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Kazakhstan Enters a New Era of Atomic Energy, with the Institute of Nuclear Physics Viewed as a Key Pillar of the National Nuclear Industry

Kazakhstan is entering a new stage of nuclear energy development. The construction of a nuclear power plant means not only the addition of a major energy project, but also the need for the country to simultaneously establish a complete nuclear industry system, including research support, personnel training, experimental infrastructure, nuclear and radiation safety systems, and indigenous technological capabilities. The article points out that a nuclear power plant can be built using foreign project designs, but true scientific and technological capability cannot be purchased along with the equipment; it is gradually formed through the long-term operation of nuclear facilities, conducting research, training engineering teams, and passing on experience. Against this backdrop, the Institute of Nuclear Physics of Kazakhstan is regarded as an important pillar of the future nuclear energy industry. The institution...

2026-08-14

Polish President Signs Key Nuclear Power Bill, Allowing Early Construction Works to Start Ahead of Schedule

Polish President Karol Nawrocki signed an amendment to the Act on the Preparation and Implementation of Nuclear Energy Facilities and Associated Investments on August 14, aiming to accelerate the construction of nuclear power plants in the country. According to information released by the Presidential Chancellery, the core of this legal adjustment is to allow certain preliminary construction and preparation works to proceed before the final construction permit for the entire project is granted, thereby shortening the timeline for large-scale nuclear projects. The amendment concerns Polish laws related to the preparation and implementation of nuclear energy facilities and associated investments. The new regulations introduce a new type of permit, namely the permit for preliminary construction works of nuclear energy facilities. Once this permit is obtained, the investor can carry out some early-stage construction and preparation works before all complete project investment documents have been fully approved.

2026-08-14

Finnish family-owned company Halton Group secures major order for UK's Sizewell C nuclear power project

Finnish family-owned company Halton Group has secured a significant order for the UK's Sizewell C nuclear power project, and will supply related equipment or systems for the construction of this large-scale nuclear power plant. The project has an installed capacity of 3.2 gigawatts, with the order value reaching the tens of millions of euros level. For an industrial company from Finland, this is not only a major breakthrough in a single project, but also demonstrates its competitiveness in the supply chain of high-demand energy infrastructure. Sizewell C is one of the key projects advancing the UK's new generation of nuclear power construction. Against the backdrop of Europe's energy structure adjustment and rising demand for low-carbon electricity, large-scale nuclear power plants have once again become an option for multiple countries to ensure power security and meet emission reduction targets.

2026-08-14

Uzbekistan and Japan Discuss Expanding Cooperation in Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy

The Atomic Energy Agency of Uzbekistan recently held talks with a Japanese delegation, with both sides exchanging views on expanding cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, focusing on nuclear technology, joint projects in related industries, and energy security cooperation. The Japanese delegation comprised representatives from Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC), and ITOCHU Corporation, led by Abe Yoshimitsu, Deputy Director of the Nuclear Energy International Cooperation Office at METI. During the talks, both sides explored possibilities for advancing cooperation in nuclear technology applications, collaboration in related industries, and experience exchange. The Japanese side expressed its willingness to continue dialogue with Uzbekistan in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy on the basis of mutual respect and common interests, and to promote practical cooperation. The Atomic Energy Agency of Uzbekistan (Uzatom) stated that it would continue to expand international cooperation with countries and organizations possessing experience in the peaceful application of nuclear technology. Uzbekistan and Japan already have a foundation for cooperation in the nuclear energy and uranium resource sectors. ITOCHU Corporation previously signed a uranium concentrate supply agreement with Navoi Mining and Metallurgy Combinat, and JOGMEC has also been involved in the development of uranium deposits in Uzbekistan. In December 2025, during Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's visit to Japan, both sides confirmed directions for expanding cooperation, including the export of critical minerals and the introduction of advanced technologies. The current talks continue the momentum of bilateral cooperation in the energy and resource sectors.

2026-08-14

Russian Scientists Develop Bioluminescent Bacterial Bioassay for Screening Safe Low-Dose Radiation Levels in Animals

Russian researchers have developed a rapid bioassay method based on bioluminescent bacteria that can be used to assess safe dose ranges of ionizing radiation for animals, providing an early screening tool for low-dose radiation applications in livestock farming. The study involved researchers from the Institute of Biophysics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Siberian Federal University, and Krasnoyarsk State Agrarian University. The research team noted that low-dose ionizing radiation ranging from tens to hundreds of milligrays (mGy) may activate a series of physiological processes in animals, including metabolism, growth, and biomass accumulation; however, if the dose exceeds the safe range, it may cause physiological...

2026-08-14

Russian Researchers Find Low-Energy Electron Beam and X-Ray Treatment of Wheat Seeds Can Increase Yields

Researchers from the D.V. Skobeltsyn Institute of Nuclear Physics at Lomonosov Moscow State University, in collaboration with the Faculty of Physics and the Faculty of Chemistry of Lomonosov Moscow State University, as well as the Siberian Federal Scientific Centre of Agro-BioTechnologies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, have found that pre-sowing treatment of wheat seeds with low-energy electron beams and X-rays can help increase crop yields and enhance plant resistance to diseases. The study focused on the wheat variety Novosibirskaya 29 and included laboratory experiments, two consecutive years of field trials, and computer modeling. The results showed that a dose range of 5 to 15 Gy is suitable as a pre-sowing irradiation treatment parameter for wheat seeds. According to Moscow State University...

2026-08-14

Radioactivity Levels in Arctic Archipelagos Within Background Range, Russian Research Team Reports No Anomalies

On August 13, Andrei Puchkov, senior researcher at the Environmental Radioactivity Laboratory of the N.P. Laverov Federal Arctic Integrated Research Center, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, stated that measurements taken during the 2026 Arctic Floating University expedition's landings on Novaya Zemlya and Franz Josef Land showed very low radioactivity levels, with no anomalies detected. Puchkov noted that the expedition measured radon concentrations at all landing sites, with radon flux densities ranging from below 1 millibecquerel per square meter per second to 200 millibecquerels per square meter per second, all recorded values remaining within background levels. He indicated that permafrost acts as a barrier and shield in the region, preventing radioactive gases from reaching the surface; relatively higher radon fluxes in some areas may be associated with geological features such as fault zones and fracture zones.

2026-08-14

Module 5 of Containment Steel Liner Successfully Lifted at Unit 3 of Guangdong Taipingling Nuclear Power Plant

On August 10, the construction of Unit 3 at CGN's Guangdong Taipingling Nuclear Power Plant reached a critical milestone. A Zoomlion 2,000-tonne crawler crane, serving as the core lifting main force, successfully completed the precise positioning of Module 5 of the containment steel liner. This lifting operation involved significant technical challenges and demanding working conditions. The steel liner Module 5 weighed nearly 280 tonnes, with a component diameter of 45 meters, a height of nearly 6 meters, and a wall thickness of only 6 millimeters, making it a typical ultra-large thin-walled flexible component. The module's lateral windward area exceeded 300 square meters, making it susceptible to wind-induced sway during lifting, which imposed extremely high requirements on the crane's operational stability, control precision, and heavy-load adaptability. The Zo...

2026-08-14

Liaoning Zhuanghe Nuclear Power Phase I Project Approved, Zhuanghe Goes All Out to Accelerate Project Implementation

Recently, the State Council held an executive meeting and decided to approve the Liaoning Zhuanghe Nuclear Power Phase I Project. Located in Lizifang Town, Zhuanghe City, Liaoning Province, the Liaoning Zhuanghe Nuclear Power Project is the first nuclear power project in Northeast China to adopt China's self-developed third-generation nuclear power technology, the Hualong One, injecting core momentum into the high-quality development of regional clean energy. The overall plan for the Liaoning Zhuanghe Nuclear Power Project includes the construction of six million-kilowatt-class Hualong One third-generation pressurized water reactor nuclear power units, with unified planning and construction in three phases. The Phase I project approved this time will build two new nuclear power units with a total installed capacity of 2.5 million kilowatts. Upon completion and commissioning, the project will deliver outstanding comprehensive benefits and strong driving effects. In terms of clean energy supply security, each...

2026-08-14

U.S. Poll Shows Majority of Respondents Support Prioritizing Permanent Disposal of High-Level Waste

A recent survey conducted by market research and data analysis company YouGov shows that more than 80 percent of U.S. respondents believe finding a permanent disposal solution for high-level radioactive waste should be a national priority; after learning about relevant technical information, a significant number of respondents viewed deep geological disposal as a credible option. Prototype canister for borehole disposal (Image: Deep Isolation) The survey was commissioned by nuclear waste disposal technology company Deep Isolation Inc. and conducted in April this year among 1,000 U.S. adults with a nationally representative sample. The survey covered public attitudes toward nuclear energy, concerns about radioactive waste management...

2026-08-14

Nuclea Energy to Acquire Moltex Advanced Nuclear Technology Portfolio

Moltex Energy announced on August 13 that Nuclea Energy Inc. has signed a definitive agreement to acquire its advanced nuclear technology portfolio. The transaction was concluded following a competitive bidding process, with the relevant technologies and company assets having attracted interest from multiple parties earlier. The proposed technology platform, developed over more than a decade, encompasses the Waste-to-Stable Salt (WATSS) spent fuel recycling process, the Stable Salt Reactor – Wasteburner (SSR-W), and FLEX reactor technology. The portfolio includes 80 granted patents across 9 patent families, as well as 9 pending patents related to the WATSS recycling process...

2026-08-14

Finland's Onkalo Spent Nuclear Fuel Final Disposal Facility Expected to Receive Operating License by Year-End

Finland's spent nuclear fuel final disposal project has entered the critical stage of operating license review. The Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority of Finland (STUK) issued a statement saying that the design and emergency response procedures of the Onkalo final disposal facility meet the safety requirements for granting an operating license. The Finnish government is expected to decide whether to approve the facility's operation before the end of the year. Onkalo is located on Olkiluoto Island in southwestern Finland. "Onkalo" means "cave" in Finnish. If licensed and operational, the facility will become the world's first deep geological final disposal facility for spent nuclear fuel from nuclear power plants, serving as a reference for other countries considering similar facilities...

2026-08-14

Danube Water Level Drop May Affect Operation of Paks Nuclear Power Plant

Hungarian Prime Minister Magyar stated after inspecting the Paks Nuclear Power Plant that the Danube water level has dropped again, which may lead to a further reduction in the plant's power output next week, or even pose a risk of shutdown. At a press conference, Magyar said that about a week ago, heavy rainfall occurred in the Austrian catchment area, temporarily alleviating the low water level of the Danube, but the positive effects of the rainfall have since diminished. According to forecasts, the Danube water level may drop to -132 cm on August 16 or 17, a level approaching the critical operating conditions of the Paks Nuclear Power Plant. If this level is reached, one of the two currently operating turbines may need to be shut down again. He noted that existing forecasts cover the next 6 to 7 days,...

2026-08-14

Unit 2 of Romania's Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant shut down for at least 10 days due to falling Danube River water levels

Romeo Urjan, head of Romania's Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant, said that due to the continuous decline of Danube River water levels, Unit 2 of the plant has been shut down since August 13 for at least 10 days. Romania's Ministry of Energy stated on August 12 that Unit 2 of the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant required a temporary shutdown. As planned, the shutdown operation began on the morning of August 13 and was completed before noon that day. Urjan stated that Danube River water levels are expected to continue declining over the next 10 days, so the plant currently has no plans to restart Unit 2. He emphasized that this shutdown is unrelated to nuclear safety issues or emergencies, with the main reason being...

2026-08-14

Small Amount of Ash Leakage from Miscellaneous Solid Waste Incineration Equipment at Japan's Ikata Nuclear Power Plant

Shikoku Electric Power Co. reported on August 13 that at approximately 10:25 a.m. that day, an operator from a partner company discovered ash-like material beneath the ceramic filter of the operating miscellaneous solid waste incineration equipment inside the miscellaneous solid waste incinerator building at Ikata Nuclear Power Plant. The area is a controlled zone. On-site investigation confirmed that the fallen material was incineration ash, and the leakage was confirmed to have stopped. Workers also found localized cracks in the rubber components of the glove box beneath the ceramic filter. Temporary sealing measures were taken to prevent further leakage. According to the report, the leaked incineration ash remained within the building and was fully recovered. The leakage amount was 0.3 grams, with a radioactivity...

2026-08-13