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Research Reactors Support Kazakhstan's Safe Nuclear Energy Development

Against the backdrop of growing demand for low-carbon electricity, nuclear energy is being regarded by many countries as a key energy option. Kazakhstan is also advancing its own nuclear energy development. Equally critical to the construction of nuclear power plants is the long-term research, testing, and validation of nuclear fuel, structural materials, reactor operating conditions, and safety systems. Research reactors and experimental facilities are precisely the core platforms undertaking such work. Unlike power reactors, which primarily target electricity generation, research reactors are closer to specialized nuclear science laboratories. Researchers can study the behavior of nuclear fuel and structural materials, simulate different reactor operating states, including off-normal conditions, test new technologies, and validate engineering solutions subsequently used in nuclear...

2026-08-09

IAEA Publishes Technical Document on Emergency Planning Zones for Small Modular Reactors

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recently released the technical document "Technical Basis for Emergency Planning Zones for Small Modular Reactors," designated as TECDOC-2134, published in Vienna in 2026. The document comprises 132 pages, includes 11 illustrations, is written in English, and is now available for download. This marks the first time the Agency has systematically documented, in publication form, the outcomes of a coordinated research project related to protective action planning zones in the deployment of small modular reactors. The document focuses on the technical basis for emergency preparedness and response for small modular reactors, with particular attention to determining the size of protective action planning zones. A protective action planning zone is an area surrounding a nuclear facility where protective measures are pre-planned in response to potential accidents...

2026-08-09

UAB startup LifeNuclear launches TheraGuide, a radiation safety guidance platform for radiopharmaceutical therapy

On August 7, LifeNuclear, a medical technology startup incubated by the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), announced the launch of TheraGuide, a digital platform designed to help patients undergoing radiopharmaceutical cancer treatment understand and follow radiation safety guidance after discharge. Radiopharmaceutical therapy uses radioactive drugs to target cancer cells while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. As the therapy's applications expand, patients are typically required to read and follow complex written instructions after treatment, which can be difficult for some patients and caregivers to understand and execute. Dr. Remo George LifeNuclear was founded by UAB...

2026-08-08

Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant launches 24-hour drone monitoring and strengthens no-fly zone publicity

The Hanbit Nuclear Power Headquarters of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) recently conducted a special no-fly zone publicity campaign regarding illegal drone flights around the nuclear power plant. The campaign was held on July 27-28 at Gamame and Gusipo beaches near the Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant, focusing on educating summer tourists and drone users about flight control regulations around the plant. The publicity was jointly promoted by the Hanbit Nuclear Power Headquarters together with Yeonggwang Police Station, Gochang Police Station, Mokpo Maritime Police Station, Buan Coast Guard Station, volunteer fire brigades, and beach operators. Personnel at the site explained to visitors the drone flight restrictions around the nuclear power plant, consequences of violations, and precautions...

2026-08-08

Rising Seawater Temperatures Prompt New Nuclear Safety Rules: TEPCO Sets Temporary Shutdown Criteria for Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Plant

Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings announced on August 7 that it has established a set of self-determined criteria for evaluating whether to temporarily halt nuclear reactor operations at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant in Niigata Prefecture, in response to rising seawater temperatures in the surrounding area. These criteria are not mandatory requirements directly imposed by external regulatory authorities, but rather proactive measures voluntarily implemented by TEPCO based on safe operational needs. According to the conditions announced by TEPCO, the company will consider temporarily shutting down the relevant nuclear facilities when the 7-day average seawater temperature in the waters surrounding the plant exceeds 31 degrees Celsius, when water temperatures above 34 degrees Celsius are observed, or when water temperatures above 33 degrees Celsius persist for 12 hours. These numerical thresholds indicate that seawater temperature has been incorporated as a key variable in nuclear power plant operational risk management.

2026-08-08

Finland's Onkalo Repository to Be Commissioned, Experts Say 100,000-Year Safety Assessment Still Faces Uncertainties

Finland's Olkiluoto is about to commission the world's first permanent deep geological repository for spent nuclear fuel — Onkalo. The facility is designed for long-term underground containment of spent fuel, with a design safety period of up to 100,000 years. There remains debate within the nuclear industry over whether such facilities can remain safe over such an immense timescale. Dmitry Pripachkin, head of the Department of Radiation Physics and Nuclear Technology Safety at the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI (Moscow Engineering Physics Institute), stated that modern science does not yet possess tools capable of reliably predicting the state of such facilities after 100,000 years. Science can study the evolution of geological formations over long historical periods, but...

2026-08-09

U.S. NRC Proposes Radiation Protection Rule Changes, Removal of ALARA Requirements Sparks Safety Controversy

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) plans to hold an online public meeting on August 10 to discuss its proposed rule titled "Reforming and Modernizing the NRC's Radiation Protection Framework." The proposal, published on July 15, centers on reexamining the use of the linear no-threshold model in assessing radiation health effects, as well as the as low as reasonably achievable principle—the ALARA principle—derived from that model. Under the proposal, the NRC intends to remove ALARA-related requirements from its regulations and instead adopt a graded dose management framework. This framework would be based on explicit radiation protection thresholds, dose management methods, and acceptable dose measurement approaches. The regulator stated that this move is not about changing exposure standards for workers and...

2026-08-08

Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant to Raise Spent Fuel Pool Water Levels to Mitigate Power Outage Risks

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stated that the operator of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has decided to raise the water levels in the spent fuel pools on site to enhance safety buffer capacity in the event of a prolonged loss of external power. The primary purpose of raising the water levels is to extend the time before water in the spent fuel pools begins to boil and evaporate under extreme conditions where external power to the plant is interrupted for an extended period, diesel reserves are depleted, and emergency diesel generators can no longer supply power to the cooling systems. Spent fuel pools are used to store used nuclear fuel underwater, typically for at least five years, allowing its radioactivity and residual heat to gradually decay, making continuous cooling a critical element of nuclear safety. All six units at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant...

2026-08-08

First Batch of Non-Safety-Class Main Instrumentation and Control Cabinets for Unit 1 of Xudabao Nuclear Power Plant Successfully Arrived

Recently, the non-safety-class main instrumentation and control (I&C) cabinets for Unit 1 of Xudabao Nuclear Power Plant arrived smoothly and were delivered to the plant site. The main I&C cabinets are core critical equipment for unit control and operation management at nuclear power plants, undertaking full-process functions such as data acquisition, logic calculation, process control, interlock protection, and operation monitoring. They can be regarded as the "central brain" ensuring the safe, controllable, and stable operation of nuclear power units. This equipment features high technical precision, strong integration, and stringent safety classification requirements, offering advantages such as high control accuracy, fast response speed, strong operational stability, and excellent fault tolerance, thereby ensuring safe, stable, and efficient unit operation. To ensure the equipment arrived on schedule, Liaoning Nuclear Power proactively took the lead, coordinated precisely, and efficiently linked the efforts of the general contractor, equipment manufacturer, and design institute, breaking through the collaborative chain across solution optimization, manufacturing, and factory acceptance testing, overcoming difficulties and advancing efficiently. By the end of July, all preparatory work was completed ahead of schedule, and the equipment arrived on time, laying a solid foundation for subsequent project milestones.

2026-08-08

Notice of the National Energy Administration on Issuing the "15th Five-Year" Action Plan for Electric Power Safety Production

Notice of the National Energy Administration on Issuing the "15th Five-Year" Action Plan for Electric Power Safety Production To the energy administrations of all provinces (autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the central government), the development and reform commissions of relevant provinces (autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the central government) and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, the Beijing Municipal Urban Management Commission, the Tianjin Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology, the Department of Industry and Information Technology of Liaoning Province, the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization, the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization, all dispatched agencies, and enterprise member units of the National Electric Power Safety Production Committee: In order to implement the decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee and the State Council on strengthening safety production, coordinate development and safety, deeply practice the new energy security strategy of "Four Revolutions and One Cooperation," consolidate the safety foundation for building a strong energy country, continuously improve the level of electric power safety production, and ensure the safe and stable operation of the power system and reliable power supply, the "15th Five-Year" Action Plan for Electric Power Safety Production is hereby formulated. It is now issued for your implementation.

2026-08-07

Chinese Nuclear Safety and Nuclear Industry Delegation Visits Russian Floating Nuclear Thermal Power Plant

From July 28 to 30, representatives from China's National Nuclear Safety Administration, China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), and the Chinese Embassy in Russia, together with officials from the Federal Service for Environmental, Technological and Nuclear Supervision of the Russian Federation (Rostechnadzor), jointly visited the floating nuclear thermal power plant located in Pevek, Chukotka Autonomous Okrug. The plant is operated by Rosenergoatom, the power generation division of Rosatom. During the visit, the delegation inspected the floating power unit and onshore facilities, and learned about the operation of key equipment. Chinese experts focused on spent fuel storage, refueling procedures, and related equipment configurations...

2026-08-07

Taiyuan Jinyuan District Conducts Special Inspection on Radiation Safety

To effectively prevent and mitigate radiation safety risks, the Jinyuan Branch of the Taiyuan Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau in Shanxi Province recently conducted special on-site inspections of radiation-related units within its jurisdiction, with the goals of comprehensive screening, consolidating responsibilities, improving mechanisms, and eliminating hazards, fully reinforcing corporate primary responsibilities and enhancing the standardized management of the radiation environment. The inspection team successively visited Shanxi International Travel Healthcare Center (Taiyuan Customs Port Outpatient Department) and Taiyuan Qimei Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital Co., Ltd., strictly adhering to relevant laws and regulations, focusing on verifying the operating conditions of radiation devices, protective conditions in operational areas, safety interlock devices, and warning sign placement, while also conducting detailed reviews of radiation safety management systems, daily protection records, staff training files, emergency plans, and self-inspection assessment materials.

2026-08-07

US DOE Approves Nuclear Safety Design Agreement for Deep Fission Underground SMR

Deep Fission, a US advanced nuclear energy company, announced on August 6 that the US Department of Energy (DOE) has approved the Nuclear Safety Design Agreement (NSDA) for its Gravity reactor. The company stated that this milestone means its reactor design meets the requirements for continued advancement under the DOE's Reactor Pilot Program. Deep Fission is developing a small modular pressurized water reactor concept, with plans to place the reactor in a borehole approximately 1 mile, or about 1.6 kilometers, underground. The approved Nuclear Safety Design Agreement will serve as the safety framework for subsequent reactor development work. According to the company's plans, the project will proceed into the DOE authorization process...

2026-08-07

Ministry of Ecology and Environment's North China Regional Office of Nuclear and Radiation Safety Supervision Holds Regular Dialogue Meeting with Jiangsu Nuclear Power

Recently, the North China Regional Office of Nuclear and Radiation Safety Supervision under the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (hereinafter referred to as the North China Regional Office) organized the first regular dialogue meeting of 2026 with Jiangsu Nuclear Power Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Jiangsu Nuclear Power), focusing on exchanges regarding nuclear safety supervision, significant anomalies, construction, and operation management at Tianwan Nuclear Power Station. Representatives from the East China Regional Office of Nuclear and Radiation Safety Supervision under the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and CNNC Suneng Nuclear Power Co., Ltd. attended the meeting. The North China Regional Office heard reports from Jiangsu Nuclear Power on the operation and construction status of units at Tianwan Nuclear Power Station in the first half of 2026, as well as the implementation of daily supervision and management requirements from the North China Regional Office, and was briefed on recent on-site supervision work at Tianwan Nuclear Power Station...

2026-08-06

60th Anniversary of the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre: Nuclear Techniques Continue to Serve Global Agriculture and Food Safety

In 2024, the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture marks its 60th anniversary. Established in 1964 through a partnership between the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Centre primarily promotes the application of nuclear science and related technologies in food security, agricultural production, and sustainable environmental development. Over the past 60 years, the Joint Centre has carried out work in areas including pest control, plant breeding and genetics, soil and water management, animal production and health, and food safety and quality control. Its Agriculture and Biotechnology Laboratories have long undertaken tasks in technology development, capacity building, and technology transfer,...

2024-12-27