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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

Steel Dome of Unit 1 at Liaoning Xudabao Nuclear Power Plant Hoisted into Place

On August 28, the steel dome of the nuclear island of Unit 1 at Liaoning Xudabao Nuclear Power Plant, invested and controlled by China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC)'s China National Nuclear Power, was hoisted into place, marking that the large steel structure module construction of the unit has entered its final stage and laying a solid foundation for achieving the milestone of structural completion of the nuclear island buildings. As the core load-bearing structure of the nuclear island, the steel dome sits atop the steel-plate concrete structure, bearing all loads from the passive containment cooling water storage tank and the structures above. It serves as a critical barrier safeguarding the structural integrity and sealing reliability of the reactor building. The dome is conical in shape, composed of radial main beams, ring beams, steel cladding panels, and a bottom steel platform, with a diameter of approximately 41 meters, a height of 11 meters, and a total hoisting weight of nearly 1,000 tons...

2026-08-28

Tianwan Nuclear Power Advances AI-Empowered Intelligent Upgrade of Maintenance Operations

In recent years, the maintenance domain of Tianwan Nuclear Power has relied on platforms such as Hezhi·Longling to address pain points in efficiency, quality, and management across the entire maintenance business chain, promoting the integration of artificial intelligence with nuclear power maintenance scenarios. To date, applications including personnel profiling, work order generation, compliance inspection, and auxiliary generation of electric actuator maintenance plans have achieved phased results, while projects such as the intelligent lifting command platform and marine tunnel cleaning robot are also under development. In personnel management, Tianwan Nuclear Power has established a seven-dimensional personnel capability scoring model, setting differentiated evaluation indicators for different maintenance positions to form position-based, data-driven personnel capability profiles. The system can integrate historical data, support multi-period data retention and trend comparison, and display personnel capability distribution through radar charts, bar charts, and trend graphs. After batch data import, the backend automatically completes normalization calculation, multi-dimensional scoring, and ranking, generating materials that include overall overview, position comparison, special analysis of responsibility performance, and improvement suggestions, providing a basis for training resource allocation, position matching, and differentiated management. To address the issues of time-consuming maintenance work order preparation and reliance on manual experience, the relevant team has developed an intelligent work order preparation assistant based on the Longhuitong intelligent agent platform, forming an application solution of "1 intelligent agent, 1 Skill capability, and 7 categories of professional knowledge bases." The system integrates the historical work order library, maintenance procedure library, equipment ledger library, risk and safety measure library, spare parts and tools library, personnel qualification library, and management procedure library. It can dynamically generate work package catalogs based on historical operation data and procedural requirements, automatically fill in work order business content, and output downloadable Excel work package drafts that can interface with the EPM system. In terms of maintenance quality control, Tianwan Nuclear Power has developed an AI intelligent agent for maintenance compliance inspection. Based on large language models and RAG retrieval-augmented generation technology, this agent can batch receive maintenance procedures, preventive maintenance program lists, and maintenance completion reports, automatically parse document content, and conduct semantic comparison. The system can check item by item the coverage of maintenance procedure implementation steps by the program, while also identifying issues in completion reports such as missing items, omissions, data anomalies, missing signatures, and logical contradictions. The structured inspection reports it outputs can be traced back to specific procedure steps or report entries, and provide rectification suggestions. Intelligent assistance is also being introduced into maintenance of key equipment. Given the large number of electric actuators in nuclear power plants, their complex models, and high maintenance requirements, Tianwan Nuclear Power has developed an auxiliary generation system for electric actuator maintenance plans. After engineering personnel input equipment information and fault descriptions, the system can call upon the electric actuator maintenance knowledge base, historical plans, and equipment data to automatically generate a draft maintenance plan, covering cause analysis, maintenance steps, technical key points, spare parts and tool preparation, and safety precautions. Verified by maintenance engineers, the relevant plans have basically met the conditions for on-site application and can save preparation time for emergency repairs. In addition to applications already deployed, Tianwan Nuclear Power is also advancing the construction of an intelligent lifting command platform. Given the high professionalism and numerous control links involved in crane lifting operations at nuclear power plants, the platform is planned to support both web and API interface usage, and to manage processes such as development, training, and online monitoring through AI models. According to the design, the platform can assist in lifting planning after inputting lifting object parameters and site conditions, recommending equipment and lifting point positions, and alerting to risks such as overload and collision. It can also generate lifting plans based on cargo information, provide handling steps, required materials, and contact person information for emergency situations, and be used for training question bank generation, operation record analysis, and rectification report output. Tianwan Nuclear Power stated that it will continue to expand AI application scenarios in the maintenance domain based on actual production needs, promote the digitalization and intelligent upgrade of maintenance operations, and strengthen network security management while advancing intelligent applications, providing support for the safe and stable operation of the units.

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

Bangladesh Science and Technology Minister Meets Russian Delegates to Advance Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Grid Connection

Bangladesh Science and Technology Minister Fakir Mahbub Anam met with Andrey Rozhdestvin, General Director of Rosatom Energy Projects JSC, a subsidiary of Russia's Rosatom, in Washington, D.C., USA, on August 27. The two sides held bilateral talks on the construction progress of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant and subsequent grid connection arrangements. The discussions focused on the overall construction progress of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, acceleration of remaining work, and the technical and coordination measures required to deliver power from the unit to Bangladesh's national grid as soon as possible while adhering to established procedures...

2026-08-28

Unit 3 of Russia's Kursk Nuclear Power Plant resumes operation after short-term maintenance

Rosatom reported on August 27 that Unit 3 of the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant has resumed operation after completing short-term unscheduled maintenance. Rosatom stated that Unit 4 of the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant remains under planned preventive maintenance. The announcement did not disclose the specific reasons for or the duration of the maintenance on Unit 3. Meanwhile, construction of new units at the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant continues to progress. The new units employ modern VVER-TOI reactor technology, with the first unit already commissioned and generating electricity...

2026-08-28

Russia's Kursk Nuclear Power Plant Releases Annual Environmental Report

Russia's Kursk Nuclear Power Plant recently presented its annual environmental report to local residents in the city of Kurchatov. This year's presentation adopted a cycling event format for the first time, with participants including local residents, city Duma deputies, and relevant personnel, held in the area of Warm Coast Park. The Kursk Nuclear Power Plant is part of Rosenergoatom, the power generation division operator of Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom. The plant stated that the event route was specially designed to allow participants to learn about environmental protection data during the ride and directly observe the environmental conditions in the area surrounding the plant. Kursk...

2026-08-28

South Korea Launches Standard Design Approval Review for i-SMR

The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) of South Korea is set to initiate a safety review of the standard design approval application for the innovative Small Modular Reactor (i-SMR). This project is part of the small modular reactor research and development program led by the South Korean government. The NSSC stated on August 28 that, at its 13th meeting of 2026 held on August 27, the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS) reported on the review plan for the i-SMR standard design approval application. KINS had previously conducted a suitability review of the standard design approval application documents submitted in February of this year and determined that the documents met the conditions for entering the safety review phase, thereby establishing a subsequent review plan. The standard design approval system is designed to...

2026-08-28

Construction Advances for Holtec's SMR-300 Test Facility at Idaho National Laboratory

Holtec International recently announced that construction of its HI-TEST test facility, supporting the SMR-300 small modular reactor, is advancing at Idaho National Laboratory (INL), with manufacturing of key test components and preparation for facility installation already underway. The facility simulates the SMR-300 plant at approximately one-third scale and is designed to quantify reactor design and operational performance margins, providing a test basis for potential future power uprates. Supported by the U.S. Department of Energy (USDOE), the HI-TEST facility's primary mission is to validate SMR-300 design margins under steady-state and transient conditions, offering physical test data for the plant's power generation capacity, resilience, and operability...

2026-08-28

Sweden's Oskarshamn New Nuclear Project Applies for State Aid

NuCore Energi AB, a project company under Fortum, has submitted a state aid application to the Swedish government to initiate consultations on the framework and conditions for a new nuclear power project in Oskarshamn municipality. The project is planned to proceed near the existing Oskarshamn Nuclear Power Plant, with options covering small modular reactors (SMRs) and large reactors, with a total installed capacity expected to range between 1,200 MW and 3,400 MW. NuCore Energi submitted the state aid application on August 27, 2026. In the photo, from left to right: NuCore Energi CEO Laurent Leveugle and Minister Niklas Wykman. Fortum...

2026-08-28

Welding of main circulation pipeline completed for Unit 2 of Turkey's Akkuyu NPP

On August 27, welding of the main circulation pipeline was completed for Unit 2 of Turkey's Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant. The pipeline connects the reactor, steam generators, and main circulation pumps, and is one of the key components forming the primary circuit system of the reactor facility. The welding work lasted 73 days and involved welding 32 pipe joints. Engineering technicians, welders, fitters, pipe cutters, non-destructive testing personnel, heat treatment personnel, and quality inspection personnel participated in the relevant operations. During construction, each process step proceeded according to the established technological workflow, and welded joints had to pass inspection before moving to the next stage. According to reports, all welded joints underwent high-temperature heat treatment to relieve internal stress in the metal and ensure compliance with design performance requirements.

2026-08-28

Egyptian Minister of Electricity Inspects Small Modular Reactor Technology in Russia

On August 27, 2026, Egyptian Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat visited a small nuclear reactor manufacturing and assembly plant operated by Rosatom during an official visit to Russia. The inspection focused on the latest advancements in small modular reactor-related technologies, industrial application status, and potential cooperation opportunities between the two sides. The Egyptian side stated that such visits align with the country's direction of diversifying energy sources and enhancing the security and sustainability of electricity supply. During the visit, Esmat was briefed on the manufacturing and assembly processes of small reactor components, as well as related safety systems...

2026-08-28

India's Draft Nuclear Regulations May Affect Foreign Reactor Technology Introduction

A draft nuclear regulatory framework in India could introduce new uncertainty to its nuclear power expansion plans. Multiple industry insiders and legal experts believe that the draft's additional approval requirements for imported reactors may push companies toward domestic technology and delay the entry of foreign capital and advanced reactor technology into the Indian market. India passed a new nuclear energy law last year, allowing private enterprises to enter the nuclear power sector, which had long been strictly controlled by the state, and is attempting to expand nuclear power capacity by introducing foreign technology and investment. India plans to increase its nuclear power installed capacity nearly tenfold over the next two decades to 100 gigawatts, with estimated investment needs approaching $210 billion. The target is seen as...

2026-08-28

Russia and Egypt Plan to Jointly Establish Additive Manufacturing Center in Egypt

According to the fuel division of Rosatom, it has signed a joint statement of intent with the Egyptian Nuclear Power Plant Construction Supervision and Execution Authority (EA-SNPP), with both sides planning to cooperate in establishing an additive manufacturing center in Egypt. The statement said that Mahmoud Esmat, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy of the Arab Republic of Egypt, visited the Moscow Additive Manufacturing Center under the fuel division of Rosatom during his visit to Russia. Following the visit, the Russian fuel division and the Egyptian Nuclear Power Plant Project Supervision and Execution Authority signed the aforementioned statement, clarifying their cooperation in building an additive manufacturing center in Egypt. The cooperation revolves around additive manufacturing...

2026-08-28

Hole of about 3 meters confirmed at bottom of reactor pressure vessel of Unit 3 at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station

Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) announced on August 27 that a hole approximately 3 meters in diameter has been confirmed at the bottom of the reactor pressure vessel of Unit 3 at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. The pressure vessel is a steel container that held nuclear fuel before the accident, with a cylindrical shape and a diameter of about 5.5 meters. This is the first time since the core meltdown accident at Units 1 to 3 of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station in 2011 that the specific size and shape of such a hole have been confirmed on the pressure vessel. The hole is believed to be related to the falling of melted nuclear fuel during the 2011 accident. After the accident, the containment vessel of Unit 3 has maintained a relatively high water level for an extended period, and access routes into the containment vessel are limited. TEPCO previously used a micro drone measuring approximately 12 centimeters per side...

2026-08-28