fusion energy sector. UKFE stated that the intellectual property portfolio reflects the breadth and pace of the project's R&D activities.

2026-08-28

UK JET Decommissioning Project to Trial Asset-Based Decommissioning Approach

The JET Decommissioning and Repurposing (JDR) project recently announced that it will trial an asset-based decommissioning approach in three areas of the JET facility during the next phase of work. These areas were once part of the power supply infrastructure during JET plasma operations. This trial work will support the overall development of the Culham Campus and, in conjunction with the Strategic Investment and Development for Energy and AI (STRIDE) programme, facilitate land remediation to create conditions for the installation of a fourth supergrid transformer. JDR has signed a contract with Ramco UK to undertake the relevant trial work. JDR Engineering Integration Manager Steve...

2026-08-28

Argentina Advances Testing for Atucha II Spent Fuel Dry Storage Project

Nucleoeléctrica Argentina S.A. is advancing key equipment testing for the spent fuel dry storage facility (ASECG II) at the Atucha II nuclear power plant. This project is a critical supporting infrastructure to ensure the long-term operation of the Atucha II plant. The ongoing tests are part of the verification phase prior to system commissioning, primarily aimed at inspecting and adjusting the operational procedures involved in future operations. Among the key equipment under testing is the gantry crane, which handles the transfer of storage containers within the plant site. The stable performance of this equipment is directly related to the safety and controllability of container movements during spent fuel storage operations. According to the project plan...

2026-08-28

China Unicom Yantai Branch and CNNC Shandong Build 5G Dedicated Network for Nuclear Power

Recently, the 5G dedicated network project jointly built by China Unicom Shandong Yantai Branch and CNNC Shandong was officially deployed and put into operation. Targeting the requirements of nuclear power scenarios for communication network security, reliability, and low latency, the project introduces technologies such as 5G dedicated networks, edge computing, artificial intelligence, and big data to promote the implementation of digital capabilities in nuclear power park construction and production support scenarios. CNNC Shandong, affiliated with China National Nuclear Corporation, undertakes tasks related to nuclear power unit power generation and grid connection. During project construction, China Unicom Shandong Yantai Branch, in collaboration with Huawei, adopted end-to-end domestically produced equipment, achieving independent controllability in both hardware and software, filling the gap in domestic 5G dedicated network construction in the nuclear power sector...

2026-08-28

Auburn University Installs 200 MeV Superconducting Proton Accelerator to Build First University-Led Space Electronics Radiation Testing Facility in the U.S.

Auburn University's Applied Research Institute has announced the installation of a new 200 MeV superconducting proton accelerator, advancing the construction of the nation's first university-led proton testing facility dedicated to space electronics qualification. The system, a RAD-FX-200 superconducting synchrocyclotron manufactured and installed by Mevion Medical Systems, serves as the core component of Auburn University's new radiation-hardening facility. According to reports, the facility will help address gaps in U.S. space qualification testing capacity, providing radiation testing services for microelectronics to government agencies, aerospace, and defense-related industries. Systems such as satellites, missile defense interceptors, spacecraft, and launch vehicles rely on microelectronics, which may be affected by proton radiation in orbital environments. A single radiation-induced failure can cause system loss, and such failures are typically difficult to repair once in orbit...

2026-08-28

Leadership Adjustment of Chairman and Party Secretary of China Huaneng Group Co., Ltd.

On August 28, 2026, China Huaneng Group Co., Ltd. held a meeting for management personnel at the middle level and above. A relevant official from the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee announced the Party Central Committee's decision on the adjustment of the Chairman and Party Secretary of China Huaneng Group Co., Ltd.: Comrade Bai Yong was appointed as Chairman and Party Secretary of China Huaneng Group Co., Ltd., and was relieved of his duties as Director, President, and Deputy Party Secretary of COFCO Corporation; Comrade Wen Shugang was relieved of his duties as Chairman and Party Secretary of China Huaneng Group Co., Ltd. The relevant appointments and removals shall be handled in accordance with applicable laws and the company's articles of association...

2026-08-28

Multiple African countries push nuclear power projects from planning to financing and construction

According to the nuclear energy special report in the recently released "Nuclear Industry Insights, Fourth Quarter 2026," more than a dozen African countries are attempting to advance nuclear power from policy concepts to financeable, constructible project stages. The report notes that rising demand for reliable, low-carbon baseload power is an important backdrop for nuclear energy's return to Africa's energy strategy discussions. Currently, two of Africa's more advanced nuclear projects have reached new milestones. The reactor pressure vessel for Unit 2 of Egypt's El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant was installed on July 9, 2026. Previously, Unit 1 completed a similar installation in November 2025. El Dabaa is Egypt's first nuclear power plant, planned with 4 units and a total installed capacity of 4...

2026-08-28