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Heatwave and jellyfish influx into pump stations push French nuclear unit unavailability to 20.4%

The heatwave sweeping across multiple regions of France is impacting the country's electricity production. Several nuclear reactors operated by Électricité de France (EDF) have been shut down or derated due to environmental restrictions or external environmental factors, with the unavailability rate of affected units rising to 20.4% before 10:00 AM on August 12, marking a recent high. Of France's 57 nuclear reactors, 13 are currently affected. Among them, 8 units are fully shut down: Bugey Unit 3, Cattenom Unit 1, Chooz Units 1 and 2, Golfech Unit 2, and Gravelines Units 2, 3, and 4; another 5 units are operating below rated power, including Saint-Alban Unit 2, Tricastin Units 1 and 4...

2026-08-13

Hinkley Point C Nuclear Power Station Advances CCNSG Safety Passport Collaboration to Ensure Site Safety During Peak Construction

Hinkley Point C (HPC) nuclear power station in the UK is deepening its collaboration with the Client Contractor National Safety Group (CCNSG) to safeguard thousands of workers on site during the peak construction phase. Located in Somerset, the project is progressively transitioning from civil works to mechanical and electrical installation, placing greater demands on unified safety access standards and workforce competency. The CCNSG Safety Passport scheme, delivered by the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB), has been operating in the engineering construction industry for over 30 years, with more than 85,500 active cardholders. The scheme is industry-led and continuously overseen by a relevant committee, of which Hinkley Point C is a member.

2026-08-13

Jellyfish Blockage Forces Shutdown of French Nuclear Units; Experts Say Shutdown Demonstrates Effectiveness of Safety Systems

France's Gravelines Nuclear Power Plant recently shut down some of its units again after large numbers of jellyfish entered the water intake system. On August 11, reactors 2, 3, and 4 at the plant were forced to shut down due to blockage in the seawater cooling pump system, reactor 1 was reduced to half power operation, reactor 5 was under maintenance at the time, and only reactor 6 continued normal operation. EDF (Électricité de France) stated that the incident had no impact on nuclear safety, personnel, or the environment, and the affected units would be restarted in phases. Located in northern France, the Gravelines Nuclear Power Plant is one of the largest nuclear power plants in Western Europe. Similar situations have occurred before. In the 20...

2026-08-13

Dong Baotong, Director of the National Nuclear Safety Administration: China's nuclear safety level remains among the top internationally, and during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, the number of operating nuclear power units in China will rank first in the world

The State Council Information Office held a series of press conferences on August 13 themed "Starting the '15th Five-Year Plan' with a Strong Beginning," introducing the progress of comprehensively advancing the construction of a Beautiful China. Dong Baotong, Vice Minister of Ecology and Environment and Director of the National Nuclear Safety Administration, stated at the conference that ecological environment safety encompasses several key aspects, including ecological security, nuclear safety, and environmental risk prevention and control. The Ministry of Ecology and Environment serves as the lead coordinating body for both the national ecological security work coordination mechanism and the nuclear safety work coordination mechanism. Over the years, together with relevant departments, we have actively responded to various risks and challenges, effectively safeguarding the bottom line of ecological environment safety. Among these, in the area of nuclear safety, we have consolidated the primary responsibility of nuclear facility operators...

2026-08-13

South Korea's Wolsong Nuclear Power Plant Units 2, 3, and 4 Pressure Tube Procurement Pushed for Preliminary Feasibility Study Exemption, Sparking Controversy

The lifetime extension issue for South Korea's Wolsong Nuclear Power Plant Units 2, 3, and 4 has not yet been finalized, yet the procurement of pressure tubes—the core equipment—is being pushed to be excluded from the preliminary feasibility study, triggering a direct confrontation between industry circles and environmental groups. The Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power labor union recently submitted a proposal to Democratic Party lawmaker Song Young-gil, requesting that the government grant a preliminary feasibility study exemption for the relevant procurement and initiate ordering at the earliest opportunity. Song subsequently forwarded the opinion to the Office for Government Policy Coordination. It is understood that the government is internally considering submitting the matter as an exemption case for deliberation at the September State Council meeting. Supporters argue that Wolsong Units 2, 3, and 4 are pressurized heavy water reactors, and pressure tubes are critical equipment determining unit operation, from order placement...

2026-08-13

Nuclear Technology Aids Pest Control: Sterile Insect Technique Achieves Results in Multiple Countries

The application of nuclear technology is not limited to power generation and heating. In areas such as agricultural pest control, animal health, and disease vector management, the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) based on cobalt-60 gamma rays is playing an important role. The core approach of SIT involves mass-rearing target pests in specialized facilities, separating males, and then irradiating them with a cobalt-60 gamma ray source. The radiation causes DNA breaks in the reproductive cells of male insects, leaving them able to fly and mate with wild females but unable to produce viable offspring. As large numbers of sterile males are continuously released, the proportion of ineffective matings in the wild population increases, pest numbers decline generation after generation, and under certain conditions...

2026-08-13

Study Reveals Three-Dimensional Pore Networks Inside Uranium-Zirconium Metallic Nuclear Fuel

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), in collaboration with Idaho National Laboratory (INL), conducted three-dimensional imaging studies on irradiated uranium-10 zirconium metallic fuel, revealing the internal pore networks within the fuel and their relationship with chemical changes and fuel-cladding interactions. The researchers believe these results will help improve metallic fuel performance models, providing references for extending the operating cycles of certain reactors and for the design of next-generation sodium-cooled fast reactor fuel systems. Uranium-10 zirconium (U-10Zr) is a uranium-zirconium alloy metallic fuel containing 10% zirconium, which has been extensively tested in sodium-cooled fast reactors such as Experimental Breeder Reactor II (EBR-II) and the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF). As advanced reactor research and development progresses, this type of metallic fuel has regained attention, but the details of pore formation, swelling, heat transfer, and interactions with cladding materials under reactor irradiation conditions still require further clarification.

2026-08-13

Major Fusion Energy Appointment in the UK: MIT Professor Dennis Whyte Named CEO of UKAEA

The UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) has appointed Professor Dennis Whyte, a fusion energy expert from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, as its new Chief Executive Officer, with his tenure officially commencing in autumn 2026. This appointment comes at a critical stage in the UK's accelerated push toward fusion energy commercialisation, signalling the country's intent to strengthen its position in the global fusion energy race by attracting international talent with combined expertise in research, engineering, and industrialisation. The UK government previously announced an investment of £2.5 billion in fusion energy research, development, and innovation over the five-year period ending in 2030. Upon taking office, Whyte will be tasked with advancing the R&D system, accelerating technology commercialisation, expanding industrial and international collaboration, and translating scientific...

2026-08-13

US Valion Bio Initiates Safety Study of Entolimod for Radiation-Induced Gastrointestinal Injury

US biotechnology company Valion Bio announced on August 12 that the safety study of its investigational therapeutic candidate Entolimod for radiation-induced gastrointestinal injury is scheduled to commence this week. The study is being advanced by the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute (AFRRI) under a contract with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), as part of a government-funded research program. According to the company's disclosure, Entolimod has been delivered to AFRRI, the study has received approval from the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), and the experimental animals are currently in the pre-dosing acclimation phase. The safety study will confirm the tolerability of Entolimod in the animal strain used by AFRRI...

2026-08-13

ASP Isotopes Plans Commercial Delivery of Multiple Stable Isotopes in Second Half of 2026

ASP Isotopes Inc. recently presented its expansion plans for isotope production, radiopharmaceuticals, and helium operations at Canaccord Genuity's 46th Annual Growth Conference. The company aims to begin commercial delivery of stable isotopes including silicon-28, carbon-14, and ytterbium-176 in the second half of 2026. Victor Petkov, the company's Chief Commercial Officer, stated that ASP Isotopes is leveraging its proprietary enrichment technology to serve electronics, nuclear medicine, and nuclear fuel-related markets. Currently, the company operates three production facilities in Pretoria, South Africa, primarily producing silicon-28 for semiconductor applications, as well as carbon-14 and ytterbium-176 for nuclear medicine-related uses. Regarding isotope supply...

2026-08-13

Poland's First Nuclear Power Plant Enters New Phase with Deepening Polish Enterprise Participation

Poland's first nuclear power plant (Lubiatowo-Kopalino site) has transitioned from the preparatory stage to substantive on-site construction. On August 12, Polish Nuclear Power Company (PEJ) officially handed over the construction site to the general contractor, American company Bechtel, while Budimex, one of Poland's largest construction firms, commenced earthworks. This marks another significant milestone for the project following the securing of financing, the refinement of the legal framework, and support from technology partners. Polish Energy Minister Miłosz Motyka stated that this investment will enhance Poland's energy security and sovereignty, while creating stable and predictable energy prices for households and businesses. To date, PEJ has signed contracts with approximately 4...

2026-08-13

Vietnam accelerates nuclear power workforce training, Ninh Thuan 1 project targets commercial operation in 2037-2038

On the afternoon of August 12, Vietnam's Deputy Minister of Education and Training Pham Quang Hung held a working meeting with Vietnam Electricity (EVN) to focus on the implementation of human resource training plans in the nuclear power sector. EVN Deputy General Director Nguyen Tai Anh stated that the group has preliminarily identified 120 key positions required for nuclear power plant operation, as well as 320 core personnel who currently need training and reserve development. As Vietnam plans to build a workforce meeting nuclear power operation requirements by 2035, relevant training must be planned as early as possible and accelerated. The Ninh Thuan 1 Nuclear Power Project is Vietnam's first nuclear power project, with EVN as the investor. The project was suspended in 2016 due to national resource coordination needs, and was restarted at the end of 2024 in accordance with...

2026-08-13

Vietnam's National Assembly Reviews Agreements Related to the Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Plant Project

On August 13, the Vietnamese National Assembly discussed at its session the proposal for ratifying agreements related to the Ninh Thuan nuclear power plant project. This topic is one of the key items on the agenda of the first extraordinary session, involving the procedures for ratifying international agreements required for the advancement of the nuclear power project, and also reflecting the continued progress of Vietnam's policy arrangements in energy security and large-scale infrastructure development. On the same day, the National Assembly also discussed draft amendments and supplements to certain provisions of the Law on Radio Frequencies, the Law on Telecommunications, the Law on Electronic Transactions, and the Law on Technology Transfer. Vu Hai Quan, member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and Minister of Science and Technology, stated that the draft law does not alter the scope and subjects of application of the four existing laws, but focuses on resolving...

2026-08-13

Southwest University of Science and Technology Releases Medical Radioactive Waste Treatment Technology Covering Liquid, Gas, and Solid Waste Management

On August 10, the Mianyang Science and Technology City Strategic Development Research Center held an online innovation achievement release conference, unveiling a medical radioactive waste treatment technology developed by the School of National Defense Science and Technology / School of Nuclear Science and Technology at Southwest University of Science and Technology. The technology targets radioactive contaminants including liquid waste, off-gas, and solid waste generated during nuclear medicine diagnosis and treatment, offering a full-chain comprehensive treatment solution. The conference attracted 87,000 experts in the nuclear medicine field, departmental representatives, and enterprise users. With the rapid development of the domestic nuclear medicine industry, insufficient radioactive waste disposal capacity has gradually become a key issue facing the industry's safe expansion. Relevant data show that over 96% of nuclear medicine departments nationwide are constrained by decay tank capacity...

2026-08-13

American Society for Radiation Oncology Foundation to Award $2.4 Million in Grants to 14 Researchers

The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Foundation will award a total of $2.4 million in research grants to 14 scientists dedicated to advancing patient care in radiation medicine. ASTRO stated that the 2026 awards are the first annual grants issued since the society renamed its foundation to LightSpeed—ASTRO Foundation earlier this year. The rebranded foundation will focus on accelerating relevant research and strengthening workforce development in the field of radiation oncology. This round of funding is co-sponsored by the American Cancer Society, the American Association of Physicists in Medicine, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, the LUNGevity Foundation, and the Prostate Cancer Foundation. ASTRO CEO Vive...

2026-08-13