Rising Seawater Temperatures Prompt New Nuclear Safety Rules: TEPCO Sets Temporary Shutdown Criteria for Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Plant
Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings announced on August 7 that it has established a set of self-determined criteria for evaluating whether to temporarily halt nuclear reactor operations at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant in Niigata Prefecture, in response to rising seawater temperatures in the surrounding area. These criteria are not mandatory requirements directly imposed by external regulatory authorities, but rather proactive measures voluntarily implemented by TEPCO based on safe operational needs. According to the conditions announced by TEPCO, the company will consider temporarily shutting down the relevant nuclear facilities when the 7-day average seawater temperature in the waters surrounding the plant exceeds 31 degrees Celsius, when water temperatures above 34 degrees Celsius are observed, or when water temperatures above 33 degrees Celsius persist for 12 hours. These numerical thresholds indicate that seawater temperature has been incorporated as a key variable in nuclear power plant operational risk management.
2026-08-08
ITER Test Blanket Modules Enter Key Phase of Preliminary Design Review
The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) Test Blanket Module (TBM) project is advancing a key technology validation effort in the field of fusion energy. The Test Blanket Modules address the breeding blanket requirements of future fusion power plants, aiming to validate tritium breeding concepts under reactor operating conditions, providing a technical foundation for fusion fuel cycle self-sufficiency. Group photo at the European TBM Preliminary Design Review meeting held at ITER Headquarters. F4E-ITER Organization In a fusion reaction, deuterium and tritium fuse and release high-energy neutrons. When high-energy neutrons enter a lithium-containing blanket, they can interact with lithium to produce new tritium, which then re-enters the fuel cycle. Due to the scarcity of natural tritium resources, the breeding blanket is...
2026-08-07
Approximately 13,000 liters of water found in Unit 3 of Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant; Chubu Electric continues investigation into data falsification
Japan's Chubu Electric Power announced on August 4 that water accumulation totaling approximately 13,000 liters was found in the turbine building and related areas of Unit 3 at the Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant. The company stated that the accumulated water contains no radioactive substances and is currently investigating the specific cause. According to Chubu Electric Power, at around 11:00 a.m. on the 4th, a worker from a partner company discovered approximately 5 liters of water in a passageway on the northwest side of the first basement floor of the turbine building adjacent to the reactor building of Unit 3. Subsequently, company personnel continued on-site inspections and confirmed at around 3:00 p.m. the same day that approximately 13,000...
2026-08-05
Progress and Cost Performance Management of the ITER Project Enhancement
The ITER Organization reported on July 29 that, regarding the construction progress and cost control of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), the project team has established a more detailed monthly tracking mechanism, and regularly reports key performance indicators, updated estimates at completion, and milestone trend analyses to the ITER Council. The ITER project is large in scale with complex interfaces; management efforts involve not only overall schedule and budget but also continuous assessment of thousands of activities including design, manufacturing, component installation, commissioning, and operational readiness. For tasks on the critical path, even delays of a few weeks can have cascading effects on multiple construction work packages. To identify...
2026-08-03
QST completes first gyrotron 170 GHz microwave output test at ITER site
The National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST) of Japan announced on July 31 that it has completed the integration and operational testing of the first gyrotron system at the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) site in southern France, successfully producing 170 GHz microwave output. This system is used for ITER plasma generation and heating, and is one of the key devices for ITER's plan to commence operations in 2034. The core equipment of this test is the gyrotron, a high-power microwave source. Gyrotron operation requires the coordinated work of peripheral equipment such as power supplies, superconducting coils, and cooling systems. QST previously completed performance testing of eight ITER gyrotron systems at the gyrotron test facility of the Naka Fusion Institute in Japan, and transported components including gyrotrons, superconducting coils, and quasi-optical matching units to the ITER site. Over the past three years, QST has advanced system installation, commissioning, and operational preparation at the site.
2026-07-31
Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Meets ITER Organization Director-General
Starting at 4:50 p.m. on July 29, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi met with Pietro Barabaschi, Director-General of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) Organization, who was visiting Japan. The meeting lasted approximately 15 minutes. (Photo source: Japan Cabinet Public Affairs Office) Hayashi welcomed Barabaschi's visit to Japan. He stated that fusion energy has been listed as one of the 17 strategic areas in Japan's growth strategy. Japan looks forward to progress in the ITER project and believes it will play a significant role in advancing the realization of fusion energy and enhancing energy security. Hayashi...
2026-07-30
Hoisting in Place! Global Largest "Artificial Sun" Core Module Installation Progress Exceeds Two-Thirds
On July 28, local time in France, the sixth vacuum vessel module of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) tokamak device—Sector Module 1—successfully completed its overall hoisting and precise positioning. Thus, the assembly progress of ITER vacuum vessel modules has exceeded two-thirds. As the general assembly enters a new phase of multi-disciplinary cross-construction, the China Nuclear Engineering Consortium led the coordination of the international team to successfully complete this critical hoisting, laying a solid foundation for subsequent assembly tasks, while fully demonstrating the cross-cultural project management and overall coordination capabilities of the Chinese team in international mega-science projects. The vacuum vessel is a core component of the tokamak device, consisting of nine large sector modules installed and connected sequentially,...
2026-07-30
Breakthrough in my country's First-Wall Technology: First to Complete Tungsten-Copper Joint Qualification for the ITER Project
my country recently achieved another technical breakthrough in the ITER "enhanced heat-load" first-wall project: independently developed tungsten first-wall "finger" components successfully passed 15,000 and 3,000 cycles of thermal fat
2026-07-27
Institute of Plasma Physics Visits ITER Headquarters in France for Exchange Activities
From July 7 to 9, 2026, a delegation from the Institute of Plasma Physics (ASIPP) visited ITER headquarters in France to engage in in-depth discussions regarding the joint commissioning plan for the device and the on-site commissioning of key ITER systems
2026-07-27
Preliminary Design Review Meeting Successfully Held for China's Helium-Cooled Solid Test Blanket Module System
From July 6 to 10, 2026, the ITER Organization held an expert review meeting at its headquarters in France regarding the preliminary design of China's Helium-Cooled Ceramic Breeder Test Blanket System (HCCB TBS). During the meeting, the Chinese te
2026-07-27
Zhang Guangjun, Vice Minister of Science and Technology, Attends the Opening Ceremony of the ITER International School and Visits the Southwestern Institute of Physics
On July 20, 2026, the opening ceremony of the 15th International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) International School was held in Leshan City, Sichuan Province. Spanning five days, this edition of the ITER International School focused on the the
2026-07-27
Xinhua Exclusive Interview | China Makes Significant Contributions to the "Artificial Sun" Project — Interview with Alain Bécoulet, Deputy Director-General and Chief Scientist of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor Organization
On July 26, 2027, Xinhua News Agency published an exclusive interview with Alain Bécoulet, Deputy Director-General and Chief Scientist of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) Organization, on China's significant contributions to the "Artificial Sun" project and its role in accelerating global fusion research. Bécoulet noted that China plays a fundamental role in supplying ITER components (superconducting technology, cables, magnet manufacturing, cryostats, etc.), and that the tokamak installation work undertaken by the Chinese consortium "exceeded expectations in terms of time and cost." He also stated that facilities such as EAST, HL-3, and BEST provide ITER with experimental predictions, component testing, and technical twin validation. He believes that through sustained investment and international cooperation, China has begun to play a leading role in the global fusion field.
2026-07-27
Chinese Delegation Attends 2026 Annual Meeting on Implementation of Bilateral Cooperation Agreement between Ministry of Science and Technology and ITER Organization
On July 7-8, 2026, the 2026 Annual Meeting on Implementation of the Bilateral Cooperation Agreement between the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) and the ITER Organization was held at the ITER Organization Headquarters. Deputy Director Yan Xiaohong of the Nuclear Fusion Center led the Chinese delegation to the meeting. The Chinese delegation conducted in-depth exchanges with senior ITER management and relevant department heads on topics including project progress, personnel dispatch, public outreach and science education, and international schools. During the meeting, both sides agreed that the ITER Project has made significant progress since the 2024 baseline update. ITER Deputy Director-General Kamada highly commended the outstanding performance of the Chinese consortium in the assembly of the tokamak, noting that the installation efficiency of individual sectors has more than tripled, playing a core role in advancing the project's critical path. China expressed its commitment to further deepening comprehensive cooperation with the ITER Organization and contributing Chinese strength to the successful implementation of the ITER Project.
2026-07-15
ITER Organization Director-General Attends Aix Economic Forum to Discuss Complexity Management of Pioneering Strongly-Coupled Mega-Projects
From July 2 to 4, the Aix Economic Forum (Les Rencontres Économiques d’Aix) was held in Provence, France, under the annual theme "Navigating a World of Uncertainty." Pietro Barabaschi, Director-General of the ITER Organization, was invited to attend the forum, where he presented the ITER Project and its pivotal role in addressing future energy challenges. His remarks centered on two core themes—climate change and the energy crisis—covering topics such as mega-project management experience and the development of the global fusion industry. As the world's first fusion verification experimental reactor, ITER's core mission is to validate the engineering feasibility of fusion power generation, paving the way for subsequent demonstration fusion power plants...
2026-07-15
Reading Ranking
- 1 Rising Seawater Temperatures Prompt New Nuclear Safety Rules: TEPCO Sets Temporary Shutdown Criteria for Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Plant
- 2 ITER Test Blanket Modules Enter Key Phase of Preliminary Design Review
- 3 QST completes first gyrotron 170 GHz microwave output test at ITER site
- 4 Chinese Delegation Attends 2026 Annual Meeting on Implementation of Bilateral Cooperation Agreement between Ministry of Science and Technology and ITER Organization
- 5 Xinhua Exclusive Interview | China Makes Significant Contributions to the "Artificial Sun" Project — Interview with Alain Bécoulet, Deputy Director-General and Chief Scientist of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor Organization
- 6 Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Meets ITER Organization Director-General
- 7 Approximately 13,000 liters of water found in Unit 3 of Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant; Chubu Electric continues investigation into data falsification
- 8 ITER Organization Director-General Attends Aix Economic Forum to Discuss Complexity Management of Pioneering Strongly-Coupled Mega-Projects
- 9 Hoisting in Place! Global Largest "Artificial Sun" Core Module Installation Progress Exceeds Two-Thirds
- 10 Progress and Cost Performance Management of the ITER Project Enhancement
- 11 Breakthrough in my country's First-Wall Technology: First to Complete Tungsten-Copper Joint Qualification for the ITER Project
- 12 Preliminary Design Review Meeting Successfully Held for China's Helium-Cooled Solid Test Blanket Module System
- 13 Institute of Plasma Physics Visits ITER Headquarters in France for Exchange Activities
- 14 Zhang Guangjun, Vice Minister of Science and Technology, Attends the Opening Ceremony of the ITER International School and Visits the Southwestern Institute of Physics