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India plans to build at least five domestically designed small modular reactors by 2033, and reports on nuclear power plant safety assessments

In a written reply to the Lok Sabha on August 12, Jitendra Singh, India's Minister of State for Atomic Energy, stated that a key objective of the Indian government under its nuclear energy mission is to develop and operationalize at least five domestically designed small modular reactors by 2033. According to the briefing, the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) is advancing the design and development of indigenous small modular reactor (SMR) technology, with projects including the 220 MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR-200) and the 55 MWe SMR-55 for power generation. BARC is also developing a High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor (HTGCR) with a capacity of up to 5 MW, which can be coupled with suitable thermochemical cycles for hydrogen production. Singh stated that India...

2026-08-13

International Team Determines Critical Safety Parameter Ranges for Magnetic Liquid Cooling Systems

South Ural State University (SUSU) recently announced that researchers from its Polytechnic Institute, in collaboration with colleagues from Moscow and Baghdad, have determined the safe and unsafe ranges of the Hartmann number and Brinkman number in magnetic liquid cooling systems. Based on this, they developed a computer program to optimize the operation of high-power heat exchangers in devices such as supercomputers and nuclear reactors. According to the introduction, this research focuses on two key parameters in magnetohydrodynamics: the Hartmann number characterizes the resistance exerted by a magnetic field on fluid motion, while the Brinkman number reflects the internal heat generated by the fluid due to viscous effects and electrical resistance. The researchers noted that under specific conditions, a strong magnetic field does not necessarily...

2026-08-13

Cameco says it can ramp up core uranium asset production when demand recovers

Canadian uranium producer Cameco has said it is well positioned to respond to rising market demand, and will prioritize increasing output from its core assets if demand becomes clearer. Grant Isaac, Cameco's President and Chief Operating Officer, said on a company podcast discussing long-term strategy that Cameco remains committed to supply discipline, focusing on meeting customers' actual needs rather than setting overly ambitious growth expectations in the absence of confirmed demand. Isaac said the company is prepared to increase production from Tier 1 assets such as the McArthur River uranium mine and the Key Lake mill when market demand rises, lifting output from the current approximately 10 million to 11.5 million pounds of U3O8 to 25 million pounds.

2026-08-13

Azerbaijan Says It Can Supply Electricity to Armenia, Focus on Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant Decommissioning Replacement

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said on August 12 that Azerbaijan could supply electricity to Armenia. He also stated that Armenia cannot indefinitely extend the operating lifetime of the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant. The Armenian government has not yet responded to this proposal, nor has it indicated whether it would consider importing electricity from Azerbaijan. As signs of easing relations between the two countries emerge, the possibility of cross-border transportation and energy infrastructure development is being revisited. Armenia has long relied on Russia and Iran for its energy security. Currently, the country is studying proposals from companies in the United States, Russia, China...

2026-08-13

Aegis to Develop Digital Twin Control Platform for Marine Nuclear Hybrid Energy with Ontario Tech University

Aegis Critical Energy Defence Corp. announced on August 12 that it will undertake a multi-year research collaboration with Ontario Tech University through the Mitacs Accelerate program. The project, valued at CAD 480,000, aims to develop and test a digital twin-based control platform to support the safe, reliable, and robust operation of small modular reactor and micro modular reactor (SMR/MMR) hybrid energy systems in marine environments. Under the project arrangement, the research team will simulate changing loads, system faults, and...

2026-08-13

Climate change impact assessment to be conducted for new nuclear power plant in Yeongdeok, South Korea

South Korea's Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment announced on August 12 that the proposed Yeongdeok nuclear power plant will undergo a climate change impact assessment in parallel with the strategic environmental impact assessment procedure. The assessment will be conducted in accordance with the Framework Act on Carbon Neutrality and the Environmental Impact Assessment Act, focusing on reviewing the project's alignment with higher-level plans such as the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), and evaluating greenhouse gas emissions and mitigation measures during the construction and operation phases. The assessment will cover the entire lifecycle of the nuclear power plant, from construction to operation. While the nuclear power generation process itself emits almost no greenhouse gases, emissions will still arise from large-scale civil engineering works, operation of construction equipment, and the production and transportation of building materials...

2026-08-13

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