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Hinkley Point C Nuclear Power Station Advances CCNSG Safety Passport Collaboration to Ensure Site Safety During Peak Construction

Hinkley Point C (HPC) nuclear power station in the UK is deepening its collaboration with the Client Contractor National Safety Group (CCNSG) to safeguard thousands of workers on site during the peak construction phase. Located in Somerset, the project is progressively transitioning from civil works to mechanical and electrical installation, placing greater demands on unified safety access standards and workforce competency. The CCNSG Safety Passport scheme, delivered by the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB), has been operating in the engineering construction industry for over 30 years, with more than 85,500 active cardholders. The scheme is industry-led and continuously overseen by a relevant committee, of which Hinkley Point C is a member.

2026-08-13

Jellyfish Blockage Forces Shutdown of French Nuclear Units; Experts Say Shutdown Demonstrates Effectiveness of Safety Systems

France's Gravelines Nuclear Power Plant recently shut down some of its units again after large numbers of jellyfish entered the water intake system. On August 11, reactors 2, 3, and 4 at the plant were forced to shut down due to blockage in the seawater cooling pump system, reactor 1 was reduced to half power operation, reactor 5 was under maintenance at the time, and only reactor 6 continued normal operation. EDF (Électricité de France) stated that the incident had no impact on nuclear safety, personnel, or the environment, and the affected units would be restarted in phases. Located in northern France, the Gravelines Nuclear Power Plant is one of the largest nuclear power plants in Western Europe. Similar situations have occurred before. In the 20...

2026-08-13

Dong Baotong, Director of the National Nuclear Safety Administration: China's nuclear safety level remains among the top internationally, and during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, the number of operating nuclear power units in China will rank first in the world

The State Council Information Office held a series of press conferences on August 13 themed "Starting the '15th Five-Year Plan' with a Strong Beginning," introducing the progress of comprehensively advancing the construction of a Beautiful China. Dong Baotong, Vice Minister of Ecology and Environment and Director of the National Nuclear Safety Administration, stated at the conference that ecological environment safety encompasses several key aspects, including ecological security, nuclear safety, and environmental risk prevention and control. The Ministry of Ecology and Environment serves as the lead coordinating body for both the national ecological security work coordination mechanism and the nuclear safety work coordination mechanism. Over the years, together with relevant departments, we have actively responded to various risks and challenges, effectively safeguarding the bottom line of ecological environment safety. Among these, in the area of nuclear safety, we have consolidated the primary responsibility of nuclear facility operators...

2026-08-13

South Korea's Wolsong Nuclear Power Plant Units 2, 3, and 4 Pressure Tube Procurement Pushed for Preliminary Feasibility Study Exemption, Sparking Controversy

The lifetime extension issue for South Korea's Wolsong Nuclear Power Plant Units 2, 3, and 4 has not yet been finalized, yet the procurement of pressure tubes—the core equipment—is being pushed to be excluded from the preliminary feasibility study, triggering a direct confrontation between industry circles and environmental groups. The Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power labor union recently submitted a proposal to Democratic Party lawmaker Song Young-gil, requesting that the government grant a preliminary feasibility study exemption for the relevant procurement and initiate ordering at the earliest opportunity. Song subsequently forwarded the opinion to the Office for Government Policy Coordination. It is understood that the government is internally considering submitting the matter as an exemption case for deliberation at the September State Council meeting. Supporters argue that Wolsong Units 2, 3, and 4 are pressurized heavy water reactors, and pressure tubes are critical equipment determining unit operation, from order placement...

2026-08-13

Philippine Energy Regulatory Commission Supports Nuclear Energy Legislation, Emphasizing Regulatory Alignment and Consumer Protection

The Philippine Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has expressed support for proposed legislation promoting nuclear energy development, stating that it would help strengthen national energy security and enhance electricity supply reliability. On August 12, during a hearing held by the Special Committee on Nuclear Energy of the Philippine House of Representatives, Krisha Marie T. Buela, Director of the Office of the General Counsel and Secretariat of the ERC, presented the Commission's preliminary comments on the proposed bills. Buela stated that the ERC is reviewing several provisions in the proposed legislation and will submit a formal position paper to the Special Committee on Nuclear Energy. Based on the preliminary comments, the Commission's concerns include...

2026-08-13

Study Reveals Three-Dimensional Pore Networks Inside Uranium-Zirconium Metallic Nuclear Fuel

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), in collaboration with Idaho National Laboratory (INL), conducted three-dimensional imaging studies on irradiated uranium-10 zirconium metallic fuel, revealing the internal pore networks within the fuel and their relationship with chemical changes and fuel-cladding interactions. The researchers believe these results will help improve metallic fuel performance models, providing references for extending the operating cycles of certain reactors and for the design of next-generation sodium-cooled fast reactor fuel systems. Uranium-10 zirconium (U-10Zr) is a uranium-zirconium alloy metallic fuel containing 10% zirconium, which has been extensively tested in sodium-cooled fast reactors such as Experimental Breeder Reactor II (EBR-II) and the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF). As advanced reactor research and development progresses, this type of metallic fuel has regained attention, but the details of pore formation, swelling, heat transfer, and interactions with cladding materials under reactor irradiation conditions still require further clarification.

2026-08-13

French nuclear fleet output drops to 59% of full capacity

On Wednesday, August 12, French nuclear reactors operated at 59% of full capacity, according to RTÉ grid data and Bloomberg calculations, down 1 percentage point from 60% on Tuesday, August 11. EDF, the world's largest nuclear power operator, currently has 34 reactors in operation with a total available capacity of 33,250 MW; France's 57 nuclear reactors normally supply more than two-thirds of the country's electricity. EDF recently halted power generation at the Gravelines 2 and Bugey 3 reactors, while extending the outage of the Gravelines 3 and 4 units and the Cattenom 4 reactor...

2026-08-13

Egypt Plans to Expand Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant, Talks on New Reactors Signal Energy Transition

Egypt's Minister of Electricity Mahmoud Esmat stated that President Sisi has instructed to increase the number of reactors at the Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant. The Egyptian side is in negotiations with relevant companies, planning to add two new reactors to the existing project, with the possibility of increasing to four in the future. This means that the Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant is not only Egypt's first nuclear power project, but may also be further expanded into a core project in the country's energy structure adjustment. Located on the Mediterranean coast of Matrouh Governorate in northwestern Egypt, the Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant currently has plans for 4 nuclear power units, each with an installed capacity of 1,200 megawatts, totaling 4,800 megawatts. According to the timeline previously disclosed by the Egyptian government, the project is expected to begin power generation in 2028...

2026-08-13

Türkiye Maps Out Small Modular Reactors, Targeting 5,000 MW Installed Capacity by 2050

Türkiye is positioning small modular reactors (SMRs) as a new breakthrough in its nuclear energy strategy. Under relevant plans, Türkiye aims to achieve approximately 5,000 MW of SMR installed capacity by 2050, a scale that would surpass the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant project. For Türkiye, which has long sought to reduce its external energy dependence, SMRs are seen as a strategic opportunity combining energy security, industrial upgrading, and technological competitiveness. Compared with traditional large-scale nuclear power plants, SMRs feature smaller installed capacity and more flexible deployment, typically ranging from 10 MW to 300 MW; micro modular reactors below 10 MW are even smaller and can be transported by truck. Reports note that such reactors can be deployed in...

2026-08-13

Major Fusion Energy Appointment in the UK: MIT Professor Dennis Whyte Named CEO of UKAEA

The UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) has appointed Professor Dennis Whyte, a fusion energy expert from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, as its new Chief Executive Officer, with his tenure officially commencing in autumn 2026. This appointment comes at a critical stage in the UK's accelerated push toward fusion energy commercialisation, signalling the country's intent to strengthen its position in the global fusion energy race by attracting international talent with combined expertise in research, engineering, and industrialisation. The UK government previously announced an investment of £2.5 billion in fusion energy research, development, and innovation over the five-year period ending in 2030. Upon taking office, Whyte will be tasked with advancing the R&D system, accelerating technology commercialisation, expanding industrial and international collaboration, and translating scientific...

2026-08-13

Russia's National Anti-Terrorism Committee Demands Enhanced Security for Energy and Nuclear Facilities

On August 12, Russia's National Anti-Terrorism Committee (NAK) held a meeting chaired by Alexander Bortnikov, Director of the Federal Security Service, to discuss security issues at transportation, fuel-energy complex, and nuclear energy industrial facilities. The Committee emphasized the need to strengthen comprehensive security safeguards and respond more effectively to sabotage and terrorist threats. The meeting proposed that protecting energy and nuclear industrial facilities should not remain at the institutional level alone, but rather should develop more targeted priority tasks based on evolving actual risks. Damage to fuel-energy systems and nuclear industrial facilities could affect the stability of energy supply and trigger broader security risks, which is why their level of protection is regarded as...

2026-08-13

Poland's First Nuclear Power Plant Enters New Phase with Deepening Polish Enterprise Participation

Poland's first nuclear power plant (Lubiatowo-Kopalino site) has transitioned from the preparatory stage to substantive on-site construction. On August 12, Polish Nuclear Power Company (PEJ) officially handed over the construction site to the general contractor, American company Bechtel, while Budimex, one of Poland's largest construction firms, commenced earthworks. This marks another significant milestone for the project following the securing of financing, the refinement of the legal framework, and support from technology partners. Polish Energy Minister Miłosz Motyka stated that this investment will enhance Poland's energy security and sovereignty, while creating stable and predictable energy prices for households and businesses. To date, PEJ has signed contracts with approximately 4...

2026-08-13

Rising River Water Temperatures in Europe Constrain Nuclear Power Operations, Poland's First Nuclear Power Plant Turns to Baltic Sea for Cooling Water

Persistent high temperatures, droughts, and low river water levels across Europe are turning nuclear power plant cooling issues from a purely engineering topic into a real risk affecting the stability of electricity supply. Experience in countries such as France and Switzerland shows that when river water temperatures are too high or flow rates are insufficient, nuclear power plants—even with generating capacity available—may be forced to reduce output or temporarily shut down due to environmental restrictions. In 2022, France's nuclear power generation fell by 22% year-on-year, and during recent summer heatwaves, rising water temperatures in rivers such as the Seine and the Rhône have repeatedly led to restrictions on related units. The core of this issue is not just whether there is enough water, but also whether the water is cold enough. Traditional river-dependent cooling systems...

2026-08-13

Vietnam accelerates nuclear power workforce training, Ninh Thuan 1 project targets commercial operation in 2037-2038

On the afternoon of August 12, Vietnam's Deputy Minister of Education and Training Pham Quang Hung held a working meeting with Vietnam Electricity (EVN) to focus on the implementation of human resource training plans in the nuclear power sector. EVN Deputy General Director Nguyen Tai Anh stated that the group has preliminarily identified 120 key positions required for nuclear power plant operation, as well as 320 core personnel who currently need training and reserve development. As Vietnam plans to build a workforce meeting nuclear power operation requirements by 2035, relevant training must be planned as early as possible and accelerated. The Ninh Thuan 1 Nuclear Power Project is Vietnam's first nuclear power project, with EVN as the investor. The project was suspended in 2016 due to national resource coordination needs, and was restarted at the end of 2024 in accordance with...

2026-08-13

Vietnam's National Assembly Reviews Agreements Related to the Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Plant Project

On August 13, the Vietnamese National Assembly discussed at its session the proposal for ratifying agreements related to the Ninh Thuan nuclear power plant project. This topic is one of the key items on the agenda of the first extraordinary session, involving the procedures for ratifying international agreements required for the advancement of the nuclear power project, and also reflecting the continued progress of Vietnam's policy arrangements in energy security and large-scale infrastructure development. On the same day, the National Assembly also discussed draft amendments and supplements to certain provisions of the Law on Radio Frequencies, the Law on Telecommunications, the Law on Electronic Transactions, and the Law on Technology Transfer. Vu Hai Quan, member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and Minister of Science and Technology, stated that the draft law does not alter the scope and subjects of application of the four existing laws, but focuses on resolving...

2026-08-13