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IAEA Inspects Ukrainian Energy Company Substations

On August 3, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) completed its latest inspection of key substations belonging to a Ukrainian energy company. The inspection aimed to assess energy infrastructure, particularly critical facilities affecting the safe operation of Ukraine's nuclear power plants. The Ukrainian side granted the IAEA delegation access to critical high-voltage substation systems for comprehensive monitoring. This comprehensive monitoring of substations was made possible by the expansion of the IAEA's mandate in September 2024. Under the new mandate, international inspectors can monitor not only the safety status of nuclear power plants but also the critical transmission system facilities that ensure their stable operation. Notably...

2026-08-04

Romania Blasts Rocks in Danube to Secure Nuclear Power Plant Water Supply

Romania is conducting blasting operations on rocks in the Danube River to ensure the water supply for the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant. The Ministry of National Defense has launched related actions aimed at altering the river's flow, diverting part of the water from the Bala branch to the Old Danube branch. Initial blasting operations began on Sunday, involving over one hundred military personnel and sixteen pieces of military equipment. According to Navy Reserve Commander Marcel Neculae, the first two explosions failed to completely destroy the target rock, which proved harder than expected. Navy divers are currently assessing the blasting results, after which explosive charges will be gradually increased to continue the operation. Romania's water resources authority has also noted the complexity of the project and warned that it may not succeed.

2026-08-03

Danube Water Levels Continue to Drop, Putting Pressure on Romania's Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant Operations

Romanian official Sorin Lindasu said on August 1 that if the Danube River water level continues to decline, the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant in Constanța County, southeastern Romania, may only be able to continue operating for 4 to 5 days. To ensure the water level required for continuous plant operation, relevant parties have begun implementing hydraulic engineering works on the Danube. Lindasu stated that the Danube water level is currently dropping at a rate of about 2 to 3 centimeters per day. A flow rate of 1,590 cubic meters per second has been recorded at the Baziaș inlet where the Danube enters Romanian territory, and this figure is expected to continue declining, potentially falling to about 1,450 cubic meters per second by August 7. Under these conditions, Cernavodă...

2026-08-03

Romanian Army Deploys on the Danube to Protect Nuclear Power Plant Operations

The Romanian Ministry of National Defense announced that the Romanian Army has been mobilized to protect the operation of the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant and conduct hydrographic measurements on the Danube River. The Ministry stated that this measure was taken in response to the current critical situation on the Danube to ensure the safe operation of the nuclear power plant. The military action aims to obtain the technical data required for the construction of a mobile weir that will redirect a portion of the Danube's flow into the Old Danube. Naval forces are conducting measurements at kilometers 345 to 346 of the Danube, in the area where the Bala branch converges, to determine the parameters needed for implementing the weir. Military experts are analyzing the riverbed and water depth, and transmitting the collected data to the relevant administrative authorities. The Ministry emphasized that these measures...

2026-08-02

Romania Stands by NuScale SMR Project Amid Growing Controversy

The Romanian government and state-owned nuclear operator Nuclearelectrica have been progressively advancing plans since 2021 to deploy small modular reactors (SMRs) developed by the U.S. company NuScale, with the site located at Doicesti. Following the failure of NuScale's first U.S. project and an increase in cost estimates for the Doicesti project, doubts have emerged over Romania's choice, which would involve six 77 MW SMRs. Earlier this month, Romania's Ministry of Energy—the largest shareholder of Nuclearelectrica—reaffirmed its partnership with NuScale and rejected Nuclearelectrica's request to reassess the supplier selection. Nevertheless, the project still...

2026-08-02

Romania Declares National State of Emergency for August Amid Decline in Power Generation

Romania's Acting Prime Minister and Energy Minister Ilie Bolojan announced on July 31 after a cabinet meeting that Romania would enter a national state of emergency in August due to a decline in power generation caused by drought. Bolojan stated that the drought has reduced water levels in rivers, with a notable decrease in the flow of the Danube River. The flow has dropped from over 4,000 cubic meters per second to 1,600 cubic meters per second. He said that as a result, the water level in the intake basin of the Cernavodă NPP has fallen, and Unit 1 of the plant had to be shut down recently. He also noted that Unit 2 of the Cernavodă NPP faces a high risk of shutdown. Should Unit 2 go offline, Romania's total...

2026-08-01

Ukraine's Nuclear Power Plants Generate 26.8 Billion kWh in First Half of Year

On July 29, Ukraine's national nuclear energy company Energoatom reported that from January to June 2026, the country's nuclear power plants generated a cumulative 26.8201 billion kWh (26.82 TWh), an increase of 163.1 million kWh compared to the same period in 2025. Nuclear power continues to serve as the backbone of Ukraine's electricity system baseload, with its share exceeding 67% during certain periods between 2019 and 2025 (according to data from Ukraine's National Energy and Utilities Regulatory Commission, NKREKP), supporting system stability amid repeated attacks on the power grid during wartime. Data shows that from 2019 to 2025, the share of electricity generated by Ukraine's nuclear power plants even exceeded 67% of the country's total energy output during certain periods. This stable power supply capability remains effective in maintaining the stable operation of the energy system even as Ukraine's energy sector faces persistent challenges...

2026-07-31

Unit 2 of Romania's Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant not to shut down temporarily due to low Danube water level

Romania's National Nuclear Power Company (Nuclearelectrica) stated on July 30 that Unit 2 of the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant will continue to operate connected to the grid. Previously, the company had warned that the unit, located in Constanța County in southeastern Romania, might need to shut down due to the low water level of the Danube River. The company said that based on an operational analysis completed the previous night, experts believe the currently obtained relevant parameters allow Unit 2 to continue operating under safe conditions. Therefore, the unit will remain connected to Romania's national power system. Nuclearelectrica also stated that technical personnel will continuously monitor and analyze the plant's operating parameters. Given the subsequent hydrological forecasts for the Danube water level...

2026-07-31

U.S. Confirms Order for Nine Virginia-Class Block VI Nuclear Submarines

The U.S. Department of Defense has confirmed that it has signed a contract modification agreement with General Dynamics Electric Boat to order nine Virginia-class Block VI multi-purpose nuclear-powered submarines. The statement said the contract is an incentive-based modification, and the submarines will be used by the U.S. Navy. Despite delays in General Dynamics' previous orders, both parties have moved forward with this new contract. On July 15, U.S. President Donald Trump had asked the company's management to accelerate the construction progress of U.S. Navy submarines. In addition to the Virginia-class submarines, the U.S. Department of Defense has also ordered five Columbia-class Type II ballistic missile nuclear submarines from Newport News Shipbuilding. Under the contract arrangement, related work is expected to be completed before July 2038...

2026-07-31

Curium Advances Second Cyclotron Investment Plan in Romania to Expand PET Imaging Supply

On July 30, Curium announced that it is advancing its second cyclotron investment plan in Romania to expand access to advanced nuclear medicine services locally and further strengthen healthcare infrastructure. According to the introduction, after completing assessments of market opportunities, technical requirements, and regional infrastructure, Curium has identified the Cluj-Napoca region as the preferred site for the project and selected a preferred local partner. Preparatory work is currently underway to support the project's progression to the next phase. This expansion plan aims to increase relevant production capacity, enhance PET imaging equipment and service supply capabilities, improve patient access to advanced diagnostic procedures, and support the...

2026-07-30

Danube River water levels continue to drop, Romania's only nuclear power plant to shut down completely

Affected by prolonged drought and high temperatures, the water level of the Danube River has been continuously declining, impacting the operation of multiple nuclear power plants along its banks. Romanian authorities have confirmed that both units of the country's only nuclear power plant, the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant, will be completely shut down to prevent damage to the cooling system. Romania's Acting Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan has called on residents and large industrial users to voluntarily reduce electricity consumption, especially by controlling the load between 8:00 PM and 11:00 PM. He stated that Romania often faces electricity shortage pressure during this period. Bolojan noted that the Danube River flow rate during the same period in previous years was typically 3,900 to 4,500 cubic meters per second, but it has now dropped to 1,600 cubic meters per second, and is expected to continue decreasing in the coming days.

2026-07-30

Romanian National Nuclear Power Company Responds to Review Comments on the Doicești SMR Project

SN Nuclearelectrica SA (SNN) responded on July 28 to the content involving the Doicești Small Modular Reactor (SMR) project in the summary of a report by the Romanian Prime Minister's supervisory body. The company stated that strategic nuclear energy projects should be comprehensively evaluated based on technological maturity, economic conditions, and regulatory requirements. Such projects remain in a complex development phase, with schedules and plans subject to updates as engineering, licensing, and technical verification work progresses. SNN noted that the initial development plan for the Doicești SMR project was based on information available at the project's launch, with an estimated timeline jointly developed with technology partners NuScale and Fluor (...

2026-07-29