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2026 Technical Exchange Conference on Key Issues in Nuclear Accident Safety Analysis Successfully Held in Shenzhen

To further enhance the level of emergency technical support for nuclear power plants, consolidate nuclear safety barriers, and promote the development of industry technical standards, the 2026 Technical Exchange Conference on Key Issues in Nuclear Accident Safety Analysis was recently held in Shenzhen. The conference was hosted by the Nuclear Safety Branch of the Chinese Nuclear Society and co-organized by the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Center of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the Nuclear Emergency and Rescue Center of China General Nuclear Power Group, and the China Nuclear Power Research Institute Co., Ltd. Participants included experts and young researchers from China Nuclear Power Engineering Co., Ltd., China Nuclear Power Engineering Co., Ltd. (CNPE), Nuclear Power Institute of China, Nuclear Power Operation Research Institute, CNNC Nuclear Operation & Maintenance Technology Co., Ltd., Shanghai Nuclear Engineering Research and Design Institute Co., Ltd., Tsinghua University,...

2026-08-11

Texas A&M University Leads Development of Novel Wound Treatment for New World Screwworm

On August 10, 2026, the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station is leading the development of fast-acting, low-residue wound treatments for livestock infected with New World screwworm. The project, funded at $1.86 million, is led by Dr. Mustafa E. S. Akbulut, Associate Professor in the Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering at Texas A&M University, with the goal of providing ranchers and veterinarians with immediately deployable field treatment tools after infection occurs in animals. New World screwworm is a parasite that feeds on living tissue. According to available data, the pest is currently spreading in Central America and Mexico, with over 150,000 animal infection cases reported. Recently, cases have also emerged in Texas and New Mexico. Federal models predict that a large-scale outbreak in Texas could result in livestock losses exceeding $1.8 billion. If left untreated, these pests can cause severe harm to livestock, companion animals, and wildlife.

2026-08-11

EDF plans to add cooling towers at Golfech nuclear plant to cope with repeated shutdowns due to high temperatures

French utility EDF is planning to adapt the Golfech nuclear power plant in Tarn-et-Garonne to cope with increasingly frequent heatwaves. Since June this year, the plant has been shut down multiple times due to high temperatures, with another outage in early August, highlighting the growing operational pressure on nuclear facilities that rely on river water for cooling in the context of climate change. The direct cause of the Golfech shutdowns is not that the reactors themselves cannot operate, but rather that the Garonne River water temperature is too high. Under regulations dating from 2006, when the daily average water temperature of the Garonne downstream of the plant exceeds 28 degrees Celsius, EDF may reduce unit output or temporarily shut down. This restriction is primarily intended to protect the river ecosystem...

2026-08-11

French nuclear power sets record unavailability rate due to high temperatures and drought, one-sixth of capacity constrained

France's nuclear power system is under exceptional strain. Affected by persistent high temperatures and low river water levels, nuclear reactors operated by French utility EDF have recorded unprecedented unavailability. According to an AFP tally based on data published by EDF since 2015, on the afternoon of Sunday, August 9, 2026, the nuclear capacity shortfall caused by drought and extreme heat reached 15.6% of installed capacity, equivalent to roughly one-sixth of France's nuclear power capacity being temporarily unable to supply electricity normally. The cause of this disruption is not simply equipment failure, but is closely linked to the natural environment on which nuclear plant operations depend. Many nuclear plants draw water from rivers for cooling; when river levels are too low or water temperatures too high, the...

2026-08-11

South Korea to Launch Real-Time Query System for CT and MRI Records in December to Reduce Duplicate Tests for Patients Transferring Hospitals

The Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) of South Korea announced on August 10 that it has established the "Appropriate Medical Utilization Review Committee" and, at its first meeting, included computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations in the review scope of the real-time medical utilization management program. According to the plan, the program will be managed through the "Medical Care Benefit Details Confirmation System" following approval by the Minister of Health and Welfare. The system, built pursuant to Article 41-6 of the revised National Health Insurance Act, is expected to officially operate starting December 24. Once the system is in place, medical personnel will be able to query in real time the timing and relevant records of patients' CT and MRI examinations at other medical institutions before the patients undergo examinations, thereby reducing...

2026-08-11

TAF-ID database 22nd edition released, expanding advanced nuclear fuel thermodynamic evaluation data

The International Thermodynamic Database for Advanced Fuels (TAF-ID) project has been running for over a decade. The project employs the CALPHAD (Calculation of Phase Diagrams) method to develop a thermodynamic database that supports computational analysis of advanced nuclear fuel materials, enabling prediction of phase diagrams and thermodynamic properties of relevant systems. According to project documentation, Version 22 of the TAF-ID database has been released. This update adds and revises assessment data for material systems including Na-U, Na-O, Na-UO₂, U-Ru, U-Si, Al-Si-U, Fe-Pu-U, and O-N-U, and updates gas-phase data based on the latest publicly available information. The database assessment scope has been expanded to 44 elements, 272 binary systems, 151 ternary systems, and 3...

2026-08-11

India's Nuclear Power Expansion Drives Up Uranium Demand, Annual Demand Could Reach 5,400 Tonnes

India is accelerating its nuclear energy development program, with uranium resource demand rising correspondingly. According to estimates by the Indian Parliament's Committee on Public Undertakings in its follow-up report on NPCIL performance rectification, India will require approximately 5,400 tonnes of uranium annually in the future as nuclear power projects expand. This figure reflects the urgency of India's energy structure adjustment and indicates the rising status of nuclear power in its long-term electricity planning. Currently, domestic uranium production in India can only meet about 30% of demand, with the remainder relying on imports, primarily from countries including Kazakhstan, Russia, Uzbekistan, and Canada. The Parliamentary Committee therefore emphasized...

2026-08-10

Türkiye Plans 17,000-Ton Uranium Drilling Program, Accelerating Nuclear Energy Autonomy Strategy

Türkiye is advancing a new round of exploration around a uranium deposit reportedly totaling 17,000 tons, planning drilling at 47 different points to further confirm ore body distribution, grade levels, and economic viability for extraction. This move is positioned within the context of Türkiye's energy supply security and nuclear energy development strategy, aiming to provide more domestic resource support for future nuclear fuel assurance. From an energy strategy perspective, uranium resource exploration is not merely a standalone mining project but part of Türkiye's efforts to reduce external energy dependence. Türkiye has long relied on imported energy, with external supplies of natural gas, oil, and other resources impacting its energy costs and macroeconomic performance. Globally...

2026-08-10

Arab League Holds Second Technical Committee Meeting on Nuclear and Radiation Emergency Preparedness Roadmap, Focusing on Cross-Border Coordination and Alignment with IAEA Obligations

The General Secretariat of the League of Arab States held its second open-ended technical committee meeting at its headquarters from August 9 to 10, focusing on following up on the implementation of the Arab cooperation roadmap for nuclear and radiation emergency preparedness and response. The meeting was attended by representatives of Arab member states, the Arab Atomic Energy Agency (AAEA), and relevant Arab and international organizations, indicating that this issue has risen from mere technical cooperation to an important component of regional security governance. The core objective of the meeting is to enhance the coordination capacity and response capability of Arab countries in the face of nuclear accidents and radiological emergencies. As nuclear technology continues to expand in energy, medical, industrial, and scientific research applications, nuclear...

2026-08-10

Chernobyl Black Fungi Draw Attention: Potential Value in Ionizing Radiation Tolerance and Shielding Research

Nearly four decades after the explosion of Unit 4 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, the areas surrounding the damaged reactor remain heavily contaminated with radiation. In this high-radiation environment, researchers have discovered that a type of black fungus is not only capable of surviving but may also exhibit strong environmental adaptability, drawing continued scientific interest in its radiation tolerance mechanisms. According to available data, this fungus, scientifically known as Cladosporium sphaerospermum, has been found on the interior walls of buildings associated with the contaminated reactor at Chernobyl. Researchers point out that its deep black appearance is linked to the large amounts of melanin accumulated within its cells. Compared with ordinary organisms, this type of fungus exhibits exceptional tolerance in high...

2026-08-10

Belarusian NPP safe operation period may be extended to 100 years, with first spent fuel to be shipped to Russia for reprocessing in 2034

Stanislav Levitsky, head of the Rosatom representative office in Belarus, stated on the "Economic Environment" program of Belarusian TV Channel One that Belarusian nuclear energy development is backed by comprehensive safety assurances. He emphasized that while nuclear facilities can indeed have serious consequences if mismanaged, under the existing risk control system and modern technological support at the Belarusian NPP, nuclear power can become a low-cost, stable, and safe energy source. Levitsky believes that amid intense competition in the energy sector, some irresponsible players may use information tactics to create anxiety and attempt to provoke panic among the public...

2026-08-10

Hungary's New Government Questions Paks II Nuclear Project, Audit Dissatisfaction May Lead to Contractor Replacement

Hungary's new government (Prime Minister Péter Magyar) has continued to send unclear signals regarding the Paks II nuclear power plant expansion project contracted to Russia's Rosatom, bringing this major energy project involving the Russian state nuclear corporation back into the spotlight. The government is dissatisfied with the interim results of the contract audit and has hinted that Budapest does not rule out the possibility of replacing the contractor. The Paks II project was originally regarded as a key component of Hungary's long-term energy security strategy. Nuclear power holds fundamental significance for Hungary's electricity supply, and the expansion of the Paks nuclear plant was also seen as a measure to reduce energy import pressure and stabilize electricity prices.

2026-08-10

Romania in Talks to Purchase 300 Tons of Uranium from Niger, Nuclear Fuel Supply Diversification Faces Legal Uncertainties

Romania's state-owned nuclear power company Nuclearelectrica has initiated negotiations to purchase 300 tons of uranium from Niger, against the backdrop of Romania's push to diversify its external nuclear fuel sources. The talks began on April 13, 2026, with Niger's Minister of Mines Ousmane Abarchi responding positively, after which the Romanian delegation continued engagement with the Nigerien side. The transaction is valued at approximately $40 million, but Nuclearelectrica has emphasized that no final agreement has been reached yet. The potential appeal of this uranium supply lies in Romania's expanding nuclear power development plans, while domestic large-scale uranium mining has ceased. As the operator of the Cernavodă nuclear power plant...

2026-08-10

After only 4 days of restart, Unit 2 of France's Golfech Nuclear Power Plant shut down again due to Garonne River water temperature approaching limit

On the evening of August 8, French utility EDF (Électricité de France) once again shut down Unit 2 of the Golfech Nuclear Power Plant, just four days after the unit had been restarted. The direct cause of this shutdown was that the water temperature of the Garonne River was expected to reach 28°C on August 9, hitting the local operational limit. Since Unit 1 had already been taken offline for maintenance and fuel replacement, the closure of Unit 2 left both reactors at the Golfech plant simultaneously out of service, with the station temporarily ceasing power generation. Located in the Tarn-et-Garonne department of France, the Golfech Nuclear Power Plant was commissioned between 1991 and 1994, and features two 1,300 MW pressurized water reactor units. It draws cooling water from the Garonne River and dissipates heat through natural-draft cooling towers. According to EDF dat...

2026-08-10

U.S. Department of Energy Selects SHINE Technologies for Genesis Initiative, AI to Optimize Reprocessing of 95,000 Tons of Spent Nuclear Fuel

The U.S. Department of Energy has selected SHINE Technologies to participate in the Genesis mission, advancing the application of artificial intelligence in the nuclear industry. The core objective of the project is to develop an AI-assisted design system for engineers to plan more efficient spent fuel reprocessing facilities. The United States currently has approximately 95,000 tons of accumulated spent nuclear fuel, which has historically posed long-term storage and disposal challenges. The new approach seeks to recover still-valuable components from this material, reducing waste volume and improving resource utilization. The key to this project lies in transforming traditional engineering design methods. In the past, metrics such as throughput, final product quality, and waste volume in nuclear fuel reprocessing processes were typically evaluated separately...

2026-08-09