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Finland's Loviisa Nuclear Power Plant Launches Turbine Island Upgrade to Support Operation Until 2050

Finnish utility Fortum has launched a large-scale modernization project for the turbine island at the Loviisa Nuclear Power Plant. The project aims to increase the plant's electrical output and ensure the continued, safe, and reliable operation of both units through the end of 2050 under the new operating licenses. The Loviisa plant consists of two VVER-440 pressurized water reactor units and is Finland's first nuclear power plant, currently supplying more than 10% of the country's electricity. Unit 1 entered commercial operation in 1977, followed by Unit 2 in 1981, and the Finnish government approved the extended operating licenses in February 2023. The core of this upgrade is the modernization of the low-pressure turbines, which is the largest single undertaking in the Loviisa turbine island upgrade...

2026-08-12

Three units at France's Gravelines nuclear power plant automatically shut down due to jellyfish intrusion

French utility EDF recently stated on its website that three units at the Gravelines nuclear power plant in northern France automatically shut down after a large influx of jellyfish clogged the filtration system, triggering safety measures. The statement indicated that the incident occurred on August 10, 2026. Due to the jellyfish intrusion, three units at the Gravelines plant automatically shut down, while a fourth unit reduced its power output. The plant has a total of six reactors, of which the fifth reactor had already been shut down for planned maintenance, and the sixth reactor remained in operation. The Gravelines plant experienced a similar situation a year earlier, when a large number of jellyfish entered the relevant water intake and filtration systems, causing four reactors to automatically shut down...

2026-08-12

Japan's Mutsu Spent Fuel Interim Storage Facility May Expand Participants; KEPCO and Hokuriku Electric Power Say They Are Considering

Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) and Japan Atomic Power Company (JAPC) began contacting eight other domestic electric power companies that own nuclear power plants on August 10, asking whether they would be interested in participating in the expansion of the entities responsible for transporting spent fuel to the interim storage facility in Mutsu City, Aomori Prefecture. Among the eight companies contacted, Kansai Electric Power Company (KEPCO) and Hokuriku Electric Power Company indicated in response to the inquiries that they are considering whether to participate. In December 2025, TEPCO and JAPC had submitted a proposal to Aomori Prefecture and Mutsu City regarding the expansion of operating entities, and at that time they had also sought the intentions of these eight companies...

2026-08-12

North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea, increases temporary radiation disaster shelters to 96

North Gyeongsang Province announced on August 11 that it has increased the number of temporary radiation disaster shelters from 56 to 96 to enhance resident evacuation and accommodation capabilities in nuclear accident scenarios. The expansion primarily targets the areas surrounding Uljin County, where the Hanul Nuclear Power Plant is located, focusing on addressing the shortage of nearby accommodation capacity and strengthening the reception capability for evacuees in areas related to the Hanul radiation emergency planning zone, including Uljin, Yeongyang, and Bonghwa. Previously, due to limited shelter capacity in Uljin County, approximately 33,000 people were expected to require evacuation in the event of a nuclear accident, while local shelters could only accommodate about 13,000 people. To meet accommodation needs, Uljin County also had to utilize 5 shelters in Gyeongju and 2 in Pohang, with long-distance transfers being unfavorable for rapid evacuation.

2026-08-12

Automatic Reactor Trip at Unit 3 of Shin-Kori Nuclear Power Plant During Commissioning

Unit 3 of the Shin-Kori nuclear power plant in Ulju, Ulsan, South Korea, is undergoing commissioning ahead of its planned commercial operation this year. The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) stated that it had received a report from Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) that the unit's reactor automatically tripped at approximately 20:56 on the 11th. Unit 3 of the Shin-Kori plant received its operating license from the NSSC in December last year and is currently in the power ascension testing phase. KHNP reported that during the commissioning test, when reactor power reached 80%, the unit experienced a loss of power transmission, and the reactor subsequently tripped automatically. The unit has been confirmed to remain in a safe shutdown condition...

2026-08-12

South Korea's Nuclear Energy Paper Output Ranks High but Quality Impact Remains Low

According to the report "Academic Competitiveness Analysis in Five Core and Emerging Technology Fields of the United States" released by the National Research Foundation of Korea on the 12th, from 2016 to 2025, South Korea's paper output in fields such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, nuclear energy, biotechnology, and quantum information has maintained a certain level of competitiveness overall. Among these, the number of papers in the semiconductor field ranked 4th globally, artificial intelligence and nuclear energy both ranked 7th, biotechnology ranked 8th, and quantum information ranked 14th. The quantitative and qualitative status of South Korea in the five major fields. Excerpted from the National Research Foundation of Korea report. The report is based on analysis of data from SciVal, the research performance analysis platform of Elsevier. In terms of the share of South Korean papers in the global total...

2026-08-12

The Third Symposium on Economic Operation Analysis of Key Nuclear Power Enterprises in 2026 Convened

On the afternoon of August 11, the Shanghai Nuclear Power Office organized and convened the Third Symposium on Economic Operation Analysis of Key Nuclear Power Enterprises in 2026. Lu Haibin, Director of the Shanghai Nuclear Power Office, attended the meeting, and Zhou Ling, Deputy Director of the Shanghai Nuclear Power Office, presided over the meeting. Heads from 10 entities, including China Nuclear Engineering, Huaneng Nuclear Energy Research Institute, Shanghai Nuclear Engineering Research and Design Institute, State Nuclear Power Operation and Maintenance, State Nuclear Power Automation System Engineering, CGN Digital Technology, East China Electric Power Design Institute, Shanghai Electric Nuclear Power Group, Shanghai Electric Power Station Group, and Jianing New Materials, participated in the discussion. Lu Haibin noted that with the joint efforts of all units within the system, the overall development of the city's nuclear power industry in the first half of the year maintained a sound momentum, with economic operation characterized by "expanded scale and optimized structure." Each unit...

2026-08-12

CGN Lufeng Nuclear Power Unit 1 Conventional Island Main Crane Hoisting Successfully Completed

At 21:00 on August 10, 2026, the auxiliary trolley of Crane A for the conventional island of CGN Lufeng Nuclear Power Unit 1 was successfully positioned, marking the successful completion of the hoisting work for Main Cranes A/B of the conventional island of Unit 1. The entire hoisting process lasted 4 days and was completed in 8 lifts in an orderly sequence. The successful hoisting and positioning of the main cranes for the conventional island of Unit 1 is not only a key milestone in the conventional island installation works, but also lays a solid foundation for the introduction of the steam turbine generator and its auxiliary equipment. Lufeng Nuclear Power will continue to collaborate with all participating construction units, adhere to the value orientation of "Three Focuses," deeply practice the work style of "Meticulous, Prudent, Detailed, and Pragmatic," and support the high-quality construction of Unit 1 with practical efforts, injecting strong momentum into building the Lufeng Nuclear Power Project into a benchmark project that is safe, high-quality, and efficient...

2026-08-12

First Integrated Hoisting of Nuclear Island Steel Liner Module 5 with Attached Electrical and Instrumentation Cable Tray System within CGN

At 15:30 on August 10, 2026, with the successful positioning of Steel Liner Module 5 in the reactor building of Unit 3, the attached electrical and instrumentation (E&I) cable tray system was simultaneously placed, marking the successful completion of the first "Five-ization" installation project for Module 5 attached E&I cable trays within China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN). Traditional nuclear power Module 5 construction adopts a serial mode of "structure first, installation second, commissioning last." The E&I construction for Module 5 of Unit 3 at Taipingling Phase II innovatively adopted an integrated scheme of "prefabrication-installation-integral hoisting." E&I construction was advanced to the module assembly stage, changing the traditional on-site dispersed work method. Through prefabrication of steel materials in workshops, delivery to the site for welding and installation, a large amount of high-altitude, cross-operational...

2026-08-12

Huaneng Changjiang Nuclear Power Company Signs Medical Cooperation Agreement with Hainan Western Central Hospital

Recently, Huaneng Hainan Changjiang Nuclear Power Co., Ltd. signed a medical cooperation agreement with Hainan Western Central Hospital, comprehensively strengthening the health and safety defense line for enterprise employees and safeguarding nuclear power production safety. The two parties agreed to leverage the hospital's high-quality medical resources to open a green channel for employees' emergency medical treatment, carry out routine occupational health examinations and health science education, establish a rapid transport and treatment linkage mechanism for sudden injuries or illnesses at the plant site, and efficiently handle various on-site emergency medical situations. After the signing ceremony, relevant personnel from Huaneng Changjiang Nuclear Power Company visited the Emergency Department and Outpatient Building at the Baimajing Binhai Campus, gaining detailed insights into emergency treatment procedures, rescue equipment configuration, and emergency rescue operation models, and engaging in discussions with medical staff on topics such as on-site industrial injury handling and emergency medical response to sudden health events.

2026-08-11

Europe's High Temperatures and Droughts Impact Nuclear Power Operations, Ukrainian Expert Says Climate Adaptation Tied to Energy Independence

Recent prolonged high temperatures, droughts, and falling river levels across Europe have put pressure on the operation of some nuclear power plants that rely on river water for cooling. Nuclear facilities in France, Hungary, Romania, and Slovenia have successively experienced power reductions or shutdowns, forcing some countries to ease supply pressure through electricity imports and adjusted consumption arrangements. Katie Huff, a professor of nuclear engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, stated that the impact of climate change on nuclear power operations is mainly reflected in two aspects: first, droughts lower river levels, making it difficult for plants to obtain sufficient cooling water; second, when air and water temperatures are high, nuclear plants face stricter restrictions on discharging warm water into rivers to avoid further affecting the aquatic environment.

2026-08-11

UK PhD Students Travel to Canadian Nuclear Laboratories for Hands-On Nuclear Energy Training

On August 10, 2026, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) welcomed its first cohort of PhD students from the United Kingdom. The visit is part of a five-year collaboration with the UK's Skills and Training Alliance for a Nuclear Renaissance Centre for Doctoral Training (SATURN CDT), marking the launch of a new long-term partnership in the international development of nuclear energy talent. SATURN CDT is funded by the UK's Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and led by the University of Manchester, in partnership with seven UK universities. The program aims to provide the next generation of nuclear energy professionals with hands-on training beyond the classroom...

2026-08-11

U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration Extends Savannah River Site Management and Operating Contract to September 2027

The U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) announced on August 10 that it has exercised the remaining option on the Savannah River Site (SRS) Management and Operating contract with Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC, extending contract performance through September 30, 2027, with an estimated contract value of $2.3 billion. NNSA stated that exercising this remaining option will help maintain continuity and stability of the contractor workforce, allowing related work to continue advancing around the agency's critical missions. The current SRS Management and Operating contract was originally scheduled to expire on September 30, 2026...

2026-08-11

Kazakhstan Strengthens Radiation Safety Monitoring and Nuclear Power Talent Development

Kazakhstan is improving its safety system in the field of nuclear energy and ionizing radiation source utilization, focusing on radiation monitoring, protective measures, and professional personnel training. Ionizing radiation technologies are now widely used in disease diagnosis and treatment, scientific research, product quality inspection, medical device sterilization, geophysical operations, and other fields, and their application simultaneously requires strict implementation of radiation safety management systems. In Kazakhstan, national policy and regulation in the field of atomic energy utilization are the responsibility of the Atomic Energy Agency (AEA) of the Republic of Kazakhstan, while supervision and inspection of atomic energy utilization facilities are carried out by its subordinate Committee for Atomic and Energy Supervision and Control. Current regulations stipulate licensing of related activities, registration and control of ionizing radiation sources...

2026-08-11

UK Office for Nuclear Regulation Publishes New Safeguards Guidance

The UK Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) published updated guidance on 10 August to help nuclear facility operators meet new requirements under the Nuclear Safeguards (EU Exit and Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2026. The amending regulations, which came into force in July this year, are regarded as a significant adjustment to the UK's nuclear safeguards regime. Safeguards measures are primarily used to verify whether a state complies with its international obligations, ensuring that nuclear materials in civil nuclear programmes are not diverted to non-peaceful purposes. The amendment modernises safeguards reporting requirements, with operators transitioning from the previous basic technical characteristics reports to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) standardized design information questionnaire. The new regulations also...

2026-08-11