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South Korea Launches Emergency Safety Inspection of Nuclear Facilities Amid Heatwave

The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) of South Korea announced on August 5 that, due to the ongoing nationwide heatwave, it will conduct an emergency inspection of the safety status and emergency response preparedness of nuclear facilities, including nuclear power plants. The inspection was conducted via video conference, with participation from personnel of the NSSC's six regional offices, safety regulatory agencies, and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP). The inspection focused on the potential impact of rising seawater temperatures used for cooling nuclear power plants. The NSSC verified the performance of relevant measuring instruments and heat exchangers, and examined KHNP's on-site emergency response status and handling procedures. The design temperature limits for seawater intake at South Korea's nuclear power plants range from 31 to 36.1 degrees Celsius. Due to climate change, the risk of high seawater temperatures is gradually emerging. In 2024, seawater temperatures in the waters off all South Korean nuclear power plants, except for the area around Shin-Hanul Units 1 and 2, reached record highs.

2026-08-05

Colorado State University produces first ultracold neutral plasma with electron temperature below 1 kelvin

Researchers at Colorado State University have, for the first time, produced an ultracold neutral plasma by combining laser cooling techniques with strong magnetic fields. Measurements show that the electron temperature in this plasma is less than 1 kelvin above absolute zero, making it one of the lowest electron temperatures ever measured in a plasma. The research was published in Physics of Plasmas. The new method proposed in the paper helps test plasma theories under more controllable experimental conditions and improve computational models of plasma behavior in extreme environments. The researchers believe this achievement could contribute to future fusion energy...

2026-08-05

Putin Signs Decree Posthumously Awarding "Order of Courage" to Chief Engineer of Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant

Russian President Vladimir Putin recently signed a decree posthumously awarding the Order of Courage to Alexander Yakovlev, chief engineer of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, who was killed in an attack, in recognition of his bravery demonstrated in the line of duty. According to previously released information, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on July 15 stating that a service vehicle of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant was attacked by a drone that day, and Yakovlev was killed in the attack. The statement said the attack posed a threat to the safe operation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is one of the larger nuclear power facilities in Europe, and its operational safety has long drawn external attention...

2026-08-05

Hongyanhe Nuclear Power's Cold Source Management Experience Featured on WANO Official Website

Recently, the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) published a feature report on its official website titled "Operational Excellence in Action: Hongyanhe transforms its Cold Source Resilience," introducing Hongyanhe Company's practical progress in ensuring cold source water intake to nuclear power peers worldwide. Cold source safety is a critical component of the nuclear defense-in-depth system. Coastal nuclear power plants generally pay close attention to the impact of seasonal marine organism accumulation on plant water intake safety, a natural environmental challenge commonly faced by coastal nuclear power plants globally. As the first nuclear power plant in Northeast China...

2026-08-05

Hongyanhe Nuclear Power Plant Equipment Criticality Classification System Goes Live

Recently, the equipment criticality classification system at Hongyanhe Nuclear Power Plant was officially put into operation, marking a new stage in equipment classification management transitioning from traditional offline spreadsheet management to online systematic management, and opening a new chapter in digital management. Equipment classification is the foundation of equipment reliability management. To optimize production management and maintenance resource allocation, and to ensure the safe, stable, and economical operation of nuclear power units, nuclear power plants need to implement classified management of equipment, making plant maintenance resources more focused on critical equipment that affects the safe and stable operation of units, and optimizing equipment maintenance costs. However, the traditional equipment classification management model faces many pain points. The classification work involves 740,000 equipment functional locations, with a huge and scattered amount of data, relying on manual maintenance; the synchronization of equipment classification data with SAP and CCM system data lags behind, and the approval of the classification process relies on offline circulation, resulting in long cycles and difficult version management.

2026-08-05

India's cumulative nuclear power generation surpasses 1 trillion units (1000 BU), NPCIL sets historic milestone

Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) announced on August 4 that cumulative nuclear power generation since the start of commercial operations has exceeded 100 billion kilowatt-hours (1000 Billion Units, equivalent to 1 trillion kWh) for the first time. The company stated that this milestone marks a significant achievement on India's path toward clean and sustainable energy, corresponding to avoiding approximately 860 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions—equivalent to approximately taking 187 million gasoline and diesel passenger vehicles off the road for a full year, or nearly the total annual greenhouse gas emissions of a single industrialized nation such as Germany or Japan. NPCIL data shows that electricity generated through nuclear power has effectively avoided substantial greenhouse gas emissions. Nuclear energy is recognized as one of the low-carbon and reliable energy sources, playing a critical role in addressing climate change...

2026-08-05

Croatia's Krško Nuclear Power Plant Only 3.4°C Away from Shutdown Threshold

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković on August 4 dismissed concerns that the Slovenia-Croatia jointly owned Krško nuclear power plant might be forced to shut down due to excessively high Sava River water temperatures, stating that power supply is secure and the situation is under control. However, the plant is actually approaching environmental cooling limits, and due to abnormally high temperatures and declining Sava River water levels, the safety limits at the Krško nuclear power plant are nearing critical thresholds. According to environmental regulations, the daily average temperature of the river at the complete mixing point must not exceed 28 degrees Celsius, and the daily temperature increase must not exceed 3 degrees Celsius. As of August 4, the Sava River in the area was 24.6 degrees Celsius, with a daily increase of 2.6 degrees Celsius, leaving only 3.4°C before the 28°C red line and 0.4°C before the 3°C daily increase red line...

2026-08-05

Vietnam to Develop 88 National Standards and 6 National Regulations Supporting Nuclear Power and Atomic Energy Applications from 2026–2030

Vietnam will develop standards and regulations for nuclear power development to support the construction of future nuclear power plants and advancements in atomic energy applications. To align with this goal, the country plans to establish 88 national standards and 6 national regulations during the period from 2026 to 2030, covering key areas such as nuclear power plant safety, radiation safety, environmental monitoring, and related equipment. These standards will reference existing practical experience from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and will be periodically reviewed and adjusted based on project progress and actual management needs. The development of these standards is carried out in four phases, each with clearly defined focal objectives...

2026-08-05

Russia's InterPolyaris Company Supplies Ball Valves for Nuclear Power Plants to Turkey

Russia's InterPolyaris Company is preparing a batch of equipment for overseas nuclear power plant projects, including various types of valves used for deep evaporation in liquid radioactive waste concentration systems and a type of steam disperser. This shipment is about to be delivered, aiming to ensure the safe operation and maintenance of nuclear power plants. Among the goods to be shipped to customers, ball valves are an important component. The main function of this type of valve is to partially or completely shut off pipelines, thereby achieving precise control and conveyance of the working medium flow. They will be used in a nuclear power plant project in the coastal region of Turkey as key components for regulating processes within the system. These ball...

2026-08-05

Students from 23 countries travel to the North Pole aboard the nuclear-powered icebreaker "50 Years of Victory"

The seventh "Knowledge Icebreaker" science and education expedition departed from Murmansk toward the North Pole, organized by Rosatom to coincide with the Year of National Unity in Russia. At the solemn departure ceremony, Captain Ruslan Sasov of the nuclear-powered icebreaker "50 Years of Victory" gave the order to set sail, with the vessel following the route Murmansk—North Pole—Franz Josef Land—Murmansk. The expedition team includes primary and secondary school students and vocational school students from eight federal districts of Russia, as well as their peers from 22 countries around the world. Those selected include winners of Russian and international open competitions, participants in the "Rosatom Youth"...

2026-08-05

U.S. NRC Approves Four SMR-300 Reactors at Oyster Creek Site in New Jersey

A retired nuclear power plant in New Jersey is getting a new lease on life with the construction of small modular reactors. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has approved the construction of four advanced small modular reactors (SMRs) at the site of the Oyster Creek nuclear power plant in New Jersey. The plant is currently in decommissioning, with more than half of the dismantling work completed. The Oyster Creek Generating Station, which began construction in December 1969 and operated for nearly 49 years until its closure in September 2018, was once the longest-operating commercial nuclear power plant in the United States. It produced over 192 terawatt-hours of carbon-free electricity in total. Supported by New Jersey's pro-nuclear legislation and stable local backing, Holtec plans to build...

2026-08-05

Ethiopia Advances Nuclear Power Regulatory Framework Development

The Ethiopian Technical Authority stated on August 4 that the country is strengthening its legal and regulatory framework in the nuclear energy sector, aligning with its strategic plan for future nuclear power generation and bringing relevant systems in line with international standards. As part of its nuclear power program, the Ethiopian Technical Authority has convened a stakeholder consultation forum bringing together government agencies, professional associations, and key partners to review the draft regulations for nuclear facility oversight. Solomon Getachew, Director General of the Ethiopian Technical Authority, stated at the forum that since the country formally notified the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of its intention to utilize peaceful nuclear technology for power generation, Ethiopia has undertaken various efforts in regulatory capacity building...

2026-08-05

U.S. and Paraguay Sign Civil Nuclear Energy Cooperation Agreement

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Paraguayan Foreign Minister Ruben Ramirez Lezcano signed a strategic civil nuclear energy cooperation memorandum of understanding in Washington on August 4. According to relevant information, the two sides signed what is commonly referred to as the "123 Agreement," which establishes the basic framework for bilateral cooperation in the field of civil nuclear energy. The 123 Agreement originates from Section 123 of the U.S. Atomic Energy Act, passed in 1954. This provision authorizes the United States to transfer civil nuclear technology for energy or scientific purposes to partner countries under specific conditions. As a prerequisite, the recipient country must comply with International Atomic Energy...

2026-08-05

NRC Preliminary Assessment Finds No Significant Environmental Impacts from Duane Arnold Nuclear Plant Restart

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued a draft environmental assessment for the restart of the Duane Arnold nuclear power plant, preliminarily concluding that the project would not result in significant environmental impacts. NextEra Energy plans to restart the Duane Arnold nuclear power plant in Palo, Iowa, as early as 2029, and has made significant progress. The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Advantage Financing participated as a cooperating agency in drafting the environmental assessment, as the department is considering providing financial support for the restart project. According to a notice in the Federal Register, NRC staff evaluated the potential impacts of restarting the 615-megawatt Duane Arnold nuclear power plant on land use, meteorology, air quality and...

2026-08-05

PowerChina Jiangsu Equipment Company's First Nuclear Power "Three Wastes" Project Officially Launched

On July 23, the kick-off meeting for PowerChina Jiangsu Equipment Company's first nuclear power "Three Wastes" new product project was successfully held at the company's headquarters. Client representatives from China General Nuclear Power Engineering Co., Ltd., Taishan No. 2 Nuclear Power, and Fangchenggang Nuclear Power jointly attended the meeting, marking the project's official entry into the full implementation stage. The meeting had clear objectives and was efficient and pragmatic. A flag-awarding ceremony for the "E-P Joint Task Force" was held on site, formally establishing an integrated collaborative working mechanism covering the entire chain of design, procurement, and manufacturing. During the meeting, client representatives provided systematic briefings on core project concerns, key technical disclosures, and lessons learned from similar projects; the company delivered special reports on project preparation, preliminary risk identification, and subsequent implementation plans. Both parties conducted thorough communication and reached consensus on core topics such as quality assurance requirements, implementation of nuclear safety culture, and integrity compliance standards, jointly signing the meeting minutes on site.

2026-08-05