Kursk Nuclear Power Plant Director Alexander Uvakin said: "Thanks to the VVER-TOI, the Kursk NPP has joined the ranks of Russia's largest nuclear power plants, operating at over 3,000 MW. Every billion kWh contributes to energy independence, industrial development, and the comfort of tens of thousands of families."

Construction is under way on units 2 and 3, which will also be VVER-TOI reactors. The plan is for there to be four units at the plant, providing a total capacity of 5,000 MW.

Rosatom says that more than 90,000 people and about 250 contractors and subcontractors took part in the project for the first new unit.

The start of commercial operation followed a period of pilot industrial operation - and the conducting of more than 1,500 tests of the power unit's systems and equipment - before the go-ahead from regulator Rostekhnadzor was issued 27 April.

Background

Kursk II is being built near the existing Kursk nuclear power plant in western Russia, about 60 kilometres (37.5 miles) from the Ukraine border. It will feature four of the new VVER-TOI reactors, the latest version of Russia's large light-water designs. They have upgraded pressure vessels and a power rating of 1,250 MW.

Construction of the first unit began in 2018, its polar crane was installed in October 2021 and the reactor vessel was put in place in June 2022. Concreting of the outer dome of the first unit was completed in August 2023. With the second and third units also under construction, the target is for all four units to be in operation by 2034.

Rosatom says the service life of the main equipment has doubled, and that the VVER-TOI units feature a mix of passive and active safety systems and include a core meltdown localiser. It can also operate with 100% mixed oxide fuel containing uranium and plutonium (MOX fuel).

The new units at Kursk II will replace the four units at the existing, nearby nuclear power plant, which are scheduled to all have shut by 2031.

The first unit was shut down after 45 years of operation in December 2021 and the second unit followed in January 2024. The original design life for the four RBMK-1000 reactors at the plant was for 30 years but had been extended by 15 years following life extension programmes.

The Taipingling plant will eventually have six Hualong One reactors, with a total investment exceeding CNY120 billion (USD17 billion). The construction of the first and second units began in 2019 and 2020, respectively. Hot testing of unit 1 was completed in September 2024, with that of unit 2 completed in July 2025. Unit 1 attained a sustained chain reaction for the first time (referred to as first criticality) on 3 February this year and was connected to the grid on 13 February. It entered commercial operation on 19 April. Fuel loading at unit 2 was completed last week.

_{How the six units at Taipingling may look (Image: NNSA)}

Construction of the second phase of the Taipingling plant - units 3 and 4 - was approved by China's State Council in December 2023, with construction of unit 3 getting under way in June last year.

Once all six units are completed and put into operation, the annual power generation will exceed 55 billion kilowatt-hours, CGN said. It will also reduce standard coal consumption by about 16.65 million tonnes and carbon dioxide emissions by about 50.82 million tonnes annually.

According to the corporation's in-house news magazine Strana Rosatom, Likhachev said there were 20 Rosatom staff at the construction site, and four more in the central office in Iran's capital, Tehran.

"About 2,200 employees of Iranian contractors have already returned to the construction site. The main work is focused on reinforcing and concreting unit 2, which is under construction. The number of Iranian workers continues to grow," said Likhachev.

After giving the update on progress with the reactor and steam generators, he said "we plan to begin shipping key equipment next year. We are continuing casting and forging metallurgical blanks for the equipment for unit 3".

_{An aerial mage of unit 2, shared by the Atomic 抖阴传媒在线 Organisation of Iran in January (Image: AEOI)}

_{Another view of unit 2, shared by AEOI in January (Image: AEOI)}

According to a report by the official Tass news agency, he said “the project remains a priority for us. Rosatom's enterprises continue to manufacture equipment for the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant as planned”. The agency also reported him as saying that unit 1 at the plant continues to work at 100% capacity.

Background

The USA and Israel launched attacks on Iran on 28 February, saying they were targeting Iran's leadership and its military infrastructure. Iran has retaliated - there is currently a ceasefire and talks taking place aimed at ending the conflict. International Atomic 抖阴传媒在线 Agency (IAEA)  Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi has said that diplomacy and negotiations are the way "to achieve the long-term assurance that Iran will not acquire nuclear weapons and for maintaining the continued effectiveness of the global non-proliferation regime".

The first unit at the Bushehr plant was connected to the grid in 2011. It is a Russian-designed VVER unit with a capacity of 915 MWe. Two further units featuring VVER-1000 units are under construction - unit 2 had first concrete poured in 2019 and the core catcher installed in 2024. In January the third tier of the inner containment building for unit 2 was installed.

At an event at the IAEA's General Conference in September 2024, Iran suggested unit 2's then target date for operation was 2029. According to Russia's Rosatom, unit 3 is also under construction.

In September 2025, Rosatom and the Atomic 抖阴传媒在线 Organisation of Iran signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the building of small modular reactors in Iran. The country says it has an ambition for 20 GW of nuclear energy capacity by 2041.

Alexey Deriy, Atomstroyexport JSC Vice President for Projects in Bangladesh, said: "The work was conducted in strict compliance with the initial core loading programme, process regulations, and nuclear safety standards. The next stage is installing the upper reactor unit and connecting all necessary in-core instrumentation systems. We will conduct hundreds of further tests to prove the reliable and safe operation of all process systems.”

The reactor is expected to be brought to its minimum controllable power level "in the near future", with tests and checks taking place before the power start-up - with further tests and checks before power levels are increased - and trial commercial operation of the unit.

Background

In February 2011 Russia's Rosatom signed an agreement for two reactors to be built at Rooppur, about 160 kilometres from the capital Dhaka, for the Bangladesh Atomic 抖阴传媒在线 Commission. The initial contract for the project, worth USD12.65 billion, was signed in December 2015. The Bangladesh Atomic Regulatory Authority issued the first site licence for the Rooppur plant in June 2016, allowing preliminary site works, including geological surveys, to begin.

Construction of the first unit began in November 2017. Construction of the second unit began in July 2018. They have an initial life-cycle of 60 years, with a further 20-year extension possible.

The first batch of nuclear fuel was delivered to the site in October 2023 - the moment that the site got its status as a nuclear facility. In March last year, Rooppur unit 1's turbine installation was completed, as were hydraulic tests to check the primary circuit systems and equipment, followed by hot functional tests. An operating licence was issued by the Bangladesh Nuclear Regulatory Authority on 16 April.

Up to now, however, the simulation of such complex cooling processes has required experimental data that have so far been limited, according to the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI). A new study at the institute now provides important contributions to help close this gap. At the institute's PANDA test facility, researchers have for the first time investigated passive cooling systems for SMRs under realistic conditions. The experiments, carried out with scientific support from cooperation partners in more than ten countries, provide high-resolution measurement data that can be used to validate such systems in simulations. The results have been published in the journal .

The PANDA test facility extends over five floors, reaching a height of 25 metres. It consists of several containers, with a total volume of about 500 cubic metres, in which processes that occur in nuclear reactors can be realistically simulated. PANDA contains no radioactive material. The steam, which reaches temperatures of up to 200 degrees Celsius and pressures as high as 10 bar, is generated by an electric heater with a power output of 1.5 MW. At more than 80 different points, gas mixtures from different areas of the facility can be extracted and analysed with a mass spectrometer.

A project team at the Paul Scherrer Institute tested a closed cooling circuit. This consists of a vertical pipe, approximately six metres high, through which cold water flows. If steam were to escape into the containment vessel during an incident, it would strike the cold surface of the pipe, condense there, and drip back into the reactor as liquid water. The heat released in this process is transferred to the water inside the pipe. Because warm water is less dense than cold water, it naturally rises and releases its heat to a water reservoir. The cooled water then flows back down. This creates a natural cycle based solely on the density difference between warmer and colder water – entirely without pumps or electricity.

Although previous experiments had already shown that such systems work, the PSI team has presented, for the first time, highly detailed measurement data showing precisely how the physical processes inside a system on the scale of a nuclear power plant would unfold. Using high-speed cameras, the researchers even documented in detail tiny droplets of water that condense on the surface of the pipe. For the first time, the researchers were able to observe how gases inside the containment vessel separate: more air collects in the lower section, while more steam remains at the top. This finding is important for both reactor design and computer simulations. If this effect were not taken into account, the system would be less effective at dissipating heat.

Furthermore, the researchers tracked tiny particles in the gas and demonstrated that it moves very slowly near the pipe. In this area, therefore, condensation is determined not by larger currents, but primarily by diffusion: the water vapour reaches the surface of the pipe only slowly and condenses there. This means that the cooling process is highly dependent on local conditions.

Many SMR design concepts can be replicated in this experimental facility, the Paul Scherrer Institute noted. There are roughly 1,450 sensors ready to provide valuable data.

"Until now, researchers developing simulations couldn't be certain that their calculations matched reality,” said Yago Rivera Durán from the PSI Centre for Nuclear Engineering and Sciences. "We're closing the gap with PANDA."

This will make data crucial for safety assessments and the licencing of future reactors available for the first time, the institute said.

"The latest publication marks the launch of an international benchmarking initiative based on PANDA data," PSI said. "Twenty-five institutions are already participating in this global collaboration, using the experimental results to verify and improve their simulation methods. A follow-up project, PANDA-2, will build on this work and focus even more intensely on complex scenarios as well as the long-term autonomous operation of passive safety systems. This international project is currently expected to run until 2030, while national and EU projects are already planned well into the 2030s."

Likhachev said: "It's especially important for us that the nuclear dialogue between Russia and Indonesia is developing in an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect. Today, Indonesia has set ambitious goals for developing its nuclear energy sector, so we're discussing more than just technology - we're also talking about establishing a long-term partnership focused on developing a new industry, training national personnel, developing new competencies, and strengthening the country's technological independence."

Talks during the visit, which included meetings with the Minister of 抖阴传媒在线 and Mineral Resources and the Director of the state-owned PT PLN electricity company, also covered how to integrate nuclear energy into the nation's system taking into account the geography of the archipelago.

According to a report by the official Russian Tass news agency, Likhachev told reporters after the talks: "We are ready to offer maximum localisation of technological processes both at the stage of nuclear power plant construction and at the servicing stage. We have absolutely fantastic figures in Belarus, Turkey, and Egypt … they are not simply building the plant and earning money - they are acquiring competencies and then joining us at other facilities."

The agency reports him as saying that Belarusian specialists are "currently actively working on construction of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Bangladesh, while Rosatom plans to involve Turkish partners in construction projects in Hungary".

Indonesia has operating research reactors and has had long-standing ambitions to develop its nuclear energy capacity, with proposals for both large-scale and small modular reactors being developed over the past 20 years.

In addition to this one, which is the first for the Leningrad icebreaker under construction, a further 15 RITM reactor units are in various stages of production - for nuclear icebreakers, land-based SMR plants and floating power units.

The process of manufacturing the RITM-200 reactor unit concludes with test assembly, with all components assembled in their design positions "down to a thousandth of a millimetre" Rosatom said: "Successful completion of this operation allowed engineers to ensure the product was fully prepared for shipment and subsequent installation into the ship's hull, ensuring reliable operation for at least the next 40 years".

The second reactor unit for the Leningrad - whose keel was laid in January 2024 - is currently being prepared for hydraulic testing ahead of test assembly.

Anton Lebedev, head of ZiO-Podolsk, said: "Our company has already manufactured 10 RITM-200 reactor units and two more powerful RITM-400 units. Over the years, we have accumulated a colossal amount of knowledge and skills, and today we possess competencies unmatched anywhere else in the world."

Background

There are currently a series of Project 22220 nuclear-powered icebreakers operating - the Arktika, Sibir, Ural, the Yakutia, plus the Chukotka, which has been undergoing mooring tests - and two under construction, the Leningrad and the Stalingrad at the Baltic Shipyard.

Within Rosatom's machine-building division, Afrikantov OKBM is the designer, complete supplier, and manufacturer of the reactor internals for the RITM-200 and RITM-400 reactor units. Reactor vessel fabrication and test assembly are performed at ZiO-Podolsk.

The Project 22220 vessels are 173 metres long, 34 metres wide and with a height from the waterline to the mainmast of 57 metres. They are designed to break through ice up to three metres thick and have a speed of 22 knots in clear water. The first four have been escorting cargo ships along the Northern Sea Route for several years now.

There is also a larger nuclear-powered icebreaker under construction, the Rossiya, which will be the first of the proposed Project 10510 nuclear-powered icebreakers. It will feature two RITM-400 reactors for a propeller power of 120 MW. It will be able to penetrate ice up to 4.3 metres thick and clear a channel up to 50 metres wide. It has a reported construction target service date of 2030.

Nuclear-powered icebreakers are a key part of Russia's plan to develop the Northern Sea Route, the shipping lane along its north coast which allows faster transport between Europe and Asia.

The solicitation was re-issued by the DOE in March 2025 to better align with President Donald Trump's agenda on unleashing American energy and AI dominance.

In December last year, the DOE selected Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and Holtec Government Services to each receive USD400 million in federal cost-shared funding to support early deployments of advanced light-water small modular reactors in the USA. TVA's application was selected for funding to accelerate the deployment of a GE Vernova Hitachi BWRX-300 at its Clinch River site in East Tennessee. Holtec plans to deploy two SMR-300 reactors - named Pioneer 1 and 2 - at the Palisades Nuclear Generating Station site in Michigan.

The DOE has now chosen eight further companies to receive funding from the Generation III+ Small Modular Reactor Pathway to Deployment Program.

"Projects will bolster the supply chain needed to deliver new nuclear generation in the 2030s, strengthen the development of Gen III+ SMR orderbooks, and advance President Trump's Executive Orders to usher in a nuclear renaissance and expand America's 抖阴传媒在线 Dominance agenda," the department said.

Roughly half of the funding has been allocated to projects related to SMR site selection and preparation. Constellation SMR Development LLC will receive USD17.3 million to pursue a US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approved Early Site Permit (ESP) for a location in New York to support the future deployment of Gen III+ SMRs, while Nebraska Public Power District will receive USD27.9 million to obtain an NRC approved ESP for a location in Nebraska to support the future deployment of Gen III+ SMRs.

In order to develop the US SMR supply chain, BWXT Nuclear 抖阴传媒在线 Inc has been allocated USD21.4 million to procure equipment for an existing facility in Mount Vernon, Indiana, that is required for final assembly of reactor pressure vessels and the manufacture of other large nuclear reactor components.

Container Technologies Industries LLC will receive USD547,900 to expand the company's nuclear quality assurance certifications for their facility in Helenwood, Tennessee, to enable it to produce steel for Gen III+ SMR deployments.

Meanwhile, Framatome US Government Solutions LLC has been awarded USD8.8 million to expand a fuel fabrication facility in Richland, Washington, by increasing the number of ceramic pellet production lines, adding about 200 tonnes of uranium of annual capacity.

Global Nuclear Fuel Americas LLC will receive USD3 million to establish a second production line for fuel rod fabrication for boiling water reactors, acquire capital equipment to automate the pellet inspection process, and implement automated storage and handling for pellets, for its facility in Wilmington, North Carolina.

American Forgemasters Company has been awarded USD2.9 million to procure a new furnace for its facility in New Castle, Pennsylvania, to facilitate the domestic production of large component forgings for Gen III+ SMRs, while Scot Forge Company will receive USD12.3 million to procure and install a large vertical turning lathe and gantry style milling machine for a facility in Spring Grove, Illinois, to facilitate the domestic production and manufacturing of large components for Gen III+ SMRs.

"President Trump has made clear that America is going to build more energy, not less, and nuclear is central to that mission," said US Secretary of 抖阴传媒在线 Chris Wright. "Advanced light-water SMRs will give our nation the reliable, round-the-clock power we need to fuel the President's manufacturing boom, support data centres and AI growth, and reinforce a stronger, more secure electric grid. These awards ensure we can deploy these reactors as soon as possible."

The space community has relied mainly on photovoltaic power systems, a technology that was originally developed for the purpose of space applications and has found many terrestrial uses. However, these systems pose severe limitations for missions to places like the outer solar system. The available solar energy reduces with the square of the distance from the sun. For example, on Saturn the solar power density is a hundred times lower than on Earth.

Radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) convert heat from the radioactive decay of plutonium-238 into electricity. They have been in use for 60 years. Early versions continue to supply power to NASA's twin Voyager probes, which were launched in 1977 and are now travelling in interstellar space.

The Next Gen RTG is an evolution of the general-purpose heat source RTGs that supplied power to NASA's Cassini Saturn orbiter and, more recently, New Horizons probe, which carried out a Pluto flyby in 2015 and is now exploring the Kuiper Belt, a distant, doughnut-shaped region of icy debris and dwarf planets that extends just beyond the orbit of Neptune.

Unlike the L3Harris-built Multi-Mission RTGs currently powering NASA's Curiosity and Perseverance Mars rovers, the Next Gen RTGs are optimised for spacecraft operating in the vacuum of space rather than on the surface of a planet. The vacuum-optimised design allows for more efficient heat rejection and power generation in the deep space environment where missions like the Uranus orbiter will operate. As a result, the Next Gen RTG offers a higher power output at about the same weight as the Multi-Mission RTG. With the capability to generate about 250 watts of power at the beginning of its life, each Next Gen RTG will provide reliable, long-duration power for spacecraft exploring the outer reaches of the solar system.

The US Department of 抖阴传媒在线's Idaho National Laboratory (INL) contracted L3Harris in 2021 to re-establish the key technologies from the heritage system and update the design in response to growing interest in new deep space missions. The contract is expected to end in 2027 with a production readiness review to verify that the next-generation system can be built using the materials and components that have been re-established.

"We are proving we can do it again," said Leo Gard, Space Propulsion & Power Systems Programme Manager at L3Harris. "While we didn't build the original generators, we've successfully reconstructed incomplete documentation and identified modern equivalents for obsolete components through creative problem-solving."

"Passing the CDR is an important milestone because it validates that our design meets all the technical requirements and can be manufactured," added Bill Sack, General Manager, RocketWorks and Power Systems at L3Harris. "It also demonstrates we've successfully re-established this critical capability after years of limited production."

He added: "The Next Gen RTG represents a significant leap forward in efficiency. We're delivering more power in the same mass envelope, which is critical when every kilogram matters for deep space missions."

As prime contractor on the Next Gen RTG programme, L3Harris is responsible for the main structure and overall system integration. Teledyne 抖阴传媒在线 Systems Inc of Hunt Valley, Maryland, makes the thermoelectric couples that convert heat to electricity, while BAE Systems Space and Mission Systems in Boulder, Colorado, is responsible for insulation.

Flight units could power NASA deep space probes starting in the early 2030s, including a proposed Uranus orbiter that would use two Next Gen RTGs for power and for keeping its temperature-sensitive components warm enough to operate in the frigid environment of the outer solar system. This dual-purpose capability makes RTGs indispensable for such missions.

L3Harris said that, beyond the Uranus orbiter, these power systems could enable: extended missions to Neptune and its moon, Triton; Kuiper Belt object explorers that can go beyond the range of the New Horizons spacecraft; long-duration missions to the outer planets' moons; and interstellar precursor missions that push even farther than the Voyager 1 and Voyager 2.

In their bilingual invitation to take part in the contest, the UK government's arms-length delivery agency for new nuclear capacity, said: "This project will be part of Anglesey's story for generations to come, and we believe that the name should come from the people who know the Island best. Children and young people are welcome to take part, including through schools. Your suggestions will be reviewed by a panel of local young people from Anglesey, alongside community and industry leaders."

_{An inspiring overhead view of the Wylfa site (Image: Arup)}

CEO of Great British 抖阴传媒在线 - Nuclear, Simon Roddy, said: "Wylfa is a first鈥憃f鈥慳鈥慿ind project for the UK, with long鈥憈erm benefits both locally and nationally ... we are serious about delivering it safely, responsibly and with the community at its heart."

Rolls-Royce SMR was selected as the UK government's preferred technology for the country's first small modular reactor (SMR) project in June last year, and GBP2.6 billion was allocated in the 2025 Spending Review towards the project.

In November, the government announced that Wylfa on Anglesey would host an initial three Rolls-Royce small modular reactors. It said the site - where a Magnox plant is being decommissioned - could potentially host up to eight SMRs.

The Rolls-Royce SMR is a 470 MWe design based on a small pressurised water reactor. It will provide consistent baseload generation for at least 60 years. Ninety percent of the SMR - measuring about 16 metres by 4 metres - will be built in factory conditions, limiting activity on-site primarily to assembly of pre-fabricated, pre-tested, modules which significantly reduces project risk and has the potential to drastically shorten build schedules.

The orginal Wylfa nuclear power plant's two 490 MW units operated from 1971 to 2012 and 2015 respectively. In 2012, Hitachi bought the Wylfa site and proposed constructing a new power station, featuring UK Advanced Boiling Water Reactors, to be called ‘Wylfa Newydd’, on adjacent land. However Hitachi dropped these plans in 2020.

Nuclear power plants commonly adopt the name of the place they are located or the name of a nearby place. For instance, the Hinkley Point site is based in the Hinkley Point area of Somerset.

Anglesey residents have .

The new waste facility is designed for the handling, processing and interim storage of waste, both from the refurbishment of unit 1 and the long-term commercial operation of both the plant’s units.

Cosmin Ghita, General Manager of Nuclearelectrica, said: "The pouring of the first concrete for the construction of the infrastructure required for the refurbishment of unit 1 holds a significance similar to that of the pouring of the first concrete during the construction of unit 1. After 30 years of operation at high nuclear safety standards and with world-class performance in terms of capacity factor, unit 1, through the refurbishment programme, will continue to operate for another 30 years starting in 2030. Another 30 years of energy security, 5 million MW produced annually, and 5 million tons of CO2 avoided annually - a strategic project for Romania's energy security."

Cernavoda is the only nuclear power plant in Romania and consists of two 650 MWe Candu reactors. Unit 1 went into commercial operation in 1996 and unit 2 in 2007.

The unit 1 refurbishment project began in 2017 and is currently in the second of three phases, in preparation for implementation. The project is scheduled to enter its third and final phase of development in 2027 with the shutdown of unit 1 for refurbishment.

Background

Candu units are pressurised heavy water reactors designed to operate for 30 years, with a further 30 years available subject to refurbishment. This includes the replacement of key reactor components such as steam generators, pressure tubes, calandria tubes and feeder tubes. It involves removing all the reactor's fuel and heavy water and isolating it from the rest of the power station before it is dismantled. Thousands of components, including those that are not accessible when the reactor is assembled, are inspected, and all 480 fuel channels and 960 feeder tubes are replaced during the high-precision rebuild.

In December 2024 Nuclearelectrica signed the engineering, procurement and construction contract for the estimated EUR1.9 billion (USD1.97 billion) refurbishment with a consortium of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, AtkinsRealis's Candu 抖阴传媒在线, Canadian Commercial Corporation and Ansaldo Nucleare.

The civil construction works began in September 2025 after the company received approval from Romania's nuclear regulator (CNCAN) for the construction of the Intermediate Radioactive Waste Repository. The company said the expansion of the intermediate storage capacity of low and medium radioactive waste was a key part of sustaining long-term operation of the plant.
 

"This application is a historic first for Sweden," said Blykalla CEO Jacob Stedman. "We're not just planning an advanced reactor park - we're building Sweden’s energy future and putting the country at the forefront of the global nuclear power renaissance. Building new energy infrastructure is critical, and the energy systems of the future need to be predictable, reliable and fossil-free. As AI and electrification grow worldwide, we need to accelerate the deployment of predictable, clean baseload power. That's exactly what Blykalla's technology does, and we are uniquely positioned to meet this moment."

The Ministry of Climate and Enterprise said the government will now assess whether the application meets the requirements, whether the proposed activity is justified and whether there are conditions for preparedness and for handling the nuclear material being handled and the nuclear waste that is generated. The government review of the application launches a comprehensive approval process involving multiple agencies, including the Land and Environmental Court and Swedish Radiation Safety Authority. The government will then produce a facility plan to guide decisions on how land and water areas will be used.

The ministry noted the municipality of Gävle needs to approve both the plan and the application before the government can make a decision to approve a nuclear facility. "The approval does not replace the permit review according to the Environmental Code and the Nuclear Activities Act," it said. "However, the government's approval replaces the permissibility review that the government must otherwise carry out according to Chapter 17 of the Environmental Code."

_{Rendering of the SEALER building in Norrsundet (Image: Blykalla)}

Blykalla - formerly called LeadCold - is a spin-off from the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, where lead-cooled reactor systems have been under development since 1996. The company - founded in 2013 as a joint stock company - is developing the SEALER (Swedish Advanced Lead Reactor). A demonstration SEALER (SEALER-D) is planned to have a thermal output of 80 MW.

Subject to the necessary permits and final investment decisions, the commercial-scale Norrsundet facility could become operational in the first half of the 2030s.

In February, the Swedish government announced several proposed measures to make it easier to establish new nuclear power in the country. 鈥婽he new legislation introduces an early-stage government approval process designed to improve predictability and accelerate the deployment of new nuclear capacity. The following month, Kärnfull Next submitted an application to build a power plant based on small modular reactors (SMRs) in the municipality of Valdemarsvik in Östergötland county in southeastern Sweden, becoming the first application under the country's new Act on Government Approval of Nuclear Facilities. It marked the first application for the establishment of new nuclear power in Sweden 50 years.

"New nuclear power is an important piece of the puzzle for Sweden's energy independence," said Acting Minister of Climate and Environment Johan Britz. "The concern we are now seeing in the world clearly shows how vulnerable we are becoming from our dependence on fossil fuels – and how crucial it is to expand fossil-free electricity production. Thanks to our new permit review, more actors now dare to invest in nuclear power."

In October 2022, Sweden's incoming centre-right coalition government adopted a positive stance towards nuclear energy. In November 2023, it unveiled a roadmap which envisages the construction of new nuclear generating capacity equivalent to at least two large-scale reactors by 2035, with the equivalent capacity of up to 10 new large-scale reactors (which may include small modular reactors) coming online by 2045. A new act on state aid entered into force on 1 August 2025, since when interested companies have been able to apply for the aid.

The Swedish government received the first such application in December to support proposals for either five GE Vernova Hitachi BWRX-300 reactors or three Rolls-Royce SMRs to provide about 1500 MW capacity at Ringhals on the Värö Peninsula. The application came from Videberg Kraft AB, a project company owned by Vattenfall AB and backed by a series of industrial firms via the Industrikraft i Sverige AB consortium.

Concreting of the foundation will take place in three stages, with a total volume poured of more than 620 cubic metres and reinforcement and embedded parts exceeding 100 tonnes. It will be left undisturbed for several months before the turbine unit is installed, and some embedded parts will be included to monitor any possible foundation movement during operation.

Ivan Babich, a representative of the project's management at JSC SCC, said: "Concreting such a critical component is a long and labour-intensive process. But for equipment weighing over 1,700 tonnes, stable support is not just important, but critical."

The turbine and generator were delivered to the site at the end of last year.

Meanwhile, endurance testing of the prototype main circulation pump unit for the BREST-OD-300 reactor is ongoing - the unit will pump 11 tonnes of molten lead per second at a temperature exceeding 420 degrees Celsius.

The background

The BREST-OD-300 fast reactor is part of Rosatom's Proryv, or Breakthrough, project to enable a closed nuclear fuel cycle. The 300 MWe unit will be the main facility of the Pilot Demonstration 抖阴传媒在线 Complex at the Siberian Chemical Combine site. The complex will demonstrate an on-site closed nuclear fuel cycle with a facility for the fabrication/re-fabrication of mixed uranium-plutonium nitride nuclear fuel, as well as a used fuel reprocessing facility.

Recent progress updates included the news in October that the last roofing truss had been moved into place on the turbine hall and the metal shell for the central cavity - which weighs 143 tonnes and is more than 14 metres tall with a diameter of 8 metres - had been installed in place. The four perpheral cavity shells were all installed during December.

Initial operation of the demonstration unit will be focused on performance and after 10 years or so it will be commercially oriented. The plan has been that if it is successful as a 300 MWe (700 MWt) unit, a 1,200 MWe (2,800 MWt) version will follow - the BR-1200.

After the assessment, the companies will make a separate decision whether to enter a more detailed phase in the process – the pre-planning phase.

"If implemented, the small nuclear power project would be a multi-year, phased process," Alva said. "The project would require extensive studies, planning, various licensing procedures, and assessments and approvals from authorities."

The company - fully owned by the City of Jyväskylä - said it is developing Jyväskylä's energy production in the long term towards low-emission, reliable and cost-predictable solutions. Some of its current production capacity will reach the end of its life cycle in the coming decades, and its replacement is one of the company's key strategic issues. Therefore, Alva is currently evaluating different options for future heat production.

"We want to carefully assess whether small-scale nuclear power can be a suitable solution for Jyväskylä's future heat production," said Alva Production Director Alex Schreckenbach. "At this stage, we are not making an investment decision, but we are investigating the prerequisites and gathering as much information as possible to support our final decision."

"Jyväskylä is the fourth city in Finland where SMR heat is being seriously considered to replace combustion-based energy sources," noted Steady 抖阴传媒在线 CEO Tommi Nyman. "Finnish energy companies, such as Alva, are at the global forefront in the development of sustainable heating solutions."

In addition to Jyväskylä, SMR heating projects are under way in Helsinki, Kuopio and Kerava. In December 2023, Steady 抖阴传媒在线 signed a letter of intent with municipal energy company Kuopion Energia in Eastern Finland that includes an option for the construction of up to five district heating reactors starting in 2030. That agreement followed a letter of intent signed in October 2023 between Steady 抖阴传媒在线 and Helsinki's energy company Helen for the construction of up to 10 SMRs for district heating. In October 2024, Kerava - in Finland's Uusimaa region and part of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area - becomes the third Finnish city to consider SMRs for heating purposes.

Steady 抖阴传媒在线's LDR-50 district heating SMR - with a thermal output of 50 MW - has been under development at the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland since 2020. Designed to operate at around 150°C and below 10 bar (145 psi), the company says its "operating conditions are less demanding compared with those of traditional reactors, simplifying the technical solutions needed to meet the high safety standards of the nuclear industry". Steady 抖阴传媒在线 anticipates an LDR-50 can be deployed within seven years, including licensing, at a cost of EUR100 million (USD116 million), making it affordable enough for municipal utilities to invest in independently.

In February this year, Steady 抖阴传媒在线 poured the first concrete for a full-scale, non-nuclear pilot of its LDR鈥�50 SMR for district heating in the turbine hall of the decommissioned Salmisaari B coal-fired power station in central Helsinki. The pilot plant will serve as a full-scale, operational model of the LDR-50 reactor design.

Jacob Helberg, US Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, said: "We look forward to working with Rwanda and Holtec to bring this transformative SMR project to fruition, ensuring that American nuclear leadership continues to light the way forward for nations seeking to achieve their energy security and economic development goals."

The conference also saw the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the USA and Rwanda, which the US embassy in Rwanda said "marks an important step toward strengthening cooperation on civil nuclear energy and expanding opportunities for collaboration in support of reliable and secure energy development. The United States and Rwanda are committed to promoting the highest standards of nuclear safety, security and non-proliferation as the two countries advance this partnership".

Nuclear 抖阴传媒在线 Innovation Summit for Africa

The conference, taking place in Kigali, was opened by Rwanda's President Paul Kagame, who said: "For Africa, energy is not simply a development issue. It is the foundation of industrial growth, and competitiveness. At the centre of this endeavour is the question of investment. Too often, investors hesitate because they perceive many risks in Africa. We must work to strengthen regulation, ensure consistency and accountability, in order to build confidence and attract long-term capital.

"Nuclear energy is increasingly recognised as part of the clean energy transition and that creates new opportunities. What Africa cannot afford is fragmentation. If countries work in isolation, progress will be slow and far more costly. Cooperation on regulation, financing, and regional power integration is essential. This is precisely why NEISA matters. We are moving the conversation beyond ambition to practical coordination, and financing mechanisms that can sustain deployment at scale. Rwanda will continue supporting these efforts, because this is larger than any one country."

_{(Image: Rwanda Atomic 抖阴传媒在线 Board/X)}

Director General of the International Atomic 抖阴传媒在线 Agency (IAEA) Rafael Mariano Grossi delivered the agency's Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) Phase 1 report during the first day (see picture above). The report, the Rwanda Atomic 抖阴传媒在线 Board said: "Affirms Rwanda’s readiness to advance to Phase 2 of its nuclear power programme development, reflecting continued commitment to building the infrastructure, regulatory capacity, human capital, and partnerships needed to deploy nuclear energy in support of long-term energy security, industrial growth, and sustainable socio-economic transformation."

Grossi, posting on the social media site X, said the IAEA and Rwanda had also signed an agreement which was an "important step forward for Rwanda’s nuclear energy plans ... to strengthen cooperation on integrating nuclear energy into Rwanda's energy mix, including SMRs. The agreement covers support on energy planning, infrastructure development, training, stakeholder engagement, financing and capacity building." He added: "Rwanda can count on the IAEA as it moves forward with its nuclear energy programme."

Grossi added that, "for years, finance was a red line separating Africa from the benefits of nuclear energy. Today, that wall is coming down as nuclear projects become bankable and the doors of international financing open up".

The Rwanda Atomic 抖阴传媒在线 Board reported Paula Ingabire, Minister of ICT and Innovation, as saying that: "As we think about industrial off-takers, whether it's the mines, smelters, data centres, what lenders are looking for is predictability. They're looking for 24/7 credit-worthy baseload demand. The natural anchors for that are going to be sectors where you know that a simple power outage is going to cost billions of dollars in revenues lost. That's why even for Rwanda, as we announced that in the next decade, we should be able to have an SMR, we have already started thinking about those off-takers as a government and making sure that those are going to be ready when these facilities up and running."

Background

Rwanda has been developing plans to adopt nuclear energy for a number of years, with President Kagame saying at the Nuclear 抖阴传媒在线 Conference in Paris in March that it plans to have its first small modular reactor operational in the early-2030s.

He said at that conference: "Nuclear energy is not too complex or risky for developing countries. The standards developed by the IAEA provide a universal framework that can be applied by countries at every income level ... nuclear technology is evolving in ways that benefit countries with small grids, allowing Africa to be among the early adopters. Small modular reactors in particular are especially suited to Africa's requirements."

Holtec has been developing its SMR unit since 2011. The SMR-300 is a pressurised water reactor producing about 300 MW of electrical power or 1050 MW of thermal power for process applications. It plans to deploy two SMR-300 reactors - named Pioneer 1 and 2 - at the Palisades Nuclear Generating Station site in Michigan, demonstrating viability for additional orders both domestically and abroad.

Sizewell C has used the Regulated Asset Base (RAB) funding model, which will see consumers contributing towards the cost of new nuclear power plants during the construction phase. Under the previous Contracts for Difference system developers finance the construction of a nuclear project and only begin receiving revenue when the power plant starts generating electricity.

France's EDF, announcing the financial closing of the project in November, said it would invest a maximum of GBP1.1 billion during the construction period and would have a stake of 12.5%, with the UK government - through the Department for 抖阴传媒在线 Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) - having 44.9%, La Caisse 20%, Centrica 15% and Amber Infrastructure 7.6%.

Consumers started to pay for Sizewell C after November 2025. DESNZ expects Sizewell C to increase electricity prices for the typical household by GBP4 in 2025-26, rising up to between GBP17 and GBP19 by the time it begins operating.

The National Audit Office has now that assesses the implications of the deal for taxpayers, electricity consumers, and investors, and provides a baseline against which progress can be measured.

Once construction has been completed, DESNZ's modelling predicts that the net benefits for consumers could be up to GBP18 billion, primarily delivered through energy bill savings and reduced electricity costs compared with other ways of reaching net-zero. "As a large infrastructure project, DESNZ's modelling of these benefits shows they will not outweigh the costs to consumers until after 2060," the NAO said. "They are also subject to significant uncertainty, including that other forms of net-zero technology could turn out to be cheaper or better."

"Under this innovative approach, government has provided most of the finance, but DESNZ owns a minority share of the company delivering the project," the NAO said. "This intentionally limits its control over the project. DESNZ argues this is necessary to avoid the governance weaknesses that have caused issues for previous government mega projects."

The department assumes that if the project was fully under public control the construction costs would rise to the 'higher regulatory threshold' set out in the economic licence of GBP47.7 billion, and that the involvement of private investors is justified, as their expertise will reduce construction costs and speed up delivery. The financial returns to investors will cost consumers between GBP4.0 billion and GBP4.5 billion unless they also help to cut costs and decrease delivery time by a commensurate amount.

Investors are expected to receive a rate of return of up to 13% (post-tax equity internal rate of return) assuming construction costs come in at the baseline estimate, which fall to a low of 10.8% at the higher regulatory threshold. These rates assume they sell their share of the equity once Sizewell C is operation. 

"It is not clear how strongly the deal incentivises investors in Sizewell C to reduce construction costs," the report says. "Investors told us they were strongly motivated to keep construction costs below the higher regulatory thresholds. Their returns also reduce by up to 1.6 percentage points for any overruns below this threshold. However, if construction costs rise to just below this amount, investors still earn returns comparable to other utilities."

The NAO notes that, although Sizewell C should cost less than Hinkley Point C to build, it is likely that consumers will pay more for energy from Sizewell C. "This is because the price of Hinkley's electricity was set before its cost overran (which has been borne by EDF), and the cost of borrowing has also increased since then," it says.

Gareth Davies, head of the NAO, said: "Sizewell C forms a significant part of the government’s plan for a secure and affordable clean energy supply. There has been a concerted attempt to learn from the problems of previous nuclear power construction projects and other large infrastructure schemes. This has resulted in a novel financing structure and DESNZ will need to monitor the risks to taxpayers and billpayers closely."

Response to the NNAO's report, Nuclear Industry Association Chief Executive Tom Greatrex, said: "The NAO is right that Sizewell C is a generational investment. It will still be producing reliable, clean electricity well into the next century. Governments have to take decisions and make serious investments in the national interest, and that is exactly what was done here.

"The idea that Britain could have waited to see whether 'something cheaper might turn up' ignores the reality of the last decade. The UK has lived through the worst energy crisis in generations and now faces renewed instability driven by volatile international gas markets and geopolitical tensions. Britain needs secure, homegrown power that is not exposed to global fossil fuel shocks."

The NRC has now announced it has formally accepted the application after determining it contains sufficient information for the regulator to begin its formal safety, environmental, and technical review process.

"NRC technical staff have begun a rigorous evaluation of the proposed reactor's safety and environmental impacts," the NRC said. "Within days, the agency will also publish a Federal Register notice opening a 30-day window for members of the public and nearby communities to request a formal legal hearing on the application."

"Acceptance of the Construction Permit Application for review confirms that the NRC has determined the submission contains the information necessary to begin detailed technical evaluation," said Florent Heidet, Chief Technical Officer at NANO Nuclear. "Advancing to this stage reflects years of engineering, regulatory engagement, and disciplined execution, as well as the substantial work required to support formal review of an advanced reactor design."

Caleb Brooks, Professor and Donald Biggar Willett Faculty Scholar of Nuclear, Plasma and Radiological Engineering at the U of I's Grainger College of Engineering, said: "The NRC's acceptance of our Construction Permit Application marks a significant step forward for the Illinois Microreactor Demonstration Project and for the future of advanced nuclear energy in the United States. At Grainger Engineering, we believe universities play a vital role in accelerating innovation, developing the next generation workforce, and demonstrating technologies that can address critical energy and national needs. We look forward to continuing our work with NANO Nuclear and our engagement with the NRC throughout the review process as we work to further position U of I as a leader in future advanced energy technologies."

NANO Nuclear said it estimates the NRC formal review will be completed in 2027, "providing the opportunity for the company to begin nuclear construction activities at the U of I in the second half of 2027".

NANO Nuclear acquired the Micro Modular Reactor 抖阴传媒在线 System technology through its USD85 million acquisition of Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation's nuclear technology, which was completed in January last year. At that time, NANO Nuclear renamed the technology as the KRONOS MMR. The MMR is a 45 MW thermal, 15 MW electrical high-temperature gas-cooled reactor, using TRISO fuel in prismatic graphite blocks and has a sealed transportable core.

NANO Nuclear signed a strategic collaboration agreement with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in April 2025 to construct the first research KRONOS micro modular reactor on the university's campus. The agreement formally established the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign as a partner in the licensing, siting, public engagement, and research operation of the KRONOS MMR, while also identifying the university campus as the permanent site for the reactor as a research and demonstration installation.

The university plans to re-power partially its coal-fired Abbott power station with the KRONOS MMR, providing a zero-carbon demonstration of district heat and power to campus buildings as part of its green campus initiative. The project team aims to demonstrate how microreactor systems integrate with existing fossil fuel infrastructure to accelerate the decarbonisation of existing power-generation facilities.

HD Hyundai said this would "establish a robust foundation for Engineering, Procurement, and Construction execution and the supply of major equipment, enabling an aggressive response to the global next-generation nuclear power market, including in the US".

TerraPower's Natrium technology features a 345 MWe sodium-cooled fast reactor with a molten salt-based energy storage system. The storage technology can temporarily boost the system's output to 500 MWe when needed, enabling the plant to follow daily electric load changes and integrate seamlessly with fluctuating renewable resources. TerraPower began non-nuclear construction for its first Natrium plant, in Kemmerer, Wyoming, in June 2024, and expects construction of the plant - which it says will be the first commercial-scale, advanced nuclear project in the USA - to be complete in 2030. The first Natrium project is being developed through the US Department of 抖阴传媒在线's Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program. The Natrium reactor is a TerraPower and GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear 抖阴传媒在线 technology.

Chris Levesque, president and CEO of TerraPower, said: "By combining our strengths, we are creating a new era of energy infrastructure - one where advanced reactors like Natrium are unleashed at scale to meet growing demand, strengthen supply chains, and deliver reliable, resilient, affordable power."

Kwang-shik Won, senior executive vice president and COO of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, said the framework agreement was a "critical foundation for our entry into the global nuclear market". He added: "Through our agreement, we will strive to ensure the timely supply of Natrium reactor equipment and establish a serial production base to secure a formidable global competitive edge."

In TerraPower's announcement, it said the collaboration aims to "leverage American innovation and Korean industrial expertise for advanced reactor deployments, supporting a global shift toward innovative, next-generation nuclear technologies".

It added that the agreement with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries "secured a scalable supply chain for serial production of Natrium reactors" and followed a "thorough review of its fabrication capabilities, large-scale industrial production expertise and proven track record in precision manufacturing for the energy sector".

HD Hyundai noted that the agreement was an extension of the Strategic Agreement for Manufacturing Supply Chain Expansion for the Commercialization of Natrium Reactors signed in March 2025. It added that over the past year, the two companies had conducted a joint study to evaluate the manufacturing feasibility, cost competitiveness, and delivery schedules for the Natrium reactor.

In addition to the first Natrium plant under construction, TerraPower - which is chaired by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates - has an agreement with Facebook and Instagram owner Meta for up to eight Natrium plants by 2035. In January South Korea's SK Innovation .

Jacobs said that its work, with a multidisciplinary team including AtkinsRéalis and AECOM, would cover terrestrial and marine environments, environmental assessments, Habitats Regulations Assessment and "associated activities to inform future potential planning, design and permitting decisions".

Richard Sanderson, Jacobs Executive Vice President, said: "Strengthening the UK's energy security and advancing lower-carbon power requires new civil nuclear development at pace. Jacobs has supported some of the most complex nuclear programmes in the UK and globally, working across the full lifecycle from early development through delivery. We bring that experience to Great British 抖阴传媒在线 – Nuclear at Oldbury, helping lay the environmental foundations needed to support long-term project success."

Background

The UK government aims to grow nuclear energy capacity to 24 GW by 2050, with both gigawatt and small modular reactors (SMRs) key parts of the strategy. An agreement to buy the Hitachi-owned sites for new nuclear at Wylfa in north Wales and Oldbury-on-Severn in southwest England was reached in 2024. Wylfa has since been selected to host the UK's first small modular reactor plant.

The Oldbury site, which is on the banks of the River Severn north of Bristol in south west England, is alongside a Magnox plant where two units ran from 1967 and 1968 to 2011 and 2012 respectively. It has been previously earmarked as a potential site for three AP1000s, for two EPRs and two or three UK Advanced Boiling Water Reactors. It has also been judged suitable for small modular reactors.

Jacobs, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, in the US, employs more than 6,000 people in the UK operating from 15 offices and 35 additional sites. It is involved in existing UK nuclear power projects at Hinkley Point C, Sizewell C and at Sellafield.

The document provides for the phased preparation of Kazakh enterprises for participation in nuclear projects, taking into account international safety and quality requirements. It covers four key areas: developing a regulatory framework, analysing the needs and potential of the domestic market, modernising and establishing production facilities, and the digitalisation of processes. According to press reports, the goal is to boost "local content" - which can currently meet about 20-22% of the nuclear industry's demands - to around 30% by the time construction of the country's first nuclear power plant begins, representing a market value of around USD4 billion to USD4.5 billion.

Kazakhstan is the world's leading producer of uranium. In June last year, Russia's Rosatom was selected as the leader of an international consortium to build Kazakhstan's first planned nuclear power plant - to be called the Balkhash plant - in the village of Ulken, in Zhambyl district, on the shore of Lake Balkhash. The Atomic 抖阴传媒在线 Agency's strategy for the Development of the Nuclear Industry in Kazakhstan sees at least three nuclear power plants operating by 2050, with a project for a fourth one possible.

"To ensure the quality, safety, and transparency of NPP project implementation, it is planned to introduce a registry of suppliers of goods, works, and services. Inclusion in the registry will be a mandatory requirement for participation in the project and will enable the pre-selection of qualified and reliable companies, support domestic producers, including small and medium-sized businesses, and minimise corruption risks through transparent procedures and regular monitoring of participants," the Atomic 抖阴传媒在线 Agency said.

The implementation of the plan is expected to "help create a sustainable production ecosystem for the nuclear industry, attract investment in the industry, develop new products, and ensure the participation of Kazakhstani enterprises in major infrastructure projects across the country", it added.
 

Cleanup work at Halden and Kjeller is now under way. The cleanup will take several decades, and the costs are currently estimated at between NOK33 billion and NOK57 billion (USD3.6-6.2 billion), depending on the solutions chosen.

To ensure clear responsibilities and state control, the government has planned to transfer responsibilities, tasks and facilities from the Institute of 抖阴传媒在线 Technology to Norwegian Nuclear Decommissioning (NND) as quickly as possible. Established as an agency under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries in February 2018, NND is responsible for decommissioning the research reactors and other related nuclear infrastructure, as well as the safe handling, storage and disposal of radioactive waste.

Norwegian Nuclear Decommissioning submitted an application in December 2022 for a licence to own and operate the facilities in Halden and Kjeller, as well as the operation of the waste landfill for low- and intermediate-level radioactive material in Himdalen. The nuclear facilities in Halden were transferred from the Institute of 抖阴传媒在线 Technology to Norwegian Nuclear Decommissioning on 1 April last year.

The Directorate for Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety (DSA) has now recommended that the Institute of 抖阴传媒在线 Technology's licence for the nuclear facilities at Kjeller be transferred in its entirety to NND. The government supports this assessment, and has requested DSA starts work on preparing the transfer and submit its recommendation on the transfer of the licence for the Kjeller during the autumn. At the same time, NND will begin preparations for the takeover. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries will also initiate negotiations with the Institute of 抖阴传媒在线 Technology on the framework for the transfer.

"The experience from the transfer in Halden shows that Norwegian Nuclear Decommissioning is well suited to take over responsibility at Kjeller as well," said Minister of Trade and Industry Cecilie Myrseth. "Now we will carry out the cleanup work in a good and safe manner."

NND Director Pål Mikkelsen said: "This is an important milestone in gathering responsibility and expertise in one state actor for a safe and predictable cleanup. Our first priority is safety at the facilities, closely followed by progress in the cleanup work."

"For several years, IFE has worked systematically to facilitate a safe and controlled transfer of the nuclear facilities, and is committed to ensuring that this is carried out as soon as possible, in line with the Storting's [parliament's] decision," said Institute of 抖阴传媒在线 Technology CEO Nils Morten Huseby. "We will continue this work in close dialogue with the authorities, with particular emphasis on safety, continuity and safeguarding employees. At the same time as NND takes over the concession for the nuclear facilities, they will also take over more than 100 IFE employees who work at and for the facilities. We will ensure that they have a smooth transition to NND."

The refurbishment included the complete replacement of reactor coolant recirculation piping with forged piping and fittings made of advanced corrosion-resistant stainless steel, the regulator said, as well as safety upgrades including the commissioning of the reactor containment filtered venting system and the alternate cooling water system. During the extended outage, inspections of critical reactor components such as reactor pressure vessel welds were carried out as part of the assessment of the unit's ageing status and residual operating life. "The evaluations have shown that the reactor can continue safe operation with the normal maintenance and surveillance programme," the AERB said.

The regulator has now given permission for the unit - known as TAPS (for Tarapur Atomic Power Station) unit 2 - to restart and operate for a further 10 years. The regulator said it will continue to maintain its regulatory oversight and monitor the safety performance of both units at the plant. It issued a permit for TAPS unit 1 to restart after its refurbishment last December: that unit is now operating at its rated power of 160 MWe, the AERB said.

Tarapur 1 is one of two BWR units commissioned at the site in Maharashtra in 1969 as India's first commercial nuclear power plant. Built by GE on a turnkey contract, the units were originally rated at 200 MWe but were subsequently downrated to 160 MWe (gross). They underwent six months' refurbishment in 2005-06, but have both been offline since 2020 for major refurbishment work.

Looking to new build

NTPC's completion of its first feasibility study for a nuclear project has been widely reported in the Indian press. The company - which recently signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with France's EDF to explore cooperation in developing new nuclear power projects in India - is set to submit the first feasibility study for a nuclear project for approval by the Department of Atomic 抖阴传媒在线 (DAE), which would pave the way for NTPC to begin work on its first standalone nuclear project in India.

The company is also in the process of conducting feasibility studies in two more states, and has received a go-ahead from the  government of Bihar to conduct a feasibility study for a nuclear project in Banka district, the Economic Times reported, quoting a source who said NTPC "is looking to set up at least two units of 700 MW each in the states being explored for nuclear projects".

NTPC is a Public Sector Undertaking under India's Ministry of Power. It currently operates more than 89 GW of installed capacity, with another 32 GW under construction, with a target to reach 149 GW of total capacity by 2032, including 60 GW from renewable energy sources, with a balanced mix of thermal, hydro, solar, and wind power plants, ensuring supply of reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity to the country.

Restrictions under Indian law have in the past presented a barrier to the participation of private companies like NTPC in nuclear power projects, although NTPC is now part of the Anushakti Vidhyut Nigam Ltd (Ashvini) joint venture with NPCIL which is developing two Indian-designed 700 MWe pressurised heavy water reactors, Mahi Banswara Rajasthan Atomic Nuclear Power Project units 1 and 2, for which excavation works began in late March.

The Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear 抖阴传媒在线 for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act 2025 - enacted at the end of last year - opens up India's nuclear sector to participation from private companies, including in plant operations, power generation, equipment manufacturing, and selected activities such as nuclear fuel fabrication.

Included among the final rules related to that legislation may be a change to the size of planned exclusion zones around nuclear power plants, Reuters has reported. India currently requires a minimum buffer of about 1 km (0.62 miles) around reactors where no habitation or economic activity is allowed, but unnamed industry officials told the news agency that the DAE and the AERB have approved an in-principle plan to reduce this to 500 metres for small reactors and 700 metres for large reactors, saying this reflects safer reactor technologies, and is in line with global norms followed by countries like the USA and France.

The revised buffer zones would cut the land needs by half for large reactors and by nearly two-thirds for small units, potentially allowing two to three times more capacity on the sites, Reuters said, citing an internal presentation it has reviewed.

The HEU was removed from the reactor less than six weeks after an initial site visit by a team from the DOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation. Working in close cooperation with the IAEA throughout, the team securely packaged the uranium into a US-supplied spent fuel cask. This was transported more than 100 miles (160 km) by road - with protection from the Venezuelan military - to the port town of Puerto Cabello, where the cargo was transferred to a specialised carrier supplied by Nuclear Transport Solutions of the UK for shipment by sea to the USA. The casks were then transported Savannah River for processing and reuse, arriving in early May.

"This has been an example of the strong will, effective coordination, dedication and professionalism of all the parties involved," IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said.

_{(Images: NNSA)}

The RV-1 reactor operated for three decades until 1991 using fuel supplied by both the USA and the UK. Like most research reactors built in the 1960s and 70s, it required HEU - uranium enriched to contain more than 20% of the fissile uranium-235 isotope - to perform its research function. However, HEU is also seen as a proliferation risk and a security threat. These older research reactors are now being converted to use low-enriched fuel (LEU), or shut down, with used and unused HEU fuel secured and downblended.

According to the IAEA, 111 research reactors and medical isotope production facilities around the world have so far been converted to use LEU or confirmed as being shut down, with more than 6930 kilograms of HEU repatriated to their country of origin or otherwise dispositioned.

Most of the HEU fuel supplied to these research reactors came from Russia and the USA, and those countries have been leaders in initiatives to deal with the issue.

"I couldn’t be prouder of the men and women who carried out this vital mission," Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation Deputy Administrator Matt Napoli said. "NNSA’s long history in removing nuclear material and the team's extensive know-how were key to this success. I would also like to extend my appreciation to our Venezuelan partners for finalising this material removal and establishing the foundation for future cooperation."

This code, issued in 1981, was initially drafted to define safety requirements to allow the use of pressurised water reactors (PWRs) for merchant ship propulsion, the only technology assessed suitable for naval use at that time. Since then, increasing concerns regarding the consequences of climate change, the development of new reactor technologies and the strengthening of nuclear safety standards have led the IMO to decide to revise the code in order to bring it to the current safety standards and expand the possibility of using nuclear technology for the propulsion of merchant ships beyond the sole technology of PWRs.

Meanwhile, the International Atomic 抖阴传媒在线 Agency (IAEA) is about to launch its Atomic Technologies Licensed for Applications at Sea (ATLAS) project, which aims to establish a framework for the safe and secure deployment of civil nuclear applications at sea, specifically merchant ships and floating nuclear power plants. The IAEA, in co-operation with the IMO, will oversee and guide this global effort, using its established standards for nuclear safety, security, and safeguards.

The Western European Nuclear Regulators Association (WENRA) says it recommends first that the IMO and IAEA work closely together to ensure that their respective activities are carried out in a consistent manner, and the revision of the code be aligned with the most up-to-date IAEA safety standards, "preferably referring, where appropriate, to each other's set of safety requirements". In particular, it says, the revision of the code should achieve the highest safety, security and safeguards levels reasonably achievable, given the specific hazards of the maritime environment.

"Then, given the specificities of the maritime environment and its hazards, and the diversity in the current maturity level of the reactor technologies considered, WENRA further calls for the demonstration of a sufficient level of maturity of both the design, the safety case and the licensee, before a reactor (light water or advanced) is licensed to be used at sea" WENRA said. "Due to the strong international component the naval sector has, with its inherent potential for transboundary consequences and the fast development of new reactor technologies worldwide, WENRA reminds that these conditions are essential for considering the harmonisation of safety requirements and criteria at the international level."

WENRA also calls for a revision of the code that ensures a consistent application of relevant safety requirements and navigation authorisation procedures across countries. "As a consequence, WENRA encourages the IMO to consider, in close coordination with the IAEA, a revision of the code which firmly establishes the safety objectives and then provides sufficiently comprehensive and detailed safety requirements to be used by national competent bodies to grant the ships navigation licenses with the specific chosen technology."

WENRA members confirmed their willingness to support their national competent authorities in the work conducted by the IMO by contributing, in their field of competences, to the revision of the code.

WENRA is a non-governmental organisation comprised of senior nuclear safety regulators from across the European Union and Switzerland, the UK and Ukraine. Currently 18 members, two associated members and 12 observers are represented in WENRA.

The shipping industry consumes about 350 million tonnes of fossil fuel annually and accounts for about 3% of total worldwide carbon emissions. In July 2024, the shipping industry, via the IMO, approved new targets for greenhouse gas emission reductions, aiming to reach net-zero emissions by or around 2050.

Negotiations continue with both sides to secure a temporary localised ceasefire to allow essential repairs to take place. Previous repairs have taken place during such negotiated pauses in hostilities. The plant has been under Russian military control since March 2022.

Grossi said that although there had been no direct impact on nuclear safety "any military action in the vicinity of nuclear facilities significantly increases the risk of a nuclear accident" and he urged "maximum restraint" to be shown.

The IAEA also said the past week had seen the outbreak of a fire, covering 1,100 hectares, in the Chernobyl exclusion zone, "which was reportedly started by a drone impact. The IAEA team at the site was informed that the fire was brought under control and extinguished by early this week. The site confirmed that no abnormal radiation levels were detected during or after the incident".

Grossi said: "Although no abnormal radiation levels were detected, incidents like this could disturb contaminated materials and cause radiological risks."

The latest update from the IAEA follows one last week which expressed similar concerns about the dangers of drones after a drone damaged the External Radiation Control Laboratory, situated about 4 kilometres from the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant's perimeter.

It added that Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi "expresses grave concern about the incident and says military activity that threatens nuclear safety is unacceptable. The director general reiterates call for maximum military restraint near any NPP to avoid the danger of a nuclear accident".

A separate post, from the UAE's foreign ministry, said that Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed held a phone call with Grossi during which they discussed the incident "and UAE-IAEA relations and ways to further enhance them across various fields in support of the peaceful use of nuclear energy in line with the highest international standards of safety, security and non-proliferation".

The UAE's defence ministry said that the drone was one of three that "entered the country’s territory from the western border direction". The other two were "successfully intercepted". It said that investigations were under way to determine the source of the attacks.

The UAE's Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) posted a statement on X saying: "FANR confirms that the incident did not affect the safety of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant or the readiness of its essential systems. There has been no release of radioactive material, radiological safety levels remain within normal ranges, and there is no risk to the public or the environment. No injuries have been reported.

"FANR are maintaining close coordination with the plant operator and the relevant national authorities to verify all aspects of the incident and to confirm the continued integrity and readiness of plant systems. As part of its independent regulatory oversight, FANR is assessing the event in accordance with established national procedures and maintaining continuous monitoring of radiological conditions and plant status.

"The Barakah Nuclear Power Plant was designed, licensed, and is operated in accordance with the highest international standards of nuclear safety and security. Multiple independent layers of protection are built into every aspect of the plant's design and operation to ensure the safe and secure production of clean electricity under a wide range of conditions. The protection of the public, workers, and the environment remains FANR's highest priority. The Authority will continue to provide rigorous and independent regulatory oversight to ensure the continued safe and secure operation of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant."

Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International 抖阴传媒在线 Agency, posting on X on Sunday, said: "Attacks on energy infrastructure have multiplied recently, affecting lives & livelihoods around the world. Today’s attack on the Barakah nuclear power plant in the UAE is an alarming example. I urge all countries to avoid the targeting of civilian energy infrastructure."

抖阴传媒在线 Nuclear Association issued a statement saying: "Our colleagues at the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant and the IAEA have confirmed that everyone is safe at the plant, that the plant has not suffered direct damage, and that emergency procedures have been effectively activated and the plant is operating safely.

"We call on those responsible for military activity of any kind in the proximity of this nuclear power plant, and all civilian energy facilities, to revisit the agreements of the Geneva conventions. Attacks on energy infrastructure are reckless and unacceptable; it is vital that protections afforded to civilian infrastructure - especially nuclear power plants - are reaffirmed and respected."

Background

The Barakah plant - in the Al Dhafra Region of Abu Dhabi - is owned by ENEC and operated by Nawah, a joint nuclear operations and maintenance subsidiary of the ENEC and the Korea Electric Power Corporation.

Construction of the four Korean-designed APR-1400 units at Barakah began in 2012, with work on unit 4 beginning in 2015. Unit 1 began commercial operation in April 2021, unit 2 in March 2022. Unit 3's start-up was in September 2022, and it began commercial operation in February 2023. Unit 4 entered commercial operation in September 2024.

The USA and Israel launched attacks on Iran on 28 February, saying they were targeting Iran's leadership and its military infrastructure. Iran has retaliated - including attacks on neighbouring states. The conflict is continuing, although there is currently an official ceasefire, which is aimed at allowing talks seeking an agreement on ending the conflict.

The IAEA has warned about avoiding military action in the areas of nuclear power plants in the Ukraine-Russia war, and in March the agency reported that "a projectile incident" took place 350 metres from the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant reactor in Iran.

Long Mott 抖阴传媒在线 LLC - a wholly owned subsidiary of Dow - submitted the construction licence application in March 2025, and the NRC began its environmental review in June. The regulator - which is working to streamline the route to deployment of advanced reactor technologies at the direction of executive orders signed by President Donald Trump last year - determined that an environmental assessment (EA), rather than a more extensive environmental impact statement (EIS), better addresses the project's limited environmental footprint at an existing industrial location. This approach allows for a more efficient review while maintaining rigorous environmental standards, the NRC said.

"This milestone demonstrates that we can complete our reviews efficiently, enabling new reactor projects while upholding our responsibility to protect people and the environment," said NRC Executive Director for Operations Mike King. "Using an environmental assessment in this case reflects the project's relatively low potential for environmental impacts and helps provide a more predictable path forward."

The NRC concluded that the potential environmental impacts from the construction of the Long Mott Generating Station "would not be significant" and has determined that a "Finding of No Significant Impact is warranted, and … the preparation of an EIS is not required".

The Finding of No Significant Impact conclusion on the environmental assessment follows an extensive independent analysis by NRC staff, evaluating potential impacts to air quality, water resources, and local species habitats under globally recognised safety and environmental standards. The NRC's environmental review, completed in less than a year, benefitted from X-energy's pre-licensing work on the Xe-100 and the comprehensive construction permit application which included an in-depth environmental report supported year-long field surveys, groundwater monitoring wells with 12 months of water quality measurements, and engagement with multiple state agencies including the Texas Historical Commission, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and Texas General Land Office, X-energy said.

"This is a significant milestone for the Long Mott 抖阴传媒在线 project and we appreciate the comprehensive and efficient manner in which the NRC conducted its assessment," said Edward Stones, business vice president, 抖阴传媒在线 & Climate, Dow. "We are another step closer to expanding access to safe, clean, reliable, cost-competitive nuclear energy in the US."

The NRC said it expects to complete its safety review of the construction permit application later this year, consistent with the 18-month timeline required by Executive Order 14300. A final agency decision on the permit would follow. The construction permit would authorise building the facility, but the company would need to submit a separate application for licences to operate the plant.

Long Mott Generating Station is tipped to be the first grid-scale advanced nuclear reactor deployed to serve an industrial site in North America. The Xe-100 units are engineered to operate as a single 80MW electric unit, and are optimised as a four-unit plant delivering 320 MWe: the reactor can provide baseload power to an electricity system or support industrial applications with 200 MW thermal output per unit of high-pressure, high-temperature steam. 

Dow is one of several tech giants and other major energy users to have signed the Large 抖阴传媒在线 End Users Pledge, supporting the goal of at least tripling nuclear energy by 2050. The Long Mott project is expected to reduce emissions from the Seadrift site - which manufactures more than 4,000,000 pounds (1816 tonnes) of materials per year for use in applications such as food packaging, footwear, wire and cable insulation, solar cell membranes and packaging for pharmaceutical products - by about the equivalent of 440,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.

The UAE has said its investigations have found that the drone, plus others which were successfully intercepted, had originated from Iraqi territory.

Grossi said he had been in contact with leaders "throughout the Gulf region and I can see the unease and great concern. I have been discussing how the IAEA can offer further assistance. Since last year, the IAEA has been gathering information, as well as analysing and evaluating emergency preparedness and response capacities. I will be travelling to the Gulf soon to continue this important joint work.

"The IAEA will continue providing guidance and training to competent authorities and first responders in areas including: radiological impact, emergency protective measures for the public and workers, international emergency arrangements, emergency response plans, and provision of equipment and services to support emergency response. We stand ready, if necessary, to deploy the Agency's nuclear safety and security experts to support nuclear safety efforts on the ground."

The IAEA, which is a United Nations agency, has an Incident and Emergency Centre at its headquarters in Vienna, Austria, which is operating 24/7.

He said: "The situation is of grave concern. This is a nuclear site in the Middle East where the consequences of an attack could be most serious. It is an operating nuclear power plant, and as such, it hosts thousands of kilograms of nuclear material in the core of the reactors, fresh and spent fuel. I want to make it absolutely and completely clear: In case of an attack on the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, a direct hit could result in a very high release of radioactivity to the environment.

"A hit that disabled the lines supplying electrical power to the plant could increase the likelihood of its reactors' cores melting, which could result in a high release of radioactivity. In their worst cases, both scenarios would necessitate protective actions, such as evacuations and sheltering of the population or the need to take stable iodine, with the reach extending to distances from a few to several hundred kilometres. Radiation monitoring would need to cover distances of several hundred kilometres and food restrictions may need to be implemented."

Grossi, speaking by video link to the United Nations Security Council members in New York in the USA, added: "Attacks on nuclear facilities devoted to peaceful purposes are unacceptable. This is consistent with the IAEA General Conference's resolutions. Attacks are even more dangerous when they are against operating nuclear power plants like Zaporizhzhia NPP, Kursk NPP, Bushehr NPP, Barakah NPP or any other nuclear power plant. Nuclear Power Plants are protected under international humanitarian law."

He reiterated his call for maximum restraint to be shown - "military activities against NPPs and other nuclear facilities carry undeniable risks … it is clear that the only sustainable path forward to peace, stability, and cooperation is one grounded in dialogue and diplomacy".

The USA and Israel launched attacks on Iran on 28 February, saying they were targeting Iran's leadership and its military infrastructure. Iran has retaliated - including attacks on neighbouring states. The conflict is continuing, although there is currently an official ceasefire, which is aimed at allowing talks seeking an agreement on ending the conflict.

The IAEA has repeatedly warned about avoiding military action in the areas of nuclear power plants in the Ukraine-Russia war, and in March the agency reported that "a projectile incident" took place 350 metres from the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant reactor in Iran.

The president of Nucleoeléctrica, Juan Martín Campos, said "the renewal of this licence represents a recognition of the technical and operational capabilities developed by Nucleoeléctrica to guarantee a safe, reliable operation aligned with the highest regulatory standards ... this new licensing period allows us to further consolidate the strategic role of Atucha II within the Argentine energy system and to project the development of the national nuclear sector in a context of growing global energy demand".

Background

Atucha II is a 693 MWe pressurised heavy water reactor and was ordered in 1979. It was a Siemens design, a larger version of the first unit at Atucha, and construction started in 1981 by a joint venture of Argentina's National Atomic 抖阴传媒在线 Commission and Germany's Siemens-Kraftwerk Union. However, work proceeded slowly due to lack of funds and was suspended in 1994 with the plant 81% complete.

In 1994, Nucleoeléctrica Argentina was set up to take over the nuclear power plants from CNEA and oversee construction of Atucha II. In 2003, plans for completing Atucha II were presented to the government. The government announced a strategic plan in August 2006 for the country's nuclear power sector, including completion of Atucha II. The unit was effectively completed in September 2011. First criticality was achieved early in June 2014, and grid connection was later that month, with full power in February 2015.

In December 2015 the Autoridad Regulatoria Nuclear (ARN) granted a conditional operating licence for Atucha II until May 2016, and issued its initial five year licence on 26 May 2016 following the completion of a programme of testing, training and other actions. The first, two year, extension was granted in May 2021 but the unit was shut down from October 2022 for repairs after the discovery that one of the four internal supports of the reactor had detached and moved from its design location.

That led to ARN issuing a second short-term extension to 26 May 2024, so that Nucleoeléctrica Argentina, could "implement corrective improvement actions". After verifying that Nucleoeléctrica had implemented these actions "in compliance with the established safety requirements" the regulator authorised the unit's entry back into service in August 2023, following a 10 month shutdown. In March 2024 it issued a renewed licence to Nucleoeléctrica Argentina for the operation of the second unit of the Atucha nuclear power plant until 26 May 2026, marking its first 10 years of commercial operation.

The NRC has set an expedited review schedule for the project, with an estimated completion date of 30 April 2027. This, the NRC says, reflects its broader push to modernise its licensing processes under Executive Order 14300, Ordering Reform of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, signed last year by President Donald Trump. 

Orano's licence application incorporates experience from years of successful commercial operations with uranium enrichment centrifuges at the company's Georges Besse 2 facility in France: the company said it is also leveraging its construction experience with the ongoing 30% expansion in capacity underway at Georges Besse 2. 

The licensing effort will also leverage the licensing application from the Eagle Rock Enrichment Facility, a centrifuge plant Orano's forerunner company Areva had previously planned to build at Idaho Falls. The NRC issued a licence in 2011 for Eagle Rock, but the licence was terminated - at the request of the company - in 2018. Orano has committed to provide the NRC with a detailed "crosswalk" comparing the Project IKE application to Eagle Rock, which the NRC says is to "leverage the precedent" from the earlier safety evaluation. "While the staff will rely on the similarities between the two facilities to support scheduled efficiencies, the staff will perform a complete regulatory review of the Project Ike application, and the accelerated schedule assumes those similarities can be effectively leveraged," the .

"NRC is safely enabling America's efforts to reduce US dependency on foreign enrichment," the regulator's Chairman Ho Nieh said. "Credible, predictable and timely safety reviews - this is how NRC supports American leadership in nuclear energy."

Project IKE - which will be located on unused former Manhattan Project land - represents one of the largest capital developments in Tennessee's history. It is expected to create more than 1,000 construction jobs and 300 long-term career positions, plus an extensive supply chain based in the East Tennessee region, as well as playing a key role in strengthening US energy security: according to Orano, the output from the Project IKE facility alone would be able to replace the enriched uranium America is currently importing from Russia.

"For 15 years Orano has used ETC centrifuges in France to reliably enrich and supply uranium for powering American reactors. Now, we are planning to generate that same secure nuclear fuel supply using the same proven technology and processes at our Project IKE facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee," Jean-Luc Palayer, CEO of Orano USA, said. (ETC - Enrichment Technology Company - is a joint venture of Orano and Urenco which develops, manufactures and installs gas centrifuges for uranium enrichment.)

"With the NRC's 12-month timeline and Orano's expertise, we are on a good path to begin enriching a significant amount of uranium at Project IKE in time to supply America's quickly increasing nuclear energy needs," he added.

The MoU stipulates that the Netherlands and Belgium will work on a broader research & development base and intensify knowledge exchange. To this end, both countries will meet periodically. In this way, the Netherlands can benefit from the existing industrial knowledge and applications currently available in Belgium due to the larger number of operational nuclear power plants. Conversely, the Netherlands can share knowledge gained regarding the construction of new nuclear power plants and developments concerning small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs). For example, in the areas of site research, permitting, processes, and components for nuclear power plants.

Moreover, the Netherlands and Belgium want companies and knowledge organisations in the nuclear energy chain and supply chain to find and strengthen each other more effectively. Therefore, the two countries are setting up innovation missions between companies and knowledge organisations active in the Netherlands and Belgium. Where possible, the governments will encourage cooperation between companies.

In addition, two countries want to commit to strengthening the knowledge and skills of people who will work in the nuclear sector. During the peak of the construction of the nuclear power plants, this involves 10,000 employees, and on average over the entire construction process, about 5,000 employees. This can be achieved, for example, through joint training programmes.

The two countries also commit to working together on solutions regarding the management, storage, and eventual disposal of radioactive waste.

"Future European nuclear projects require strong value chains, high-level expertise, and close cooperation between states, research centres, and industry," Bihet said. "Belgium and the Netherlands possess recognised expertise and wish to join forces today to contribute to the development of a more robust, innovative, and independent European nuclear ecosystem."

"The Netherlands is currently at a crucial point, with plans to become more energy independent through increased nuclear energy in the energy mix," de Bat added. "In a sector currently brimming with developments and benefitting from a high density of knowledge, cooperation with neighbouring countries is essential. With Belgium, we can give our mutual ambitions the necessary boost. In doing so, we strengthen the sector and also contribute to broader European development."

In May last year, Belgium's federal parliament voted by a large majority to repeal a 2003 law to phase-out of nuclear power and ban the construction of new nuclear generating capacity. Under the phase-out policy, unit 1 of the Tihange plant was set to shut in October this year, with Doel 2 following in December. Belgium's last two reactors - Doel 4 and Tihange 3 - were scheduled to close in November 2025, but a final agreement was reached in December for the two units to continue operating for a further 10 years.

In late April, the Belgian government announced it had begun talks to take direct ownership of the country's seven nuclear power reactors - with all decommissioning and dismantling works suspended "to ensure that all options remain available to the Belgian State".

In December 2021, the Netherlands' new coalition government placed nuclear power at the heart of its climate and energy policy. In addition to keeping the Borssele plant in operation for longer, the government also called for the construction of new reactors. Based on preliminary plans, two new reactors will be completed around 2035, and each will have a capacity of 1000-1650 MWe. The government is also taking steps to prepare the Netherlands for the possible deployment of SMRs.

A new , which was ordered by a Senate postulate, analyses the potential consequences for Switzerland's future electricity mix of long-term operation of the Gösgen and Leibstadt nuclear power plants for up to 80 years, as well as the construction of a new nuclear power plant. The report examines the regulatory, financial, and energy policy conditions necessary to enable the safe long-term operation, beyond 60 years, of the two plants. The Swiss Federal Office of 抖阴传媒在线 had already confirmed in 2024 the technical and economic feasibility of operating Swiss nuclear power plants for up to 60 years. Therefore, the report primarily addresses the period beyond 60 years.

The report concludes that operating the Gösgen and Leibstadt nuclear power plants for 80 years would be technically feasible and, in most cases, cost-effective. Financial support would not be necessary at present, according to the Federal Council.

"In the future, long-term operation can help address potential electricity shortages during winter," the report says. "To achieve this, operators must make the necessary investments in renovations."

According to the report, the investments required for technical upgrades to ensure long-term operation should be amortised based on realistic assumptions regarding future electricity prices and costs. Non-economic risks stem from political and regulatory uncertainties, such as potential early decommissioning or stricter safety requirements. A stable regulatory framework is essential. Operators also emphasise that maintaining specific knowledge and skills is a challenge, particularly for the long-term operation of nuclear power plants.

Commissioned by the Swiss Federal Office of 抖阴传媒在线, Frontier Economics and Siempelkamp NIS analysed the required technical measures, investment costs, profitability, and non-financial risks for the long-term operation of the Gösgen and Leibstadt plants for a period of up to 80 years. They concluded that the investments needed for the technical upgrades to ensure long-term operation would amount to between CHF0.7 billion and CHF1.2 billion (USD0.9-1.5 billion), according to the power plant.

"The decision regarding the lifespan of a nuclear power plant is linked to business management considerations," the report notes. "Operators will only aim for long-term operation if they anticipate being able to fully recoup the necessary investments profitably.

"Operation would likely be profitable for the operators, given realistic assumptions regarding electricity price trends and investment costs. From the current perspective, a substantial shortfall in profitability seems highly unlikely and would only arise if the framework conditions were persistently very unfavourable. The main risks to investment decisions lie less in technical challenges than in political and regulatory uncertainties. A stable, reliable, and predictable long-term framework is therefore essential to ensure planning security for operators."

Gösgen is a 1010 MWe pressurised water reactor that began commercial operation in November 1979. Kernkraftwerk Gösgen-Däniken AG operates the plant on behalf of its five owners: Alpiq AG (40%), Axpo Power AG (25%), the City of Zurich (15%), Centralschweizerische Kraftwerke AG (12.5%) and Energie Wasser Bern (7.5%). The plant generates about 13% of Switzerland's electricity needs.

_{Leibstadt (Image: KKL)}

Leibstadt features a single boiling water reactor built in the early 1980s. The plant produces 1165 MWe for six utilities with various stakes and provides electricity for two million households. Since 1984, Kernkraftwerk Leibstadt AG has invested a total of around EUR1.5 billion (USD1.6 billion) in the modernisation and maintenance of the plant. A further EUR1 billion is planned for renovations in the coming years to ensure safe, reliable and economical electricity generation until at least 2045.

A new Swiss energy policy was sought in response to the March 2011 accident at the Fukushima Daiichi plant in Japan. Two months later, both the Swiss parliament and government decided to exit nuclear power production. The 抖阴传媒在线 Strategy 2050 initiative drawn up by the Federal Council came into force on 1 January 2018 and calls for a gradual withdrawal from nuclear energy. It also foresees expanded use of renewables and hydro power but anticipates increased reliance on fossil fuels and electricity imports as an interim measure.

In August last year, Switzerland's Federal Council presented draft legislation that would remove the country's ban on the construction of new nuclear power.

In April 2024, Swiss utility Axpo said it was assessing the technical feasibility of operating the two-unit Beznau nuclear power plant beyond the 60 years currently planned. The two 365 MWe Westinghouse pressurised water reactors at the Beznau plant are the oldest power reactors in Switzerland. Unit 1 began operating in 1969, while unit 2 entered operation in 1972. In addition to providing power, both units also produce district heating.

"Clearly, among these major issues, there's energy. You know that the government - whether you agree or not - has been working on this from the beginning, from the gas release to the nuclear measures. I'd also like to take this opportunity to point out that the enabling law will be approved by the summer, and the implementing decrees will be adopted to create the legal framework necessary for the resumption of nuclear power in Italy."

In October last year, Italy's Council of Ministers, at a meeting chaired by Meloni, approved for final consideration a bill delegating responsibility for the reintroduction of nuclear energy in the country to the government. The bill empowers the government to comprehensively regulate the introduction of 'sustainable' nuclear power, within the framework of European decarbonisation policies by 2050 and energy security objectives. The mandate includes, among other things, the development of a National Programme for Sustainable Nuclear Power, the establishment of an independent Nuclear Safety Authority, the strengthening of scientific and industrial research, the development of new skills, and the implementation of information and awareness campaigns.

The implementing legislative decrees must be adopted within 12 months of the law's entry into force.

Italy operated a total of four nuclear power plants starting in the early 1960s but decided to phase out nuclear power in a referendum that followed the 1986 Chernobyl accident. It closed its last two operating plants, Caorso and Trino Vercellese, in 1990.

In late March 2011, following the Fukushima Daiichi accident, the Italian government approved a moratorium of at least one year on construction of nuclear power plants in the country, which had been looking to restart its long-abandoned nuclear programme. In a poll held in June of that year, 94% of voters rejected the construction of any new nuclear reactors in Italy. However, a poll conducted in June 2021 showed that one-third of Italians were in favour of reconsidering the use of nuclear energy in the country, with more than half of respondents saying they would not exclude the future use of new advanced nuclear technologies.

In May 2023, the Italian Parliament approved a motion to urge the government to consider incorporating nuclear power into the country's energy mix. In the September of that year, the first meeting was held of the National Platform for Sustainable Nuclear Power, set up by the government to define a time frame for the possible resumption of nuclear energy in Italy and identify opportunities for the country's industrial chain already operating in the sector.

In its launch announcement at the Philanthropy Asia Summit in Singapore, the coalition said that "philanthropy has, for decades, under-invested in the nuclear space. According to analysis by Founders Pledge drawing on ClimateWorks Foundation data, only 0.1-0.2% of climate philanthropy supports nuclear energy, less than USD2 of every USD1,000".

The Global Coalition for Nuclear Philanthropy plans to "grow and align philanthropic capital for nuclear across four strategic pathways, with the aim of supporting more countries in exploring the safe and credible integration of nuclear into their energy mix over the next 5 to 10 years".

The four pathways are to: build the case, using "data-informed, culturally grounded narratives that connect nuclear energy to concrete outcomes" and build durable public support; grow the field, expanding the global talent, institutions and networks needed to deploy and govern nuclear power safely and effectively; make it bankable, by de-risking financing structures and attract the public and private capital needed; strengthen governance, by building on successful initiatives to strengthen safety, security and governance frameworks.

The initiative stresses its goals align with the COP28 Declaration to Triple Nuclear 抖阴传媒在线, the pledge now supported by 38 countries backing an at least tripling of global nuclear energy capacity by 2050.

Ashvin Dayal, Senior Vice President for Power at The Rockefeller Foundation, said: "Universal energy abundance - the kind that powers industries, anchors economies, and raises living standards for billions - requires firm, clean power alongside renewables. The next generation of nuclear technologies, including small modular reactors, is advancing fast and costs are coming down, opening a real prospect that many developing and emerging economies could add safe, abundant, clean baseload power to their energy mix. Getting there will take serious work on policy, regulation, finance, and human capital. That is precisely why we are forming the Global Coalition for Nuclear Philanthropy now."

Desmond Kuek, Executive Director and CEO of the Temasek Trust, which was established by Singapore-state-owned global investment company Temasek Holdings, said: "Nuclear power is a vital clean energy source that can help address the climate crisis. Through the Global Coalition for Nuclear Philanthropy, we aim to convene like-minded partners to support informed dialogue and responsible approaches to nuclear energy in upholding the highest standards of safety, security, and responsible waste management."

As strategic partners, the Oppenheimer Project, which helped develop the coalition, says it will continue to identify high-impact opportunities and ensure the coalition operates effectively across a complex, multi-stakeholder landscape. TT Foundation Advisors, the philanthropy advisory arm of Temasek Trust, will provide infrastructure support, including tailored donor-advised funds, and grant management support in the initial years.

Likhachev and Chinese Minister of Science and Technology Yin Hejun signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on scientific and technical cooperation in nuclear fusion.

A separate MoU was signed by Likhachev and Chinese Academy of Sciences President Hou Jianguo on cooperation in science and technology, with areas including nuclear fusion as well as nuclear medicine, accelerator technology, and new photonic and quantum technologies.

Likhachev said: "Our countries share a long history of strategic partnership, not only in the construction of nuclear power plants but also in the development of future technologies. Memoranda of understanding on long-term cooperation in fundamental areas of science and technology, primarily controlled thermonuclear fusion, signify our commitment to move forward together, shoulder to shoulder, and ensure leadership in these areas."

Presidents' joint statement

Following their talks, a joint statement was issued by China's President Xi Jinping and President Putin, which covered their views on a global situation which "is becoming more complex".

In its references to energy, it said: "The parties, highly appreciating the significant results of Russian-Chinese energy cooperation, agreed to continue to strengthen their comprehensive partnership in the energy sector, support the two countries' organisations in deepening mutually beneficial cooperation in the oil, gas, and coal sectors, the use of peaceful nuclear energy and renewable energy, including 'green' certificates, ensure the safety and stability of the operation of cross-border energy infrastructure, facilitate the unimpeded transportation of energy resources, promote a deeper dialogue between energy-producing and energy-consuming countries, jointly maintain the stability of global energy markets, and improve the level of energy security based on the principles of energy justice.

"The parties intend to continue implementing the Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant and Xudapu Nuclear Power Plant construction projects, ensure the timely completion of construction work and commissioning of the facilities, and, on this basis, deepen cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy, consistently promote cooperation in the areas of nuclear fusion, fast neutron reactors, and the closed nuclear fuel cycle, and develop cooperation in the form of package agreements in the area of 鈥嬧�媡he initial stage of the nuclear fuel cycle and the joint construction of new nuclear power plants based on the principles of mutual benefit and a balance of interests."

And on space, where nuclear power and nuclear propulsion systems are set to be deployed: "The parties agreed to continue implementing large-scale space projects that meet the shared interests of Russia and China and are included in their national space programmes, actively promote cooperation, and systematically increase the level of interaction in key areas of space activities, including the International Lunar Research Station, lunar exploration, and deep space exploration."

Construction projects

In June 2018, Russia and China signed agreements for the construction of two VVER-1200 reactors as units 7 and 8 of the Tianwan plant. Construction of unit 7 began in May 2021, with that of unit 8 starting in February 2022. The units are scheduled to be put into commercial operation in 2026 and 2027, respectively.

It was also agreed that two further VVER-1200 units were to be constructed at the Xudabao (also known as Xudapu) site in Liaoning province.  Construction began on these two units - 3 and 4 - in July 2021 and May 2022, respectively. Commissioning of the units is scheduled for 2027 and 2028, respectively.

Ac-225 is a short-lived alpha-emitting isotope that can be used in a form of treatment known as targeted alpha therapy. This therapy, in which a molecule such as a monoclonal antibody is combined with an alpha emitter such as Ac-225, has the potential to treat a variety of cancers, targeting solid tumours, metastases, and systemic cancers such as leukaemia. However, the scarcity of Ac-225 - sometimes described as one of the world's rarest radioisotopes - is limiting its development and therapeutic use.

_{How the compoleted facility could look (Image: TerraPower)}

TPI said it selected Philadelphia and ultimately the Bellwether District following a rigorous nationwide site evaluation process that included more than 350 potential locations and 49 site visits across eight metropolitan areas. "Philadelphia emerged as the clear choice due to its strong pharmaceutical footprint, distinguished healthcare leadership, unparalleled access to top talent and academic institutions, and an exceptionally supportive city and state," the company said.

"TerraPower was created to improve the world through nuclear energy and science," said TerraPower President and CEO Chris Levesque. "Breaking ground today on the Bellwether Laboratory represents a defining chapter in TerraPower's history - and in the history of actinium-225 manufacturing. This new flagship, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility will produce actinium-225 at a scale the industry has never seen before, providing global pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies with the reliable, large-volume supply they need to advance their clinical programmes and ultimately expand cancer treatment options for patients."

Scott Claunch, president of TerraPower Isotopes, added: "Today, TerraPower Isotopes celebrates breaking ground on the world's most advanced actinium-225 manufacturing site. The Bellwether Laboratory is purpose-built to meet the needs of a growing industry that is working to transform how cancer is treated. With a highly trained and dedicated team, we are thrilled to be building our flagship facility right here in Philadelphia."

"This agreement was established to build a cooperation system covering nuclear power plant operation, facility maintenance, facility reliability, and overall engineering," KHNP said. 

The company said that Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) - its parent company - "plans to take its facility reliability-centred operation system, which has been under way since the transition to an 'engineering system' in December 2023, to the next level through this cooperation".

"This agreement is expected to serve as an opportunity for KHNP engineers to expand their horizons globally and provide a growth chance for the domestic engineering system to take a leap forward," said Kim Young-seung, Head of KHNP's Engineering Division. "We will continue to do our utmost to complete the Korean-style engineering system through close cooperation with overseas operators and international organisations."

KHNP operates 26 nuclear power reactors with a combined generating capacity of 25,609 MWe, which generate almost one-third of South Korea's electricity.

Southern Nuclear - a subsidiary of Southern Company - operates more than 8,200 MWe of nuclear generating capacity across eight units at the Farley plant in Alabama and the Hatch and Vogtle plants in Georgia.

It added: "A merit-based selection process, conducted free of interference, is the only way to attract candidates of the calibre this Company requires, and the only basis on which Energoatom's international partners - whose financing and operational support are essential - will sustain their engagement."

At its meeting on 8 May, this Supervisory Board - which held its inaugural meeting in February - received information from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine, it said, after which it: directed an internal investigation be opened; suspended "several company employees" pending the investigation; and outlined an organisational restructuring to take place by 16 June, including "reorganisation of specific structural units of the Company responsible for physical protection and economic security".

In a message to Energoatom’s 30,000-plus staff, the Supervisory Board praised the way they had maintained safe operation of the nuclear fleet during four years of war and their successful transition away from Russian nuclear fuel - as well as the financial contribution Energoatom had made to the country's defence.

The board added that Energoatom staff "have done all of this notwithstanding a series of unacceptable behaviours and harmful actions in recent years that have undermined the compliance culture on which a nuclear operator depends. The Supervisory Board is determined to bring these to an end, restore integrity, and rebuild that culture … Energoatom's employees deserve governance worthy of their service, and this Supervisory Board is determined to provide it".

The seven-member Supervisory Board of Energoatom is chaired by independent member Rumina Velshi, former CEO of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. Another of the four independent members, Patrick Fragman, former CEO of Westinghouse, is vice chairman. The Supervisory Board's remit is to "oversee and regulate the activities of the executive body and ensure effective management and strategic development" and "establish a professional and independent body composed of individuals with relevant experience in the public and/or private sectors".

Ukraine has 15 reactors, capable of generating half its electricity, at four existing nuclear power plants, including the six-unit Zaporizhzhia plant which has been under Russian military control since early March 2022. The country has plans for at least nine Westinghouse AP1000 units and has also been considering potential for small modular reactors in the future.

In answer to questions during the company's quarterly results call, Sinha said the company was working with the governments of three states where it has identified land for a potential nuclear project. Detailed geotechnical studies are under way, he added.

"We are now doing detailed DPR (detailed project reports) of projects to be set up, and this will be done in collaboration with NPCIL," he said. "These are small modular, two 220 MW plants."

Tata Power is one of India's largest vertically integrated power companies, with a diversified portfolio across the entire power value chain. Its operational and pipeline capacity includes some 17.5 GW from "clean and green" sources including solar, wind, and hydropower (this figure includes projects under construction) and around 8.9 GW of thermal generation capacity, and is also one of India’s largest private power distribution companies.

Tata is one of six companies that expressed interest under a request for proposals issued by NPCIL in 2024 to finance and build a proposed fleet of Bharat Small Reactors. The six companies - Hindalco Industries Ltd, Jindal Steel & Power Ltd, Tata Power Co, Reliance Industries, JSW 抖阴传媒在线 Ltd and Adani Power Ltd - identified 16 prospective sites across six states, including five in Gujarat, four in Madhya Pradesh, three in Odisha, two in Andhra Pradesh, and one each in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. According to press reports, Tata power is in discussion with Madhya 鈦燩radesh, Gujarat and Odisha.

Bharat Small Reactors - or BSRs - are described as compact 220 MWe pressurised heavy water reactors that are tailored for "captive use".

EAGL-1 is a lead-bismuth cooled fast-spectrum small modular reactor (SMR) which can operate in a closed-fuel cycle in which used fuel is continuously reprocessed and reused. FANCO submitted a regulatory engagement plan for the 240 MWe SMR to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission in April, marking the start of its pre-application engagement with the regulator.

"SMR technology is an important part of the energy mix needed to create stable, affordable, and reliable power grids that meet the energy needs of economies and communities worldwide," AtkinsRéalis President and CEO Ian Edwards said. "This partnership with FANCO marks an important step in delivering innovative and scalable nuclear technology precisely when the United States is embracing a new era of energy leadership."

The alliance agreement spans 20 years and contemplates services worth up to USD250 million over the first 5 years. Work has already begun on task orders, AtkinsRéalis said. Under the first task orders, it will prepare procedures and policies required to do design work, such as a quality programme and engineering procedures. It will also undertake the conceptual design for the balance of plant and review the design of the nuclear steam supply system. 

FANCO says its system will focus on mixed-oxide fuel and other transuranic fuels sourced from existing US Department of 抖阴传媒在线 stockpiles, although the EAGL-1 system is also capable of operating on high-assay low-enriched uranium. This "fuel-agnostic" approach means it can avoid major supply chain bottlenecks while helping reduce the nation's stockpile of long-term nuclear waste, the company says. Its BridgePower solution offers customers the ability to generate immediate power using off-the-shelf package boilers that feed steam turbines, and later seamlessly transitions to nuclear energy by replacing the boilers with the EAGL-1 reactor, using the same turbine infrastructure, with minimal equipment and modification costs. 

"AtkinsRéalis and First American Nuclear create the energy dream team the country needs right now," FANCO CEO Mike Reinboth said. "Together, we combine highly specialised expertise in advanced nuclear reactors and fuels with expansive operational scale and world-class engineering resources to bring affordable, reliable nuclear energy to the US as expeditiously as possible."

AtkinsRéalis has served as the architect-engineer on the Darlington New Nuclear Project team, which is working to deploy a BWRX-300 SMR in Ontario, since 2023 and has supported the Rolls Royce SMR program in the UK with design and engineering expertise since 2018, as well as acting as the Owner's Engineer for 抖阴传媒在线 Northwest's SMR project in Washington state since 2024.

The combined entity will have 110 GW of generating capacity, including considerable nuclear energy capacity - NextEra 抖阴传媒在线 Resources, along with its affiliate company Florida Power & Light Company, operates seven nuclear units at four sites: Turkey Point and St Lucie in Florida; Seabrook in New Hampshire; and Point Beach in Wisconsin. Additionally, it plans to restart the Duane Arnold plant in Iowa, which ceased operations in 2020. The plant is scheduled to become operational at the beginning of 2029, pending regulatory approvals. A power purchase agreement with Google was announced last October.

In January NextEra 抖阴传媒在线 said it could add up to 6 GWe of small modular reactor generating capacity at its existing nuclear power plant sites or potential new sites, primarily to meet demand from data centres.

More than 40% of the electricity Dominion 抖阴传媒在线 generates is from its nuclear plants - Millstone Nuclear Power Station in Connecticut, North Anna and Surry nuclear power plants in Virginia and VC Summer in South Carolina.

John Ketchum, chairman, president and CEO of NextEra 抖阴传媒在线, said: "This is a historic moment for our two companies and for the states we are privileged to serve. Electricity demand is rising faster than it has in decades. Projects are getting larger and more complex. Customers need affordable and reliable power now, not years from now. We are bringing NextEra 抖阴传媒在线 and Dominion 抖阴传媒在线 together because scale matters more than ever - not for the sake of size, but because scale translates into capital and operating efficiencies. It enables us to buy, build, finance and operate more efficiently, which translates into more affordable electricity for our customers in the long run."

Robert Blue, chair, president and CEO of Dominion 抖阴传媒在线, said: "This combination brings together two strong operating platforms and creates an even stronger energy partner for Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida, with the scale and balance sheet to deliver the generation, transmission and grid investments our customers and economies need."

The proposal is that Ketchum will serve as chairman and CEO of the combined company and Blue will serve as president and CEO of regulated utilities and as a member of the board of directors. The combined company's board of directors will include 10 directors from NextEra 抖阴传媒在线 and four from Dominion 抖阴传媒在线. The announcement includes a proposal for USD2.25 billion in bill credits for Dominion customers in Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina over the two years after the deal closes.

The two sides expect the deal to close in 12 to 18 months "subject to customary closing conditions and approvals by the shareholders of NextEra 抖阴传媒在线 and Dominion 抖阴传媒在线, the expiration or termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, approval by the Federal 抖阴传媒在线 Regulatory Commission under Section 203 of the Federal Power Act and approval by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission".

The platform has been developed over the past year, and is initially being deployed to support The Nuclear Company's own nuclear construction and development activities, including future large-scale reactor campuses and supporting critical infrastructure. The Nuclear Company said it also plans to work alongside operating nuclear utilities and allied partners seeking to modernise existing security architectures.

The announcement comes amid an increasingly complex global threat environment targeting critical infrastructure, including recent drone incidents near nuclear facilities in Ukraine and the Middle East and growing concerns surrounding cyber-physical warfare, autonomous systems, insider threats, and coordinated attacks on energy infrastructure, the company said. 

"The United States cannot deploy hundreds of gigawatts of nuclear power without simultaneously raising the security standard for the industry," said The Nuclear Company CEO Jonathon Webb. "President Trump has made clear that America must rapidly scale nuclear energy to support AI, manufacturing, national security, and economic leadership. That mission requires modern infrastructure protection built for today's threat environment."

‍NOS Security is part of The Nuclear Company's broader NOS platform initiative focused on modernising nuclear deployment through AI-enabled construction, operations, supply chain coordination, and infrastructure management. 

The Nuclear Company itself emerged from "stealth mode" in July 2024. In March this year, it launched The Nuclear Company Services, offering maintenance and outage support to US reactor operators. Earlier this month, it announced a partnership with global investment firm Brookfield to form a new company specialising in the development of Westinghouse nuclear reactor technology, which has selected to project manage the completion of the two partially built VC Summer AP1000 units in South Carolina.

It says that "our commercial strategy is focused on deploying Gravity Reactors in markets with rapidly growing electricity demand and increasing need for reliable, affordable baseload power. Our initial commercial focus is on hyperscale data centres and other large power users, and over time may expand to include utilities, industrial operators, and government or defence installations".

Deep Fission's Gravity reactor is a small modular reactor (SMR) designed to be placed underground in an optimised borehole one mile (1.6 km) deep. Using traditional pressurised water reactor technology and LEU fuel, each reactor will generate 15 MWe, the company says, while its small footprint and dense power output means it will need a fraction of the land needed for traditional surface nuclear: ten reactors on the same site would deliver 150 MWe, or 100 reactors would produce 1.5 GWe. The passive shielding and natural containment offered by the surrounding geology, and the combination of mature technologies from the nuclear, oil and gas, and geothermal industries, while using off-the-shelf parts and readily available LEU fuel, aims to improve safety and security and enable a faster, more cost-effective path to deployment.

Deep Fission broke ground in December at the Great Plains Industrial Park in Parsons, Kansas, for its pilot project and plans to build a full-scale commercial plant there following the test reactor demonstration. In its , the company says that "in addition to the Kansas Site, we have entered into multiple non-binding LOIs (letters of intent) with potential development partners for candidate commercial sites in the United States. These LOIs relate to potential deployment opportunities in Kansas, Texas, and Utah as well as other locations in the United States and internationally".

In August last year, Deep Fission was one of 10 companies selected by the US Department of 抖阴传媒在线 to receive support under its Nuclear Reactor Pilot Program, which aims to see at least three designs achieve criticality by 4 July 2026.

Deep Fission was founded in 2023 by father-daughter team Elizabeth and Richard Muller, who also co-founded Deep Isolation in 2016 to develop the concept of placing canisters of radioactive waste hundreds of metres underground via a borehole.

The future competitiveness of European economies will depend directly on their ability to access massive, available, competitive, and sovereign computing power, the companies said. "The challenge is industrial, economic, and strategic: enabling European companies to train, deploy, and operate their AI models under controlled conditions of performance, cost, and sovereignty. This is the ambition of the project led by the AION consortium."

AION was launched in June 2025 by European cloud and AI provider Scaleway, bringing together public, private, and academic partners to support the development of sovereign, high-performance infrastructure for AI in Europe in response to an invitation for expressions of interest in contributing to the future development of AI Gigafactories in the European Union. The invitation was issued by the European Union and EuroHPC Joint Undertaking, a joint initiative between the EU, European countries and private partners set up in 2018 to coordinate their efforts and pool their resources to develop a world-class supercomputing ecosystem.

AI Gigafactories will be high-capacity AI infrastructure hubs that build on the existing EU AI Factories initiative - with significantly greater compute power, integrated data resources, and automation. 

France would be a "strategic choice" to host a European AI Gigafactory, the companies said, with unique advantages including "abundant, competitive, sovereign, and low-carbon electricity thanks to its mix mainly composed of nuclear and hydroelectric power, robust digital infrastructure and recognised expertise across the entire value chain, particularly in data centres, cloud computing and high-performance computing".

The AION consortium is based on four fundamental pillars: 

• Performance: deploying a world-class AI infrastructure to serve the European economy; 

• Trust: strengthening European strategic autonomy through complete control of the AI 鈥嬧�媣alue chain with the support of sovereign actors; 

• Openness: promoting the use of open source technologies and partnerships serving the European ecosystem; 

• Responsibility: to develop AI to serve research, businesses and European citizens with particular attention to controlling its environmental footprint. 

Béatrice Bigois, Group Executive Director in charge of EDF's Customers, Services and Territories division, said France has major assets to drive the development of AI infrastructure, including competitive, sovereign and low-carbon electricity. "With this consortium, we are choosing a collective ambition: to build a world-class European AI Gigafactory from France. EDF intends to fully contribute to this strategic dynamic for Europe," she said.

Johnathan Chavers, Director of Nuclear Fuel and Analysis, Southern Nuclear, described the growth opportunities presented by increasing electricity demand - both from large load customers such as manufacturing and data centres, as well as residential customers - as unprecedented and transformational. Southern Company is itself investing USD81 billion in energy infrastructure through 2030 to support this growth - and in nuclear, it is focusing on the existing installed capacity, he said, "because that's how we can respond the quickest. But we need to do what is necessary today to prepare ourself and preserve the option to grow nuclear",

The vital role of existing capacity was highlighted by speakers across the conference. Japan shut down its nuclear fleet following the Fukushima accident of 2011. It has now restarted 15 of its fleet of 36 reactors, Shuji Yoneda, General Manager of the Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan's Washington DC Office, said, with more restarts to come. But for the first time in 20 years, the Japanese government is projecting increases in electricity demand and envisages nuclear providing 20% of its electricity generation mix by 2040. As well as accelerating the restart process and extending the operating lifetime of those 36 plants, Japan will also need some 5.5 GWe of new nuclear capacity to reach that goal.

Whether from existing capacity, new-build, or new applications, the entire value chain is central to sustained global nuclear growth, said Christian Di Lizia, EDF Senior Business Developer Relations with International Organisations. Standardisation and replication of projects not only leads to speed, cost and quality improvements - they also attract finance. "Very often when we talk about financing projects, there's a kind of a tendency of thinking about reactor technology. It goes beyond that," he said.

_{Istvan Szabo (second from right) (Image: 抖阴传媒在线 Nuclear Association)}

Istvan Szabo, Senior Sector Engineer at the European Investment Bank, highlighted the importance of regulatory frameworks and capital flow to propel the sector forward - whether for building new capacity or keeping supply chains open. The bank is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, and has a track record of financing nuclear-related projects dating back to the 1970s. "If there is a credible and clear policy, and the project fundamentals are in place, then the experience shows that even long-term financing, both public and private, is available," he said.

Uranium fundamentals

There is no shortage of uranium ore to fuel a growing nuclear sector, but for mining companies to be ready to meet this demand, exploration is a "must", Louis-Pierre Gagnon, Orano Canada's Director of Mining, said in the panel on A Deep Dive into Uranium Mining and Supply. As well as through its well-balanced and diversified pipeline of existing projects in Mongolia - where commissioning of the Zuuvch Ovoo uranium mine is expected to begin in 2028 - Uzbekistan, Canada, and Namibia, Orano is working to secure future supplies through exploration in those jurisdictions and also in new areas in Australia and Botswana, Gagnon said. And innovation in mining - such as Orano's SABRE (Surface Access Borehole Resource Extraction) technique, already in use in Canada, will also play a part in securing future supplies.

Another mine looking set to come into operation is Bannerman Resources' Etango project in Namibia. A key milestone for Bannerman has been the recently announced strategic partnership with CNNC Overseas Limited, the company's VP Market Strategy Olga Skorlyakova said, providing a "pathway to funding" and allowing the project to move forwards into construction: an early works programme is already under way, and with a final investment decision - followed by the start of full-scale construction - expected in the second half of this year, first production is targeted in 2028.

Uranium producers rely on financing to be in place before they can proceed with new projects. Robert Willette, CEO of US-based in-situ recovery uranium producer enCore 抖阴传媒在线 Corp, said policymakers and regulators - as well as the market - have a part to play here. "Obviously, demand is there, and the resources are there. The real question comes down to a problem of capital formation. And what I mean by that is we have active engagement from utilities and other end users. The difficulty is that those discussions are oftentimes anchored in current market prices. And it's very difficult to have those when you're talking about long-term developed projects that really don't align with current market pricing," he said.

This leads to a disconnect, where a company has to make long-term capital decisions "without having real visibility into what that future market's going to look like", he said. "Supply is not based upon current markets. Supply really responds to confidence in future markets and what that looks like."

Aligning end user contracting, permitting certainty, and policy support will bring the confidence that is needed to bring projects forward, he said. " I think when you get those aligned, you will see capital deployed," he said.

Working together for the future

The two-day programme culminated in a final session when industry leaders were asked to distil the core themes of the conference into an actionable framework, aligning the entire value chain toward the singular goal of a successful, scalable, and sustainable energy transition.

"I can't believe how good things are for all sectors of our industry," John Donelson, Senior VP and CMO at Centrus 抖阴传媒在线, said in the final panel of the event in Monaco. "But eventually, all the good words that we have need to be turned into action. So I think the consensus is that we need to execute … it's executing all the programmes that we have in play."

Jonathan Hinze, President of UxC, LLC, agreed with Donelson's assessment of the positivity within the nuclear industry, but despite a general consensus, he said: "I think when we look at our nuclear fuel markets, we're seeing a little bit of variation of opinion - which is always normal in this industry, as it should be.

"I think what I've sensed in this event, speaking to a lot of both utilities and suppliers and others, is that they're trying to find common ground at the same time as being aware of the kind of positions in the market … and I think what I'm noticing is that while there are differences of opinion, we all are sort of still going in the same direction, and that's really important."

Maureen Zawalick is Senior Vice President and Chief Risk Officer at PG&E Corporation. PG&E's Diablo Canyon - which provides nearly 9% of California's electricity and 17% of its zero-carbon energy - had been slated for retirement in 2024-2025 until the state passed a law allowing the two units to continue operation until 2030. Keeping the plant operating - and looking to secure the state-level legislative action to enable operation beyond 2030 - needs collaboration and cooperation, she said.

"The demand growth that we're seeing is going to necessitate us moving into a direction of changing how we've purchased and procured previously," she said. "So there's a lot of variables, it's almost like a Venn diagram that all has to come together to where we go forward in this area. So cooperation and collaboration is key."

抖阴传媒在线 Nuclear Fuel Cycle 2026, held in Monaco in April, was co-organised by the Nuclear 抖阴传媒在线 Institute and 抖阴传媒在线 Nuclear Association.

A light-water moderated and cooled tank-type nuclear reactor with forced cooling, the 10 megawatt LVR-15 is the Czech Republic's oldest and largest research reactor. It began operations in 1957 and has undergone extensive refurbishments starting in 1988/89 and continuing in recent years. The LVR-15 is used both for material irradiation experiments and for the production of radionuclides for medicine, including molybdenum-99 for diagnostics in nuclear medicine. The reactor operates in continuous monthly cycles and plays an important role in research into materials for nuclear power plants, advanced reactor systems and fusion technologies.

The LR-0 reactor, a zero-power reactor, represents one of the world's most important laboratories for experimental validation of nuclear data and computational methods used in the safety assessment of pressurised water reactor plants. Its unique neutron field is internationally recognised as a reference benchmark.

The partnership with Framatome is aimed at supporting the safe, reliable and sustainable operation of the LVR-15 and LR-0 reactors. It builds on previous cooperation in the field of nuclear safety research and fuel development for research reactors - Framatome and 颁痴艠 started cooperation on LVR-15 fuel development more than 10 years ago.

_{The LVR-15 research reactor (Image: 颁痴艠)}

The new agreement establishes a framework for cooperation between Framatome and 颁痴艠 in the operation and management of different types of research reactor fuel. The partners will now set up a joint working group to carry out preparatory work, including the development of neutronics calculation models based on the LVR鈥�15 research reactor operational experience. The partners will jointly define the engineering approach and the analyses required for mixed core analysis and future optimisation scenarios.

"The joint activities are based on a shared ambition to develop European know-how in nuclear research, strengthen technological sovereignty and contribute to the safe operation of nuclear facilities in Europe and worldwide," 颁痴艠 said. "The agreement creates a framework for further cooperation in the areas of fuel research, core modelling, experimental validation of computational codes and support for licensing processes."

"Framatome is proud to support the Research Centre 艠e啪 and the operation of the Czech LVR-15 research reactor," said Mario Leberig, Vice President Fuel Design & Engineering, Fuel Business Unit at Framatome. "By combining our global expertise in nuclear engineering and fuel with the unique experimental facilities of 艠e啪, we can together develop innovative fuel engineering support that will benefit research and nuclear energy development in the Czech Republic and Europe."

Petr B艡ezina, Director of 颁痴艠, added: "This agreement marks an important milestone in our mission to contribute to the safe operation of the LVR-15 reactor. By working with Framatome, we can further strengthen our research capabilities and our contribution to nuclear science, technology, and education in the Czech Republic and Europe."

颁痴艠 and Framatome have successfully collaborated in recent years, for example, in the LEU-FOREVER project, which focused on the development of low-enriched fuel (LEU) for European research reactors. The fuel was developed, manufactured, licensed and irradiated for a long time in the LVR-15 reactor. These activities are now being followed up by the EU-CONVERSION project (2024–2028).

Another area of 鈥嬧�媍ooperation is represented by experimental projects such as EVANS, which provide unique experimental data for increasing the safety of nuclear power plants, supporting licensing processes, and validating computational tools used in the design of fuel and reactor cores.

The fuel is to be produced at Urenco's HALEU enrichment facility in the UK, which is scheduled to come online in 2031.

Jordan Bramble, CEO of Antares, said: "This partnership ensures that when we scale beyond material allocated by the federal government, we will have commercial supply ready to meet our needs."

Antares, founded in 2023, says it is on track to conduct a reactor demonstration in 2026 and test its first electricity-producing reactor in 2027, with initial production deployments beginning in 2028. The company is in the final phase of the Department of 抖阴传媒在线's Reactor Pilot Program to build a reactor that achieves criticality before 4 July this year. BWX Technologies began fabrication of the TRISO fuel for the company's initial reactors last October.

HALEU - uranium enriched to between 5% and 20% uranium-235 - will be used in the advanced nuclear fuel required for most of the next-generation reactor designs currently under development. In 2024, when only Russia and China had the infrastructure to produce HALEU at scale, the UK Government announced funding of GBP196 million (about USD263 million) to Urenco to support the build of a HALEU fuels facility at its Capenhurst enrichment site in the northwest of England.

The Lower Saxony Ministry for the Environment, 抖阴传媒在线 and Climate Protection issued the first decommissioning and dismantling permit to the company for the Grohnde plant in December 2023, with dismantling work beginning in the following month.

The dismantling process to date has included the removal of components from the primary cooling circuit. Simultaneously, the newly constructed waste treatment centre has commenced operations. There, all dismantled materials are broken down, radiologically measured, cleaned, and, after official approval, either disposed of or recycled. On 7 April this year, PreussenElektra announced that all the used nuclear fuel assemblies in the storage pool at Grohnde had been transferred to an on-site interim storage facility. To achieve fuel-free status, a total of 694 fuel assemblies were transferred from the plant's storage pool into CASTOR used fuel storage casks.

PreussenElektra submitted the application for the second decommissioning permit in January 2024. This permit allows further key decommissioning work to proceed, including the removal of the reactor pressure vessel and the surrounding biological shield.

During a visit to the plant on 15 May, Lower Saxony's Minister for the Environment, 抖阴传媒在线 and Climate Protection, Christian Meyer, officially presented PreussenElektra with the second and final permit for the plant's decommissioning. With this, all necessary permits for the complete dismantling of the plant are now in place.

Starting later this year, one of the most technically demanding phases of the decommissioning process will begin: the dismantling of the reactor pressure vessel's internal components. Planning for this is already under way. The first cut is currently scheduled for early 2027. The project is expected to be completed by mid-2028.

"I thank everyone involved for their excellent work on the decommissioning application," said Environment Minister Christian Meyer. "With the final decommissioning permit now granted and the reactor building being free of nuclear fuel, we are creating clarity and the conditions for the safe and sustainable decommissioning of the Grohnde nuclear power plant and its interim storage on site. The decommissioning of nuclear facilities must be safe, transparent, and under strict nuclear regulatory oversight. Our shared goal is a swift, competent, and responsible decommissioning process."

Guido Knott, Chairman of the Management Board of PreussenElektra, said: "With the second permit, we now have all the legal prerequisites to carry out the dismantling of the KWG consistently and according to plan. Our aim is to implement the dismantling safely, efficiently and quickly - with the clear goal of completing the nuclear dismantling by the mid-2030s and being able to use the site for future projects as soon as possible."

In a third, conventional phase, the dismantling will take place after clearance from nuclear regulatory oversight. The dismantling of Grohnde is scheduled for completion by 2039. Afterwards, the power plant site will be available for redevelopment.

PreussenElektra is responsible for the decommissioning of eight nuclear power plants in Germany. Isar 2 was the last of the PreussenElektra plants to cease operations on 15 April 2023. The Brokdorf and Grohnde plants were shut down on 31 December 2021. With the already decommissioned Isar 1, Stade, Unterweser and Würgassen plants, all of PreussenElektra's nuclear facilities are now in various phases of decommissioning and dismantling. The company's goal is to dismantle its power plant fleet by 2040.

The Low Level Waste Repository's role is to ensure that low-level waste generated in the UK is disposed of in a way that protects people and the environment. The repository site receives low-level solid waste from a range of customers, such as the nuclear industry, the Ministry of Defence, non-nuclear industries, educational, medical and research establishments. Legacy disposal trenches and vaults on the site are now full and ready for permanent closure.

Pigott outlines progress on the capping of the original parts within the 100-hectare site "or about the area of 140 football pitches", which aims to make what began as initially a temporary disposal facility, into a permanent - and environmentally safe - place for the low level waste for thousands of years to come.

The new cap will be a "passive multi-barrier engineered cap that needs to protect the waste until it's no longer radioactive", and "must ensure there is, ideally, no water infiltration into that waste, and therefore no migration of waste out with any water. And that has to ultimately protect that waste for thousands of years". It is a major construction exercise with about 750,000 cubic metres of aggregates being moved in. To minimise disruption to the local community, this material is being largely brought in by train - Pigott says that eight trainloads a week means avoiding 2,500 HGV movements per month.

_{(Image: Nuclear Waste Services)}

There's been an estimated million cubic metres of material disposed of since 1959, including significant volumes of lightly contaminated building materials, rubble and metals. Although disposal methods have changed over the decades, Pigott praises the foresight of our predecessors with a leachate system underneath the legacy trenches. The environmental and licensing assessments have judged that the capping, which aims to stop any water getting in, can be done on the waste in-situ.

Pigott says the aim with designing the cap is to get a "Goldilocks hill, where it's steep enough that the water runs off and therefore does not percolate into the facility, but also not so steep that it starts to risk erosion as well. Some of it will be 10 metres thick so it'll start to look and feel like another small Lakeland Fell eventually". As well as the aggregates, there is bentonite enriched soil, "a kind of self-repairing clay" - "we can't use any unproven methodologies in the technology that we apply because of the duration that it needs to exist, so we rely upon natural materials".

_{(Image: Nuclear Waste Services)}

The aim is for the initial capping work to be completed by 2034, while more modern parts of the site continue to receive waste. "What we could at a point in time expect to do, but this is going to be decades, probably three or four decades away from where we are now, is potentially be building additional disposal capacity. But right now, because of the success of diversion, we're not expecting to be doing that."

Pigott also gives an update on the UK's search for a site for its proposed deep geological repository, which he describes as operating on all the same principles as the Low Level Waste Repository "but on steroids", with a barrier to protect the environment - "the hazard is somewhat higher and therefore it's deep depth disposal and the barriers that are put in place constitute highly engineered vaults and tunnels to be able to keep that waste safe over hundreds of thousands of years to allow for natural decay of that radioactivity".

Talks have been continuing with two potential host communities and once a preferred option is chosen for a location to take forward exploratory deep borehole drilling to see if it is geologically suitable, that will be passed on to the 抖阴传媒在线 Secretary to consider and decide upon later this year. 

_{Mike Pigott, left, and Howard Falconer (Image: NWS)}

Falconer outlines the sustainability steps taken to reduce the amount of low-level radioactive waste arriving at the site. For instance, reusing material from decommissioning projects in new-build constructions. The result is that there are still many decades-worth of capacity at the site.

"The waste that we generate in the nuclear industry is often nothing special. The vast majority comes from emptying out and knocking down old buildings. It could be things like pipework, process equipment, it could be protective equipment that operators have been wearing, or it might be demolition rubble. And there's obviously other types of waste as well, such as waste from the fuel cycle, for example, or from defence, from research, from pharmaceuticals, those sorts of things," he says.

"Our goal is to ensure that all categories and all types of radioactive waste are managed safely, securely and sustainably ... planning what customers need to do, characterising their waste, providing packaging and containers, providing transport, but ultimately providing routes either to our own disposal facility or to our partners in the supply chain who can provide different treatments and recycling services for us.

"We'll look to clean and recycle waste, in particular metallic waste lends itself to recycling, and disposal is our last resort."

Falconer notes the large amounts of energy and resources that goes into making steel "so if we can recover and clean some of this metallic waste, we can reintroduce it back into the market and it can be used again".

And the techniques are not always hugely innovative - "it could be as simple as saying 'let's just cut off the bit that's radioactive and the rest of it's clean, let's segregate it'. But if that's not possible, ultra high-pressure washing, or grit blasting, or chemical decontamination, or melting the metal, or it could be a combination of some or all of those techniques".

_{(Image: Nuclear Waste Services)}

There are strict controls to ensure safety but the aim is to remove the contamination, which then reduces the amount of material heading for disposal while allowing clean metal to go for recycling.

A key part of the sustainability agenda is to "design out" the waste in the first place, with Falconer saying the aim is to go circular. "Perhaps in future, not only can we recycle some of that metallic waste, but could we recycle it back into something that we could use in the industry? So could we take that steelwork, which was the fabric of a building, clean it, recycle it, and perhaps turn it into a container for moving radioactive material around?" One example is recycled concrete from the turbine plinths at Sizewell A being used in Sizewell C just down the road "so they reduce costs, reduce carbon emissions and reduce the need for generating new materials".

As with other parts of the nuclear energy sector, there are widespread international links between waste services in different countries, where people can learn from others' experiences.

And as to the public perception of nuclear waste as a drawback to nuclear energy, Pigott says that "being open, sharing what we do, and demystifying some of the work" is important, with permanent disposal initiatives, such as at the site in Cumbria, demonstrating how it is possible to safely remove the liability of this material.

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Episode credit:  Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production

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_{(Image: CEZ)}

Roman Havlín, Director of Dukovany Nuclear Power Plant, said: "The project demonstrates that the operation of strategic energy infrastructure can be successfully combined with the active protection of endangered species and a long-term sustainable approach to the surrounding landscape."

_{Aluminium rings are placed on the birds, which will identify them (Image: CEZ)} 

The scheme is run by operator CEZ at a number of its power plants in collaboration with ALKA Wildlife, whose ornithologist Václav Beran said, after checking out the young birds: "The inspection confirmed that all the chicks are in very good condition and that the parents are taking appropriate care of them."

CEZ said that the young hatch at the end of April or early May and remain in the nest for about two months.

Ornithologists regularly monitor falcon pairs in CEZ locations - which also include Temelín Nuclear Power Plant. Since 2011, at least 206 peregrine falcon chicks have been raised at the sites.

According to the UK's Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, peregrine falcons require extensive open terrain for hunting, with traditional nesting sites being cliff-ledges, quarry faces and crags, but adds that they have "recently started to use man-made constructions, especially tall buildings".

The guide goes on to explain: "With their streamlined body, razor-sharp talons and incredible eyesight, peregrines are the ultimate high-speed hunters. They can reach speeds of around 200 miles per hour as they plummet out of the sky in pursuit of prey, making them the fastest animals on the planet. They tend to eat medium-sized birds, such as wading birds and pigeons, but have also been known to take smaller birds, and even bats. To help protect their delicate eyes from wind and dust as they hurtle through the air, peregrines have special built-in 'goggles' in the form of a third eyelid that they can draw across their eyes."

Their numbers dropped in the middle of the 20th Century in many countries, thought to be linked to the use of DDT as a pesticide on crops, but their numbers have been increasing since the end of DDT use, and with increased conservation measures.