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SHINE to Advance Spent Fuel Recycling Separation Technology with Argonne National Laboratory and Others

On August 18, fusion energy company SHINE announced that it will collaborate with the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory and Case Western Reserve University to apply high-throughput chemical separation technology to the nuclear fuel recycling process it is currently developing. The collaboration is carried out under the CURIE program of the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), with additional funding led by Case Western Reserve University, and SHINE participates as a subcontractor. Spent fuel is often referred to as nuclear waste, but it retains approximately 90% of its energy potential while containing multiple reusable byproducts. In recent years, federal programs and private investment in the United States have driven renewed interest in spent fuel recycling. Argonne National Laboratory is developing a new chemical processing device called "Packed Centrifugal Equipment for Radiochemical Separation," abbreviated as PaCERS. The device generates centrifugal force exceeding normal gravity conditions through high-speed rotation to improve chemical separation efficiency, and reduces costs across multiple stages of nuclear fuel recycling through higher throughput and lower solvent usage.

2026-08-19

Port of Long Beach Advances Offshore Small Modular Reactor Project

The Port of Long Beach in California, USA, is advancing an exploratory project for an offshore small modular reactor (SMR) system that could one day provide electricity for port operations, terminal equipment, charging infrastructure, and vessels at berth. If the project ultimately comes to fruition, it could become one of California's first new nuclear power projects in nearly 50 years. The project partner is Bluecore Energy, a startup founded less than a year ago that plans to develop small nuclear reactors deployable on floating barges. The Port of Long Beach has leased the Pier 48 site to the company for technology development and testing. Previously, the Port of Long Beach also...

2026-08-19

Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant Fully Shut Down Due to Falling Danube River Water Levels

Due to the continuous decline of the Danube River water level, the two units of Romania's only nuclear power plant, the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant, have been successively shut down. To alleviate the pressure on electricity supply, Unit 4 of the Rovinari coal-fired cogeneration plant has been put into operation, adding approximately 330 megawatts of generating capacity to Romania's power system. Romania's nuclear power company (Nuclearelectrica) previously reported that due to the sharp decline in the Danube River water level, which affected the assurance of cooling water for the reactor, Unit 2 of the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant was shut down in a controlled manner on the morning of August 13. The company stated that the shutdown process was carried out in accordance with procedures. At the end of July this year, Unit 1 of the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant had already been shut down for the same reason...

2026-08-19

Russia begins implementation of agreement on small nuclear power plant construction in Myanmar

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said on August 18 during a meeting with Myanmar's President Min Aung Hlaing, who was visiting Russia, that Russia has begun implementing the agreement on constructing a small nuclear power plant in Myanmar. Mishustin stated that the two sides are launching the implementation of the agreement. He noted that the project will promote bilateral cooperation in related fields, including fundamental and applied scientific research. According to earlier information, Russia and Myanmar signed an intergovernmental agreement in March 2025, defining the principles of cooperation for constructing a small nuclear power plant in Myanmar. The project plans to build a small nuclear power plant with an installed capacity of 110 MW, with the possibility of future expansion to 330 MW...

2026-08-19

Germany pledges assistance in repairing the damaged reactor containment at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant

German Environment Minister Carsten Schneider stated during his visit to Kyiv on August 18 that Germany will assist in repairing the containment structure above the damaged reactor at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Schneider said the containment above the damaged reactor must be repaired. He also noted that this work involves high technical difficulty and complex organizational processes, requiring joint participation and coordinated efforts from the international community. According to the itinerary, Schneider plans to visit the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone during his trip to assess the current status of the relevant facilities and subsequent repair needs. The containment repair work at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant involves multiple aspects including nuclear safety, radiation protection, and engineering construction, with further specific implementation arrangements still requiring additional consultation among all parties.

2026-08-19

TerraPower Plans to Deepen South Korean Supply Chain Cooperation to Advance K-Sodium SMR Business Model

TerraPower CEO Chris Levesque recently stated that South Korea possesses strong nuclear supply chain capabilities, with both a foundation in small modular reactor (SMR) construction and familiarity with the stable power demands of AI data centers, semiconductors, and other industries. TerraPower plans to further strengthen cooperation with South Korean companies in supply chain and project manufacturing. Levesque stated that small modular reactors are not a technology intended to replace traditional large-scale nuclear power plants, but rather a new class of energy solution targeting incremental electricity demand in the AI era. He recently met with TerraPower Chairman Bill...

2026-08-19

South Korea Has Not Yet Decided Whether to Include New Nuclear Power in the 12th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand

South Korea's Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment, Kim Sung-hwan, said during a meeting with reporters at the Sejong Government Complex on August 18 that the government has not yet reached a conclusion on whether to include new nuclear power plants in the 12th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand. Kim said that government policy cannot be determined solely by the personal will of the minister in charge, and it is not appropriate to make premature statements at this stage. He emphasized that related matters will be decided after going through the necessary deliberation process. Regarding whether nuclear power will be included in the 12th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand, the government plans to clarify the direction of discussion as soon as possible, including how public opinions will be reflected, how the review procedures involving experts and public participation will be structured, and what methods will be used to conduct debates or public discussions before the plan is released...

2026-08-19

Automatic Shutdown of Unit 4 at South Korea's Hanul Nuclear Power Plant, Regulator Launches Investigation

The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) of South Korea reported on August 19 that Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., Ltd. (KHNP) had reported the same day that Unit 4 of the Hanul Nuclear Power Plant, located in Uljin County, North Gyeongsang Province, automatically shut down at approximately 8:50 a.m. The NSSC stated that Unit 4 of the Hanul Nuclear Power Plant is currently in a stable condition. No abnormal alarms were triggered by on-site radiation monitors, and no leakage of radioactive materials to the outside environment has been detected. According to the notification, the NSSC's regional office for the Hanul Nuclear Power Plant is conducting inspections of on-site safety conditions. The regulatory body also plans to dispatch an investigation team comprising experts from the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS) to the site to further confirm the cause of the automatic shutdown and related safety conditions.

2026-08-19

Amentum Joint Venture Selected as Capability Partner for Australia's Nuclear-Powered Submarine Shipyard Project

Australian Naval Infrastructure (ANI) has selected a joint venture between Amentum and Laing O'Rourke as the capability partner for the nuclear-powered submarine construction shipyard project in South Australia. The project is located at the new Osborne shipyard north of Adelaide, which will be used to build Australia's conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS trilateral agreement. Under a long-term contractual arrangement, Amentum and Laing O'Rourke will undertake key support roles during the development of the new shipyard. The work will be integrated into ANI's Integrated Delivery Office, focusing on providing specialized support in nuclear-related project management, construction management, and safety management.

2026-08-19

NANO Nuclear and QNI Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Advance Domestic HALEU Fuel Supply Cooperation in the U.S.

NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. (NANO Nuclear) and Quadrant Nuclear Industries, Inc. (QNI) announced on August 18 that the two companies have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) establishing a non-binding framework for future high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) fuel supply cooperation. Under the MOU, the parties will engage in discussions regarding the supply of HALEU to be produced by QNI in the future and long-term offtake arrangements. The fuel in question is planned to come from QNI's proposed Vanguard facility at Idaho National Laboratory (INL). QNI stated that once the facility operates at full capacity, its annual HALEU production...

2026-08-19

Atomic Canyon, in partnership with EPRI, INPO, and NEI, Launches NIVA, a Virtual Assistant for the North American Nuclear Industry

Atomic Canyon, a company developing artificial intelligence tools for the nuclear energy industry, announced on August 18 that the Nuclear Industry Virtual Assistant (NIVA) has transitioned from the pilot phase to full deployment and will be rolled out to nuclear power plants across North America. The platform was developed by Atomic Canyon in collaboration with the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO), the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), and the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), and is available to commercial nuclear power plants that are members of these organizations. NIVA is positioned as an AI platform dedicated to the nuclear power industry, primarily designed to help nuclear professionals find, integrate, and apply industry knowledge more quickly across complex workflows involving technical, regulatory, and operational management tasks.

2026-08-19

CCTE Commissions Kinectrics for Independent Review of ANEEL Fuel Qualification Program

Clean Core Thorium Energy (CCTE) has commissioned Kinectrics Inc. (Kinectrics) to conduct an independent technical review of its ANEEL fuel qualification program, advancing the fuel's technical and regulatory qualification preparations ahead of demonstration in commercial reactors. Kinectrics is a subsidiary of BWX Technologies Inc. (BWXT). Photo: Front row, left to right: John D'Angelo, President of Kinectrics, and Milan Shah, Chief Operating Officer of CCTE; Back row, left to right: Sean Donnelly, Vice President of New Nuclear Construction, Paul...

2026-08-19

Kansai Electric says Rokkasho reprocessing plant delay does not change target of starting operation in fiscal 2027

On August 18, officials from Japan's Agency for Natural Resources and Energy (ANRE) and Kansai Electric Power Company (KEPCO) visited the Aomori Prefectural Government to explain the construction and operation schedule of the spent fuel reprocessing plant under construction in Rokkasho Village, Aomori Prefecture. The facility is a key project in Japan's nuclear fuel cycle system and is also listed as one of the receiving sites for spent fuel transported from nuclear power plants in Fukui Prefecture. Kansai Electric reiterated that even if the completion of the Rokkasho reprocessing plant is delayed from its original schedule within the current fiscal year, the target of starting operation within fiscal 2027 remains unchanged. The company stated that under the current spent fuel transport roadmap, the transport volume from fiscal 2028 onward is not expected to be significantly affected; if construction...

2026-08-19

Ikata Nuclear Power Station Unit 1 Decommissioning Phase 2 Plan Approved by Experts

An expert organization in Ehime Prefecture, Japan, regarding safety management at the Ikata Nuclear Power Station recently held a meeting to discuss the decommissioning plan for Unit 1 of the station. The report formed at the meeting deemed it appropriate for the unit to enter the second phase of decommissioning in fiscal year 2027. The meeting was convened by the Nuclear Safety Expert Subcommittee under the Ikata Nuclear Power Station Environmental Safety Management Committee. This committee is responsible for providing advice to the Governor of Ehime Prefecture on safety management at the Ikata Nuclear Power Station. At the meeting, eight academic experts reviewed the decommissioning plan for Unit 1. The decommissioning of Unit 1 at the Ikata Nuclear Power Station began in 2017 and is divided into four phases overall, planned to last approximately 40 years. Currently, the decommissioning work...

2026-08-19

Restart of Shimane Nuclear Power Plant Unit 2 Delayed to August 19

Chugoku Electric Power announced that the restart of power generation at Shimane Nuclear Power Plant Unit 2 has been postponed from the originally scheduled August 18 to August 19. Unit 2 of the Shimane Nuclear Power Plant has been shut down since February this year for routine inspections. After approximately six months of inspections, the reactor was started on August 13, and power generation was originally planned to resume on August 18 after reaching criticality, the state of a sustainable nuclear fission chain reaction. On August 18, at a special committee meeting on Shimane Nuclear Power Plant measures held in Matsue City, Chugoku Electric Power explained that the restart of power generation was delayed by one day, mainly because the restart process requires careful progression and additional time is needed to confirm the status of related equipment...

2026-08-19