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The Second Symposium on Frontier Issues of Ion-Matter Interactions Successfully Held at the School of Nuclear Science and Technology, University of South China

From July 3 to 6, the Second Symposium on Frontier Issues of Ion-Matter Interactions was held in Hengyang, Hunan Province. More than 40 experts and scholars from 15 institutions, including Beijing Normal University, Wuhan University, National University of Defense Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Lanzhou University, Xi'an Jiaotong University, North China Electric Power University, the Institute of Modern Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Beijing Institute of Applied Physics and Computational Mathematics, conducted in-depth exchanges and discussions on the latest experimental and theoretical research progress in the mechanisms of energetic ion beam-matter interactions. This symposium was organized by the School of Nuclear Science and Technology of the University of South China, the School of Nuclear Science and Technology of Lanzhou University, and the Key Laboratory of Beam Technology of the Ministry of Education...

2026-07-31

German state of Lower Saxony approves production of Russian-designed VVER nuclear fuel at Lingen plant under additional strict conditions

The government of Lower Saxony in northwestern Germany has approved a nuclear project linked to Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom. The project, operated by French company Framatome, aims to produce Russian-designed nuclear fuel rods and fuel assemblies in the city of Lingen, with key components to be supplied by Rosatom's subsidiary TVEL. Nevertheless, to address potential security risks, particularly threats of espionage and sabotage from Russian participants, the approval was granted with strict conditions. Under the terms of the approval, employees of Rosatom and TVEL will be barred from entering the facility, except in exceptional circumstances and when accompanied by nuclear regulatory authorities. Additionally, all...

2026-07-31

UK's largest nuclear power station Sizewell B placed on standby due to nearby wildfire

On July 30, the UK's largest nuclear power station, Sizewell B, was placed on "standby" status due to a heathland fire at Dunwich Heath, less than 5 kilometers from the plant site. There is currently no risk of the fire spreading toward the facility given wind direction. EDF stated it is "continuously monitoring, with no threat to facility safety," but approximately 120 firefighters and 18 fire engines were deployed to tackle the blaze in the Liston area. Suffolk Fire Service assessed the fire as "active and changing," warning it could last two days, with hundreds of homes evacuated. Suffolk Fire Service warned the fire is expected to last two days and described it as an active and evolving situation. Hundreds of properties have been evacuated as firefighters continue to battle the raging forest fire. Experts noted...

2026-07-31

Hungary's Paks Nuclear Power Plant Faces Full Shutdown Due to Record Low Danube Water Level

Affected by persistent drought and high temperatures, the water level of the Danube River at the Budapest section dropped to 23 cm (fixed datum reading, a record low), restricting cooling water intake at the Paks Nuclear Power Plant. Starting Wednesday, July 29, Unit 3 was the first to be shut down; the operator, MVM Paks Nuclear Power Plant Ltd, subsequently stated on its official website that all four units would inevitably be disconnected within the next 24 to 72 hours, with power generation coming to a complete halt. MVM explained that the existing water volume of the Danube is still sufficient to cool the reactors, but the intake pumps can no longer draw water because the riverbed is exposed and the pump inlets are too far from the water surface—an equipment failure rather than an absolute shortfall in cooling water volume. To this end, the Hungarian side deployed 4 pumping barges and 2 floating cranes near the plant as an emergency measure, but with water levels expected to continue falling, a preventive full shutdown remains unavoidable.

2026-07-31

France's Golfech nuclear power plant shut down for third time this summer due to high temperatures

France's Golfech nuclear power plant has been shut down three times this summer. Located approximately 100 kilometers northwest of Toulouse, the plant is operated by Électricité de France (EDF). On the evening of July 29, one of its reactors was shut down again due to extreme heat. EDF had previously shut down the reactor twice, from June 23 to July 3 and from July 9 to 27, to prevent cooling water discharged into the Garonne River from exceeding the 28-degree Celsius limit set by a 2006 decree. The Golfech nuclear power plant is located in the Tarn-et-Garonne department, and its cooling water is discharged into the Garonne River. Currently, another reactor at the plant is also shut down for maintenance and refueling. France has experienced its fourth heatwave since the start of summer...

2026-07-31

Progress in Russia's Khilonduevskoye Uranium Deposit Development: 3 Kilometers of Mine Workings Completed Ahead of Schedule

The mining division of Russia's Rosatom recently announced that underground mining crews completed three kilometers of mine workings ahead of schedule during the development of the Khilonduevskoye deposit. This milestone, originally planned for completion on August 10, was achieved by a team of workers from the Priargunsky Industrial Mining and Chemical Union (PIMCU), which is part of Rosatom Nedra. According to PIMCU, this mine connection will significantly optimize the ventilation system at the fourth level of the Khilonduevskoye deposit and improve the efficiency of rock block loading, laying the foundation for subsequent development work. The company's CEO, Ivan Kiselev, stated that this connection is of critical importance to the company, as it not only links two sections of the mine but also fundamentally transforms the logistics and safety of fourth-level operations.

2026-07-31

Chinese Jinshui River study reveals seasonal variations affect nitrogen removal capacity of forest streams

A new study shows that the capacity of forest streams to remove excess nitrogen varies with the seasons, influenced by different environmental factors in summer and winter respectively. This finding suggests that water quality management in forest watersheds needs to give greater consideration to seasonal differences. Figure 1. Location of study sites along the Jinshui River. (a) Watershed location; (b) Watershed topography and sampling point distribution; (c) Watershed land use types. Researchers focused on the Jinshui River in central China, analyzing water and surface sediment samples from 18 sites along forested riparian zones. The study combined nitrogen-15 isotope tracing, remote sensing monitoring, water and sediment chemical measurements, and microbial-based...

2026-07-31

Unit 2 of Romania's Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant not to shut down temporarily due to low Danube water level

Romania's National Nuclear Power Company (Nuclearelectrica) stated on July 30 that Unit 2 of the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant will continue to operate connected to the grid. Previously, the company had warned that the unit, located in Constanța County in southeastern Romania, might need to shut down due to the low water level of the Danube River. The company said that based on an operational analysis completed the previous night, experts believe the currently obtained relevant parameters allow Unit 2 to continue operating under safe conditions. Therefore, the unit will remain connected to Romania's national power system. Nuclearelectrica also stated that technical personnel will continuously monitor and analyze the plant's operating parameters. Given the subsequent hydrological forecasts for the Danube water level...

2026-07-31

Third fuel debris retrieval test at Fukushima Daiichi Unit 2 postponed due to robotic arm malfunction

The robot used by Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) for the third experimental fuel debris retrieval at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station Unit 2 malfunctioned during an on-site operational test, forcing the cancellation of the plan originally scheduled to start after July 2026 if all went well. The company stated it will reassess the relevant procedures. The malfunction occurred in part of the large robotic arm equipment used to collect fuel debris. During an operational test in the reactor building of Unit 2, TEPCO found an abnormality in one of the motors driving the robotic arm, causing the brake to fail to release and the arm to be unable to extend. The company is currently studying the replacement of the faulty motor. The third experimental retrieval plan was to use a large robotic arm...

2026-07-31

Germany to Establish Fusion Technology Research Center at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

The German federal government is advancing the layout for the country's first fusion reactor. According to a decision announced on July 29, 2026, by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR), one of three newly established fusion research centers will be located at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), focusing on fuel cycles, new materials, and engineering technology research for fusion power plants. In line with Germany's Fusion Action Plan, the new research centers will integrate the efforts of scientific institutions and industry to concentrate on solving key technical challenges before the application of fusion energy. The center at KIT will leverage the institute's expertise in fusion fuel cycles, high-performance materials, and core reactor components to advance related achievements...

2026-07-30

Fuel unloading completed for Unit 3 of Dukovany Nuclear Power Plant

On July 30, Unit 3 of the Dukovany Nuclear Power Plant completed the unloading of reactor fuel assemblies, and the planned refueling outage has now entered its next phase. During this outage, the plant will replace part of the nuclear fuel and carry out hundreds of inspections, tests, and maintenance activities to enhance nuclear safety levels and ensure the long-term stable operation of the unit. In this outage, although the actual number of fuel assemblies to be replaced accounts for about one-fifth of the total, operators must first remove all fuel assemblies from the entire core and transfer them to the spent fuel pool. Subsequently, the reactor water level will be lowered to create conditions for maintenance of core cooling system components and inspection of some primary circuit equipment...

2026-07-30

Annual outage maintenance of Loviisa Nuclear Power Plant begins on August 2

Fortum, the Finnish state-owned energy company, announced that the annual outage maintenance of the Loviisa Nuclear Power Plant will commence on August 2, starting with Unit 2 and then transitioning to Unit 1. The maintenance is scheduled to continue until October 18. During this period, the two units will be taken offline for maintenance in rotation, with the other unit remaining in operation. As planned, Unit 2 will undergo a major annual overhaul conducted every eight years. During the maintenance, staff will unload the reactor fuel, inspect and pressure test the reactor pressure vessel, replace approximately one-quarter of the fuel, and complete a series of equipment maintenance and servicing tasks. Unit 1 will undergo a shorter routine annual maintenance, primarily involving fuel replacement and related maintenance work.

2026-07-30

CNNC Northern Holds Cadre Conference

On July 30, CNNC Northern Nuclear Fuel Components Co., Ltd. held a cadre conference. Wen Feng, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of CNNC Northern, presided over the meeting and read out the appointment decision of the CNNC Party Leadership Group: after study and decision, Ke Tong is recommended as the Chief Accountant of CNNC Northern Nuclear Fuel Components Co., Ltd. Wen Feng, on behalf of the company's leadership team, delivered a statement, sincerely thanking the CNNC Party Leadership Group and the China Atomic Energy Party Committee for their concern and attention to the company's leadership team building, as well as their support and care for the company's industry and long-term development. He stated that he firmly supports and obeys the decisions of the CNNC Party Leadership Group and the China Atomic Energy Party Committee. Wen Feng emphasized that in the first half of the year, the company successfully completed its established production tasks. Currently, the decisive battle...

2026-07-30

Russian regulator inspects nuclear fuel cycle safety compliance at Ural Electrochemical Plant

On July 27, the Department for Supervision of Nuclear Fuel Cycle Facilities, Ship Nuclear Power Plants and Radiation Hazardous Facilities of the Federal Service for Environmental, Technological and Nuclear Supervision of Russia conducted a routine on-site comprehensive inspection of the Ural Electrochemical Plant Joint-Stock Company located in Novosibirsk, focusing on verifying the enterprise's compliance with relevant federal laws, regulations, and regulatory license terms on the use of atomic energy. The inspection covered multiple aspects of the operational safety of nuclear fuel cycle facilities, including the implementation of responsibilities of the operating organization in safety assurance, maintenance of performance of important safety systems and components, safety control during technical process implementation, compliance with decommissioning requirements for nuclear facilities, and safety of radioactive waste treatment...

2026-07-30

SuperCritical Obtains Exclusive License for Uranium Extraction from Seawater Technology, Plans Industrial Deployment in the United States

SuperCritical Materials Corp., a U.S. developer of nuclear fuel and critical materials infrastructure, announced on July 24 that it has obtained an exclusive license from Battelle Memorial Institute for a patented uranium adsorbent technology used to extract uranium from seawater. The technology was originally developed by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and its research partners. Battelle Memorial Institute currently manages eight national laboratories for the U.S. federal government. SuperCritical stated that the technology has been verified to extract uranium from seawater...

2026-07-30