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Energoatom and the E.O. Paton Electric Welding Institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine Sign Scientific and Technical Cooperation Agreement

On August 13, Pavlo Kovtoniuk, head of Ukraine's national nuclear energy company Energoatom, and Ihor Kryvtsun, director of the E.O. Paton Electric Welding Institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, signed a scientific and technical cooperation agreement. Under the agreement, the two parties will integrate scientific research and engineering technical resources to provide technical support for the safe operation of nuclear power units and other nuclear energy facilities, and will cooperate in areas such as extending the service life of reactor installations and the feasibility study and implementation of new nuclear power unit projects...

2026-08-15

Kazakhstan's National Nuclear Center Introduces Computer Modeling Methods for Reactor Safety

The National Nuclear Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan (NNC RK) recently presented its modern computer modeling methods used in the safety justification of reactor facilities. Arthur Suraev, a leading researcher at the laboratory of the branch Institute of Atomic Energy, stated that high-precision computational models have become an important tool for assessing reactor normal operation, design-basis accidents, and beyond-design-basis accident conditions. Suraev noted that computer modeling enables preliminary evaluation of neutron physics, thermal-hydraulic, and structural response processes inside a reactor before conducting complex and expensive experiments. By analyzing interrelated physical processes,...

2026-08-16

Radiant's Kaleidos Microreactor Shipped to Idaho National Laboratory for Testing

On August 13, Radiant announced that its 1-MW-class portable microreactor Kaleidos has departed its facility in El Segundo, California, and is being transported by trailer to Idaho National Laboratory (INL). The unit will undergo testing at INL's Microreactor Experimental Demonstration Facility (DOME). According to Radiant, the Kaleidos transport distance exceeds 1,000 miles. The company stated that the unit shipped to INL is not a scaled test article, but rather a reactor model consistent in design, dimensions, and commercial fuel loading with the units planned for delivery to customers. The DOME facility has completed modifications for microreactor testing. According to...

2026-08-15

Korea Eximbank to Promote Financial Cooperation with TerraPower on Small Modular Reactors

The Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM) is in talks on financial cooperation with TerraPower, a U.S. next-generation nuclear energy company, with both sides planning to establish a support mechanism centered on the commercialization of small modular reactors (SMRs) and overseas market expansion. According to KEXIM, bank Chairman Hwang Gi-yeon recently met with TerraPower Chairman Bill Gates, and the two sides exchanged views on expanding the global SMR ecosystem and advancing Korea-U.S. next-generation nuclear energy cooperation. TerraPower was founded by Bill Gates in 2008 and focuses on developing next-generation nuclear energy technologies. The company has developed the "Natrium" next-generation reactor using sodium-cooling techn...

2026-08-16

Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety to Host First Advanced Reactor Safety Technology Symposium

The Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS) announced that it will host the 1st Symposium on Advanced Reactor Safety Technology (SARST 2026) on September 1-2, 2026, at the Grand Ballroom on the first floor of the Commodore Hotel Busan. The event aims to facilitate exchanges on domestic and international advanced reactor technology trends and safety regulation issues, promoting technical communication and cooperation among regulatory bodies, developers, and research institutions. As the inaugural symposium, SARST is planned to be held annually thereafter. This year's conference will be divided into a plenary session and two technical sessions, covering topics such as the development of regulatory frameworks for advanced reactors, regulatory research progress, responses to standard design certification for innovative small modular reactors (i-SMR), and verification plans for related design features, among other subjects.

2026-08-16

KHNP Maps Out SMR Security System to Address Drone and Nuclear Material Threats

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) is preparing to establish a new security response system for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and decommissioned nuclear power plants. Due to their smaller size and more flexible deployment methods, SMRs may be distributed across different regions in the future, and the security risks they face are not entirely identical to those of traditional large-scale nuclear power plants. KHNP plans to launch a research service on physical protection implementation plans related to new nuclear energy projects in September, focusing on assessing risks such as terrorist attacks, external intrusion, theft of nuclear materials, facility sabotage, and drone attacks. Physical protection refers to a nuclear security system established for nuclear materials and nuclear facilities, encompassing prevention, detection, interdiction, and emergency response.

2026-08-15

India Proposes Strict Approval System for Private Nuclear Power Projects

On August 14, India proposed a strict regulatory approval system for private nuclear power projects, aiming to create conditions for foreign reactor technologies with proven operating records to enter the Indian market while maintaining access and operational controls. Under the draft rules, companies could obtain in-principle approval before securing formal licenses, allowing them to hire suppliers, conduct preliminary development work, and acquire project land. Once projects enter the licensing phase, they would undergo phased regulatory reviews covering design, siting, construction, commissioning, and operation. The draft also seeks to grant regulators stronger oversight powers, including the authority to halt work at critical project stages. For a long time,...

2026-08-15

Survey of Japanese 18-year-olds: Nearly 60% support restarting or replacing nuclear reactors that meet safety standards

A survey of young people around age 18 in Japan shows that nearly 60% of respondents support restarting nuclear power plants that meet safety standards or replacing existing reactors with new units; meanwhile, over 70% of respondents have expectations or some expectations for advanced innovative reactors. The 18-year-old awareness survey conducted by the Nippon Foundation asked respondents to choose which of two statements was closer to their own view: one being that nuclear power plants meeting safety standards should be restarted or replaced with new units; the other being that nuclear power should not be relied upon due to accident risks and radioactive waste issues. The results showed that 28.5% of respondents said their view was "close" to the first statement, and 29.8...

2026-08-16

Bill Gates Visits South Korea to Promote TerraPower Small Modular Reactor Cooperation

Bill Gates recently held a series of intensive meetings in South Korea with government agencies, financial institutions, and nuclear power industry chain companies, discussing the commercialization of TerraPower's small modular reactor (SMR), supply chain development, and global market expansion. Gates is the founder of TerraPower, which is advancing a next-generation small modular reactor project based on sodium-cooled fast reactor technology. Korea Eximbank (KEXIM) President Hwang Ki-yeon said on the 14th that he had met with Gates, and the two sides discussed financial cooperation plans needed for SMR commercialization and global market entry. Korea Eximbank plans to provide Terra...

2026-08-15

The Energy Research Institute of Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center Achieves a Series of New Progress in Safety Assessment of Activated Corrosion Products under Magnetic Field Environments in Fusion Reactors

Recently, the Radiation Protection and Safety Research Center of the Energy Research Institute of Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center has made a series of significant progress in the field of safety assessment of activated corrosion products under magnetic field environments in fusion reactors. The research team conducted systematic studies on the corrosion behavior of China's low-activation ferritic/martensitic steel CLF-1 in magnetic field environments, from three dimensions: water corrosion characteristics, migration patterns of corrosion products, and the influence of surface roughness. The relevant results have been published as three papers in the journal *Nuclear Materials and Energy*, which is ranked in Zone 1 of the emerging journal classification table. This series of research outcomes provides key scientific evidence for the radiological safety assessment of cooling water systems in fusion reactors...

2026-08-15

U.S. nuclear company TerraPower partners with Korean firms to advance Natrium advanced nuclear deployment in America

U.S. nuclear company TerraPower, backed by Bill Gates, is accelerating the commercialization of its advanced nuclear reactors. The company announced on August 14 that it has reached cooperation agreements with South Korea's Hyundai Engineering & Construction and SK Innovation, aiming to advance the deployment of up to eight 345 MW Natrium reactors in the U.S. nuclear expansion. The first plant is expected to be completed by 2030, a timeline that underscores the urgency of deploying next-generation nuclear technology in the United States. Under the agreement, Hyundai Engineering & Construction has been selected as the engineering, procurement, and construction contractor for up to eight future Natrium reactor projects. The cooperation arrangement also includes related financing guarantee mechanisms, intended to enhance project bankability and reduce uncertainties in the early stages of large-scale construction. TerraPower President and CEO Chris Levesque stated that this marks a new phase of international cooperation with leading Korean institutions, reflecting the growing reliance of advanced nuclear projects on cross-border supply chains and engineering capabilities.

2026-08-15

Concrete Placement of the 16.5m Slab in the Reactor Building of Unit 4 at Zhangzhou Nuclear Power Plant Successfully Completed

At 21:58 on August 13, the concrete placement of the 16.5m slab in the internal structure of the reactor building of Unit 4 at Zhangzhou Nuclear Power Plant was successfully completed, with safety and quality under control throughout the process, laying a solid foundation for subsequent key path milestones such as crane availability and inner dome lifting. As the core load-bearing structure within the reactor building, the 16.5m slab of the internal structure serves as the critical support platform for the introduction, positioning, and installation of subsequent large-scale core equipment. The engineering structure features key challenges including large construction volume, staggered elevation differences, modular structural rebar installation, and high-precision installation of owner-supplied items, imposing extremely high requirements on overall construction organization, safety, and quality control. The total concrete volume placed this time was 2,297 cubic meters, with a continuous placement duration of 30.5 hours.

2026-08-15

CGN Research Institute Launches "Hehui" I&C Production Line Construction to Advance Domestic Autonomy of High-End Nuclear Power Equipment

Recently, CGN Research Institute held the kickoff meeting for the Hehui I&C production line construction project in Shenzhen, marking new progress in infrastructure and capacity building for the Hehui brand. The project will serve the domestic autonomy of high-end nuclear power equipment, provide support for ensuring the construction progress of nuclear power projects and meeting the safe operation needs of operating units, and help enhance the resilience and competitiveness of China's nuclear power industry chain. The meeting clarified the overall project planning, construction objectives, key milestones, and responsibilities of all parties, established the project management system, and deployed near-term key tasks. The meeting required all parties involved in the construction to increase resource investment, strengthen safety and quality management, strictly enforce technical review, uphold integrity standards, and ensure the production line is commissioned on schedule with high quality...

2026-08-15

Russia Plans to Build Small Nuclear Power Plant in Kyrgyzstan, Land-Based Icebreaker Reactor in Focus

Rosatom's plan to promote the construction of a small nuclear power plant in Kyrgyzstan is centered around discussions on the RITM-200N reactor design. With a power output of approximately 55 MW, this reactor is the land-based version of the RITM-200 reactor used in Russia's new generation of nuclear-powered icebreakers. Several Russian nuclear-powered icebreakers currently operate on the same technological platform, which serves as the primary basis for Russia to demonstrate its maturity and reliability. The project first entered public discussion in January 2022. At that time, Kyrgyzstan's energy authorities stated that if a nuclear power plant were to be built, its installed capacity should be no less than 300 MW, reflecting the country's practical concerns over power shortages and energy security...

2026-08-14

Kazakhstan Enters a New Era of Atomic Energy, with the Institute of Nuclear Physics Viewed as a Key Pillar of the National Nuclear Industry

Kazakhstan is entering a new stage of nuclear energy development. The construction of a nuclear power plant means not only the addition of a major energy project, but also the need for the country to simultaneously establish a complete nuclear industry system, including research support, personnel training, experimental infrastructure, nuclear and radiation safety systems, and indigenous technological capabilities. The article points out that a nuclear power plant can be built using foreign project designs, but true scientific and technological capability cannot be purchased along with the equipment; it is gradually formed through the long-term operation of nuclear facilities, conducting research, training engineering teams, and passing on experience. Against this backdrop, the Institute of Nuclear Physics of Kazakhstan is regarded as an important pillar of the future nuclear energy industry. The institution...

2026-08-14