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Small Modular Reactors Expected to Contribute One-Quarter of Global New Nuclear Capacity by 2050

According to data compiled by the World Nuclear Association (WNA), global nuclear power installed capacity is expected to reach 1,446 GWe by 2050. This projection is based on the continued operation of existing reactors and the implementation of announced nuclear power development targets by governments. Currently, global installed nuclear capacity stands at approximately 403 GWe. To achieve the above scale, an additional approximately 1,043 GWe of nuclear capacity will need to be added. Among this, Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are expected to contribute about 260 GWe, accounting for roughly one-quarter of global new nuclear capacity. Factors driving nuclear power expansion are increasing. The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence applications has driven up electricity demand from data centers, and the accelerating electrification of transportation and industrial sectors has further elevated the importance of stable, low-carbon electricity supply. Meanwhile, energy security and net-zero emission targets are prompting more countries to reassess the role of nuclear energy in their energy mix.

2026-08-10

SPIC Signs Strategic Cooperation Agreement with Shandong Provincial Government

On August 7, SPIC and the Shandong Provincial Government signed a strategic cooperation agreement in Jinan. Prior to the signing, Liu Mingsheng, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Chairman of SPIC, held working talks with Lin Wu, Secretary of the Shandong Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Provincial People's Congress. Zhou Naixiang, Deputy Secretary of the Shandong Provincial Party Committee and Governor of the Province, together with Liu Mingsheng, witnessed the signing of the strategic cooperation agreement. Zhang Haibo, Member of the Standing Committee of the Shandong Provincial Party Committee and Executive Vice Governor, Shan Yi, Member of the Standing Committee and Secretary-General of the Provincial Party Committee, and Lu Hongzao and Chen Haibin, Members of the Party Leadership Group and Vice Presidents of SPIC, attended the events. Lin Wu, on behalf of the Shandong Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial Government, expressed gratitude to SPIC for its long-term strong support for Shandong's development and introduced the province's economic...

2026-08-10

Belarus Plans Nuclear Expansion: BelAES Unit 3 and Second NPP in Mogilev Region to Advance in Parallel

Belarusian Energy Minister Denis Moroz recently stated that nuclear energy has become a strategic energy direction for Belarus, bearing on national energy security, economic growth, and technological sovereignty. Since the Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant was commissioned, it has helped the country reduce its dependence on imported natural gas, cumulatively replacing approximately 14.5 billion cubic meters of natural gas and saving over $600 million in budget funds. After assessing the multiplier effect of nuclear power on the economy, Belarus has decided to continue advancing its nuclear energy development. Moroz stated that the country has made a principled decision: on the one hand, to build a third unit at the Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant (BelAES) in Ostrovets, and on the other hand, to simultaneously study the plan for constructing a second nuclear power plant.

2026-08-09

U.S. Department of Energy Selects SHINE Technologies for Genesis Initiative, AI to Optimize Reprocessing of 95,000 Tons of Spent Nuclear Fuel

The U.S. Department of Energy has selected SHINE Technologies to participate in the Genesis mission, advancing the application of artificial intelligence in the nuclear industry. The core objective of the project is to develop an AI-assisted design system for engineers to plan more efficient spent fuel reprocessing facilities. The United States currently has approximately 95,000 tons of accumulated spent nuclear fuel, which has historically posed long-term storage and disposal challenges. The new approach seeks to recover still-valuable components from this material, reducing waste volume and improving resource utilization. The key to this project lies in transforming traditional engineering design methods. In the past, metrics such as throughput, final product quality, and waste volume in nuclear fuel reprocessing processes were typically evaluated separately...

2026-08-09

Low Danube Water Level Tests Bulgaria's Nuclear Operations, Energy Minister Says Kozloduy Plant Can Sustain Operations for About a Week and a Half

Bulgarian Energy Minister Iva Petrova said on August 7 that if the Danube River water level remains at its current level, the Kozloduy nuclear power plant can continue normal operations for about a week and a half. She described the situation facing the plant as difficult and dynamically changing, while emphasizing that the plant is currently operating stably with no direct failures affecting power generation. The Kozloduy nuclear power plant is a critical facility in Bulgaria's power system, and the high attention paid to Danube water level changes is mainly related to the cooling conditions required for plant operations. Persistently low water levels may increase operational dispatch pressure and require the energy sector to more frequently assess safety margins and subsequent response measures.

2026-08-08

Russia Offers Brazil Nuclear Technology Cooperation and Small Modular Reactor Projects, Including Floating Nuclear Power Plants and Arctic/Antarctic Scientific Research

During his visit to Brazil, Nikolai Patrushev, aide to the Russian President and head of Russia's Maritime Board, proposed cooperation initiatives involving nuclear energy, scientific research, and maritime security to the Lula administration. This agenda indicates that Brazil continues to pursue a relatively autonomous diplomatic approach in its relations with major powers, while seeking to expand external cooperation space in areas such as energy transition, defense technology, and protection of maritime rights. In the nuclear energy sector, the Russian side focused on promoting small nuclear reactors and low-power nuclear technologies, including the Elena-M small nuclear power plant and floating offshore power generation units. The Russian side described these technologies as capable of long-term operation, relatively cost-effective...

2026-08-08

Kazakhstan's National Nuclear Center Advances Full-Chain Nuclear Talent Development

On August 7, the National Nuclear Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan (NNC RK) presented the status of its human resource development system in the field of atomic energy. Alua Mirzagazkyzy Kabdrakhova, scientific secretary of the center, stated that the modern nuclear energy industry is highly dependent on scientific research and engineering capabilities, and that talent development must begin with early career guidance and continue throughout higher education, research practice, and professional career development. According to the center's plan, nuclear talent development is first directed at secondary school students. The National Nuclear Center holds an annual summer school for young physicists and organizes student visits to research and technical facilities, helping high school students understand modern science,...

2026-08-09

Kazakhstan Atomic Energy Agency and Nazarbayev University Sign Memorandum of Cooperation

On August 7, the head of Kazakhstan's atomic energy regulatory authority held formal talks with the President of Nazarbayev University, during which both parties exchanged views on the progress of existing cooperation and future directions for collaboration. During the talks, it was noted that representatives of Nazarbayev University have actively participated in the work of the agency's Scientific and Technical Committee, as well as in efforts to update forward-looking research in the nuclear energy field. Both sides agreed that research institutions and universities play a vital supporting role in the development of the nuclear energy industry, particularly in building research capacity and cultivating professional talent. Following the talks, the two parties signed a memorandum of cooperation. According to the document, the two sides will expand...

2026-08-08

Research Reactors Support Kazakhstan's Safe Nuclear Energy Development

Against the backdrop of growing demand for low-carbon electricity, nuclear energy is being regarded by many countries as a key energy option. Kazakhstan is also advancing its own nuclear energy development. Equally critical to the construction of nuclear power plants is the long-term research, testing, and validation of nuclear fuel, structural materials, reactor operating conditions, and safety systems. Research reactors and experimental facilities are precisely the core platforms undertaking such work. Unlike power reactors, which primarily target electricity generation, research reactors are closer to specialized nuclear science laboratories. Researchers can study the behavior of nuclear fuel and structural materials, simulate different reactor operating states, including off-normal conditions, test new technologies, and validate engineering solutions subsequently used in nuclear...

2026-08-09

Paraguay says U.S. nuclear memorandum covers uranium exploration, energy cooperation heats up

Paraguayan Vice President Pedro Alliana revealed that the memorandum of understanding on nuclear energy recently signed between Paraguay and the United States involves not only civil nuclear energy development but also cooperation related to uranium exploration. In discussing his meetings with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, he called the agreement a historic document, reflecting that bilateral relations are at an unprecedented stage of closeness. The recent engagement between Paraguay and the U.S. was not limited to nuclear energy issues but spanned multiple areas including bilateral cooperation, security, investment, and regional politics. Alliana stated that the U.S. side intends to strengthen investment in Paraguay's energy sector, with particular attention to...

2026-08-09

Argentina and Ecuador Sign Six Cooperation Agreements, Including Peaceful Use of Nuclear Energy Cooperation

Argentine President Javier Milei and Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa held a bilateral meeting at the Carondelet Palace in Quito on August 7, signing six cooperation agreements. The agreements cover trade, nuclear energy, air transportation, judicial cooperation, cyber defense, and marine resource protection, indicating that the two countries are attempting to establish a closer cooperation framework on security and economic issues. Energy and technological cooperation was also a key component of the meeting. The two sides signed a cooperation agreement on the peaceful use of nuclear energy, emphasizing the promotion of nuclear applications in civil fields through exchanges between scientific research institutions, technical cooperation, and joint research and development projects. Such cooperation helps enhance...

2026-08-08

IAEA Publishes Technical Document on Emergency Planning Zones for Small Modular Reactors

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recently released the technical document "Technical Basis for Emergency Planning Zones for Small Modular Reactors," designated as TECDOC-2134, published in Vienna in 2026. The document comprises 132 pages, includes 11 illustrations, is written in English, and is now available for download. This marks the first time the Agency has systematically documented, in publication form, the outcomes of a coordinated research project related to protective action planning zones in the deployment of small modular reactors. The document focuses on the technical basis for emergency preparedness and response for small modular reactors, with particular attention to determining the size of protective action planning zones. A protective action planning zone is an area surrounding a nuclear facility where protective measures are pre-planned in response to potential accidents...

2026-08-09

IAEA Launches Global Marine Microplastics Monitoring Platform

The International Atomic Energy Agency recently launched a global marine monitoring platform under the "Nuclear Techniques for Controlling Plastic Pollution" initiative, aiming to strengthen cooperation and data sharing among countries on the abundance, distribution, and trends of microplastics in marine and coastal areas. Scientific experts from 65 countries attended the platform launch event. The platform will serve as a repository of results from the network of marine monitoring laboratories supported by the initiative. Participating laboratories can enter monitoring data into the platform to compile global information on marine microplastic pollution; users can access relevant content after creating a free IAEA Nucleus account. Plastic pollution has become a global environmental issue. According to reports...

2026-08-09

DXA Screening Among U.S. Medicare Population Declines 35% Over Nearly Two Decades

A new study shows that between 2005 and 2023, the rate of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) examinations among U.S. Medicare beneficiaries declined significantly, by 35%. DXA is commonly used for bone density testing and osteoporosis-related screening, and the findings suggest that disparities in screening access across different populations are widening. Researchers analyzed claims data from more than 5 million Medicare beneficiaries. The results showed that DXA utilization fell from 7,255 exams per 100,000 beneficiaries in 2005 to 4,690 per 100,000 beneficiaries in 2023. The study was published in Osteoporosis International. The decline was not uniform across populations...

2026-08-08

Eagle Nuclear Energy Advances 47-Hole Pre-Feasibility Drilling at Aurora Uranium Project

Against the backdrop of rebuilding a domestic U.S. uranium supply chain, newly listed Eagle Nuclear Energy Corp. has entered the industry spotlight with what it claims to be the largest conventional measured+indicated uranium resource in the country. Its flagship Aurora uranium project, located on the Oregon-Nevada border, contains 32.75 million pounds of indicated resources and 4.98 million pounds of inferred resources under S-K 1300 standards. The company has submitted permit applications for a pre-feasibility drilling program comprising 47 holes totaling approximately 27,000 feet, with work slated to begin upon federal and state approvals and pre-feasibility study completion targeted for the second half of 2027. On the technical front, the company recently added Yukuskokon Professional Services and expanded its collaboration with BBA USA and SLR I...

2026-08-08