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U.S. Department of Energy Provides $1.9 Billion Loan to Support Restart of Duane Arnold Nuclear Power Plant

NextEra Energy announced on September 8 that it has completed a loan arrangement of up to $1.9 billion with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to support the restart of the Duane Arnold Energy Center in Iowa. The project will help restore operations at Iowa's only nuclear power plant and add stable electricity supply to the regional grid. Located in Linn County, Iowa, the Duane Arnold Energy Center has a generating capacity of 615 megawatts. NextEra Energy has previously stated that, subject to regulatory approvals, it plans to restart the facility no later than the first quarter of 2029. The DOE loan will support related restoration efforts, including...

2026-09-09

Iowa Research Promotes Nuclear Energy Industry Development

The Iowa Nuclear Energy Task Force released a report stating that, leveraging experience in deploying new energy technologies, a strong manufacturing base, workforce conditions, and the Duane Arnold nuclear power plant restart plan, Iowa is well-positioned to play a greater role in the growing nuclear energy industry. NextEra Energy has agreed to restart the Duane Arnold nuclear power plant, primarily to supply power to Google. Image courtesy of NextEra Energy. The task force was established by Iowa's governor in January of this year with the mission of assessing opportunities for advancing nuclear energy technology and infrastructure in the state. The report recommends that Iowa conduct a statewide nuclear energy feasibility study, identify areas suitable for new nuclear project development, and establish a one-stop coordination window to facilitate nuclear project advancement.

2026-09-08

Restart of Unit 3 at Japan's Tomari Nuclear Power Plant May Be Delayed to After End of 2027

The restart of Unit 3 at the Tomari Nuclear Power Plant, operated by Hokkaido Electric Power in Tomari Village, Hokkaido, Japan, may be delayed to after the end of 2027. The company currently maintains its stated target of a restart in early 2027, but has not yet provided a specific date. Key factors affecting the restart schedule include delays in the construction of the tsunami protection embankment, a fatal accident during construction that occurred during the review process by the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) of Japan, and certain technical matters that remain under confirmation and consultation. Hokkaido Electric Power has stated that the embankment is expected to be completed by mid-August 2027. The project was originally scheduled for completion around March 2027, but has been extended due to blizzard conditions and additional...

2026-09-08

Taiwan, China plans to restart Ma'anshan Nuclear Power Plant in 2028

Taiwan, China previously pursued a nuclear phase-out policy, but the direction is now showing signs of adjustment. The Taiwan Nuclear Safety Commission recently initiated the final administrative procedures for the Ma'anshan Nuclear Power Plant restart plan submitted by Taiwan Power Company, and the plan is expected to enter the formal review stage. Based on the current progress, the relevant units could resume operation as early as 2028. The Ma'anshan Nuclear Power Plant, also known as Taiwan's Third Nuclear Power Plant, is located in Hengchun Township, Pingtung County. The plant's commercial operating license has expired, and it previously ceased commercial operation. Data shows that the Ma'anshan Nuclear Power Plant once supplied approximately 5% of Taiwan's electricity, making it one of the key power sources in the local power system. Taiwan had previously proposed ceasing nuclear power operations by 2025...

2026-09-04

Japan's Tomari Nuclear Power Plant Unit 3 Restart Review Still Requires Additional Fire Safety Documentation

On September 3, a review meeting was held for the restart plan of Unit 3 at Japan's Tomari Nuclear Power Plant. The Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) pointed out that the explanations submitted by Hokkaido Electric Power regarding fire safety measures still contain issues requiring further confirmation, and requested the company to provide more detailed assessment materials. The equipment design and construction plan required for the restart of Tomari Unit 3 has been under review since last year. One of the current review priorities is whether relevant workers have adequate and feasible evacuation measures in the event of a fire on site. At the meeting that day, representatives of Hokkaido Electric Power explained the revised fire safety...

2026-09-04

Romania's Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant unlikely to restart before September 10

Romania's Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant is expected to be unable to resume operations before September 10. Cristian Bușoi, State Secretary of the Romanian Ministry of Energy, stated that although the Danube River flow is recovering, water levels around the plant have not yet reached the conditions required for a safe and stable restart. In a recent interview, Bușoi said that to avoid creating unrealistic expectations, it can currently be confirmed that the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant does not yet meet the conditions for restart before September 10. He explained that the plant's operation depends on a stable water source to ensure the reactor...

2026-09-03

Fuel Loading Begins at U.S. Palisades Nuclear Plant to Advance Restart

Holtec Nuclear announced on August 31 that fuel loading has begun into the reactor pressure vessel at the Palisades Nuclear Plant in Covert Township, Michigan, U.S. This milestone marks a critical step toward restoring operation at the permanently shut down commercial nuclear plant, advancing the restart process into Mode 6, the refueling mode, under the plant's technical specifications. The Palisades reactor core consists of 204 fuel assemblies, including new fuel and partially used fuel remaining from the plant's previous operating cycle. The core is designed to support the plant's 805 MW electrical output. Holtec...

2026-09-01

US Westinghouse Electric Seeks to Restart Nuclear Expansion via IPO

US nuclear power company Westinghouse Electric Company is seeking to advance its business revival through an initial public offering. The company previously fell into bankruptcy due to project delays and sharp cost overruns in its nuclear projects, and has since undergone changes in ownership. Recently disclosed information shows that Westinghouse Electric submitted a confidential IPO application last July, with the specific listing date and offering size yet to be determined. Market observers believe that growing electricity demand driven by artificial intelligence development, along with the policy environment promoting nuclear power expansion in the US, is improving valuation expectations for nuclear power companies. David Nicholas, CEO of nuclear energy ETF manager Xfunds...

2026-09-01

Argentina advances uranium mine restart to support nuclear power program

The Argentine government is incorporating the resumption of domestic uranium mining into its nuclear energy development plan. The government of Javier Milei proposed a nuclear program in June this year, covering uranium resource development, support for the operation of existing nuclear power units, and the construction of modular reactors. Argentina has a long history of uranium mining. According to data, the Huemul uranium mine in Mendoza Province operated from 1955 to 1975, and the Sierra Pintada uranium mine operated from 1975 to 1997. Since then, Argentina has relied mainly on imports for the uranium fuel needed to operate its nuclear power plants. Currently, nuclear power accounts for about 7% of the country's electricity generation. Argentine official data shows that the country has identified recoverable uranium resources of 34,250 tonnes.

2026-08-23

Large Transformer Arrives for Restart Project at US Three Mile Island Unit 1

August 21 news, Constellation Energy, the company overseeing the refurbishment of the Three Mile Island nuclear plant, said this week that a transformer weighing approximately 262 tons, shipped from South Korea to Pennsylvania, USA, has arrived at the plant site in Middletown. This is the first of three large transformers planned for delivery to the site. Constellation Energy is advancing the restart of Unit 1 at Three Mile Island and plans to rename the project the Crane Clean Energy Center. The unit has been shut down since 2019. Constellation Energy stated that the arrival of the transformer is a key milestone in its effort to restore 835 megawatts of reliable...

2026-08-23

Restart Plan for Unit 3 of Japan's Tomari Nuclear Power Plant May Face Uncertainty Due to Supplementary Review and Accident

Hokkaido Electric Power Co.'s Unit 3 of the Tomari Nuclear Power Plant was originally scheduled to restart in 2027, but the plan may face uncertainty due to additional review items and a fatal accident at the construction site. The Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) announced on August 20 that it will hold a supplementary review meeting on September 3 to deliberate on the approval of construction plans related to the restart of Unit 3 at the Tomari Nuclear Power Plant. This review requires new confirmation of fire safety measures. Hokkaido Electric Power stated that it will explain the construction plans at the September meeting and continue to work toward the 2027 restart target. Additionally, during the seawall construction at the Tomari Nuclear Power Plant, a...

2026-08-23

South Korea Approves Restart of Shin-Kori Unit 1

The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) of South Korea announced on August 21 that it has approved the restart of Shin-Kori Unit 1, located in Ulju County, Ulsan. The unit has been under routine inspection since July 2. On the same day, the commission approved the unit to reach criticality. Criticality refers to the state in which a sustained nuclear fission chain reaction can be maintained within the reactor core, with a balanced neutron population. Once criticality is achieved, the reactor can gradually resume operation under safely controlled conditions. The NSSC stated that this routine inspection involved 98 inspection items required before the reactor could reach criticality, of which 86 have been completed, confirming that the unit meets the conditions for safely achieving criticality.

2026-08-22

Iran Restarts Cyclotron to Boost Supply of Radiopharmaceuticals for Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment

Iranian nuclear industry experts have recently resumed operation of a cyclotron used in nuclear medicine, which can produce radioisotopes needed for cancer diagnosis and treatment. According to plans, by the end of Iran's Seventh Development Plan, i.e., March 2029, Iran will have seven such centers to expand domestic supply capacity for medical radioisotopes. A cyclotron is a type of particle accelerator that can be used to produce nuclear medicine radioisotopes and further prepare radiopharmaceuticals. These drugs can be used for the detection, diagnosis, and monitoring of malignant tumors. Data shows that related products produced domestically in Iran include FDG and F-PSMA, primarily serving nuclear medicine diagnosis and treatment for various cancers...

2026-08-21

Unit 3 of France's Gravelines Nuclear Power Plant Reconnected to Grid, Unit 4 Remains Shut Down

According to EDF on August 18, Unit 3 of the Gravelines Nuclear Power Plant in northern France was reconnected to the national grid at 3:55 a.m. local time on August 18. The unit had been automatically shut down at 7:43 p.m. on August 10 in accordance with established safety protection procedures due to a large influx of jellyfish into the seawater pump station filtration system. The Gravelines Nuclear Power Plant has a total of six units. On August 10, a large number of jellyfish entered the pump station used to draw seawater for cooling nuclear facilities, affecting equipment such as pre-filters and filter drums. In accordance with operating procedures, Units 3 and 4 were automatically shut down; the operating team also shut down Unit 2 and reduced Unit 1's power to 50% to adapt to changing site conditions. Unit 5 was...

2026-08-20

Eight economic organizations in Hokkaido urge early restart of Tomari Nuclear Power Plant Unit 3 and electricity price reduction

On August 19, eight economic organizations in Hokkaido, including the Hokkaido Economic Federation, submitted a request to Hokkaido Electric Power Company (HEPCO), urging the company to promote the early restart of Unit 3 at the Tomari Nuclear Power Plant and to reduce electricity prices as soon as possible after restart, while ensuring that safety measures are given priority. On the same day, Hiroshi Fujii, Chairman of the Hokkaido Economic Federation and Chairman of Hokkaido Electric Power Company, and Mitsuharu Yasuda, Chairman of the Hokkaido Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Chairman of Hokuyo Bank, along with other heads of economic organizations, visited HEPCO's headquarters in Sapporo and presented the request to HEPCO President Susumu Saito. The request states that the Tomari Nuclear Power Plant is of great significance for Hokkaido's economic growth and decarbonization efforts...

2026-08-20