World Nuclear News

Holtec International said it repaired 125 damaged used fuel assemblies as part of the successful completion of its recent loading campaign of 480 used nuclear fuel assemblies into 15 HI-STORM FW dry storage casks at Angra unit 2 in Brazil.

https://world-nuclear-news.org/articles/angra-completes-second-used-fuel-storage-campaign

The International Atomic Energy Agency has reported that "a small water leakage was detected from an impulse line - essentially a small pipe - connected to" Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant's first unit’s primary circuit, with repairs taking place and no "immediate issue for nuclear safety".

https://world-nuclear-news.org/articles/iaea-says-leak-was-detected-in-zaporizhzhia-reactor-coolant-pump-support-system

A new strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and Mongolia's national atomic companies will provide new opportunities for the uranium industries of both countries, Kazatomprom's CEO has said.

https://world-nuclear-news.org/articles/kazatomprom-monatom-join-forces-in-strategic-partnership

US-based company Amentum has been awarded a contract worth an estimated EUR5.5 million (about USD6 million) to consult for the first-of-a-kind dismantling of steam drum separators at units 1 and 2 of the Ignalina nuclear power plant in Lithuania.

https://world-nuclear-news.org/articles/amentum-contracted-for-ignalina-dismantling-work

Leadership of the UK's STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) programme has transitioned to UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the UK Atomic Energy Authority.

https://world-nuclear-news.org/articles/new-company-takes-over-uks-fusion-programme

A consortium led by Belgian engineering firm Tractebel has completed the European Space Agency-commissioned RocketRoll project on nuclear electric propulsion for space exploration. The consortium has defined a comprehensive technology roadmap to equip Europe with advanced propulsion systems capable of undertaking long-duration missions.

https://world-nuclear-news.org/articles/nuclear-propulsion-system-proposed-for-european-space-missions

AtkinsRéalis company Candu Energy Inc has announced it is entering into a special project with Canadian nuclear regulators to plan for a Pre-Licensing Design Review of the new Candu Monark reactor's suitability to be licensed and built in Canada.

https://world-nuclear-news.org/articles/candu-energy-begins-planning-for-monark-pre-licensing-design-review

Key decisions on which small modular reactor technologies to select and on a Final Investment Decision on Sizewell C will be taken in Spring 2025, according to timelines set out in the UK government's Budget documents.

https://world-nuclear-news.org/articles/uk-now-aiming-for-smr-and-sizewell-decisions-in-spring-2025

Global engineering company ABB has signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate with Swedish lead-cooled small modular reactor technology developer Blykalla. They will initially concentrate on constructing an electrical SMR pilot facility near Oskarshamn to test proof of concept before expanding to future plants.

https://world-nuclear-news.org/articles/blykalla-and-abb-team-up-on-smr-development

Nuclear energy - including the nuclear supply chain - is at the core of the Government of Ontario's plans to build critical infrastructure and spur economic growth set out in its latest economic statement.

https://world-nuclear-news.org/articles/nuclear-at-heart-of-ontario-growth-plans

The American Bureau of Shipping has released its latest report into the potential of advanced nuclear technology for maritime applications, with a study of a small modular reactor on a standard liquefied natural gas carrier.

https://world-nuclear-news.org/articles/abs-sees-potential-for-nuclear-powered-lng-carriers

The Czech Republic's competition authority has issued a preliminary ruling rejecting the appeals by Westinghouse and EDF about the tender process for new nuclear units in the country which saw Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power selected.

https://world-nuclear-news.org/articles/czech-competition-authority-rejects-westinghouse-and-edf-appeals

Concreting has been completed of the outer dome of the containment building of unit 2 of the Zhangzhou nuclear power plant in China's Fujian province, China National Nuclear Corporation announced.

https://world-nuclear-news.org/articles/containment-building-completed-at-second-zhangzhou-unit

Micro modular reactor and TRISO fuel company Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation says it is seeking to run a sale process after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the USA.

https://world-nuclear-news.org/articles/ultra-safe-nuclear-corporation-files-chapter-11-petition

The first level of the inner containment building for unit 2 of Egypt's El Dabaa nuclear power plant is in place.

https://world-nuclear-news.org/articles/el-dabaa-2s-inner-containment-taking-shape

Ceremonies have been held to mark the completion of units 1 and 2 of South Korea's Shin Hanul nuclear power plant, as well as the start of construction of units 3 and 4 at the plant. The new APR1400 units are scheduled to be completed by 2032 and 2033, respectively.

https://world-nuclear-news.org/articles/south-korea-breaks-ground-for-two-new-reactors

Residents of the Municipality of South Bruce have voted in favour of declaring itself a willing host for a Deep Geological Repository for Canada's intermediate and high-level waste in a public referendum. South Bruce is the second community in Canada to declare its willingness to host the facility. Fifty one percent of the votes cast in the 28 October referendum expressed willingness to host the Nuclear Waste Management Organization project in South Bruce. With a turnout of 69%, the outcome is binding on the municipality's council under Ontario's Municipal Elections Act.
https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/articles/south-bruce-votes-in-favour-of-hosting-canadian-repository

Czech Republic nuclear power operator ČEZ Group has taken a 20% stake in Rolls-Royce SMR and said it hopes to begin work in 2025 on rolling out a 3GW fleet of small modular reactors in the country.
https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/articles/cez-takes-rolls-royce-smr-stake-plans-to-deploy-3gw-fleet

Tohuku Electric Power Company's Onagawa unit 2 is the thirteenth Japanese reactor - and the first boiling water reactor - to be restarted since the earthquake and tsunami of March 2011.
https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/articles/first-bwr-restarts-in-japan

Thales gyrotron sets new record in plasma heating: Developed in collaboration with the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics specifically for the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator, Thales's TH1507U gyrotron has achieved a significant milestone by reaching a total output of 1.3 megawatts in radiofrequency at a frequency of 140 gigahertz for 360 seconds.
https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/articles/thales-gyrotron-sets-new-record-in-plasma-heating

The nuclear fuel for the first load at the research reactor being built in Bolivia has been manufactured and accepted, with delivery of the first batch of fuel assemblies planned for 2025.

https://world-nuclear-news.org/articles/nuclear-fuel-manufactured-for-bolivia-research-reactor

France's Framatome has signed a contract for the long-term supply of fuel to the four VVER-440 reactors in operation at Hungary's Paks nuclear power plant, starting from 2027.

https://world-nuclear-news.org/articles/framatome-to-supply-hungarian-plant-with-nuclear-fuel

The process of loading fuel assemblies into the core of unit 2 at the Shimane nuclear power plant ahead of its planned restart in December began today, Chugoku Electric Power Company announced. It is set to become the second Japanese boiling water reactor to be restarted.

https://world-nuclear-news.org/articles/fuel-loading-under-way-at-japanese-bwr-ahead-of-restart

The 24 months since commercial production of the medical isotope lutetium-177 began at the Bruce 7 Candu unit have seen Bruce Power and its partners expand production capabilities to match growing global demand.

https://world-nuclear-news.org/articles/partners-mark-two-years-of-lu-177-production-at-bruce-7