Bechtel Exits TerraPower's Sodium-Cooled Reactor Project

U.S. engineering, procurement, construction (EPC) and project management company Bechtel has decided to withdraw from TerraPower's Natrium nuclear reactor project. TerraPower stated that both parties have decided to develop independently and will re-tender the project's engineering, procurement and construction contract for building the first Natrium nuclear reactor in Kemmerer, Wyoming, USA.

2026-09-23

Mochovce Nuclear Power Plant Unit 4 Officially Connected to the Grid

According to the operator Slovenské elektrárne, Unit 4 of the Mochovce Nuclear Power Plant in Slovakia officially began generating electricity at 15:33 on Monday. This marks the last major stage before the unit enters commercial operation. The unit reached criticality and minimum controlled power in early August. Before approving entry into the latest stage of trial operation, the Nuclear Regulatory Authority of the Slovak Republic conducted a comprehensive inspection and assessed the relevant documents. The transition from physical startup to energy startup means that the heat generated by the reactor will be used to heat water and produce steam, thereby driving the turbine to generate electricity. Next, the reactor's output power will be gradually increased in stages—5%, 20%, 35%, 55%, 75% and 90%—with inspections and tests at each power level before further increases. When power reaches 20%, the unit will be officially connected to the Slovak power system. The final test will be continuous operation at 100% full power for 144 hours. Branislav Strýček, Chairman of the Board and CEO of Slovenské elektrárne, said: "With the successful completion of this stage, Slovakia will gain a new stable source of electricity. In the coming decades, it will make an important contribution to the country's energy security and the achievement of climate goals." Martin Mráz, Director of the Mochovce Completion Project, said: "We have successfully completed the fuel loading and physical startup stages... The achievement of this milestone is a recognition of the high level of professionalism of the Slovenské elektrárne project team and the quality of work of all those involved in the completion."

2026-09-23

Framatome of France Secures First U.S. High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium Nuclear Fuel Contract

French nuclear company Framatome announced that it has signed a commercial contract to supply one operating nuclear reactor in the United States with the world's first nuclear fuel with uranium-235 concentration higher than the industry standard of 5%, for use in replacing reactor fuel. Under the agreement, as part of the Advanced Fuel Management (AFM) program, Framatome will use AFM technology to supply higher-concentration fuel in batches starting in early 2028. The agreement includes the supply of a range of fuels to support long-term use of AFM fuel in the reactor, and includes additional fuel supply options for the future. The company did not disclose the name of the reactor that will use the fuel. Uranium-235...

2026-09-23

Samsung C&T Teams Up with GE, Hitachi and Synthos to Enter Europe's Small Modular Reactor Market

Samsung C&T's construction division has partnered with GE Vernova, Hitachi and Synthos Green Energy (SGE) to expand into Europe's small modular reactor (SMR) market. By integrating technology, engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) and business development capabilities, the parties aim to establish a business model for the repeat deployment of standardized small modular reactors across European countries. Samsung C&T announced on the 23rd that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the 22nd (local time) with GE Vernova, Hitachi and SGE to pursue market development and commercial...

2026-09-23

Palisades Nuclear Power Plant Restart Suspended Due to Fuel Assembly Issue

The Palisades Nuclear Power Plant in Covert Township, Michigan, encountered a problem during fuel loading operations, causing its ongoing restart process to be suspended. The 50-year-old nuclear power plant, located along the shore of Lake Michigan, had previously been planned to become the first decommissioned nuclear power plant in the United States to be restarted. Holtec, the operator of the nuclear power plant, confirmed that while loading radioactive fuel rods into the reactor, a fuel assembly unexpectedly tilted after being released by the handling device and became stuck in a non-vertical position. Due to this situation, the reactor is currently...

2026-09-23

Kairos Power Secures $100 Million Investment from Samsung to Build Nuclear Reactors for Google

Recently, Kairos Power received a $100 million investment from Samsung C&T to build nuclear reactors for Google. Samsung C&T Engineering will participate in the construction of Kairos Power's 50-megawatt demonstration reactor, which is planned for completion by 2030. As part of the deal, Samsung C&T will make an equity investment in Kairos Power and provide in-kind engineering services, with the combined value reaching up to $100 million. Kairos Power stated that the equity investment will account for $70 million of the total investment. Samsung C&T has participated in or helped build approximately a dozen nuclear reactors worldwide, possessing extensive...

2026-09-23

Turkey's National Nuclear Energy Agency (TUNAS) and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) Launch New Nuclear Energy Cooperation

Turkey and the United States will cooperate on a technical study aimed at assessing the potential application of U.S. small modular reactors (SMRs) and Generation IV nuclear technologies. This project, funded by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), is being implemented by Turkey's state-owned nuclear energy company (Turkiye Nuclear Energy, or TUNAS) in cooperation with the United States. During the United Nations General Assembly in New York, TUNAS and USTDA reached an agreement on the project. The study will evaluate SMR designs from four U.S. companies and five Generation IV reactor technologies from multiple perspectives, including technical, economic, legislative, and licensing aspects, to determine their potential application in Turkey...

2026-09-23

Vietnam Holds Scientific Seminar on "Developing Nuclear Energy for Green Growth and National Energy Security"

On September 21, the Central Propaganda Department, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Khanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee of Vietnam jointly held a scientific seminar on "Developing Nuclear Energy for Green Growth and National Energy Security," aiming to explore the role of nuclear energy in addressing challenges such as climate change, meeting electricity demand, and promoting clean energy transition. The seminar emphasized that nuclear energy, as an energy source with large power generation capacity, stable operation, and low carbon emissions, can serve as baseload energy and effectively complement renewable energy that depends on natural conditions. For Vietnam, nuclear power is regarded as an important strategy for achieving sustainable socio-economic development and is expected to bring opportunities for scientific and technological development, industrial upgrading, and the cultivation of high-quality talent. At the seminar,...

2026-09-22

Modernization of the hydraulic blade stamping equipment for nuclear power plants at the Russian "Atom Machine" plant has been completed

On September 21, 2026, according to project information released by the Russian "Atom Machine" (Atom Machine, part of the Mechanical Engineering Division of the Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation "Rosatom"), the plant located in Volgodonsk (Волгодонск), Rostov Oblast, announced that its hydraulic blade stamping equipment for nuclear power plants, which is unique to date and has no equivalent in Russia, has completed modernization and successfully passed testing. It is understood that this hydraulic press with a force of up to 15,000 tonnes has now successfully passed all tests and is fully ready for production. This equipment was originally put into operation in 1980. In this modernization project, engineers not only...

2026-09-22

Israel's nT-TaO Signs Memorandum of Understanding with US-based Orion to Explore Deployment of Compact Fusion Systems for Data Center Power Supply

Israeli fusion company nT-TaO and US nuclear energy development company Orion Nuclear Energy Corporation signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on September 21, 2026, to explore the deployment of nT-TaO's Compact Fusion systems at data centers and industrial facilities in the United States. The move is seen as a collaborative step forward in the commercialization of fusion technology. According to the memorandum, the cooperation will center on the commercialization of nT-TaO's compact fusion system, with key focuses including: identifying potential customers, evaluating site selection, and developing specific commercial projects. The system is designed to provide up to 20 ...

2026-09-22

Nuclear energy startup Hylenr completes Phase 1 testing of lattice confinement fusion reactor validation study

Hylenr Inc., a nuclear energy startup based in Michigan, USA, recently completed Phase 1 testing of an independent validation study of its Lattice Confinement Fusion (LCF) reactor at Texas A&M University. Experimental results showed anomalous signals in areas including heat, gas, and materials, and Hylenr stated that the data indicate the technology warrants further in-depth investigation. Basic test information: In a strictly controlled laboratory environment, researchers conducted tests on Hylenr's BRT-NiUCS-2 reactor and multiple hydrogen-absorbing nickel-palladium catalyst samples, focusing on monitoring post-test heat, radiation, residual gases, and...

2026-09-22

South Korea Promotes K-Decommissioning Nuclear Power Plant Decommissioning Technology Overseas

At the 2026 Nuclear Facility Decommissioning Business Forum held on the 18th at the Westin Chosun Seoul, Seo Beom-kyung (서범경), Director of the Clean Nuclear Facility Technology Development Department at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI), stated that given the limited scale of the domestic nuclear facility decommissioning market, it is necessary to turn attention to overseas markets. Seo Beom-kyung said that the scale of South Korea's domestic decommissioning market is limited, so attention must be directed overseas. This requires the establishment of international standards, as well as decommissioning methods that reduce environmental burden and plans for subsequent site utilization. At the same time, emphasis must be placed on verifying K-Decommissioning technology in practical applications to ensure its performance and safety. Although technologies achieved at the R&D stage may...

2026-09-22

Southern Company Partners with Google to Upgrade Nuclear Plants to Meet Power Demand

Recently, Georgia Power, a subsidiary of Southern Company, reached an agreement with Google aimed at supporting upgrades to its two nuclear power plants, expected to add approximately 96 megawatts of power supply capacity. This collaboration comes amid surging power demand from data centers and other large users, driving the expansion of existing nuclear plants in pursuit of an around-the-clock, carbon-free power source. The agreement, which still requires approval from the Georgia Public Service Commission, provides funding for power upgrades to Georgia Power's share of the Vogtle and Hatch nuclear plants. Google's subscription will bring customers approximately $900 million in...

2026-09-22

Fuel loading begins at Unit 8 of Rajasthan Nuclear Power Station

At 3:18 PM on September 19, 2026, initial fuel loading (IFL) began at Unit 8 of the Rajasthan Atomic Power Project Units 7 & 8 (RAPP-7&8) of the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), located at Rawatbhata in Rajasthan. It is understood that the Rajasthan Atomic Power Station (RAPS) 7&8 consists of two indigenous 700 MW Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) units. The initial fuel loading of Unit 8 marks an important step toward first criticality and subsequent start of power generation. The unit is expected to begin commercial operation in the current financial year...

2026-09-22

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

India Launches "DARSHAN" Centre to Accelerate Small Modular Reactor Technology Development

Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) has recently officially launched the DARSHAN Centre, aimed at advancing the development of India's domestic Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology. The centre will provide high-performance computing, digital simulation, and advanced engineering support for the indigenous SMR jointly developed by NPCIL and the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC). The DARSHAN Centre is an important milestone in India's advanced nuclear technology programme. The centre was established to strengthen India's autonomous capabilities in advanced reactor technology and to provide high-level engineering and analysis support for the indigenous SMR. The centre is equipped with high-performance computing infrastructure and advanced simulation capabilities, enabling engineers and research...

2026-09-20

South Korea Deeply Integrates 50 Years of Nuclear Power Design Experience with Artificial Intelligence

KEPCO E&C has deeply integrated its 50 years of accumulated technology and data in the nuclear power design field with artificial intelligence (AI), and its digital transformation strategy is being comprehensively accelerated. At the 2026 National Contribution Awards ceremony, KEPCO E&C received the Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Award in the AI innovation category. This award aims to recognize the company's outstanding achievements in organically combining nuclear power design experience with technical materials and successfully applying them to business innovation and safety management technology R&D in the power generation and energy sectors. Among the most notable achievements is NEXA, an autonomous generative AI platform developed specifically for power plant design. The platform ensures...

2026-09-20

Italy may restart nuclear power generation by 2035

Italian Minister of Environment and Energy Security Gilberto Pichetto Fratin stated that the Italian government does not rule out the possibility of restarting domestic nuclear power generation by 2035. If mass production of nuclear reactors begins by the end of this decade, their construction time could be shortened to three to four years. This might allow Italy to begin generating electricity in 2034 or 2035. The bill aims to establish the legal framework needed for Italy to build new nuclear reactors. Since the referendum held after the 1987 Chernobyl nuclear accident and the closure of the last nuclear power plants in 1990, Italy has consistently prohibited nuclear energy. However, geopolitical uncertain...

2026-09-20

Canada's Pickering Nuclear Power Station in Toronto is about to shut down for refurbishment

Nicole Butcher, CEO of Ontario Power Generation (OPG), announced at the Canada Investment Summit that the four units at Pickering Nuclear Power Station's B plant, namely Units 5 through 8, will be gradually taken out of service and enter a comprehensive refurbishment phase lasting five to seven years. Since these four units began operation in the mid-1980s, they have consistently provided about one-tenth of Ontario's electricity supply. With the shutdown of these units, all eight reactors at Pickering Nuclear Power Station will cease generating electricity. According to OPG's financial plan, the refurbishment project will begin first with Unit 5, which is expected to be reconnected to the grid in 2031, while the entire project is planned to be fully completed by 2034. This pr...

2026-09-20

A delegation from Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City visited the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research to deepen cooperation in research and talent development

A working delegation from Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City recently visited the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR) in Dubna, Russian Federation, and held a working meeting. The two sides had in-depth exchanges of views on cooperation directions in talent cultivation, scientific research, and human resource development. In terms of talent cultivation and human resource development, the two sides discussed cooperation in fields such as nuclear physics, particle physics, heavy ion physics, quantum physics, advanced materials, nanotechnology, applied mathematics, radiation biology, and data science. Specific forms of cooperation include exchanging master's students, doctoral students, lecturers, and scientists, as well as jointly supervising doctoral students. Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City...

2026-09-20