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US Kairos Completes First Phase Testing of ETU 3 Reactor Model

Kairos Power announced on September 7 that its Engineering Test Unit 3 (ETU 3) has completed the first phase of testing. The testing, centered on the Hermes 2 reactor cavity model, validated the precast concrete shielding design as well as remote operation and maintenance capabilities, providing support for the design of the Hermes 2 demonstration plant and subsequent commercial units. Reactor cavity model (Image: Kairos Power) ETU 3, located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, is part of Kairos Power's iterative development program for its fluoride salt-cooled high-temperature reactor (KP-FHR) technology. The unit is a scaled, non-nuclear mockup cavity consisting of a reactor pressure vessel and precast concrete shielding structures.

2026-09-08

Kairos Power Completes Phase 1 of ETU 3 Hardware Demonstration in the U.S.

On September 4, Kairos Power announced the completion of Phase 1 of the Engineering Test Unit 3 (ETU 3) hardware demonstration at its Oak Ridge, Tennessee site. The unit, a non-nuclear engineering test platform, is primarily designed to reduce technical risks in reactor construction, operation, and maintenance, and to provide validation data for the Hermes 2 demonstration plant and subsequent commercial reactor deployments. Kairos Power stated that Phase 1 of ETU 3 focused on design validation of precast concrete shielding structures and testing of remote operation and maintenance capabilities. Construction of the Hermes 2 demonstration plant began earlier this year in Oak Ridge, and ETU...

2026-09-06

Japan to Establish New Decontamination Base in Okuma, Fukushima

Japan's Ministry of the Environment has decided to establish a new work base in Okuma Town, Fukushima Prefecture, in the next fiscal year to coordinate decontamination and house demolition work in difficult-to-return zones following the accident at Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO)'s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, aiming to accelerate environmental recovery in the affected areas. Within seven municipalities surrounding the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, approximately 309 square kilometers have been designated as difficult-to-return zones. These areas remain under strict control, with restrictions on residential habitation and entry, and evacuation orders remain in effect. Within the difficult-to-return zones, the Japanese government has established "specified return residential areas" and plans to advance decontamination, house demolition, and other measures based on residents' intentions to return. The proposed new base in Okuma Town will be responsible for on-site management and project coordination, with approximately 30 staff members expected to be assigned, and the relevant branch office currently located in Hirono Town will be relocated to Okuma Town.

2026-08-30

Bitumen Solidification Facility at Unit 2 of Japan's Ikata Nuclear Power Plant Returns to Normal

Shikoku Electric Power Co. reported on August 25, 2026, that the bitumen solidification facility at Unit 2 of Japan's Ikata Nuclear Power Plant, currently in a decommissioned state, had returned to normal operation at 10:45 a.m. that day. The gasket at the joint of the mixer top cover, where the earlier abnormality had been detected, had been replaced, and trial operation results showed no abnormalities. The incident occurred on April 28. On that day, when operators started the bitumen solidification facility in the controlled area of the reactor auxiliary building, they observed a steam-like phenomenon near the mixer thermometer, which subsequently disappeared on its own. Maintenance personnel later inspected and confirmed at 3:05 p.m. that the steam-like gas originated from inside the mixer and had escaped through the joint of the mixer top cover; at 5:06 p.m., the bitumen solidification facility was shut down.

2026-08-26

Three units at Hungary's Paks Nuclear Power Plant return to full-capacity operation

Of the four units at Hungary's Paks Nuclear Power Plant, three have returned to full-capacity operation, and grid connection work for Unit 4 is also progressing as planned. Hungarian authorities stated that all eight pumping systems at the plant are now in operation, with total generating capacity expected to approach 2,000 megawatts within two days. Previously, three units at the Paks plant were temporarily shut down due to declining water levels in the Danube River, which serves as a vital water source for the plant's cooling system. To improve water intake conditions, Hungary constructed a temporary weir in the river section near the Paks plant, using thousands of tons of rock and crushed stone during construction, with military engineering units also participating in the operations. The Paks Nuclear Power Plant is located approximately 100 kilometers south of Budapest on the banks of the Danube...

2026-08-25

Ikata Nuclear Power Station's miscellaneous solid waste incineration facility returns to normal operation

Shikoku Electric Power Co. reported on August 20 that the miscellaneous solid waste incineration facility at Ikata Nuclear Power Station returned to normal operation at 12:15 p.m. that day after inspections and component replacements. Previously, a small amount of ash leakage had occurred beneath the ceramic filter of the facility. According to the report, at approximately 10:25 a.m. on August 13, operating personnel from a partner company discovered ash-like material beneath the ceramic filter of the operating incineration facility in the miscellaneous solid waste incinerator building of Ikata Nuclear Power Station. On-site investigation confirmed that the fallen material was ash, and the leakage had stopped. The leaked ash remained within the building and was fully recovered, amounting to 0.3 grams with a radioactivity of 8...

2026-08-20

Slovenia's Krško Nuclear Power Plant Returns to Full Power Operation

On the evening of August 18, 2026, as meteorological conditions further improved, temperatures dropped, and river water temperatures declined, the Krško Nuclear Power Plant (NEK) increased reactor power to 100%, resuming full-load operation. During full-power operation, the plant will keep the entire cooling tower system in service to ensure compliance with relevant environmental limits and reduce the need for water withdrawal from the Sava River for cooling the plant's tertiary circuit. Previously, due to environmental restrictions related to the Sava River, the Krško Nuclear Power Plant reduced unit power to 80% on August 6, 2026. On August 14, following preliminary improvements in meteorological conditions, plant power was increased to 90%. Under the special operating conditions of this summer, when...

2026-08-20

St. Lucie Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1 Returns to Full Power After Control Rods Unexpectedly Dropped into Reactor Core

Florida Power & Light (FPL) stated that St. Lucie Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1 has returned to 100% generating capacity after being manually shut down last week due to equipment issues. The unit was manually shut down by operators on Wednesday to facilitate inspections and repairs. According to information from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the incident was caused by three control rods dropping into the reactor core. FPL stated that the event posed no threat to the public or plant employees and caused no customer power outages. The cause of the equipment malfunction remains under investigation. St. Lucie Nuclear Power Plant is located near St. Lucie County, Florida. Forrest Brandon, a local resident living along the Indian River Lagoon with a view of the plant buildings...

2026-08-18

Icebreaker of Knowledge International Expedition Returned from North Pole

On August 13, the 7th international scientific and educational expedition of Rosatom, Icebreaker of Knowledge, returned to Murmansk. Over the course of ten days, 68 talented schoolchildren and college students from all federal districts of Russia and 22 countries around the world traveled aboard the nuclear icebreaker 50 Let Pobedy along the route Murmansk – North Pole – Franz Josef La...

2026-08-18