Framatome Commissions Chromium-Coated Facility to Advance Industrialization of Accident-Tolerant Fuel

Recently, France's Framatome officially commissioned an industrial pilot facility for chromium coating at its Paimboeuf manufacturing plant in western France, in order to accelerate the industrialization of its PROtect enhanced accident-tolerant fuel (E-ATF) technology. It is reported that the facility represents an investment of 30 million euros (approximately 33.5 million US dollars) and uses physical vapor deposition (PVD) technology to apply chromium coating to the surface of zirconium alloy cladding tubes for nuclear fuel assemblies. The pilot facility is designed with an annual production capacity of more than 100,000 chromium-coated cladding tubes, aimed at verifying process stability under serial production conditions. Framatome plans to complete industrial qualification of the process by the end of 2026, and...

2026-10-31

Bahrain and France Sign Nuclear Energy Cooperation Memorandum to Advance Civil Nuclear Power Program

On October 20, 2026, Bahrain and France formally signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy in Manama, aimed at cultivating key professional talent and skills for the development of Bahrain's civil nuclear power program. The agreement was reportedly signed during a visit by French President Emmanuel Macron to Bahrain and his talks with Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. The two leaders jointly witnessed the signing of the memorandum by Bahrain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and France's Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. The agreement will focus on specialized training programs to help Bahrain build and sustain capabilities in the civil nuclear energy field...

2026-10-21

EDF Strives to Complete EPR2 Nuclear Power Plant in 70 Months

Recently, Electricité de France (EDF) announced that the company is continuing to advance multiple optimization efforts, striving to significantly shorten the construction period of the next-generation EPR2 nuclear power plant to 70 months. According to the latest industry updates released by the Société Française d'Énergie Nucléaire (Sfen), EDF is currently concentrating resources on engineering and management optimization of key projects, aiming to comprehensively improve the construction efficiency of next-generation nuclear power projects through multiple dimensions including design standardization, supply chain coordination, and construction process restructuring. The setting of this acceleration target...

2026-10-16

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Delivers Three Replacement Steam Generators to EDF to Support Nuclear Power Plant Life Extension

Recently, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) of Japan officially delivered three replacement steam generators (SGs) to Électricité de France (EDF). These heavy components are planned for installation at Unit 2 of the Cruas Nuclear Power Plant in southeastern France. It is understood that, as a key core component of pressurized water reactor (PWR) nuclear power plants, the steam generator plays a critical role in transferring heat from the primary coolant system to the secondary cooling system, thereby generating steam to drive the turbine for power generation. Each unit of the delivered equipment is approximately 21 meters tall and weighs about 330 tonnes, is manufactured from high-strength low-alloy steel, and internally integrates more than 4,500 specially heat-treated, highly corrosion-resistant TT690 nickel-chromium-iron alloy heat transfer tubes.

2026-10-16

EDF Plans to Accelerate Climate Adaptation Plan as Summer Extreme Heat Forces Faster Nuclear Unit Retrofits

Xavier Ursat, an executive at Electricité de France (EDF), told local media on October 13 that, given the record negative disruption caused by this summer's extreme heat to the operation of France's nuclear units, the company has decided to comprehensively accelerate the nuclear power plant climate adaptation plan (ADAPT). As the backbone of France's baseload power, more than half of the country's electricity supply depends on nuclear power plants, and these plants generally draw water from inland rivers or estuaries as the secondary loop cooling water source. Affected by heatwave weather, many units, after the cooling cycle, return water to rivers at slightly elevated temperatures, making it very easy to touch...

2026-10-14

EDF to dismantle Chinon A2 heat exchangers

Recently, France is preparing to begin dismantling its first UNGG reactor (first-generation natural uranium graphite gas-cooled nuclear reactor, Uranium Naturel Graphite Gaz). Cyclife, a subsidiary of Électricité de France (EDF), announced that the dismantling project at the Chinon A nuclear power plant has reached an important milestone, namely the approval of the contract strategy for dismantling the heat exchangers at the Chinon A2 plant. It is understood that the Chinon A2 reactor (Chinon A2 unit), also known as EDF2, is a decommissioned commercial nuclear reactor at Chinon Nuclear Power Plant, France's first-generation nuclear power plant. It holds pivotal demonstrative significance in the history of nuclear energy development in France and even globally...

2026-09-22

France's Nuward plans to start construction of small modular reactor in 2030

The CEO of Nuward stated that the European Industrial Alliance on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) is evaluating applications for the second round of projects, and the company plans to begin construction of its first small modular reactor in 2030 as part of an initial plan for 10 units. Nuward is a wholly owned subsidiary of EDF Group, focused on developing small modular reactor technology. At a related event during the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference in Vienna, Nuward CEO Julien Garrel detailed the development progress of the Nuward small modular reactor. He noted that the project has entered its next phase, with the goal of building the first batch of 10 Nuward small modular reactor series in five European countries.

2026-09-22

Focusing on Nuclear Safety Assessment and Future Strategic Priorities, the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency's Working Group on Accident Analysis and Management (WGAMA) Holds Its 29th Annual Meeting

The Working Group on Accident Analysis and Management (WGAMA), a subsidiary body of the Committee on the Safety of Nuclear Installations (CSNI) of the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (OECD/NEA), held its 29th Annual Meeting from September 7 to 9, 2026, at the OECD Conference Centre in Paris, France. Sixty-one delegates from 21 countries, as well as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the European Commission (EC), attended the meeting. Participants included experts from regulatory bodies, technical support organizations, research institutions, industry, and international organizations, who jointly assessed current activities, approved new projects, and discussed future strategic priorities in the field of accident analysis and management. As an international platform advancing the technical basis for nuclear reactor safety assessment, WGAMA at this meeting...

2026-09-17

Vietnam Seeks French CEA Support to Restart Nuclear Power Program

On the morning of September 11 local time, To Lam, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President of Vietnam, who is on an official visit to France, led a high-level Vietnamese delegation to visit the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives, CEA). During the visit, the CEA briefed To Lam and the high-level Vietnamese delegation on France's core technology development. The CEA focuses on research in strategic fields such as nuclear energy, semiconductors, quantum technology, and artificial intelligence. To Lam stated that Vietnam is restarting its national nuclear power program, including the Ninh Thuan nuclear power project and the nuclear science and technology research center...

2026-09-12

South Korea's Naver Introduces Nuclear Power-Specialized AI Hy-NuRI Cooperation Experience in France

According to South Korean media reports on September 9, Naver, a South Korean internet service company, introduced its case of developing the nuclear power-specialized AI "Hy-NuRI" in cooperation with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power while seeking to expand AI cooperation in France. Reports indicate that Naver CEO Choi Soo-yeon and Naver Cloud CEO Kim Yoo-won recently met with heads of French companies and institutions in media, information technology, energy, transportation, and finance sectors to discuss cooperation directions such as AI infrastructure and industry-specialized AI. At the Korea-France Business Roundtable held in France on the 8th, Choi Soo-yeon stated that Naver hopes to cooperate around global AI infrastructure and industry-specialized AI with data sovereignty and security guarantees.

2026-09-09

South Korea and France Agree to Deepen Nuclear Energy R&D and Nuclear Fuel Supply Cooperation

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, on a state visit to France, held a summit with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace in Paris on September 8. The two sides stated after the meeting that they would further expand cooperation in the nuclear energy sector, with a focus on nuclear energy R&D, nuclear fuel supply, next-generation reactor development, and mid- to long-term supply chain diversification. Lee Jae-myung said at a joint press conference that the two countries had signed supplementary documents on cooperation in nuclear energy R&D and nuclear fuel supply to deepen the nuclear energy cooperation agreement reached between the two nations in April. Both sides confirmed that they would continue to advance cooperation in next-generation reactor development and mid- to long-term supply chain diversification. According to related reports, the two countries also decided to establish a new...

2026-09-09

KHNP and France's Orano Expand Nuclear Fuel Supply Chain Cooperation

On September 8, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) and France's Orano SA (Orano) signed a letter of intent for long-term cooperation in uranium enrichment at the Élysée Palace in Paris. The signing ceremony was witnessed by the leaders of both South Korea and France. This letter of intent represents a further extension of the existing cooperation between the two parties. In April this year, during French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to South Korea, KHNP and Orano had signed a memorandum of understanding on global, mutually beneficial cooperation in the nuclear fuel cycle sector. Under the letter of intent, the two parties plan to deepen cooperation in the front-end of the nuclear fuel cycle. KHNP...

2026-09-09

France to Invest €18 Million in Nuclear Fission Research Program

The French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) recently announced the launch of a new scientific research program on nuclear fission. The program will run for six years, from 2026 to 2031, with a total funding of €18 million. Financed by the French government under the France 2030 initiative and coordinated by the French National Research Agency (ANR), the program aims to strengthen the scientific foundation required for the development of current and future nuclear fission technologies. Under the arrangement, approximately half of the funding will be allocated to human resources development, including doctoral and postdoctoral projects; the remaining funds will be directed toward research equipment and infrastructure, covering particle accelerators, experimental reactors, and radiochemistry laboratories, among others....

2026-09-08

South Korean President's Visit to France to Discuss Korea-France Nuclear Energy Cooperation and Joint Nuclear Power Plant Exports

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung arrived in Nice, France, on September 6 local time, beginning a five-day, four-night state visit to France. The visit was arranged at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron and coincides with the 140th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between South Korea and France. According to the visit schedule, Lee Jae-myung will travel to Paris on the 8th for talks with Macron at the Élysée Palace. The two sides are expected to discuss cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence, aerospace, nuclear energy, and biotechnology, with nuclear energy cooperation listed as one of the key agenda items. In the nuclear energy sector, the two sides are expected to explore cooperation plans, including combining France's capabilities in nuclear design and reprocessing technology with South Korea's experience in nuclear power plant construction and equipment manufacturing, to study the feasibility of joint exports of nuclear power plants to third-country markets.

2026-09-07

South Korean President to Visit France for Nuclear Energy Cooperation Talks

At the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung will pay a state visit to France from September 6 to 9. The South Korean side stated that during the visit, the two sides will hold discussions on cooperation in high-tech fields such as artificial intelligence, aerospace, nuclear energy, and biotechnology, with nuclear energy cooperation listed as one of the key agenda items. South Korean National Security Advisor Wi Sung-lac said at a press conference on the 4th that this visit will serve as an opportunity to consolidate the Korea-France global strategic partnership. The South Korean side hopes to expand bilateral cooperation in areas such as nuclear energy through joint research and development, corporate collaboration, and market access...

2026-09-05

Partial shutdown of units at France's Gravelines nuclear power plant due to jellyfish influx

French utility EDF announced on August 27 that the Gravelines nuclear power plant in northern France has taken emergency measures to shut down or reduce power output at some reactor units following a massive influx of jellyfish. An EDF spokesperson stated that since the night of August 26, more than 200 tonnes of jellyfish have accumulated near the filtration system of the plant's seawater pumping station. To ensure facility safety, the plant took preventive measures by completely shutting down 2 of its 6 reactor units. Meanwhile, 2 other units were operated at reduced power, and the remaining 2 units were already offline for maintenance and inspection reasons. This means that no unit at the Gravelines nuclear power plant is currently generating at full capacity...

2026-08-29

France's Gravelines Nuclear Power Plant Reports Multiple INES Level 0 Events

France's Gravelines nuclear power plant recently disclosed significant events reported to the French Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Authority (ASNR). The events cover safety, operations, and radiation protection, and were all rated as Level 0 on the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale (INES), i.e., below the scale threshold, with no actual impact on facility safety, personnel health, or the environment. In a generic safety event involving EDF's 900 MWe-class nuclear reactor units, EDF discovered during inspections at the Cruas nuclear power plant that certain commercially supplied electric servomechanisms had been installed in functional positions requiring higher qualification levels, K3 or K3ad. K3 corresponds to seismic requirements, while K3ad involves both seismic and harsh environmental conditions, including radiation environments. Subsequently, EDF conducted checks on related equipment at the Blayais, Chinon, Cruas, Dampierre, Gravelines, Saint-Laurent, and Tricastin nuclear power plants and confirmed that a batch of equipment had model suitability issues.

2026-08-27

France's n-Floating Floating Nuclear Power Project Receives Nearly One Million Euros in Funding

newcleo announced on August 26 that a consortium led by the company has been selected for a call for projects managed by Bpifrance, the French public investment bank, supporting the decarbonization of France's maritime sector. The consortium will advance research on a floating nuclear power solution called n-Floating, with the project receiving nearly one million euros in funding and an expected duration of approximately 18 months. The n-Floating project aims to validate the relevance and technical feasibility of a new floating nuclear power solution. Under the proposed concept, a non-self-propelled floating unit would carry multiple LFR-AS-200 reactors, each with an electrical output of 200 megawatts. LFR-AS-200 is one of the lead-cooled fast reactor technology lines developed by newcleo.

2026-08-27

France Approves Preliminary Works for EPR2 Project at Gravelines Nuclear Power Plant

The French government issued a decree on August 22, local time, approving French utility EDF to launch preliminary preparation works for two EPR2 pressurized water reactors at the Gravelines nuclear power plant, and granting it related environmental permits for site development. The plant currently operates six 900 MW units and is the largest nuclear power station in Western Europe by installed capacity. According to the decree, the approved works include construction of construction platforms and site facilities, relocation of the existing rail terminal, earthworks, foundation reinforcement, construction of waterproof containment structures, and construction access roads. The work also involves relocation of protected flora and fauna, construction of a public information center, and construction of some ancillary parking facilities. EDF said...

2026-08-25

South Korea's DaeChang Solution Secures Special Steel Contract for French Nuclear Power Turbines

South Korean steel casting manufacturer DaeChang Solution Co. announced on August 21 that it has signed a special steel supply contract with Arabelle Solutions France, with the products to be used in steam turbines for small modular reactors (SMRs) and large nuclear power plants. According to the announcement, the contract value is EUR 50.7649 million, equivalent to approximately KRW 82.631 billion based on the initial market exchange rate of KRW 1,627.72 per euro on the contract signing date. This amount represents 138% of DaeChang Solution's 2025 consolidated sales of KRW 59.877 billion. Of the contract value, 70% is a fixed amount, i.e., EUR 37.2055 million...

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