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Long-term operation upgrades advanced during outage of Czech Dukovany Unit 3

On September 8, 2026, CEZ Group (CEZ) is utilizing the current outage maintenance window of Unit 3 at the Dukovany Nuclear Power Plant to carry out large-scale modernization of the turbine hall and secondary circuit. These systems are responsible for converting the thermal energy generated by the reactor into electricity and delivering it to the transmission grid. CEZ stated that during this outage, technicians will perform hundreds of inspections, repairs, maintenance activities, and modifications on secondary circuit equipment. In addition to routine inspections required by regulations and operating procedures, preventive maintenance, defect resolution, and equipment upgrades will also be carried out on site, creating conditions for the plant's goal of operating for up to 80 years. Roman Havlín, Director of the Dukovany Nuclear Power Plant, stated that while outage maintenance at nuclear power plants typically draws more attention to the reactor and primary circuit, the turbine hall equipment that ensures actual electricity generation is equally critical, and related equipment will also receive intensive maintenance during the outage.

2026-09-09

UK Rolls-Royce SMR Signs Memorandum of Understanding with ABB on Small Modular Reactors

On September 8, 2026, ABB and Rolls-Royce Small Modular Reactors (Rolls-Royce SMR) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore collaboration on small modular reactor projects. Under the MoU, ABB will study how its automation, electrification, instrumentation, and communications solutions can be applied to the scaled deployment of related projects. Rolls-Royce SMR is developing standardized, factory-prefabricated small modular reactor technology aimed at reducing nuclear project risks, improving delivery certainty, and providing low-carbon electricity in global markets. The company plans to develop a fleet of units, each with an electrical output of 470 megawatts, capable of meeting the electricity needs of one million UK households...

2026-09-09

Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant says restoring second external power line is critical to nuclear safety

On September 7, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant stated that restoring and commissioning the second external power transmission line—the 750 kV Dniprovska line—is critical to improving the reliability of the plant's power supply and enhancing nuclear and radiation safety levels. The plant also proposed that a systematic supply of fuel for backup diesel generators needs to be ensured. The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant stated that after the 330 kV Ferrospravnaya-1 transmission line restored external power supply, the radiation conditions at the plant and surrounding areas remained stable, within the range of natural background levels. The plant also stated that following the restoration of external power supply, the backup diesel generators have been switched to standby mode. In its statement, the plant said that the Ferrospravnaya-1...

2026-09-09

Ukraine's Energoatom purchases additional 41 VVER Spent Fuel Dry Storage Systems

Holtec Nuclear recently announced that Ukraine's national nuclear energy company Energoatom has awarded it a new contract to supply an additional 41 spent fuel safe transport and storage systems for VVER reactors at Ukraine's Khmelnytskyi, Rivne, and South Ukraine nuclear power plants. The contract was signed on August 26, 2026. Energoatom's acting CEO Pavlo Kovtonyuk signed the contract in Kyiv, while Holtec Nuclear's CEO and Board Chairman Kris Singh signed in Camden, New Jersey, USA...

2026-09-09

UK Report Says Russia's Uranium Supply Share Could Rise to 36% by 2040

The UK-based non-governmental organization Center for Strategic Advantage (CSA) recently released a report stating that if countries advance uranium production according to existing plans and operate all deposits at full capacity, Russia's share of global uranium supply could rise from roughly one-quarter at present to 36% by 2040. The report argues that Western countries face issues such as insufficient investment and delays in permitting new mine development, making it difficult to meet future demand. Meanwhile, Russia's uranium mining capacity is expected to continue growing. Project director Gareth Heywood stated that by 2040, some countries' dependence on Russian uranium production could approach the level of their dependence on Russian natural gas and oil around 2022.

2026-09-08

UK's First TerraPower Natrium Reactor Could Generate Power by 2034

TerraPower, the US nuclear power company backed by Bill Gates, expects its Natrium sodium-cooled reactor could generate electricity in the UK as early as 2034. If the project progresses smoothly, the UK will become the company's first market for deploying this technology outside the United States. TerraPower CEO Chris Levesque said that given the company's first Natrium reactor project is scheduled for completion in 2031, the Natrium technology is highly likely to become a reality in the UK by 2034. The technology has already met relevant US regulatory requirements, and the first unit is under construction in Wyoming. In recent years, the UK has accelerated the development of small modular re...

2026-09-08

Russia Says IAEA to Rotate Inspectors at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in About a Week

Alexey Likhachev, CEO of Rosatom, said on September 7 that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) mission at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is about to undergo a new round of personnel rotation. Likhachev stated that the 35th group of IAEA inspectors is expected to arrive at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in about a week. He noted that, as with previous rotation arrangements, the operation will be conducted within the territory of the Russian Federation to ensure safety. The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is one of Europe's largest nuclear power facilities by installed capacity. The IAEA maintains a continuous on-site presence at the plant and conducts relevant nuclear safety and security observation activities through regular rotation of inspectors.

2026-09-08

Ukrainian Nuclear Energy Association and Energoatom Trade Union Expand Nuclear Energy Cooperation

On September 2, the Ukrainian Nuclear Energy Association (UkrYat) and the Primary Trade Union Organization of NNEGC Energoatom (PPO NNEGC Energoatom) signed an interaction and cooperation agreement, under which the parties will expand cooperation in nuclear industry development, employee rights protection, personnel training, and scientific and technological capacity building. The agreement was signed by Volodymyr Kholosha, President of the Ukrainian Nuclear Energy Association, and Serhiy Snitkov, Chairman of the Primary Trade Union Organization of NNEGC Energoatom. Under the agreement, the parties will jointly promote the development of Ukraine's nuclear industry, safeguard the labor rights and socio-economic interests of industry professionals...

2026-09-07

"Wukong" Detects "Super-Iron" Elements in Cosmic Rays, Achieving First High-Precision Cosmic Ray Nickel Energy Spectrum in the TeV Range

Recently, the DAMPE scientific team led by Academician Chang Jin of the University of Science and Technology of China made significant progress in direct observations of high-energy cosmic rays. Based on DAMPE on-orbit observation data, the scientific team obtained the differential flux spectrum of nickel nuclei from 10 GeV/n to 2 TeV/n. The results were published in the international academic journal *Physical Review Letters* under the title "Measurement of the Cosmic Ray Nickel Energy Spectrum from 10 GeV/n to 2 TeV/n with the DAMPE Space Mission." The origin of super-iron elements in cosmic rays has long been a challenge for the scientific community. It is generally believed that cosmic ray elements are primarily produced in nuclear fusion processes within stars, but since iron nuclei have the highest binding energy per nucleon, stellar fusion reactions typically struggle to proceed beyond elements near iron. Heavier elements than iron are generally attributed to different nucleosynthesis processes such as neutron capture. Because the abundance of super-iron elements is typically at least an order of magnitude lower than that of iron, measurements of super-iron elements in cosmic rays remain extremely scarce. Most experiments have only provided relative abundances of different elements; a few experiments have measured the differential flux spectrum of cosmic ray nickel, but with energy upper limits of only a few hundred GeV/n.

2026-09-07

Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant Initiates Repair of External Power Transmission Lines

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant announced on September 5 that it has initiated repair and restoration work on its external power supply lines to ensure their normal operation. The plant stated that the repair and restoration efforts have commenced and are expected to be completed smoothly, with the Ferrosplavnaya-1 transmission line anticipated to resume operation as soon as possible. Currently, plant staff are monitoring all safety parameters around the clock. The plant stated that the situation on site is under control. ...

2026-09-07

Rosenergoatom Advances Bilibino NPP Decommissioning Preparation in Chukotka

In late August 2026, a delegation led by Alexander Shutikov, Director General of Rosenergoatom, conducted a working visit to the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, traveling to the two nuclear-related towns of Bilibino and Pevek for a series of meetings on the further management of Bilibino NPP, the operation of the Pevek Floating Nuclear Thermal Power Plant, and regional energy security. In Bilibino, Shutikov met with Evgeny Safonov, Head of the Bilibino Municipal District Administration. The parties discussed current and long-term regional projects supported by Rosatom, including progress on the construction of the new "Orbit" ski base.

2026-09-06

Key steam turbine components for UK Rolls-Royce SMRs to be produced in Newcastle

Key steam turbine components for the first three small modular reactors planned by Rolls-Royce SMR for the Wylfa project on Anglesey, North Wales, will be manufactured in the UK. Siemens Energy's Newcastle facility will undertake the production of components including high-pressure turbines and valve casings. This marks the first time in Europe that such components have been produced domestically for small modular reactors. Under the arrangement, the Siemens Energy Newcastle facility is also planned to become the company's key component service centre for the Rolls-Royce SMR UK project fleet. The facility is located on the historic...

2026-09-04

UK and US Ports and Shipping Organizations Study Nuclear-Powered Container Ship Deployment Across the Atlantic

UK classification society and professional consultancy Lloyd's Register, Danish shipping company Maersk, the Port of Charleston in the United States, and the Port of Felixstowe in the United Kingdom are collaborating on the "Pink Corridor" project to study the safety and security requirements involved in deploying nuclear-powered container ships on transatlantic routes. (Image credit: Lloyd's Register) The project uses a conceptual nuclear-powered container ship as its research subject, focusing on analyzing the port access conditions and regulatory requirements it may face when operating on a commercial route between the Port of Charleston in South Carolina and the Port of Felixstowe in Suffolk, UK.

2026-09-04

Gyeongsangbuk-do lawmakers demand stronger nuclear power plant accident notification and oversight

On September 3, Gyeongsangbuk-do lawmaker Kim Jae-jun spoke at the 365th provisional session of the Gyeongsangbuk-do Council, criticizing the delayed notification and inadequate response to the recent boric acid solution leak at Unit 6 of the Hanul Nuclear Power Plant, and calling for stronger resident safety protection mechanisms in areas with concentrated nuclear power plants. Kim stated that on August 3, a boric acid solution containing radioactive materials leaked from Unit 6 of the Hanul Nuclear Power Plant during spent fuel transfer, but local residents were not informed of the incident until approximately three weeks after it occurred. He argued that Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) failed to disclose information about the incident promptly and transparently, undermining residents' trust in nuclear safety management...

2026-09-04

Fire alarms triggered nine times in four weeks at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station

At 21:44 on September 3, a fire alarm was triggered in the water treatment control room building of Japan's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) stated that no open flames or smoke were found at the scene. After firefighters arrived and conducted inspections, it was confirmed shortly after 22:30 that evening that this was not a fire. TEPCO said it would subsequently inspect the relevant detectors. Including this incident, the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station has triggered a total of nine fire alarms in the past four weeks. Previously, on August 8, a fire alarm was triggered in the maintenance building for Units 5 and 6; on August 12, an alarm sounded in the emergency diesel generator room for the high-pressure core spray system of Unit 6; on August 13, an alarm sounded in the main office building; on August 15, an alarm sounded in the southwest stairwell area of the turbine building for Unit 5...

2026-09-04