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Armenia and the IAEA discuss the extension of the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant and the selection of the reactor type for a new nuclear power plant

On September 15, Armenian Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure David Khudatyan and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi held talks in Vienna, during which the two sides held in-depth discussions on the progress of the life extension project for Unit 2 of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant (ANPP) and the selection of the reactor type for a new nuclear power plant. According to a message posted by Khudatyan on social media, the talks were held during the 70th IAEA General Conference. We discussed with Rafael Grossi the ongoing and planned projects under the framework of industry cooperation with the IAEA...

2026-09-16

Indian, Russian Leaders to Meet Ahead of BRICS Summit; Talks on New Nuclear Power Plants on Agenda

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed on September 8 that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet this Friday, ahead of the 18th BRICS Leaders' Summit scheduled for September 12-13 in New Delhi. Peskov stated that Russia is awaiting negotiations with India on new nuclear power plants. He also noted that the two leaders maintain close contact and are able to discuss sensitive issues in bilateral relations in an open and constructive manner. The Indian side has not yet issued an official statement regarding the bilateral meeting between Modi and Putin. India holds the presidency of the 2026 BRICS Summit. This year's summit will be held at the India Exposition Centre in New Delhi under the theme "Building Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainable Development." During the summit, participants will exchange views on shared priorities and related global and regional issues.

2026-09-09

South Korea Reassesses New Nuclear Power Plant Construction Amid Rising AI Electricity Demand

On September 8, South Korea's Minister of Climate and Energy Environment, Kim Sung-hwan, stated in an interview that due to the expansion of the artificial intelligence industry, South Korea's future electricity demand is expected to increase by 25 to 30 gigawatts. The government is reassessing the possibility of constructing new nuclear power plants and plans to announce the 12th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand next month. Kim Sung-hwan said the aforementioned additional demand mainly stems from Samsung Electronics and SK hynix expanding semiconductor production, as well as the construction of new AI data centers. As internal combustion engine vehicles transition to electric vehicles and the scope of electric heating replacing gas heating expands, South Korea's overall electricity demand will continue to grow. The South Korean government...

2026-09-09

Türkiye continues negotiations with multiple countries on new nuclear power plants

Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar stated that Türkiye's negotiations on new nuclear power plants have not yet been completed, and the country remains in contact with Russia, China, Canada, South Korea, and others, with no agreements signed for the relevant projects. Bayraktar said Russia is interested in participating in the Sinop and Thrace nuclear power plant projects and hopes to leverage the experience and human resources accumulated in the Akkuyu nuclear power plant project. In addition to Russia, Türkiye is also in negotiations with Canada, China, and South Korea on other nuclear power projects. He stated that beyond the Akkuyu plant, Türkiye plans to build eight more reactors...

2026-09-07

Armenia to Discuss New Nuclear Power Plant Options with Rosatom

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated at a press conference on September 3 that Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom, will visit Armenia in September, and the two sides will discuss possible options for constructing a new nuclear power plant within Armenia. Pashinyan noted that Armenia expects Likhachev's visit to bring forward Russia's specific proposals regarding the construction of a new nuclear power plant in Armenia. He said that Armenia will prioritize economic viability and project pricing when selecting a nuclear power project, aiming to secure the most cost-effective construction plan. In May of this year, the Russian side had indicated...

2026-09-04

South Korean survey shows 80% of respondents support including new nuclear power plants in power planning

An energy public perception survey released by the Korea Energy Information Culture Foundation on August 28 showed that 82.9% of respondents believed it is necessary to include plans for new nuclear power plants in the 12th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand currently being formulated, in response to future growth in electricity demand. The survey was commissioned by the Korea Energy Information Culture Foundation and conducted by Korea Research International via telephone interviews from June 12 to 15, targeting 2,000 adults aged 18 and above. The response rate was 10.0%, with a sampling error of...

2026-08-30

Netherlands advances front-end engineering design for two new nuclear power plants

The Netherlands Nuclear Organization (NEO NL) has awarded contracts to Électricité de France (EDF) and Westinghouse Electric Company (Westinghouse) to conduct design studies for two proposed new nuclear power plants in the Netherlands. The work is seen as the next step in the construction preparation phase, with both companies set to launch the first phase of studies after the summer. These design studies, internationally referred to as Front-End Engineering Design Phase 1 (FEED 1), will be implemented in two stages. The first stage, FEED 1a, is independent of specific plant site selection, allowing work to proceed while the Dutch government advances its siting process...

2026-08-26

Yeongdeok County Launches Naming Contest for New Nuclear Power Plant

Yeongdeok County in North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea, is holding a naming contest for a new nuclear power plant to be built in the region. The county announced on August 26 that the contest is open to Yeongdeok County residents and will run for two weeks from the 27th of this month to the 10th of next month. The county stated that proposed names should carry symbolic meaning, reflecting both the plant's role as a power generation facility and the county's future development vision, as well as residents' expectations for regional growth. Final judging and awards for all entries will be completed in October. In July, the candidate site for the new nuclear power plant in Yeongdeok County was confirmed, and the county subsequently signed a cooperation agreement with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP). The naming contest is seen as part of the project's preparatory work, which also includes job training for future energy strategy projects and screening of new projects.

2026-08-26

South Korea Reviews Plans for New Nuclear Units and 20-Year License Extensions

The South Korean government is reviewing plans to build new nuclear power units and extend the operating license periods of existing nuclear plants to address mid- to long-term electricity demand growth driven by semiconductor industry clusters in Yongin and the Honam region. The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment submitted a written response to the National Assembly on the 24th, stating that during the revision of the 12th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand, it will review whether to include new nuclear power plants in the plan, taking into account factors such as electricity supply-demand necessity, construction schedules, regional acceptance, and suitability of nuclear plant sites. The ministry stated that after the draft of the relevant work is published, it will also undergo procedures including National Assembly deliberation, public hearings, strategic environmental impact assessment, and climate change impact assessment.

2026-08-25

Armenia to Select Technology Solution for New Nuclear Power Plant by End of 2027

The Armenian government has set the end of 2027 as the deadline for selecting the technology solution for a new nuclear power plant. The project will eventually replace the existing Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant and has been incorporated into Armenia's government program for 2026 to 2031. According to the program, Armenia will advance the construction project for the new nuclear power plant and complete the reactor technology selection by at least the end of 2027. At present, the government has not yet disclosed the installed capacity, reactor type, or potential contractor for the new plant. Armenia has been evaluating nuclear power options from multiple countries in recent years, including both traditional large- or medium-sized nuclear units and small modular reactors (SMRs). Armenian officials have previously stated that units of relatively smaller scale, which are easier to connect to the national grid, are one of the key areas of focus for the government.

2026-08-23

Climate change impact assessment to be conducted for new nuclear power plant in Yeongdeok, South Korea

South Korea's Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment announced on August 12 that the proposed Yeongdeok nuclear power plant will undergo a climate change impact assessment in parallel with the strategic environmental impact assessment procedure. The assessment will be conducted in accordance with the Framework Act on Carbon Neutrality and the Environmental Impact Assessment Act, focusing on reviewing the project's alignment with higher-level plans such as the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), and evaluating greenhouse gas emissions and mitigation measures during the construction and operation phases. The assessment will cover the entire lifecycle of the nuclear power plant, from construction to operation. While the nuclear power generation process itself emits almost no greenhouse gases, emissions will still arise from large-scale civil engineering works, operation of construction equipment, and the production and transportation of building materials...

2026-08-13

Arkansas Evaluates Six Candidate Areas for New Nuclear Power Development

A latest research report in the U.S. state of Arkansas concludes that six areas in the state could serve as candidate sites for future nuclear power development, and that new reactors are both "feasible and necessary" locally. The report states that, under a relatively aggressive timeline, a new nuclear power plant in Arkansas could begin operation by the mid-2030s. The 533-page study was completed by Excel Services Corporation, a Maryland-based consulting firm, commissioned by the Arkansas Legislature's Joint Energy Committee. The six candidate areas listed in the report include Flint Creek in Benton County, the existing Arkansas Nuclear One (...

2026-08-11

Belarus Plans Construction of New Nuclear Power Plant

Belarus plans to build a third unit at its existing nuclear power plant and is planning a second nuclear power plant. The Belarusian nuclear power plant has become a flagship project of the Union State and a symbol of cooperation between Belarus and Russia. However, the country does not intend to stop there. The President of Belarus has made an important decision: to build a third unit at the existing nuclear power plant, while studying the possibility of constructing a second nuclear power plant in the Mogilev region. Energy Minister Denis Moroz discussed the significance of this initiative, its timeline, and the direction of energy development over the next 15 years in the "Economic Environment" program. In 2008, the President of Belarus made the strategic decision to build a nuclear power plant, at a time when other countries were shutting down...

2026-08-06

New Dawn for the Dutch Province of Zeeland: Borssele and Vlissingen May Welcome New Nuclear Power Plants

The Dutch government is seriously considering the construction of new nuclear power plants in the Borssele and Vlissingen areas. Although other locations were initially taken into consideration, these two towns in the province of Zeeland have emerged as potential frontrunners due to their well-developed infrastructure and convenient connections to the existing electricity grid. The plan aims to help the Netherlands achieve its climate goals, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and ensure the stability and sustainability of the national energy supply. The advisory body responsible for evaluating potential nuclear power plant sites has submitted a preliminary report to the government. This report provides a detailed analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of each candidate location, including, in addition to Borssele and Vlissingen, several other regions...

2026-08-05

Arkansas Advances New Nuclear Power Plant Project, Hyundai Motor Supports SMR Construction

Entergy, Holtec International, and Hyundai Motor Group signed an agreement on August 4, 2026, to jointly advance a nuclear power generation project in White County, Arkansas. The project will utilize Holtec's technology for the design, manufacturing, and maintenance of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), while Hyundai Motor will be responsible for providing key equipment and technical support for the plant. This collaboration involves the construction of a new nuclear power plant in Arkansas, which is expected to provide reliable and clean electricity to the local area. Entergy will serve as the operator of the project, responsible for the safe operation and management of the nuclear power plant, and will also work closely with H...

2026-08-05