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First Power Transmission Line Commissioned at Smolensk NPP-2 Construction Site

The first power transmission line has been commissioned at the construction site of Russia's Smolensk NPP-2. The line will provide stable power supply and round-the-clock lighting for the construction and installation base, freeing on-site work from natural daylight constraints. According to the project schedule, the construction site is currently connected to the 10 kV grid via a temporary scheme, with a switch to the permanent power supply system planned after the 110/10 kV permanent substation is put into operation. During construction, the contractor laid over 3 kilometers of cable and installed more than 60 transmission line towers under challenging weather conditions. During the construction phase of the installation base, stable power supply plays a fundamental role in project progress. The site needs to complete the construction of rebar module and rebar cage fabrication workshops on schedule, establishing a complete preparation flow from metal processing to finished component delivery. These components will be used directly in the subsequent construction of the main structures of the nuclear power units.

2026-08-18

Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant: Türkiye's Gateway to the Nuclear Supply Chain and a Platform for Long-Term Technology Acquisition

On August 15, Professor Şer Ergun, Head of the Nuclear Engineering Department at Hacettepe University, commented on the commissioning progress of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant in Mersin Province, emphasizing the project's strategic and technical significance for Türkiye. She noted that the VVER-1200 technology used at Akkuyu is operational in multiple countries worldwide, and Türkiye is seizing this opportunity to operate modern reactor technology while accumulating nuclear knowledge and experience and strengthening international cooperation through collaboration with other VVER-1200 user countries. She also stressed that Turkish engineers should actively participate in similar projects. Ergun stated that Akkuyu's value should not be assessed solely from the perspective of power generation, but also from its contribution to the nuclear technology ecosystem. The project provides...

2026-08-16

First unit of Türkiye's Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant expected to generate power within months

Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar stated on August 13 at the Bosphorus Diplomatic Forum held in Istanbul that the first reactor at Türkiye's Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant is expected to begin generating electricity within the coming months. Bayraktar said that four reactors are currently being constructed simultaneously at the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant, and Türkiye hopes to achieve power generation from the plant's first unit in the coming months. He noted that developing nuclear power has been a long-term goal for Türkiye, and the Akkuyu project will bring Türkiye into the ranks of countries utilizing nuclear energy. Previously, Bayraktar had stated that Türkiye plans to launch the first power unit of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant by the end of this year...

2026-08-14

Rosatom Starts Preparations for Long-Lead Equipment Contracts at Primorskaya NPP

The engineering division of Rosatom recently announced that preparations for signing long-lead equipment manufacturing contracts for the Primorskaya Nuclear Power Plant have commenced, covering the reactor building, turbine hall, core catcher, and other major system components. According to the announcement, the scope of contract preparation includes key equipment such as main reactor building equipment, turbine hall equipment, the Automated Process Control System (APCS) for the units, and the core catcher. Long-lead equipment typically has extended manufacturing cycles and represents a critical element that must be secured early in the pre-construction phase of a nuclear power project. Currently, the project is also advancing multiple public tender preparation efforts, including site vertical layout planning,...

2026-08-13

First Fuel Loading Officially Begins at Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant Unit 7

On August 12, as the first fuel assembly was precisely and safely loaded into its designated position in the reactor core, the first fuel loading officially began at Unit 7 of the Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant, which is invested and controlled by China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC)'s China Nuclear Power. This marks a solid foundation for subsequent reactor criticality and commercial operation. First fuel loading is the core procedure of implanting the "energy heart" into a nuclear reactor. As a key milestone in the full lifecycle of nuclear power construction, it not only serves as a comprehensive test of the unit's years of engineering construction quality, system commissioning level, and safety management capability, but also represents the critical starting point for the unit's nuclear-powered operation. It is understood that this fuel loading is the first-ever loading for a VVER-1200 unit in China, requiring a total of 163 nuclear fuel assemblies to be loaded...

2026-08-12

Budapest Launches Feasibility Study for Long-Distance Heat Supply from Paks Nuclear Power Plant

On August 11, 2026, Budapest Public Services Company (BKM), in partnership with the Budapest University of Technology and Economics, launched a feasibility study to explore the delivery of thermal energy from the Paks Nuclear Power Plant to the city's district heating system via a hot-water pipeline of approximately 125 kilometers. The study focuses on the technical, economic, and construction feasibility of the project. The Paks Nuclear Power Plant is located about 100 kilometers from the capital, and the current heat load of Budapest's district heating system is approximately 100 MWth in summer, peaking at 1,000 MWth in winter. The core significance of this concept lies not only in providing a low-carbon heat source for the city but also in improving the efficiency of waste heat utilization at the nuclear power plant. The Paks Nuclear Power Plant currently...

2026-08-12

Novovoronezh NPP Transfers New Equipment to On-Site Fire and Rescue Unit

A ceremony was held in Novovoronezh, Russia, marking the 40th anniversary of the Federal Fire Service Special Directorate No. 72 of the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry (EMERCOM of Russia), which is responsible for fire protection at multiple Russian nuclear power plants. During the event, Novovoronezh NPP Director Vladimir Povarov (Владимир Поваров) presented certificates for a new minibus and a batch of firefighting technical equipment to Fire and Rescue Unit No. 14, which provides fire protection for the plant. The NPP stated that this equipment will further strengthen the unit's material and technical base. Novo...

2026-08-12

Balakovo NPP Completes Pre-Audit of Quality Management System

Balakovo Nuclear Power Plant in Russia recently completed a pre-audit of its quality management system, confirming its readiness to undergo the official certification audit within the year. The audit covered multiple international quality standards, including ISO 9001, ISO 9004, and ISO 19443. Balakovo NPP has previously conducted several audits in accordance with ISO 9001 with favorable results. This time, the plant will undergo audits against the ISO 9004 and ISO 19443 standards for the first time, making it one of the earlier nuclear power plants to be audited against these standards. The pre-audit is a key stage before the official certification audit, primarily aimed at assessing the plant's preparedness, checking the effectiveness of existing processes, documentation status, and staff understanding of the standard requirements...

2026-08-12

New Progress in Containment Construction of Unit 1 at Egypt's El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant

The Egyptian Nuclear Power Plants Authority announced that the fourth-layer concrete pouring of the containment inside the reactor building of Unit 1 at the El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant has been completed. This construction milestone raised the reactor building height from 24.4 meters to 34.0 meters above ground level, marking continued progress of Egypt's first nuclear power plant toward the key equipment installation phase. The pouring operation lasted 30 consecutive hours, utilizing 5 concrete pump trucks with placing booms and pouring approximately 1,608 cubic meters of concrete. During construction, about 80 professionals participated in each of the day and night shifts, with an additional 20 personnel ensuring round-the-clock stable operation of construction equipment and machinery, demonstrating the high-intensity advancement of the project in organizational scheduling and on-site coordination...

2026-08-12

Finland's Loviisa Nuclear Power Plant Launches Turbine Island Upgrade to Support Operation Until 2050

Finnish utility Fortum has launched a large-scale modernization project for the turbine island at the Loviisa Nuclear Power Plant. The project aims to increase the plant's electrical output and ensure the continued, safe, and reliable operation of both units through the end of 2050 under the new operating licenses. The Loviisa plant consists of two VVER-440 pressurized water reactor units and is Finland's first nuclear power plant, currently supplying more than 10% of the country's electricity. Unit 1 entered commercial operation in 1977, followed by Unit 2 in 1981, and the Finnish government approved the extended operating licenses in February 2023. The core of this upgrade is the modernization of the low-pressure turbines, which is the largest single undertaking in the Loviisa turbine island upgrade...

2026-08-12

Russia's Atommash Commissions Ultrasonic Weld Inspection Robot to Boost NPP Equipment Testing Efficiency

Atommash, a plant under the mechanical engineering division of Russia's State Atomic Energy Corporation (Rosatom), has recently commissioned a new ultrasonic inspection robot for welded joints, used for weld quality checks on large nuclear power equipment such as nuclear reactors and steam generators. The plant is located in Rostov Oblast, Russia. The new equipment employs two scanning modes and can identify weld defect types and locate defect coordinates. Compared with traditional inspection methods involving manual probe movement, the robot can automatically perform scanning on components with complex geometries, increasing inspection speed by approximately 30% while reducing the need for manual work in hard-to-reach areas. At present, Atommash already operates...

2026-08-11

Installation of Passive Heat Removal System Completed for Unit 1 of Turkey's Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant

Rosatom recently announced that the installation of the Passive Heat Removal System (PHRS) for Unit 1 of Turkey's Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant has been completed. This means the unit is now equipped with a critical safety system and is ready for the commissioning phase. According to reports, the installed equipment includes approximately 90 components such as heat exchangers, guide vanes, air ducts, and electromagnetic devices, which were installed in stages in the reactor building dome area. The Passive Heat Removal System is one of the key safety systems of a nuclear power unit, designed to remove residual heat from the reactor core under specific operating conditions. The system consists of four independent channels, each corresponding to one steam generator...

2026-08-10

Unit 4 of Slovakia's Mochovce Nuclear Power Plant Reaches First Criticality

Slovenské Elektrárne stated that Unit 4 of the Mochovce Nuclear Power Plant reached first reactor criticality at 22:10 local time on August 6, and achieved minimum controllable power at 22:31. This is a key milestone in the pre-commissioning work of the unit, indicating that the reactor is ready for subsequent testing. First criticality refers to the first time the nuclear fuel in the core achieves a self-sustaining fission chain reaction. Slovenské Elektrárne stated that first criticality and reaching minimum controllable power are important steps in the commissioning process of a nuclear power plant, used to confirm the unit's readiness to enter the next phase of testing...

2026-08-08

Vacuum test of the turbine condenser at Unit 1 of Akkuyu NPP successfully completed

The vacuum test of the turbine condenser at Unit 1 of Turkey's Akkuyu NPP, built by Rosatom, has been completed. The operation confirmed that the main systems of the turbine unit are ready for the next stage of commissioning. During the test, technicians established the required negative pressure in the condenser, checked the tightness of the vacuum system and the thermomechanical condition of the turbine, while monitoring parameters such as condenser vacuum, steam pressure, bearing temperatures, and thermal expansion of the casing and rotor. During the turning gear rotation of the turbine, the proper operation of the flow path (blades) was confirmed. Systems involved in the operation included: start-up boiler house boilers, vacuum system, bearing lubrication system, hydraulic jacking oil system, main turning gear, steam supply and extraction systems, as well as the equipment thermomechanical condition monitoring system.

2026-08-08

Türkiye plans to commission subsequent Akkuyu nuclear power plant units at one-year intervals

Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said on August 6 that Türkiye plans to commission subsequent units of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) at one-year intervals after the first unit goes into operation. Bayraktar stated that Unit 1 of the Akkuyu NPP is scheduled to begin generating electricity by the end of the year, with work on the first reactor's commissioning currently progressing at full speed. According to Türkiye's plan, after Unit 1 enters service, the remaining units will successively enter the commissioning phase. The Akkuyu NPP is Türkiye's first nuclear power plant, constructed by Russia's State Atomic Energy Corporation (Rosatom). The project plans four units, all using Russia-designed Generation III+...

2026-08-07