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US Approves Funding for Final Phase of Molten Chloride Reactor Experiment, Accelerating Validation of Next-Generation Nuclear Energy Technology

Recently, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has formally approved cost-shared funding for the accelerated final phase of the Molten Chloride Reactor Experiment (MCRE). The funded project will focus on supporting the joint research and development efforts of Southern Company, Idaho National Laboratory (INL), and Core Power, aiming to deepen scientific understanding of liquid chloride salt fuel and molten salt reactor technology and to lay a solid foundation for the development of subsequent commercial reactors. It is understood that the Molten Chloride Reactor Experiment (MCRE) is currently being conducted at Idaho National Laboratory (INL)'s Materials and Fuels Complex ...

2026-10-15

Swiss Nuclear Forum Establishes Dedicated Nuclear Medicine Section to Help Optimize Regulatory Framework and Enhance Isotope Supply Security

Recently, the Swiss Nuclear Forum officially announced the establishment of a dedicated Nuclear Medicine Section, aimed at bringing together professional representatives from the pharmaceutical, medical, and scientific fields to jointly improve the framework conditions for nuclear medicine diagnosis and treatment in Switzerland, strengthen the stable supply of radionuclides, and accelerate the clinical application of innovative medical procedures. The Section is established under the Swiss Nuclear Forum, headquartered in Olten, and will take over and continue the relevant work of the former Swiss Alliance for Innovation in Nuclear Medicine, and will position itself...

2026-10-15

Oklo Advances Construction of Groves-2 Forge Isotope Pilot Facility, Deepening Medical and Industrial Isotope Layout

Recently, U.S. nuclear technology startup Oklo announced that it will further advance the construction of the Groves-2 Forge isotope production and processing pilot facility. Located in Texas, the facility aims to build on the successful demonstration experience of the company's previous Groves Isotope Testing Reactor to comprehensively expand irradiation, processing, purification, and commercialization readiness capabilities for key isotopes. It is understood that the Groves-2 Forge facility will integrate cutting-edge hot cell processing capabilities, covering the full process chain including isotope separation, product recovery, packaging, and transportation. The facility's initial production focus will be on lutetium-177 (Lutetium-177) used for cancer radiopharmaceutical therapy and other important therapeutic isotopes...

2026-10-15

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Delivers Three Replacement Steam Generators to EDF to Support Nuclear Power Plant Life Extension

Recently, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) of Japan officially delivered three replacement steam generators (SGs) to Électricité de France (EDF). These heavy components are planned for installation at Unit 2 of the Cruas Nuclear Power Plant in southeastern France. It is understood that, as a key core component of pressurized water reactor (PWR) nuclear power plants, the steam generator plays a critical role in transferring heat from the primary coolant system to the secondary cooling system, thereby generating steam to drive the turbine for power generation. Each unit of the delivered equipment is approximately 21 meters tall and weighs about 330 tonnes, is manufactured from high-strength low-alloy steel, and internally integrates more than 4,500 specially heat-treated, highly corrosion-resistant TT690 nickel-chromium-iron alloy heat transfer tubes.

2026-10-16

US Oak Ridge National Laboratory Develops 3D-Printed Composite Molds, Significantly Shortening Construction Cycles for Advanced Nuclear Power Plants

According to reports, the US Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and its partners have successfully developed new 3D-printed composite molds that can shorten the production cycle of specialized concrete formwork for nuclear facilities from approximately six months to about two weeks. The project, titled Advanced Composite Formwork for Accelerated High-Precision Nuclear Infrastructure Construction, was awarded the 2026 CAMX Combined Strength Award for its breakthroughs in additive manufacturing and advanced materials. It is understood that the technology has been fully...

2026-10-16

Russia plans to build its first lunar nuclear power plant around 2035 to supply energy for extraterrestrial research bases

Recently, Alexey Likhachev, CEO of Rosatom, stated during a visit to the Atomic Museum at the All-Russian Exhibition Center (VDNKh) that Russia plans to build its first nuclear power plant on the lunar surface before the mid-2030s (around 2035), to provide stable electricity for future lunar bases and research facilities. It is understood that this lunar nuclear power plant will become the core energy hub for future extraterrestrial space stations and deep space exploration infrastructure. Roscosmos signed a formal contract with the Lavochkin Association in December 2025, fully launching the lunar...

2026-10-16

KhimMed to Build Large-Scale Electrolyte Plant for Rosatom, Securing Supply Chain for Gigafactories

Recently, the Fuel Division of Rosatom, Russia's state nuclear energy corporation, signed a cooperation agreement with KhimMed, a diversified chemical holding company, announcing joint development of domestically produced key components for lithium-ion batteries and the construction of industrial-scale electrolyte production facilities at KhimMed's existing site. It is understood that the new facility has a potential annual production capacity of up to 10,000 tons of electrolyte, sufficient to support the production of lithium-ion batteries with a total capacity of 15 GWh to 20 GWh. By comparison, the two gigafactories planned by Rosatom's Fuel Division in Kaliningrad Oblast and Moscow Oblast have a combined planned capacity of 8 GWh, meaning that the electrolyte plant's output can not only fully meet Rosatom's own...

2026-10-16

Important Breakthrough Made in Research on Key Structural Materials in China's Reactors

It was learned from CNNC that the China Institute of Atomic Energy, leading a collaboration with Nanchang University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University and other institutions, has achieved an important breakthrough in research on the volatilization behavior of materials under high-temperature ultra-high vacuum conditions, quantitatively revealing for the first time the volatilization anisotropy mechanism of nickel-based alloys under high-temperature ultra-high vacuum. This provides important theoretical basis and experimental data support for the microstructure optimization, life prediction, and reliability design of high-temperature structural materials used in extreme thermal vacuum environments, and is of great significance for promoting the independent and controllable development of high-temperature ultra-high vacuum materials in China. The related research paper was published in the internationally leading journal in the field of corrosion and oxidation, Corrosion Science. Nickel-based alloys...

2026-10-15

From Deep Space "Nuclear Batteries" to Extraterrestrial Nuclear Propulsion: How Nuclear Technology Is Reshaping the New Paradigm of Future Space Exploration

As deep space exploration, the construction of permanent lunar research stations, and crewed Mars missions gradually move onto the international space agenda, human spaceflight technology is facing unprecedented energy and propulsion bottlenecks. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recently reviewed and outlined the key role and development trajectory of nuclear technology in space exploration. From the radioisotope thermoelectric generators that quietly served in the Apollo program more than half a century ago, to the efficient micro nuclear fission reactors currently undergoing ground testing, to nuclear propulsion systems expected to cut interplanetary flight times by more than half, space nuclear power technology is evolving from a marginal auxiliary energy source into a strategic core power for deep space exploration....

2026-10-14

Russian radiation safety instrument manufacturer "Doza" Research and Production Enterprise congratulates Department No. 1 of the Moscow Engineering Physics Institute on the 75th anniversary of its founding

National Research Nuclear University MEPhI held a grand ceremony on October 2 to celebrate the 75th anniversary of its historic Department No. 1—the Department of Radiation Physics and Safety of Nuclear Technologies. Several experts from the renowned Russian radiation safety monitoring system research, development, and manufacturing enterprise NPP Doza, who serve both as key technical personnel of the company and as faculty members at the university, were invited to attend the event. As a major center for training professional and technical personnel for Russia's nuclear industry...

2026-10-14

Akkuyu NPP in Türkiye Holds Full-Scale Joint Emergency Exercise: Cross-Departmental Live Drill Tested Ahead of First Unit Commissioning

The Akkuyu NPP, Türkiye's first nuclear power project, constructed by Rosatom, held a large-scale comprehensive emergency and firefighting tactical live exercise on October 12 at the Büyükeceli site in Mersin Province. The exercise aimed to comprehensively test the multi-agency coordinated response capabilities of nuclear power plant operating shift personnel, external technical support organizations, and Turkish local emergency rescue teams under extreme conditions, providing critical pre-commissioning safety justification for Unit 1 of the project as it formally enters the fuel-loading and commercial power generation phase. Rosatom Director General Alexey...

2026-10-14

Russia's Balakovo NPP Meets 2026 Metal Decontamination and Recycling Target Ahead of Schedule, Over 57 Tonnes of Purified Steel Ingots Return to Industrial Circulation

Rosenergoatom, the electric power division of Rosatom, has announced that its Balakovo Nuclear Power Plant (Balakovo NPP) has completed its 2026 target for Very Low-Level Waste (VLLW) disposal and metal recycling ahead of schedule. The plant has transferred a cumulative 80 tonnes of very low-level iron-containing metal waste to external specialized processing enterprises. Following deep decontamination and remelting refinement, more than 57 tonnes of clean metal ingots meeting unrestricted release standards were ultimately produced, fully realizing the recycling and regeneration of materials from decommissioned nuclear power equipment. According to the long-term radioactive waste management plan published by Balakovo NPP, the site plans to...

2026-10-14

Expansion of the United States' only commercial uranium enrichment facility reaches 75% completion, as Urenco's New Mexico plant accelerates capacity upgrades

As the only commercial uranium enrichment facility on U.S. soil, the National Enrichment Facility in Eunice, New Mexico, has recently reached a key expansion milestone, with its phased capacity expansion target now 75% complete. Operator Urenco Group plans to raise the plant's uranium enrichment capacity to 7 million Separative Work Units (SWU) per year over the next decade, in order to strengthen the United States' domestic nuclear fuel supply security. Strong global demand for zero-carbon electricity is currently driving a revival of the nuclear energy industry. Although the United States is at the forefront of research and development in next-generation reactor technologies...

2026-10-14

Review of Continued Operation for Kori NPP Units 3 and 4 Launched; Accident Management Plan Included in Review Process

The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) of South Korea is scheduled to hold its 16th plenary meeting of 2026 on October 15, formally placing the continued operation license application for Units 3 and 4 of the Kori Nuclear Power Plant in Gijang, Busan, on its agenda for deliberation. Notably, these two nuclear units, which are currently in a shutdown state, have directly initiated the continued operation licensing procedure in parallel, even as the Accident Management Plan (AMP) has yet to complete final approval. According to the meeting schedule, the first agenda item of this plenary meeting...

2026-10-14

Slovakia's Mochovce NPP Unit 4 First Grid Connection Delayed Due to Retest, Full Commercial Operation Expected Within the Year

Slovenské elektrárne announced on October 13 that due to the need to repeat a scheduled technical test, the grid synchronization and connection of Mochovce Nuclear Power Plant Unit 4, originally scheduled for that day, will be postponed by several days. The commissioning start-up procedures for the unit are still progressing steadily, and the overall project remains on track to enter full commercial operation before the end of this year. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico had previously stated that the grid connection ceremony was scheduled for Tuesday, and he had originally planned to personally attend the event at the nuclear power plant site. Slovenské elektrárne stated in its...

2026-10-14