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

ITER Tokamak Advances Assembly in France, Fusion Experiment Targets 150 Million Degree Celsius Plasma

The ITER tokamak being assembled in southern France is one of the most closely watched large-scale experimental devices in global nuclear fusion research. The machine weighs approximately 23,000 tonnes in total and adopts a donut-shaped toroidal structure, using strong magnetic fields to confine high-temperature plasma, with the goal of replicating on Earth the conditions for fusion reactions that occur inside stars. Its plasma volume is approximately 830 cubic meters, far exceeding previous tokamak devices, and it is therefore expected to validate the key physics and engineering technologies required for future commercial fusion reactors. ITER adopts the toroidal tokamak structure because charged particles can move along toroidal paths under strong magnetic fields, thereby minimizing direct contact with the device's inner walls...

2026-08-14

French heatwave to cut nuclear output by about 15% on Friday

Data from Electricite de France (EDF) shows that due to the fifth heatwave of the European summer, French nuclear power output is expected to fall by about 15% this Friday. At that time, nine reactors are expected to be affected, with total nuclear output reductions reaching 9.4 gigawatts during peak hours, of which six reactors will be completely shut down. This summer, many parts of Europe have experienced sustained high temperatures, with some regions seeing temperatures rise to abnormal levels, triggering issues such as water shortages and wildfires. French meteorological authorities predict that this heatwave will peak on Thursday, with temperatures across most of the country ranging between 35 and 40 degrees Celsius. From Friday, cold air from the west will first affect the Atlantic coast and the English Channel region...

2026-08-14

Heatwave and jellyfish influx into pump stations push French nuclear unit unavailability to 20.4%

The heatwave sweeping across multiple regions of France is impacting the country's electricity production. Several nuclear reactors operated by Électricité de France (EDF) have been shut down or derated due to environmental restrictions or external environmental factors, with the unavailability rate of affected units rising to 20.4% before 10:00 AM on August 12, marking a recent high. Of France's 57 nuclear reactors, 13 are currently affected. Among them, 8 units are fully shut down: Bugey Unit 3, Cattenom Unit 1, Chooz Units 1 and 2, Golfech Unit 2, and Gravelines Units 2, 3, and 4; another 5 units are operating below rated power, including Saint-Alban Unit 2, Tricastin Units 1 and 4...

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

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

French heatwave cuts nuclear output, day-ahead power prices surge 22%

A new heatwave in France is hitting its nuclear power supply, with effects quickly transmitting to the electricity market. On Tuesday morning local time, LSEG data showed French day-ahead power prices rose as much as 21.8% to €142.5 per megawatt-hour, equivalent to approximately $164.39. The direct cause of the price surge is that operators expect nuclear output to be constrained during the midday peak demand period on Wednesday. Data from French utility EDF shows that due to this week's heatwave, France's nuclear generation capacity on Wednesday is expected to be reduced by 7.3 gigawatts, equivalent to 12% of total installed capacity. This marks at least the fifth time France has experienced extreme heat since June. For a country where about 70% of electricity comes from nuclear power, nuclear...

2026-08-12

Three units at France's Gravelines nuclear power plant automatically shut down due to jellyfish intrusion

French utility EDF recently stated on its website that three units at the Gravelines nuclear power plant in northern France automatically shut down after a large influx of jellyfish clogged the filtration system, triggering safety measures. The statement indicated that the incident occurred on August 10, 2026. Due to the jellyfish intrusion, three units at the Gravelines plant automatically shut down, while a fourth unit reduced its power output. The plant has a total of six reactors, of which the fifth reactor had already been shut down for planned maintenance, and the sixth reactor remained in operation. The Gravelines plant experienced a similar situation a year earlier, when a large number of jellyfish entered the relevant water intake and filtration systems, causing four reactors to automatically shut down...

2026-08-12