Idaho National Laboratory Moran Test Bed Completes Deployment Preparation for Spent Fuel Decladding Skid

A mobile skid dedicated to processing and stripping spent nuclear fuel cladding has been officially declared ready for operation at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) Moran Nuclear Fuels Test Facility. The fabrication of this skid system was funded by the Athena Initiative launched in 2022 under the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Nonproliferation Stewardship Program, aimed at providing critical research support for the United States' nonproliferation strategy.

2026-09-24

Rosatom Establishes New Laboratory to Test Molten Salt Reactor Spent Fuel Reprocessing Technology

The first production site of the Khlopin Radium Institute, part of Rosatom's research division, is completing the construction of a new laboratory that will be dedicated to testing the processing and reprocessing technology for spent nuclear fuel (SNF) from molten salt reactors (JSR/MSR). In the first phase of facility testing, it is planned to synthesize simulated fuel compositions based on lithium fluoride and beryllium fluoride, with added simulants of fission products and plutonium; subsequently, the technology will be validated on models, and ultimately practical application will be carried out on the basis of the research molten salt reactor (IZHSR) being built in Zheleznogorsk. The related construction, installation, and commissioning work is planned for completion by the end of 2026, and to prepare for...

2026-09-18

Kansai Electric Power and Tohoku Electric Power Plan to Participate in Spent Fuel Interim Storage Facility in Mutsu, Aomori Prefecture, Japan

Kansai Electric Power Co. and Tohoku Electric Power Co. have expressed their intention to participate in the use of the spent fuel interim storage facility located in Mutsu, Aomori Prefecture, northeastern Japan. Currently, the interim storage facility only accepts spent fuel from nuclear power plants of Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO) and Japan Atomic Power Co. After the mayor of Mutsu agreed to consider allowing the facility to accept spent fuel from other electric power companies, the situation underwent a major shift. Subsequently, Tokyo Electric Power Company and Japan Atomic Power Co. reached out to the other eight electric power companies in Japan that operate nuclear power plants to solicit their interest in jointly participating in the use of the interim storage facility.

2026-09-16

Daejeon, South Korea Ranks Second Nationwide in Low- and Intermediate-Level Radioactive Waste Storage, Spent Fuel Transfer Plan Still Not Implemented

According to data released on September 12 by South Korea's Integrated Radioactive Waste Safety Management Information System, two nuclear-related facilities in Daejeon——the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power's Nuclear Fuel Company——currently store a total of 29,587 drums of low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste, with each drum having a capacity of 200 liters. This storage volume ranks second in South Korea, surpassed only by the Gori Nuclear Power Plant's 40,087 drums. Transportation of low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste Daejeon provides The low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste stored by the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute mainly comes from the operation of the Hanaro research reactor, as well as waste generated during the decommissioning of an experimental reactor in Seoul in the mid-2000s. Nuclear-related facilities in Daejeon...

2026-09-13

Hitachiota City, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan to Reconsider Literature Survey for Final Disposal Site of High-Level Radioactive Waste

The Hitachiota City Council in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, held a closed-door meeting on September 9 to hear council members' opinions on the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's request for the city to conduct a literature survey for selecting a final disposal site for high-level radioactive waste. After the meeting, sources said that two council members expressed support and two expressed opposition, and the city council failed to reach a consensus, deciding to hold another meeting on September 16 for discussion. The closed-door meeting was initiated by Hitachiota Mayor Sadayuki Suzuki, with the aim of providing reference for the city government to judge whether to accept the literature survey. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry made the request to the city on August 31. Suzuki previously said he would "actively consider" conducting the literature survey and hoped...

2026-09-10

Thailand Advances SMR Regulatory Preparedness to Strengthen Energy Security

On September 8, 2026, Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, Yodchanan Wongsawat, chaired the second meeting of the Nuclear Energy for Peace Committee in 2026 at Government House. The meeting discussed Thailand's long-term nuclear energy strategy and preparatory work on the regulatory framework, talent development, and industrial supply chain for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). The Thai government emphasized that these efforts constitute preliminary capacity building and do not imply a decision to construct nuclear power plants. The meeting approved an SMR regulatory policy framework, which draws on relevant standards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)...

2026-09-09

Ukraine's Energoatom purchases additional 41 VVER Spent Fuel Dry Storage Systems

Holtec Nuclear recently announced that Ukraine's national nuclear energy company Energoatom has awarded it a new contract to supply an additional 41 spent fuel safe transport and storage systems for VVER reactors at Ukraine's Khmelnytskyi, Rivne, and South Ukraine nuclear power plants. The contract was signed on August 26, 2026. Energoatom's acting CEO Pavlo Kovtonyuk signed the contract in Kyiv, while Holtec Nuclear's CEO and Board Chairman Kris Singh signed in Camden, New Jersey, USA...

2026-09-09

DOE Officials Visit Fort St. Vrain Spent Fuel Storage Facility in Colorado

Tim Walsh, Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Environmental Management (EM), recently visited the Fort St. Vrain spent nuclear fuel storage facility near Platteville in northern Colorado. The facility is managed by the DOE's Idaho Cleanup Project (ICP) and its contractor, Idaho Environmental Coalition (IEC). During the visit, Walsh inspected the storage facility and multiple supporting buildings to learn about the operational mission and historical background of the Fort St. Vrain facility. The facility currently stores spent nuclear fuel from the former Fort St. Vrain power station, which operated using gas-cooled reactor technology and was shut down in 1979...

2026-09-02

Kansai Electric Power Applies to Build Dry Cask Storage Facilities for Spent Fuel

Kansai Electric Power Company (KEPCO) announced on August 31 that it has submitted an application to Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) seeking approval for the design and construction plans of dry cask storage facilities for spent fuel at its Mihama and Takahama nuclear power plants in Fukui Prefecture. The company plans to begin construction in 2027 and aims to complete the facilities by 2029. This application covers the first-phase construction at the Mihama and Takahama nuclear power plants. KEPCO had previously planned to build a total of four dry cask storage facilities for spent fuel at three nuclear power plants within Fukui Prefecture, including the Mihama, Takahama, and Ohi nuclear power plants. Currently, the related project at the Ohi nuclear power plant and the second-phase construction at the Takahama nuclear power plant remain...

2026-09-01

Japan's Fukui Prefecture Approves KEPCO's Construction of Dry Cask Storage Facilities for Spent Fuel

Fukui Prefecture Governor Tatsuji Sugimoto announced on August 28 that he approved Kansai Electric Power Company's (KEPCO) plan to construct dry cask storage facilities for spent fuel within the premises of the Mihama and Takahama nuclear power plants in Fukui Prefecture. The decision was made in accordance with the safety agreement between Fukui Prefecture and KEPCO. KEPCO plans to apply to the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) for approval of the relevant design and construction plans as early as August 31. KEPCO plans to build dry cask storage facilities at three nuclear power plants in Fukui Prefecture to temporarily store spent fuel and prepare for future transport to an interim storage facility outside Fukui Prefecture. Among these, the plans for the Mihama and Takahama nuclear power plants...

2026-08-29

Argentina Advances Testing for Atucha II Spent Fuel Dry Storage Project

Nucleoeléctrica Argentina S.A. is advancing key equipment testing for the spent fuel dry storage facility (ASECG II) at the Atucha II nuclear power plant. This project is a critical supporting infrastructure to ensure the long-term operation of the Atucha II plant. The ongoing tests are part of the verification phase prior to system commissioning, primarily aimed at inspecting and adjusting the operational procedures involved in future operations. Among the key equipment under testing is the gantry crane, which handles the transfer of storage containers within the plant site. The stable performance of this equipment is directly related to the safety and controllability of container movements during spent fuel storage operations. According to the project plan...

2026-08-28

Boric Acid Leakage During Spent Fuel Transfer Preparation at South Korea's Hanul Nuclear Power Plant

Hanul Nuclear Power Plant in Uljin County, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea, recently disclosed that at 10:16 a.m. on the 3rd, a boric acid solution leakage incident occurred in the auxiliary building of Unit 2 at Shin Hanul Nuclear Power Plant. The incident happened while workers were preparing to transfer spent fuel from a transport container in the spent fuel loading pool to the spent fuel storage pool, and the preliminary cause has been attributed to improper on-site operations. Boric acid solution is used in spent fuel storage-related operations. As the solution is associated with the spent fuel storage environment, it carries radioactive management attributes. Hanul Nuclear Power Plant stated that leakage containment measures were immediately taken after the leak occurred, and the leaked material was collected in the decontamination area and recovered to the controlled area...

2026-08-28

US Advances Preparations for High-Burnup Spent Fuel Shipment to Idaho for Research

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently stated that the Idaho Cleanup Project (ICP) is participating in preparations for transporting a high-burnup spent nuclear fuel research cask. The cask is planned to be shipped from Dominion Energy's North Anna Nuclear Power Station in Virginia to the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) for subsequent spent fuel-related research. INL was selected as the receiving site primarily because it possesses the specialized facilities, equipment, and personnel expertise required for handling spent nuclear fuel. The DOE noted that these capabilities are typically not part of routine commercial nuclear power plant configurations. High-burnup fuel refers to nuclear fuel that remains in the reactor for a longer period to increase energy output...

2026-08-26

Dry Spent Fuel Storage Facility Planned at Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant in South Korea

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) held a resident briefing session on August 25 at the Hongnong-eup Community Center in Yeonggwang-gun, South Jeolla Province, to introduce its plan to build an on-site interim spent fuel storage facility at the Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant. Approximately 200 residents from villages near the plant, along with officials from Yeonggwang-gun and Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), attended the meeting, which proceeded in an orderly manner. KHNP stated that the existing wet spent fuel storage pools at Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant have reached 86% capacity and are expected to approach saturation by 2030, necessitating the construction of a new on-site storage facility. According to the plan, the proposed facility will be located within the Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant site, covering approximately 7,328 square meters, and will employ dry storage methods for interim spent fuel storage...

2026-08-26

Fukui Prefecture in Japan Likely to Approve KEPCO's Dry Storage Facility for Spent Nuclear Fuel

According to multiple officials of Fukui Prefecture, Japan, Governor Takato Ishida of Fukui Prefecture is expected to approve Kansai Electric Power Company's (KEPCO) construction of a dry storage facility for spent nuclear fuel at its nuclear power plants within the prefecture. If completed, this would mark the first adoption of such an on-site interim storage facility at KEPCO's nuclear power plants. A dry storage facility is used to store spent nuclear fuel discharged from reactors. The basic approach involves placing spent fuel into dedicated metal containers and cooling them naturally through air circulation, without relying on electrical systems. Since the containers themselves can be transported by ship or trailer, subsequent off-site transfer is relatively convenient; even in the event of a power outage, the associated accident risk is considered low. Japan Atomic Power Company (JAPC) and Shikoku Electric Power Company operate nuclear power plants that have already adopted this storage method.

2026-08-25

Japan Explains Plan for Spent Fuel Interim Storage Facility in Kaminoseki Town

Japan's Agency for Natural Resources and Energy recently held an explanatory meeting with the Kaminoseki Town Assembly regarding the Chugoku Electric Power Company's plan to construct a spent fuel interim storage facility in Kaminoseki Town, Yamaguchi Prefecture. The briefing covered the Japanese government's nuclear fuel cycle policy, facility safety, and related subsidy systems. The meeting was held on the 19th at the Kaminoseki Town Assembly. Previously, the Japanese government had decided to revise guidelines related to nuclear energy policy and included the Kaminoseki Town spent fuel interim storage facility plan within them. At the meeting, the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy stated that interim storage facilities are essential to supporting...

2026-08-23

Takahama Town in Fukui Prefecture, Japan, Plans to Give Prior Consent to Kansai Electric Power's Construction of Spent Fuel Dry Storage Facility

On August 19, Hisakatsu Nishijima, mayor of Takahama Town in Fukui Prefecture, Japan, stated that he would give prior consent to Kansai Electric Power Co.'s plan to construct a spent fuel dry storage facility, in accordance with the safety agreement signed with the company. Following Mihama Town, Takahama Town became the second municipality in Fukui Prefecture hosting nuclear power plants to express its intention to give prior consent to the plan. On the same day, Nishijima explained this decision to council members at a meeting of the town assembly held at the town office, noting that he had already obtained the assembly's understanding in advance. He said the town government made its judgment after confirming relevant issues item by item, including the specific arrangements for transporting spent fuel out of the prefecture...

2026-08-21

Kyushu Electric Power explains holding company transition to Kagoshima Prefecture; Sendai Nuclear Power Plant business to continue

On August 20, Kyushu Electric Power President Masaru Nishiyama and two others visited the Kagoshima Prefectural Government to explain to Governor Koichi Shiota the company's plan to transition to a holding company structure in October this year. Under the plan, Kyushu Electric Power will establish a new holding company, Kyuden Holdings, as the group's parent company to improve overall group management efficiency. Following the restructuring, relevant subsidiaries under Kyushu Electric Power will continue to undertake nuclear power operations, including the Sendai Nuclear Power Plant. During the meeting, Governor Shiota specifically highlighted the dry storage facility for spent nuclear fuel that Kyushu Electric Power plans to adopt at the Sendai Nuclear Power Plant...

2026-08-21

Korea Advances Construction of Temporary Spent Fuel Dry Storage Facility at Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) is advancing the construction of a temporary spent fuel storage facility at the Hanbit nuclear power plant site. The company recently launched an information session process for local residents, planning to collect opinions through briefings and discussion meetings. According to the schedule, three briefing sessions will be held on the 25th and 26th of this month in Yeonggwang County, South Jeolla Province. The first session is set for 2:00 PM on the 25th at the Hongnong Community Center, with the other two held at 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM on the 26th at the Gunam-myeon Multipurpose Center and Starlight Hotel, respectively. Following the briefings, a discussion meeting will be held on the 1st of next month at 2:00 PM at the Starlight Hotel, with Korea Electric Power Corporation (...

2026-08-21

Kansai Electric's Dry Cask Storage Project for Spent Fuel at Three Fukui Nuclear Plants Accelerates

Kansai Electric Power Company (KEPCO) plans to construct dry cask storage facilities for spent fuel at the sites of its three nuclear power plants in Takahama, Oi, and Mihama in Fukui Prefecture, Japan, and the local approval process for the project has recently accelerated. According to local arrangements, in addition to regulatory review, the project requires prior consent from the Fukui Prefectural Government and the towns where the nuclear plants are located. The Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) of Japan has completed safety reviews of the dry cask storage facility plans for the Takahama and Mihama nuclear power plants, while the plan for the Oi plant remains under review. Takahama Town Mayor Hisakatsu Nishijima...

2026-08-20

Trial lifting of damaged fuel assembly completed at Unit 2 of Japan's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station

Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) announced on August 18 that a trial lifting of a damaged fuel assembly in the spent fuel pool of Unit 2 at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station has been completed. The assembly was damaged in a fall 45 years ago and was subsequently repaired with wire. This trial lifting was conducted to confirm whether it can be safely handled during the subsequent removal operation. A total of 615 fuel assemblies are stored in the Unit 2 fuel pool, including 587 spent fuel assemblies and 28 unused fuel assemblies. The removal work began on June 2, and the fuel assemblies will be transferred to the shared fuel pool within the plant site. As of August 17, 35 fuel assemblies had been removed. Despite interruptions during the operation, Tokyo Electric Power Company...

2026-08-20