Search Results

Heavy water leak at Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant Unit 2 in South Korea found to be far larger than initially reported

The actual scale of the heavy water leak that occurred at Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant Unit 2 in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea, in September last year, is reported to be far larger than the initially disclosed figure. The Gyeongju Environmental Movement Alliance disclosed on the 30th that a detailed internal report obtained from Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) shows the total amount of heavy water leaked was 1,311.15 kg, approximately five times the initially reported 256 kg, of which 5.14 kg was recorded as having leaked outdoors. After the incident, Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) had reported a heavy water leak of 256 kg and stated that no external leakage occurred. The detailed report now made public reveals...

2026-07-30

TerraPower Isotopes to Donate Actinium-225 via Oncidium Foundation to Support Cancer Treatment Accessibility

TerraPower Isotopes (TPI), a subsidiary of U.S. nuclear innovation company TerraPower, announced on July 29 that it will coordinate the donation of the rare medical isotope actinium-225 (Ac-225) through the Oncidium Foundation to support economically disadvantaged cancer patients in accessing targeted radionuclide therapy. The Oncidium Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting global access to targeted radionuclide cancer treatments. Its RLT-Connect program aims to help financially challenged patients access relevant therapies, reducing treatment disparities caused by geographic and economic conditions. This donation also marks TPI's entry into Oncidium's collaborative ecosystem of radioisotope suppliers, medical practitioners...

2026-07-30

North China Regional Office of Nuclear and Radiation Safety Supervision, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Conducts On-Site Supervision of Main Pump Shaft Design and Manufacturing at Shanghai Electric KSB Nuclear Pump and Valve Co., Ltd.

To continuously enhance the localization quality of active equipment such as main pumps and the effectiveness of key technology improvements, the North China Regional Office of Nuclear and Radiation Safety Supervision (hereinafter referred to as the North China Office) of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment recently conducted on-site supervision of the wet winding main pump shaft design and manufacturing activities at Shanghai Electric KSB Nuclear Pump and Valve Co., Ltd. This supervision focused on the quality reliability of design improvement measures for main pumps, conducting detailed inspections on the standardization of design change processes, verifying key processes such as material acceptance, heat treatment, and hot sleeve assembly, with particular attention to the correlation between improvement measures and root cause analysis, the effectiveness of improved processes, and the compliance of various inspection and test results. It also required...

2026-07-30

Shidaowan Nuclear Power Company Successfully Completes Member Support Activity for Predictive Maintenance and Equipment Condition Monitoring

On July 24, Shidaowan Nuclear Power Company successfully completed the member support activity for predictive maintenance and equipment condition monitoring, laying the foundation for further optimizing the predictive maintenance and equipment condition monitoring management and technical systems of the High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor (HTGR) Demonstration Project, and promoting the transformation and upgrading of the equipment management model. The member support activity, lasting five days, was organized by the Nuclear Power Branch of the China Nuclear Energy Association, aiming to leverage the expertise of industry experts to drive the transformation of the equipment management model of the HTGR Demonstration Project from breakdown maintenance and periodic maintenance to data-driven predictive management, thereby strengthening the foundation of nuclear safety and operational economy. The expert team for this activity was led by Chen Lunshou, former Deputy Chief Engineer of Sanmen Nuclear Power Co., Ltd...

2026-07-30

Ministry of Ecology and Environment's North China Nuclear and Radiation Safety Supervision Station Conducts Special Supervision on Cold Test Release for Tianwan Nuclear Power Unit 8

The Cold Functional Test (hereinafter referred to as the cold test) is the first major comprehensive test for a nuclear power unit transitioning from the installation phase to the commissioning phase. It is a key core link to verify the pressure-bearing capacity and sealing performance of the nuclear island main system and equipment under design pressure conditions, and serves as a critical milestone to ensure the subsequent safe and stable operation of the unit. Recently, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment's North China Nuclear and Radiation Safety Supervision Station (hereinafter referred to as the North China Supervision Station) conducted comprehensive supervision on the cold test control point release for Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant Unit 8. Adhering to the principle of supervision moving forward, the station consolidated the pre-test foundation. Upholding the nuclear safety supervision philosophy of "prevention first, moving the checkpoint forward," the North China Supervision Station focused on the preconditions for the cold test control point release, verified various items pending rectification one by one, and ensured that all hidden dangers were effectively addressed, building a solid safety barrier for the smooth progress of subsequent tests.

2026-07-30

Princeton University and PPPL Launch Collaborative Graduate Program in Plasma Science and Technology

The Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) facility, and Princeton University recently launched the Collaborative Research Program in Plasma Science and Technology (CRPST). This two-year program, which began on July 1, 2026, aims to establish a more formal joint mentorship mechanism and expand opportunities for Princeton University graduate students in engineering, physics, and related disciplines to participate in research at PPPL. Under the program, selected students will be jointly mentored by a PPPL scientist and a Princeton University faculty member. Students will work at PPPL at least one day per week, participate in relevant research groups, and use laboratory facilities to advance their projects...

2026-07-30

SuperCritical Obtains Exclusive License for Uranium Extraction from Seawater Technology, Plans Industrial Deployment in the United States

SuperCritical Materials Corp., a U.S. developer of nuclear fuel and critical materials infrastructure, announced on July 24 that it has obtained an exclusive license from Battelle Memorial Institute for a patented uranium adsorbent technology used to extract uranium from seawater. The technology was originally developed by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and its research partners. Battelle Memorial Institute currently manages eight national laboratories for the U.S. federal government. SuperCritical stated that the technology has been verified to extract uranium from seawater...

2026-07-30

Superyacht Industry Explores Nuclear Power Transition, Calls for Early Safety and Regulatory Preparation

During the 2026 Monaco Energy Boat Challenge, the application prospects of nuclear propulsion technology in the superyacht sector became a focal point of industry discussion. Experts attending the event believe that although nuclear-powered superyachts still have a long way to go before commercial application, the relevant discussions are no longer confined to the conceptual stage. The industry needs to start preparing early on issues such as design, safety, operation, and regulation. Engel-Jan de Boer, Global Yacht Business Manager at the UK-based maritime professional services organization Lloyd's Register, stated during the conference that with the rapid development of maritime nuclear technology...

2026-07-30

Northeast China Regional Nuclear and Radiation Safety Supervision Station of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment Organizes 2026 Northeast Regional Radiation Monitoring Comparison and Technical Exchange Activity

To further enhance the radiation monitoring capability and level in Northeast China and deepen technical exchanges and cooperation in radiation monitoring within the region, the Northeast China Regional Nuclear and Radiation Safety Supervision Station of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (hereinafter referred to as the Northeast Supervision Station), relying on the Northeast Base of the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Center of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, recently organized the 2026 Northeast Regional Radiation Monitoring Comparison and Technical Exchange Activity. Frontline monitoring technical experts from units including the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Center of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the National Marine Environmental Monitoring Center, provincial-level radiation monitoring institutions of the three northeastern provinces, Liaoning Hongyanhe Nuclear Power Co., Ltd., and CNNC Liaoning Nuclear Power Co., Ltd. participated in this event. This technical exchange activity closely aligns with the actual...

2026-07-30

Northwest Nuclear and Radiation Safety Supervision Station of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment Completes Routine Supervision and Emergency Assessment of Thorium-based Molten Salt Reactor

Recently, the Northwest Nuclear and Radiation Safety Supervision Station of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (hereinafter referred to as the Northwest Supervision Station) organized a supervision team to conduct routine nuclear and radiation safety supervision and comprehensive emergency drill assessment for the 2 MW Liquid Fuel Thorium-based Molten Salt Experimental Reactor (hereinafter referred to as the Thorium-based Molten Salt Reactor) of the Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (hereinafter referred to as Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics). This supervision focused on the operational safety of the Thorium-based Molten Salt Reactor, effluent and environmental monitoring, radiation safety of nuclear technology utilization projects, and comprehensive emergency drills. The supervision team, through document review, on-site verification, and record tracing, primarily examined the effectiveness of the quality assurance program, personnel training and authorization, effluent and environmental monitoring records, emergency system documents, and the rectification records from previous inspections. At the same time, the supervision team observed the comprehensive emergency drill on-site and provided guidance based on actual conditions, conducting a full-process assessment of accident response procedures, cross-departmental coordination, and emergency response measures. In response to the issues and deficiencies identified during the supervision, the supervision team held a special communication meeting with the Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics and proposed rectification requirements.

2026-07-30

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Meets ITER Organization Director-General

Starting at 4:50 p.m. on July 29, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi met with Pietro Barabaschi, Director-General of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) Organization, who was visiting Japan. The meeting lasted approximately 15 minutes. (Photo source: Japan Cabinet Public Affairs Office) Hayashi welcomed Barabaschi's visit to Japan. He stated that fusion energy has been listed as one of the 17 strategic areas in Japan's growth strategy. Japan looks forward to progress in the ITER project and believes it will play a significant role in advancing the realization of fusion energy and enhancing energy security. Hayashi...

2026-07-30

IAEA and University of Saskatchewan Sign Agreement to Strengthen Nuclear Talent Development

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the University of Saskatchewan recently signed a "Practical Arrangement" to enhance cooperation in nuclear knowledge management, nuclear energy education, research support, and talent development. The agreement was signed on July 24 at IAEA headquarters. Baljit Singh, Vice-President of the University of Saskatchewan, and Mikhail Chudakov, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Energy, signed the "Practical Arrangement" on July 24 at IAEA headquarters. (Photo: IAEA) Under the agreement, the two parties will collaborate through training workshops, expert missions, and educational material development...

2026-07-30

American Fusion Company Launches Texatron Test Program at Texas Tech University

American Fusion Company announced on July 29 that, after completing preliminary laboratory preparations and verifying the remote ignition system, the company has launched the Texatron test program at Texas Tech University. The company is the developer of proprietary technologies related to the Texatron fusion engine. According to the company, a total of seven members of the American Fusion engineering and scientific team conducted a one-day preparation session at the research facilities of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Texas Tech University. The activities included laboratory environment setup, inspection of instrumentation and supporting systems, system interface verification, and preparation for Texatron platform operation...

2026-07-30

IAEA Launches New Project to Advance Research Network on Small and Medium-Sized Fusion Devices

The International Atomic Energy Agency recently launched a new Coordinated Research Project, aiming to further strengthen the global network of small and medium-sized fusion devices, supporting multinational coordinated experiments, diagnostic technology development, and personnel training, providing a platform for cultivating the next generation of fusion researchers. The Tokamak TT-1 device at the Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology (TINT) has long participated in the IAEA Coordinated Research Project on the network of small and medium-sized fusion devices, contributing to international cooperation, research, and capacity building. (Photo: JP Cayol/IAEA) This project builds upon a previous five-year collaborative research program. The previous project was named Small and Medium-Sized Magnetic Confinement...

2026-07-30

Russia Completes Manufacturing of Second RITM-200 Reactor Unit for Leningrad Nuclear-Powered Icebreaker

On July 29, Rosatom's ZiO-Podolsk Mechanical Plant in the Moscow Region completed the manufacturing of the second RITM-200 reactor unit for the Leningrad nuclear-powered icebreaker. With this, the manufacturing of all major equipment for the reactor compartment of this under-construction 22220-type universal nuclear-powered icebreaker has been fully completed. The Leningrad nuclear-powered icebreaker began construction in January 2024. The naming of the vessel is linked to the 80th anniversary of the lifting of the Siege of Leningrad, with veterans and survivors of the siege proposing that this new-generation nuclear-powered icebreaker be named Leningrad. Following Rosatom's tradition of naming reactor units, the two completed reactor units of the Leningrad have been named "Iskra" and "Grom," commemorating the operations that broke and ultimately lifted the Siege of Leningrad between 1943 and 1944.

2026-07-30