Search Results

Romania's Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant to Shut Down Due to Falling Danube River Levels

Romania's Ministry of Energy announced on the 12th local time that, due to current hydrological conditions, Unit 2 of the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant will undergo a controlled shutdown starting on the 13th. Cernavoda is Romania's only nuclear power plant, and this shutdown will mark the first time the plant has been completely taken offline since 2003. The Cernavoda plant has two units, with Unit 1 already shut down at the end of last month. The plant accounts for approximately one-fifth of Romania's electricity generation. Romanian authorities had previously taken engineering measures to delay the shutdown of Unit 2, including dredging relevant sections of the Danube River, blasting and removing underwater rock obstacles, clearing the riverbed, and sinking barges loaded with crushed stone into the river channel to adjust water flow conditions. These operations involved an investment of over 2 million euros.

2026-08-13

Rosatom Starts Preparations for Long-Lead Equipment Contracts at Primorskaya NPP

The engineering division of Rosatom recently announced that preparations for signing long-lead equipment manufacturing contracts for the Primorskaya Nuclear Power Plant have commenced, covering the reactor building, turbine hall, core catcher, and other major system components. According to the announcement, the scope of contract preparation includes key equipment such as main reactor building equipment, turbine hall equipment, the Automated Process Control System (APCS) for the units, and the core catcher. Long-lead equipment typically has extended manufacturing cycles and represents a critical element that must be secured early in the pre-construction phase of a nuclear power project. Currently, the project is also advancing multiple public tender preparation efforts, including site vertical layout planning,...

2026-08-13

Shimane Nuclear Power Station Unit 2 completes containment vessel-related repairs, scheduled to resume commercial operation on the 16th of next month

The Shimane Nuclear Power Station Unit 2, located in Matsue City, Japan, is scheduled to resume commercial operation next month. Recently, part of the reactor containment vessel repair work at the unit was opened to the public, showcasing key construction steps before the resumption of operation. Unit 2 of the Shimane Nuclear Power Station resumed operation in December two years ago. Since February this year, the unit has been shut down for routine operational inspections. In accordance with relevant legal requirements, nuclear power units must undergo equipment disassembly inspections and replacement of related components within 13 months after the previous inspection is completed. On August 3, a dedicated crane was used on site to lift a cover weighing approximately 60 tons to the top of the reactor containment vessel. Workers completed the tightening of 120 bolts that day...

2026-08-13

TEPCO and JAPC invite eight power companies to participate in spent fuel transport

August 12 news, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) and Japan Atomic Power Company (JAPC) invited eight other Japanese power companies that own nuclear power plants on the 10th to consider participating in the transport of spent fuel to the Mutsu City interim storage facility in Aomori Prefecture. Mutsu City has agreed to expand the scope of operating entities involved in the transport. The interim storage facility is operated by Recyclable-Fuel Storage Company (RFS), jointly established by TEPCO and JAPC, and is primarily used for temporary storage of spent fuel generated from nuclear power plants before reprocessing. The eight invited companies are Hokkaido Electric Power Company (Hokkai...

2026-08-13

South Korea Sets 2035 Commercialization Target for Small Modular Reactors

The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) of South Korea announced on August 12 its "Seven Future Growth Engines SEED" promotion plan, designating small modular reactors, nuclear fusion, and next-generation renewable energy as key focus areas for the future clean energy sector. Among these, nuclear power-related content primarily centers on the commercialization of small modular reactors, research and development of non-light water reactor-type reactors, nuclear fuel supply security, and fusion demonstration power generation. According to the plan, South Korea will advance the development of light water reactor-type small modular reactors, targeting commercialization in Gijang County, Busan by 2035. The innovative small modular reactor (i-SMR) will undergo detailed design through public-private cooperation starting next year...

2026-08-13

Cangnan Nuclear Power Completes First Batch of Vocational Skill Level Certification

On August 10, Cangnan Nuclear Power successfully completed its first batch of vocational skill level certification, covering 4 job types that have been filed with the authorities. A total of 15 people passed the assessment, marking a solid step forward for Cangnan Nuclear Power in building its independent evaluation system for skilled personnel. Meticulous Preparation, Laying a Solid Foundation for Certification According to the filed scope, Cangnan Nuclear Power is authorized to conduct vocational skill level certification for 4 job types: assembly fitter, electrician, instrumentation maintenance worker, and radiation protection worker (radiation monitoring and protection worker). To complete the first batch of certification tasks with high quality, Cangnan Nuclear Power strictly adhered to national vocational skill standards and evaluation norms, actively participated in the unified qualification training organized by China General Nuclear Power Group, and assembled a high-quality team of over 90 supervisors, assessors, and examination staff. At the same time, it actively researched the certification practices of other nuclear power units within China General Nuclear Power Group and elsewhere in Zhejiang Province, and sorted out in advance the precautions for each step including registration and selection, examination venue setup, process control, and document archiving, striving to ensure that every step was carefully organized and thoroughly planned. Standardized Implementation, Strictly Controlling Talent Quality The vocational skill level certification assessment comprehensively examined the professional knowledge and practical operation capabilities of the candidates in their respective job fields from both theoretical and practical aspects. The theoretical examination focused on the core knowledge points of each job type, with emphasis on testing employees' mastery of professional theory, safety regulations, and process flows. The practical assessment was closely aligned with the actual job responsibilities, simulating real work scenarios, with experienced assessors scoring on-site to ensure objective, fair, and authoritative evaluation results. The certification process was well-organized and strictly disciplined, fully complying with the relevant management measures of China General Nuclear Power Group on vocational skill level certification. The participating employees were energetic and fully committed, fully demonstrating the solid professional foundation and good professional ethics of Cangnan Nuclear Power's skilled personnel team. Ultimately, a total of 15 participants successfully passed the advanced worker (Level 3) certification assessment. Skill Development, Driving High-Quality Growth Vocational skill level certification is an important means of evaluating skilled personnel, and those who pass the assessment will receive nationally recognized vocational skill level certificates. This is not only a high recognition of employees' individual skill levels, but also broadens their upward career development channels. The successful completion of the first batch of vocational skill level certification is an important milestone in the development of Cangnan Nuclear Power's skilled personnel training system, and has also accumulated valuable experience for the subsequent filing and certification of other job types. With the continuous improvement of supporting resources, Cangnan Nuclear Power will gradually increase the number of filed job types, regularly organize skill level certification at various levels, build skill growth platforms for more frontline employees, and provide solid skilled personnel support for building the "Hualong One" into a dual benchmark for construction and operation.

2026-08-13

HD Hyundai Chairman to Meet Bill Gates to Advance SMR Cooperation

HD Hyundai Chairman Chung Ki-sun will meet Bill Gates, who is visiting South Korea, on August 14, with the two sides planning discussions on cooperation in small modular reactors (SMRs). Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, also serves as chairman of TerraPower, a U.S. small modular reactor company. This will be the latest round of communication between Chung and Gates on related cooperation, following their meeting earlier this year at the Davos Forum in Switzerland. HD Hyundai and TerraPower have been steadily strengthening cooperation in SMR and advanced reactor manufacturing in recent years. In November 2022, HD Korea Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering invested $30 million in TerraPower. In December 2024, HD Hyundai secured an order to manufacture the reactor vessel for TerraPower's 345 MW sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR) to be built in Wyoming, U.S.

2026-08-13

South Korea's Two Ministries Sign MOU to Promote Regulatory Cooperation for Nuclear Power Exports

South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) and the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) signed a memorandum of understanding on the successful overseas expansion of Korean-style nuclear power plants at the Korea Trade Insurance Corporation in Jongno-gu, Seoul on August 13, planning to strengthen regulatory coordination in the nuclear power export process and provide more systematic nuclear safety regulatory cooperation support to countries hosting potential projects. Under the agreement, the two sides will jointly support export target countries in establishing nuclear safety regulatory frameworks, improving licensing procedures and technical standards, and enhancing the professional capabilities of regulatory bodies, based on the regulatory cooperation needs raised by these countries. The South Korean government is promoting nuclear power plant exports with a focus on potential markets in Southeast Asia such as Vietnam, and the relevant countries are in the process of planning and...

2026-08-13

Hungary Plans to Build Bottom Sills on the Danube to Ensure Cooling Water for Paks Nuclear Power Plant

Hungarian authorities stated that the government has decided to construct bottom sills in the Danube section near the Paks Nuclear Power Plant to raise local water levels and ensure water intake conditions for reactor cooling. In a video address, Péter Magyar said that the relevant works will commence immediately, with bottom sills to be built between the two banks of the Danube. He noted that if the Paks Nuclear Power Plant were to suspend operations, Hungary would incur costs of approximately 137 million euros per month; in contrast, the measures to raise water levels involve a one-time investment, with an estimated cost of 16.5 million euros. The Paks Nuclear Power Plant is a key source of electricity for Hungary. According to currently disclosed information, among the plant's 8 turbines, the second one was started on the evening of August 10, with current power generation at 480 MWh, compared to a planned output of 2000 MWh...

2026-08-13

Polar Crane of Unit 1 of Shidao Bay Nuclear Power Expansion Phase I Project Officially Available

On August 12, the load test of the polar crane for Unit 1 of the Expansion Phase I Project was successfully completed, with all performance indicators fully meeting design requirements, marking that the polar crane is officially ready for use and creating favorable conditions for subsequent key tasks such as the introduction and positioning of main equipment in the nuclear island. The polar crane is the core lifting equipment in the reactor building, undertaking critical lifting and handling tasks throughout the entire lifecycle, including heavy equipment hoisting during the construction phase, refueling during shutdown and equipment maintenance during the operation phase, and equipment dismantling during the decommissioning phase. Its operational stability and reliability are directly related to the safety and quality of nuclear island installation. The success of this load test fully verified that all performance indicators of the equipment completely meet the standards for safe and reliable use...

2026-08-13

Completion of World's First Domestic CAP1000 50Hz Canned Motor Reactor Coolant Pump for Guangdong Lianjiang Nuclear Power Phase I

Recently, the world's first domestically manufactured CAP1000 50Hz canned motor reactor coolant pump for the Guangdong Lianjiang Nuclear Power Phase I project was successfully completed and ready for shipment. The completion of this equipment marks significant new progress in the independent development and localization of China's Generation III nuclear power core equipment. Harbin Electric Group provided the canned motor for this reactor coolant pump. The Guangdong Lianjiang Nuclear Power Phase I project plans to construct two domestically developed CAP1000 Generation III passive pressurized water reactor units, each with a single-unit capacity of 1.25 million kilowatts. The project is based on the independent CAP1000 Generation III passive nuclear power technology, adopts a seawater secondary circulation cooling scheme, promotes the coordinated development of nuclear power development and coastal ecological protection, and serves the green and low-carbon development needs of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. This...

2026-08-13

First Fuel Loading Officially Begins at Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant Unit 7

On August 12, as the first fuel assembly was precisely and safely loaded into its designated position in the reactor core, the first fuel loading officially began at Unit 7 of the Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant, which is invested and controlled by China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC)'s China Nuclear Power. This marks a solid foundation for subsequent reactor criticality and commercial operation. First fuel loading is the core procedure of implanting the "energy heart" into a nuclear reactor. As a key milestone in the full lifecycle of nuclear power construction, it not only serves as a comprehensive test of the unit's years of engineering construction quality, system commissioning level, and safety management capability, but also represents the critical starting point for the unit's nuclear-powered operation. It is understood that this fuel loading is the first-ever loading for a VVER-1200 unit in China, requiring a total of 163 nuclear fuel assemblies to be loaded...

2026-08-12

Astrotech Plans Commercial Lunar Power Facility, Evaluating Nuclear Fission Power Supplement Options

Astrotech Corporation announced on August 11 that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Lunar Power & Light (LP&L), plans to develop a commercial power generation, storage, and distribution network in high-illumination regions near the lunar poles to provide lunar power services for future government and commercial customers. The company also stated that the plan remains in its early stages, with further progress contingent on technology validation, financing, customer commitments, launch conditions, and relevant government authorizations. According to LP&L's vision, the proposed power grid would consist of distributed elevated solar towers, sun-tracking systems, utility-scale and local battery storage, autonomous control...

2026-08-12

Fusion for Energy completes full delivery of ITER cryopump distribution system

The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) will operate in an ultra-high vacuum environment. To prevent contamination inside the device, a set of cryopumps supplied by Europe will extract gas particles and alternate operation before and after plasma discharges, maintaining the vacuum vessel pressure at approximately one millionth of Earth's atmospheric pressure. The core of cryopump operation lies in the extremely low-temperature environment. Its internal panels will be cooled to 4 K, approximately minus 269 degrees Celsius, close to absolute zero, to capture gas particles; they are then warmed to release and expel the particles. To precisely control this process, Europe is also supplying ITER with the Front-End Cryopump Distribution System (FECDS), which delivers helium at specific doses and temperatures to the cryopumps...

2026-08-12

UK Low-Level Waste Repository Advances Capping Project, Rail-Transported Aggregate Exceeds 285,000 Tonnes

Nuclear Waste Services (NWS) is advancing capping-related works at the Low-Level Waste Repository on the west coast of Cumbria, UK, to strengthen long-term protection of existing disposal trenches and vaults. Since the repository began operations in 1959, it has supported the safe disposal of approximately 1 million cubic metres of low-level radioactive waste, making it a key facility in the UK's radioactive waste management system. NWS, part of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), is primarily responsible for consolidating the UK's radioactive waste management capabilities, providing management solutions for legacy wastes from civil and defence sectors as well as wastes arising from future new-build nuclear projects...

2026-08-12