It’s possible that I shall make an ass of myself. But in that case one can always get out of it with a little dialectic. I have, of course, so worded my proposition as to be right either way (K.Marx, Letter to F.Engels on the Indian Mutiny)
Chevron Corporation on Thursday announced a series of senior leadership changes that will reshape key parts of its executive team over the next year, reflecting both planned retirements and internal succession following the company’s recent strategic shifts.
The changes include the retirement of several long-serving executives and the promotion of internal candidates into roles overseeing corporate strategy, business development, supply and trading, shale operations, and investor relations.
Among the most senior departures, Frank Mount, President of Corporate Business Development, will retire in November 2026 after 33 years with Chevron. Mount has led the company’s global business development efforts since 2023, a period marked by portfolio optimization and large-scale M&A activity, including the acquisition of Hess.
Jake Spiering, currently Director of Investor Relations, will succeed Mount as President of Corporate Business Development effective August 1, 2026. Spiering joined Chevron in 2008 and has held multiple finance leadership roles across the company’s global asset base.
Investor relations leadership will also change earlier in the year. Jeanine Wai will assume the role of Director of Investor Relations on April 1, 2026. Wai rejoined Chevron in January after prior stints at TotalEnergies, major investment banks, and Bechtel, bringing a mix of operational and capital markets experience.
Chevron’s Supply & Trading organization will see a transition as Patricia Leigh retires in July 2026 after 35 years with the company. Leigh has led the unit since 2024, overseeing supply, logistics, and trading strategy during a volatile period for global energy markets.
Molly Laegeler, currently Chief Strategy Officer, will take over as President of Supply & Trading effective March 1, 2026. Laegeler has previously overseen operations in several assets, including the Permian Basin, and will now be tasked with driving profitability and enterprise value across Chevron’s trading and logistics activities.
Kevin Lyon, who currently serves as Hess Integration Leader, will step into the role of Chief Strategy Officer on the same date. Lyon brings decades of upstream and project leadership experience and will be responsible for guiding Chevron’s long-term strategy, portfolio optimization, and sustainability agenda as the company integrates Hess assets.
Another notable retirement includes Bruce Niemeyer, President of Shale & Tight, who will retire in October 2026 after 26 years with Chevron. Niemeyer has held senior upstream and strategy roles and currently oversees Chevron’s global shale portfolio. He will remain on as Senior Executive Advisor through October.
Gerbert Schoonman, currently Senior Executive Advisor for Hess Integration, will succeed Niemeyer as President of Shale & Tight effective April 1, 2026. Schoonman joined Chevron in mid-2025 following the Hess merger and brings more than 35 years of international upstream experience from Hess and Shell.
The leadership changes come as Chevron continues to integrate Hess, prioritize capital discipline, and balance growth in its core oil and gas business with longer-term energy transition initiatives. The reshuffle underscores Chevron’s reliance on internal succession while drawing on executives with experience in large-scale integrations, trading, and unconventional resource development.
Saskatchewan to evaluate large nuclear reactor technologies
The Government of Saskatchewan and utility SaskPower have announced plans to formally evaluate large nuclear reactor technologies for use in the Canadian province. Saskatchewan already has plans for the deployment of small modular reactors.
SaskPower President and CEO Rupen Pandya (Image: SaskPower)
In October last year, the Government of Saskatchewan released the Saskatchewan First Energy Security Strategy and Supply Plan, setting out its vision and long-term strategy for electricity in the province. The plan sees the provincial government reiterate its commitments to nuclear power, as communicated in the provincial Growth Plan and the Interprovincial Strategic Plan on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). Specifically, it says, the Government of Saskatchewan will continue to examine the feasibility of two SMR units near Estevan, and evaluate the feasibility of large reactors and/or advanced SMRs to meet industry demand for electricity and heat to identify if either can be economically deployed in Saskatchewan.
Crown utility SaskPower has now begun the formal process to evaluate large reactor technologies. The technology selection process will take place in parallel with SaskPower's existing SMR project.
"Our Energy Security Strategy sets out a pathway to nuclear power generation from both SMRs and large nuclear reactors, using Saskatchewan uranium," said Minister Responsible for SaskPower Jeremy Harrison. "Together with expanded intertie capacity, nuclear power will make Saskatchewan an export powerhouse and safeguard Saskatchewan's energy security far into the future."
"SaskPower will leverage partnerships with experienced nuclear operators, and will continue to engage with Indigenous Rightsholders, Saskatchewan's communities and businesses as we consider the potential deployment of large nuclear reactors," SaskPower President and CEO Rupen Pandya said. "Potentially bringing a large reactor online will take at least 15 to 20 years, which is why we need to start this process now."
SaskPower has previously selected GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy's BWRX-300 SMR for potential deployment in the province in the mid-2030s. It announced in 2024 that it had identified two potential sites for SMR deployment, both in the Estevan area in the south-east of the province. It also signed a memorandum of understanding with Cameco and Westinghouse to explore technical and commercial pathways to deploy Westinghouse's reactor technology, including the advanced AP1000 reactor and AP300 SMR for long-term electricity supply planning.
Saskatchewan is home to the largest and highest-grade uranium mines in the world, but does not currently have any nuclear power reactors. It is working alongside the provinces of Ontario, New Brunswick and Alberta on the deployment of SMRs under a joint strategic plan released in 2022.
"Significant additional regulatory, siting and engagement work are needed before any construction can begin on a new nuclear project," SaskPower noted. "SaskPower's current SMR project continues to progress and a site for the province's first SMR build near Estevan is anticipated later this year."
Strategic agreements for US cobalt-60 supply chain
Westinghouse Electric Company, Nordion (Canada) Inc, and PSEG Nuclear LLC have announced key milestones in their joint initiative to establish the first commercial-scale production of cobalt-60 in US pressurised water reactors.
(Image: Westinghouse)
The three companies have entered into long-term agreements to implement newly developed cobalt-60 (Co-60) production technology for pressurised water reactors (PWRs) at units 1 and 2 of PSEG's Salem nuclear power plant in New Jersey, with Co-60 planned to be supplied to Nordion. They also announced that the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is reviewing PSEG's Licence Amendment Request. The partners are targeting implementation of the technology in 2026, subject to NRC authorisation and plant operating schedules.
"The successful implementation of this technology at Salem will lay the groundwork for broader deployment across the global PWR fleet, which makes up more than 70% of the world's commercial reactors, and will help anchor a scalable, resilient cobalt-60 supply network," Westinghouse said. "The first commercial-scale implementation of cobalt-60 production in PWRs signals a transformative step toward a secure, diversified domestic cobalt-60 supply."
Most of the world's supply of Co-60 is produced by irradiation of naturally occurring cobalt-59 in Candu reactors, mainly in Canada but also in Argentina, China and South Korea. It is also produced in RBMK reactors and the BN-800 fast neutron reactor in Russia.
Co-60 is used to sterilise around 40% of the world's single-use medical devices, including syringes, catheters, IV sets, surgical gloves and gauze used in a wide range of health care applications. It is also used in cancer treatment.
"Creating a robust domestic source of cobalt-60 builds on our longstanding ability to ensure reliability of supply for our customers," said Riaz Bandali, President of Nordion, a subsidiary of Sotera Health. "Our collaboration with Westinghouse and PSEG comes at a critical time as demand for cobalt-60 is increasing while accelerator-based irradiation technology is facing significant challenges in deployment and adoption."
"PSEG is proud to participate in a project that highlights the versatility and value of nuclear energy," said Charles McFeaters, President and Chief Nuclear Officer at PSEG Nuclear. "Producing cobalt-60 at the Salem nuclear generating station while providing safe, reliable, carbon-free electricity showcases innovative opportunities for nuclear energy and an important new role in strengthening global healthcare."
Sophie Lemaire, interim co-president of Westinghouse Nuclear Fuel, added: "Deploying cobalt-60 production technology into pressurised water reactors marks a significant milestone, extending cobalt-60 production to a new reactor platform for the first time. This advancement strengthens global supply and demonstrates how commercial nuclear energy can support critical healthcare infrastructure."
EDF and Framatome announced in November last year the launch of a feasibility study aimed at producing cobalt-60 in one of EDF's nuclear reactors. The companies plan to insert capsules containing cobalt-59 in a PWR in France. Framatome will manufacture the specialised irradiation devices at its European facilities. A first loading of demonstration capsules is scheduled for 2026, with the goal of validating technical feasibility before 2030.
In December 2021, Framatome signed a memorandum of understanding with US utility Exelon Generation to cooperate on technology development and assess the feasibility and economics of Co-60 production in PWR reactors. Earlier in 2021, Westinghouse and EDF signed an MoU on the production of Co-60 in selected PWRs owned and operated by EDF in France.
NextEra considering new nuclear capacity
US utility NextEra Energy 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.
Point Beach (Image: NextEra)
Speaking during a call with investors on Tuesday, NextEra CEO John Ketchum said its NextEra Energy Resources subsidiary "remains focused on both optimising and adding generating capacity to its nuclear fleet. We continue to advance the recommissioning of our Duane Arnold nuclear plant in Iowa, made possible by the 25-year power purchase agreement with Google we announced last year. Our nuclear fleet outside Florida is also ripe for advanced nuclear development.
"That's why we are spending time closely evaluating the capabilities of various SMR OEMs. All told, we have 6 gigawatts of SMR co-location opportunities at our nuclear sites and are working to develop new greenfield sites. Of course, any nuclear new build would have to include the right commercial terms and conditions with appropriate risk-sharing mechanisms that limit our ultimate exposure."
NextEra Energy 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.
In October last year, NextEra Energy signed two agreements with Google, including a 25-year purchase power agreement (PPA) from the Duane Arnold plant, as well as agreeing to explore the development of new nuclear generation to be deployed in the USA.
NextEra announced in December an expansion of its collaboration with Google Cloud. Together, the companies plan to jointly develop multiple new gigawatt-scale data centre campuses with accompanying generation and capacity. According to NextEra, the companies are already in the process of developing their first three campuses and are working to identify additional locations. Also in December, NextEra announced it had reached about 2.5 GW of clean energy contracts with Meta through the signing of 11 PPAs, mainly from nine solar projects.
"Our breadth and depth allow us to have a multi-year, multi-gigawatt, multi-technology discussion with hyperscalers," Ketchum said. "These data centre hub opportunities, as we call them, represent a powerful channel to originate large generation projects with expansion opportunities where we can grow alongside our hyperscaler partner rather than building on a project-by-project basis.
"As we discussed in December, our data centre hub strategy is all part of our new '15 by 35' origination channel and goal for Energy Resources to place in service 15 gigawatts of new generation for data centre hubs by 2035."
He added: "We currently have 20 potential hubs we are discussing with the market, and we expect that number to rise to 40 by year end. While we won't convert every single hub, I'll be disappointed if we don't double our goal and deliver at least 30 gigawatts through this channel by 2035."
PEJ signs first loan agreement with US export credit agency
Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe has signed a loan agreement with the Export-Import Bank of the United States, giving the Polish company greater flexibility in implementing design works planned in 2026 for the country's first nuclear power plant.
(Image: PEJ)
The agreement was concluded as part of the US Export-Import Bank's (US EXIM's) Engineering Multiplier Program (EMP), which aims to finance preparatory and engineering works for projects carried out with the participation of US companies. The loan will increase Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe's (PEJ's) liquidity by enabling it to refinance part of the works previously performed by the Westinghouse-Bechtel Consortium under an Engineering Development Agreement.
The Engineering Multiplier Program covers financing for key works carried out prior to the commencement of the construction phase, including feasibility analyses and selected engineering and environmental services. It is intended for projects with high potential for generating further export orders from the US and supports the preparation of projects for subsequent stages of financing.
Negotiations with US EXIM were conducted with the support of specialised law firms. The agreement complies with OECD guidelines and is secured by PEJ assets. PEJ said the agreement in its current form fully covers the needs and risks of the nuclear project. Bank Pekao SA, acting as the facility agent, is also a party to the agreement.
"We are consistently moving from letters of intent to first agreements," said Marek Woszczyk, President of the Management Board of PEJ. "The agreement we signed with US EXIM is another example demonstrating the credibility of the Polish nuclear project. The formal inclusion of the US export credit agency in the project also opens the way for us to sign further financing agreements with international institutions."
"This agreement demonstrates EXIM's commitment to unleashing US energy molecules and technologies to every corner of the globe," said US EXIM Acting First Vice President and Vice Chairman Jim Burrows. "By financing US technical expertise for Poland's nuclear development, we're supporting American jobs and proving that American innovation leads in the industries of the future."
"The conclusion of the loan agreement is the next stage in PEJ's cooperation with US EXIM, following the previously issued letter of intent for USD17.8 billion, confirming the US agency’s real commitment to the delivery of the project of Poland’s first nuclear power plant," PEJ said. "The current agreement is operational in nature and confirms US EXIM's readiness to continue supporting the project in its subsequent phases."
To date, PEJ has signed letters of intent with 11 export credit agencies from Europe, North America, and Asia, worth more than PLN100 billion (USD28 billion). The financing structure for the nuclear power plant project in the Choczewo commune assumes that debt financing will account for 70% of the investment cost, with the remainder secured with funds from the state budget.
In November 2022, the then Polish government selected Westinghouse AP1000 reactor technology for construction at the Lubiatowo-Kopalino site in the Choczewo municipality in Pomerania in northern Poland. In September 2023, Westinghouse, Bechtel and PEJ - a special-purpose vehicle 100% owned by Poland's State Treasury - signed an 18-month engineering services contract under which Westinghouse and Bechtel will finalise a site-specific design for a plant featuring three AP1000 reactors. In April last year, PEJ and the Westinghouse-Bechtel Consortium agreed the terms and conditions of an Engineering Development Agreement (EDA) after the previous agreement expired.
On 29 December, PEJ announced it had signed an amendment to the EDA with the Westinghouse-Bechtel Consortium. The amended scope of the agreement provides for the continuation of design works covering the nuclear island, turbine island, and the balance of plant, as well as further in-depth geological survey campaigns. This, it said, allows it to maintain the project schedule by advancing the power plant design and continuing field works, while simultaneously conducting negotiations and finalising the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract, "which will ultimately determine our cooperation with the Westinghouse-Bechtel Consortium".
The Polish government intends to support this investment through: an equity injection of about EUR14 billion covering 30% of the project's costs; state guarantees covering 100% of debt taken by PEJ to finance the investment project; and a two-way contract for difference (CfD) providing revenue stability over the entire lifetime of the power plant of 60 years.
The aim is for Poland's first AP1000 reactor to enter commercial operation in 2033.
KHNP seeks site for new nuclear power plant
Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power has launched a bidding process to select the host cities or towns for two new large nuclear power reactors. The announcement came just days after the government confirmed plans to construct the reactors by 2038.
KHNP's headquarters in Gyeongju (Image: KHNP)
"The bid for the new nuclear power plant candidate site will be promoted through a local government-led initiative," Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) said.
Heads of local government have until 30 March to submit applications to host the planned reactors, which will have a combined generating capacity of 2.8 GWe.
KHNP said it has "established a site selection committee comprised of external experts to ensure fair and objective site selection". It added: "We plan to select a new nuclear power plant candidate site through a comprehensive evaluation."
Under the current plan, KHNP will select the plant site by 2027. This will be followed by a site evaluation and selection process lasting about five to six months, with the goal of obtaining a construction permit in the early 2030s and completion of the reactors in 2037 and 2038.
On 26 January, Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment Kim Sung-hwan confirmed that South Korea still plans to construct two new large nuclear power reactors by 2038, in line with its 11th Basic Plan for Electricity Supply and Demand.
The Basic Power Supply and Demand Plan contains domestic power generation facility plans for the next 15 years. It is updated by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy every two years. A draft of the 11th Basic Plan - which covers 2024 to 2038 - was released in May 2024 and presented to a plenary session of the National Assembly by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on 19 February last year. It was approved by the National Assembly's Power Policy Review Committee on 21 February 2025. The plan calls for two new large nuclear power reactors with a combined capacity of 2.8 GWe and 700 MW of small modular reactor capacity to be built by 2038 - in addition to the large reactors already under construction or planned.
Since the minister's announcement, a number of cities and towns - including the southeastern cities of Busan and Ulsan - have reportedly shown interest in hosting the new nuclear reactors, Yonhap reported.
Russia and Uzbekistan MoU on radioactive waste management
Uzbekistan's Atomic Energy Agency and Russia's TVEL have signed a memorandum of understanding relating to the development of a national radioactive waste management system.
Uzbekistan's WWR-SM research nuclear reactor (Image: Rosatom)
Having a radioactive waste management system is part of the development in Uzbekistan of a nuclear energy sector - Russia's Rosatom is in the process of a project to build a plant featuring small modular reactors and two large units in the country.
Eduard Nikitin, Director of the Decommissioning of Nuclear and Radiation-Hazardous Facilities and Radioactive Waste Management Unit at TVEL, which is Rosatom's fuel division, said that as part of the Commonwealth of Independent States Framework Organisation, it was "actively working to foster cooperation between states on radioactive waste management. Joint seminars, training sessions, and technical tours of nuclear facilities are regularly held. This type of work helps formulate common principles for the safe management of radioactive waste and the decommissioning of radiation-hazardous facilities".
According to Rosatom the memorandum of understanding (MoU) will see them drawing on their "experience and expertise, to provide expert support in developing a national radioactive waste management system and training relevant specialists. The document also provides for the exchange of advanced technical and scientific practices in the field of radioactive waste management and nuclear power plant decommissioning".
It said the development of a radioactive waste management system "requires comprehensive preparatory work, including improving the regulatory framework in accordance with international requirements and safety standards".
A cooperation process along the same lines has also taken place in Belarus, where an organisation similar to Russia's National Operator for Radioactive Waste Management was established, and in November TVEL signed a similar MoU with the National Nuclear Centre of Kazakhstan "aimed at cooperation in the field of nuclear backend and the development of a national radioactive waste management system".
Although Uzbekistan is embarking on its first nuclear power reactors, it has considerable nuclear technology experience. It is the world's fifth-largest uranium supplier and there have also been two research reactors, a 10 MW tank type - WWR-SM - operating since 1959 at the Institute of Nuclear Physics, Uzbek Academy of Sciences near Tashkent, and a small 20 kW one operated by JSC Foton in Tashkent. According to World Nuclear Association information, decommissioning of the Foton reactor was undertaken over 2015-17. The larger WWR-SM shut down in July 2016, with decommissioning intended to begin soon after. However, in February 2017 it was decided to refurbish it, and it was restarted in July 2017.
First concrete for Uzbekistan SMR 'well before December'
Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Rosatom Director General Alexei Likhachev have discussed progress on the project to build a nuclear power plant featuring both large and small reactors.
(Image: President.Uz)
According to the president's news service the two also talked about "expanding cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy", in areas such as agriculture and medicine.
First concrete for the first small modular reactor had been expected to be poured in the spring, but a draft government document published last week mentioned December 2026.
That led to the Uzatom Agency publishing a clarification on Monday saying: "We would like to emphasise that the previously announced targets remain in effect, and there is no discussion of any postponement. The date indicated in the draft reflects a conservative scenario, which envisages the completion of all numerous mandatory preparatory and licensing stages by this date."
Following the talks on Tuesday, Likhachev said: "We are moving forward at a rapid pace and fully on schedule. Work on site is proceeding actively ... this year's main goal is to begin pouring concrete for the foundation slab of the nuclear island buildings. Given the importance of meeting deadlines, we aim to begin concrete preparation work this spring."
In a subsequent interview with Russia’s Rossiya-24 television channel, as reported by the official Tass news agency, he said: "I think we will pour the first concrete … much earlier than December. Our speed will depend on the customer … this is a regulated event implying receipt of certain licences, permits, qualifications, including for local manufacturers. Nevertheless, our plans are to make it much earlier than December."
Background
A contract signed in May 2024, during a visit to the country by Russian President Vladimir Putin, was for the construction of a 330 MW capacity nuclear power plant featuring six units of the RITM-200N water-cooled small modular reactor (SMR), which is adapted from nuclear-powered icebreakers' technology, with thermal power of 190 MW or 55 MWe and with an intended service life of 60 years. The first unit was scheduled to go critical in late 2029 with units commissioned one by one.
It was the first export order for Russia's SMR. The first land-based version is currently being built in Yakut in Russia, with the launch of the first unit scheduled to take place in 2027.
An agreement signed at the end of September 2025 during World Atomic Week in Moscow multiplied the capacity of what had previously been proposed, with the plant plan switched to feature two large units - VVER-1000s with an output each of 1 GW - plus two 55 MW RITM-200N SMRs.
Excavation work began in October for the pit for the first of the SMRs at the site in the Jizzakh region. About 1.5 million cubic metres of soil will be excavated during the digging of a pit 13 metres deep for the RITM-200N, with engineering surveys and design and preparatory works also under way. Once completed, the new plant will provide for around 14% of Uzbekistan's electricity demands.
Steam generator removal begins at German plant
The removal of the first of four steam generators from the reactor building has begun at the shutdown Grafenrheinfeld nuclear power plant in Germany.
(Image: Johannes Kiefer / PreussenElektra)
The first steam generator - measuring 20 metres in height and weighing 365 tonnes - was detached from its installation position inside the reactor building on 20 January, gradually lifted, tilted and rotated several times, before finally being placed in front of the new controlled area barrier.
Planning for the project at the Grafenrheinfeld plant began as early as 2021. Several structural modifications to the plant's reactor building were necessary for the lifting and unloading of the components.
(Image: Johannes Kiefer / PreussenElektra)
"This task demanded the utmost precision and impressive engineering," said project manager Burghard Lindner. "Thanks to months of preparation, the actual lifting operation was carried out smoothly in approximately 9 hours. Our experienced partners Framatome and Mammoet, who had already removed the four steam generators at the Unterweser nuclear power plant, also mastered this challenge at the Grafenrheinfeld plant."
The component will be moved out of the controlled area and then made ready for transport on the power plant grounds. The removal of the remaining three steam generators will follow. The plan is to move the last of the four steam generators out and place it on the site by the end of February.
In spring 2027, the four steam generators will be shipped to Cyclife in Sweden, dismantled on site, and then partially melted down. Cyclife, a subsidiary of France's EDF, specialises in the decommissioning of nuclear power plants and waste management. In 2021, the company was awarded the contract by PreussenElektra for the dismantling and disposal of a total of 12 steam generators from the Unterweser, Grafenrheinfeld, and Grohnde nuclear power plants.
(Image: Johannes Kiefer / PreussenElektra)
Steam generators are the heat exchangers in pressurised water reactors (PWRs), producing the steam that turns the turbines to generate the electrical energy in the generator. PreussenElektra said the dismantling and disposal of the steam generators is one of the key projects in the dismantling of its PWRs and will take more than a decade.
The 1275 MWe (net) PWR at Grafenrheinfeld achieved first criticality in December 1981 and was connected to the grid in the same month. It entered commercial operation in June 1982.
In August 2011, the 13th amendment of the Nuclear Power Act came into effect, which underlined the political will to phase out nuclear power in Germany. As a result, eight units were closed down immediately: EnBW’s Phillipsburg 1 and Neckarwestheim 1; EOn's Isar 1 and Unterweser; RWE's Biblis A and B and Vattenfall's Brunsbüttel and Krümmel. As part of the 13th amendment to Germany's Nuclear Power Act, Grafenrheinfeld lost its authorisation for power operation and was finally shut down on 27 June 2015.
PreussenElektra applied for the decommissioning and first dismantling permit for Grafenrheinfeld in 2014 and received it in 2018. In this first approval procedure, the company described in detail the concept for the entire dismantling of the system and the measures planned for this. PreussenElektra split the application for the individual dismantling scopes into two steps. The dismantling of the plant began in April 2018 with the granting of the decommissioning and dismantling permit. The second dismantling permit, which was granted in December 2022, for which the application was submitted in December 2019, includes the dismantling of the reactor pressure vessel and the biological shield surrounding it.
Stellaria seeks permission to build experimental reactor
French molten salt reactor developer Stellaria has announced it is seeking the necessary authorisations to construct an experimental reactor. Its application is now under review.
A rendering of Alvin (Image: Stellaria)
The company - a start-up spun out of the French Alternative Energies & Atomic Energy Commission and Schneider Electric - submitted its application for the creation authorisation decree (DAC) for its Basic Nuclear Installation (INB) Alpha to the French minister in charge of nuclear safety on 19 December.
The application concerns the siting and construction of its 100 kW Alvin experimental reactor, scheduled to start up in 2030, in order to launch the test programme that will definitively validate the concept.
The application comprises around 15 documents totalling more than 1,000 pages. It includes: the safety case, including a detailed description of the installation, the safety principles adopted, the analysis of incidents and accidents, including severe accidents, the management of external hazards (earthquakes, flooding, aircraft crashes), as well as radiation protection for workers, the public, and the environment; the environmental impact assessment of the installation; the conditions planned for decommissioning the installation at the end of its lifetime; a presentation of the operator's technical and financial capabilities; and all technical documents describing the installation in depth, which are essential for the review of the application.
"This new milestone represents a crucial step in the development of the French company and in the implementation of its Stellarium reactor, as it sets out the main principles of the project and officially elevates the start-up to the status of a nuclear operator," Stellaria said. "To date, Stellaria is the first company to have filed such an application with the authorities in the French fast-neutron nuclear market, and the second among the eleven French start-ups working on the development of SMRs or AMRs, after Jimmy Energy."
The Stellarium reactor proposed by Stellaria will be very compact (measuring 4 cubic metres) and will be able to use a diversified range of nuclear fuels (uranium, plutonium, mixed-oxide, minor actinides, even thorium). Stellaria says the reactor is "the world's first reactor to operate with a liquid fuel capable of destroying more waste than it produces".
Once Alvin has validated Stellaria's concept, the company plans to build a 10 MWe prototype reactor, MegAlvin.
"2025 marked a turning point for Stellaria," said Nicolas Breyton, President of Stellaria. "After a structured fundraising round, followed by the signing of a first power pre-order agreement for our reactors with Equinix, the global leader in data centres, the submission of the DAC allows us to reach a new milestone. This step is decisive for Stellaria, as it validates the work carried out so far by its teams and partners, and fully commits the company to its responsibilities as a nuclear operator. By filing this application, Stellaria moves beyond the concept stage and enters a structuring regulatory phase, in which its fundamental choices are now set."
Molten salt reactors (MSRs) use molten fluoride salts as primary coolant, at low pressure. They may operate with epithermal or fast neutron spectrums, and with a variety of fuels. Much of the interest today in reviving the MSR concept relates to using thorium (to breed fissile uranium-233), where an initial source of fissile material such as plutonium-239 needs to be provided. There are a number of different MSR design concepts, and a number of interesting challenges in the commercia
Zhangzhou 3's steam generators lifted into place
The third and final steam generator was moved into position at Zhangzhou nuclear power plant unit 3 on 26 January, the third of six Hualong One (HPR1000) reactors planned for the site in China's Fujian province.
(Image: CNNC)
China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment issued construction licences for Zhangzhou units 1 and 2 on 9 October 2019 to CNNC-Guodian Zhangzhou Energy Company, the owner of the Zhangzhou nuclear power project, which was created by CNNC (51%) and China Guodian Corporation (49%) in 2011.
Construction of Zhangzhou 1 began in October 2019, with that of unit 2 starting in September 2020. Unit 1 entered commercial operation on 1 January 2025 while unit 2 entered commercial operation on 1 January 2026.
(Image: CNNC)
The installation of the steam generators, which benefited from the construction experience gained from the first phase of the project, was said to have laid "a solid foundation for the subsequent dome hoisting and main pipeline welding".
In September 2022, China's State Council approved the construction of two Hualong One units as Phase II - units 3 and 4 - of the Zhangzhou plant. Construction of unit 3 began in February 2024, with that of unit 4 starting in September.
There are proposals for two more units at the plant. Once fully completed, a six-unit Zhangzhou plant would provide more than 60 billion kilowatt-hours of clean energy annually, estimated to meet 75% of the total electricity consumption of Xiamen and Zhangzhou cities in southern Fujian.lisation of many, especially with thorium
New York governor sets out vision for nuclear backbone
The Nuclear Reliability Backbone initiative unveiled by Kathy Hochul in her annual State of the State address includes plans for 4 GWe of new nuclear capacity in addition to plans for 1 GWe announced last year.
(Image: Darren McGee/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul)
The initiative is one of more than 200 included in the newly released 2026 State of the State Book, which says: "As New York transitions to a zero-emission electric grid, the State must ensure reliable and cost-effective baseload power to keep homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure running at all hours. Governor Hochul will ensure that New York State leads in the race to harness safe and reliable advanced nuclear energy to power homes and businesses with zero-emissions electricity for generations to come.
"To catalyse progress towards those goals, the Governor will advance a new initiative, the Nuclear Reliability Backbone, directing State agencies to establish a clear pathway for additional advanced nuclear generation to support grid reliability. The Nuclear Reliability Backbone will be developed by a new Department of Public Service process to consider, review, and facilitate a cost-effective pathway to 4 gigawatts of new nuclear energy that will combine with existing nuclear generation and the New York Power Authority's previously announced 1 gigawatt project, to create an 8.4 gigawatt 'backbone' of reliable energy for New Yorkers.
"This effort will provide firm, clean power that complements renewable energy resources and reduces reliance on fossil fuel generation. By creating a stable foundation of always-on energy, the Backbone will allow renewable resources to operate more efficiently and flexibly. Together, these actions will support a resilient, flexible, and zero-emission grid that meets New York’s growing energy needs."
An additional initiative will be launched to develop a "skilled, in-state nuclear workforce through coordinated education and training pathways". The NextGen Nuclear New York initiative will aim to align educational curriculums, credentials, and career pathways with industry needs, as well as supporting workforce transitions for existing energy workers and increasing public awareness of nuclear career opportunities.
In June, Hochul directed the New York Power Authority - the state's public electric utility - to develop at least 1 GWe of advanced nuclear capacity in Upstate New York. Earlier this month, it announced it had received a "robust" response to two October 2025 Requests for Information seeking potential host communities and development partners, with 23 responses from potential developers or partners, and eight responses from Upstate New York communities.
John Carlson, Senior Northeast Regional Policy Manager at global nonprofit organisation Clean Air Task Force, said the action comes at a "pivotal moment" for New York. In December, an updated plan released by the state's Energy Planning Board recognised a continuing role for nuclear to help the state meet its overall energy needs over the next 15 years.
"By tasking the Public Service Commission to develop the market frameworks to enable these new builds, Goveror Hochul is ensuring that ratepayer interests and affordability are at the forefront while building the clean, economical grid of the future, one that also supports workforce development, strengthens municipal tax bases, and delivers these economic benefits to local communities," he said.
Four nuclear reactors - all operated by Constellation Energy - currently provide some 21.4% of all New York's electricity, and 41.6% of its carbon-free electricity, according to information from the Nuclear Energy Institute.
Impact assessment process begins for Canadian new-build
Ontario Power Generation has submitted the Initial Project Description for a new nuclear plant at Wesleyville near Port Hope, a regulatory milestone marking the first step in the impact assessment process.
The Wesleyville site is formerly home to an oil-fired generation project and is zoned for electricity generation (Image: OPG)
The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) are inviting public comments on the initial description of the project which has now been published on the agency's website, along with a summary in English and French. The deadline for comments is 11 February.
The Ontario government formally asked Ontario Power Generation (OPG) to explore opportunities for new nuclear energy generation at Wesleyville in January last year, after the local municipality and Indigenous communities expressed their support. The OPG-owned site has been municipally zoned and maintained for electricity generation for more than 50 years. OPG has identified the potential to construct and operate nuclear generating stations on both the eastern and western portions of the site.
The New Nuclear at Wesleyville Project would provide up to 10,000 megawatts of new nuclear generating capacity - enough to power the equivalent of 10 million homes, according to OPG - and operate for 78 years. No reactor technology has yet been selected, but OPG has considered several technologies as part of so-called Plant Parameter Envelope approach which will be used for site licensing. These include pressurised water reactor technology (Westinghouse’s AP1000 and EDF’s EPR); pressurised heavy water reactor (CANDU) technology (Atkins Realis’ CANDU MONARK); and boiling water reactor technology (GE-Hitachi’s BWRX-300).
The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada-led Impact Assessment process will include an assessment of potential impacts and explore how adverse effects could be mitigated during site preparation, construction, operation, and decommissioning of the plant. The current timeline for the project outlined in the Initial Project Description envisages site preparation beginning in 2030 with construction starting in 2033 and the first unit coming online in 2040.
OPG acknowledges that Port Hope and the New Nuclear at Wesleyville site are within the shared traditional and treaty territory of the Chippewa and Michi Saagiig Anishinaabeg, collectively known as the Williams Treaties First Nations (WTFNs), and said it worked closely with them to ensure their collaborative input to the document. "The Initial Project Description (IPD) includes perspectives from MS-WTFN community members including Elders and those who have traditional knowledge of the area. The IPD also incorporates early input from the Municipality of Port Hope, where the proposed project is located, and perspectives gathered through OPG’s early engagement efforts in the community," the company said.
Project Phoenix report backs SMR use in Slovakia
A feasibility study carried out as part of the USA's Project Phoenix scheme has backed the suitability of small modular reactors in the Slovak Republic.
(Image: US Embassy in Slovakia/X)
The Project Phoenix study, carried out by Sargent & Lundy with Slovakia's Ministry of Economy and nuclear energy operator Slovenské elektrárne, aimed to assess the country's readiness and potential to host small modular reactors (SMRs), with a focus on four specific locations - Bohunice, Mochovce, Vojany, and US Steel Košice.
According to Slovenské elektrárne the evaluation used International Atomic Energy Agency recommendations including external risks, geological conditions, environmental and safety factors and site suitability. As well as the country's general suitability, the study said that all four sites met the baseline criteria for SMR deployment.
Joshua Best, senior manager at company Sargent & Lundy, said: "The report affirms that Slovakia is strategically situated to deploy SMRs, with several mature, safe, and secure SMR technologies available that align with the country's needs and goals. All candidate sites assessed are viable, and Slovakia is primed to take the next steps should they choose to proceed."
The next steps are expected to be the development of a regulatory framework, detailed site investigations and public information and consultation. Project Phoenix was launched in 2022 with the aim of supporting energy security and climate goals by creating pathways for coal-to-SMR power plant conversions while retaining local jobs through workforce retraining.
Szabolcs Hodosy, First State Secretary of the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic, said: "It is crucial that such decisions are based on expert analyses, international safety standards, and transparent dialogue with the public. I am glad that a new area of nuclear energy is taking shape in Slovakia, where we can make use of our many years of experience and thus also outline a clear direction for future generations of 'nuclear experts'. Nuclear energy is experiencing its renaissance, and we must take timely steps - both in education and in preparing infrastructure, as well as in promoting support for nuclear energy across all platforms - so that we can then share the benefits of nuclear energy production at both the national and regional levels."
Branislav Strýček, Chairman and CEO of Slovenské elektrárne, said: "Small modular reactors represent a strategic opportunity for Slovakia. They can strengthen our energy security, support decarbonisation, and bring new investment to the regions. The study confirms that we not only have suitable sites, but also the technical know-how and experience to build on."
US Deputy Chief of Mission in the Slovak Republic, Heather Rogers, said: "Project Phoenix demonstrates Slovakia’s robust nuclear energy experience, infrastructure, regulatory framework, and industrial base provide a strong platform for early deployment of small modular reactor technologies under the highest international safety and security standards. We are delighted to support Slovakia's efforts to strengthen energy resilience and shared prosperity and look forward to continued collaboration."
Slovenské elektrárne says that SMRs could be operational in the country from as early as 2035. Slovakia currently has five nuclear reactors generating about half its electricity, with one more reactor under construction. The first two, at Bohunice, went into commercial operation in 1984 and 1985, respectively, while Mochovce 1 and 2 were connected to the grid in 1998 and 1999, respectively. Construction of Mochovce 3 and 4 began in 1986 but was halted in 1992. It was later restarted and Mochovce 3 entered service in 2023, with work continuing on Mochovce 4.
The Slovak government also has plans for a new large-scale unit. It officially approved plans in May 2024 for a 1.2 GWe unit near the existing Bohunice nuclear power plant. In September 2025 ministers approved wording for a proposed intergovernmental agreement with the USA "on the construction of a new nuclear unit ... which will be state-owned and will have an output of more than 1,000 MW" and Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico is meeting US President Donald Trump this weekend and set to sign the agreement, according to multiple media reports, including Euronews.
Licensing of Newcleo's SMR progresses in France
Innovative reactor developer Newcleo has submitted the safety options dossier for its lead-cooled fast neutron reactor to the French Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Authority.
(Image: Newcleo)
Prior to applying for authorisation to construct a nuclear facility in France, a project developer may submit all or part of the design of its nuclear installation to the Autorité de Sûreté Nucléaire et de Radioprotection (ASNR), together with the safety approach, safety functions, structures, systems, components, or any other elements relevant to the proposed facility’s nuclear safety programme.
"The ASNR's independent review will enable Newcleo to identify safety improvements and to strengthen its application for authorisation to construct the facility," the company said.
"This major milestone is the result of years of engineering and R&D work, reinforced by a technical dialogue with the ASNR," Stefano Buono, CEO and founder of Newcleo, said. "As we prepare to apply for authorisation to build a nuclear power installation in 2027, we are also establishing a framework that will serve as a foundation for our interactions with other foreign nuclear safety authorities and to expand into additional markets. We support our technical validation efforts through a world-class R&D programme located at the ENEA Brasimone Research Centre in Italy, where we operate and are building 16 R&D facilities that generate data to validate our parameters and support our forthcoming qualification files."
In December 2024, Newcleo submitted its Safety Option File to France's nuclear safety regulator for its fuel assembly testing facility. The ASNR's official opinion on the submitted safety options will contribute to securing the application for authorisation to construct such a facility.
"The ASNR's review of both nuclear safety programme files will allow Newcleo to consolidate the applications for authorisation to build these two nuclear installations, which are expected to be submitted to the relevant French Ministry before the end of 2027," Newcleo said. "The applications for authorisation will also contain information on progress related to nuclear safeguards with Euratom. They will further be subject to review by the French national security authorities regarding requirements to ensure adequate protection of the installations against potential malicious acts."
Newcleo officially initiated its safeguards-by-design engagement with Euratom, the regulatory body overseeing nuclear safeguards within the European Union, for its lead-cooled fast reactor (LFR) in December last year. A mandatory requirement under the new Commission Regulation (Euratom) 2025/974, which came into effect on 6 July 2025, safeguards-by-design refers to the process where operators of new or modified nuclear facilities integrate Euratom safeguards considerations into the design phase and formally provide this design information to the European Commission.
Paris-headquartered Newcleo's delivery roadmap sees the first non-nuclear precursor prototype of its LFR being ready by 2026 in Italy and the first reactor operational in France as early as 2032, while the final investment decision for the first commercial power plant is expected around 2029. At the same time, Newcleo will directly invest in a mixed uranium/plutonium oxide (MOX) plant to fuel its reactors. It has initiated site acquisition and public consultation processes in France for the MOX fuel pilot assembly line in Nogent-sure-Seine.
"These nuclear installation projects will be subject to a mandatory public debate in France, as decided by the National Commission for Public Debate in June 2025," Newcleo noted. "This debate, to be held in 2026, is intended to involve the public in the process, gather stakeholder inputs, and contribute to decision-making on these two major nuclear projects, in line with the regulatory processes leading to the authorisations."
Skanska to produce prototype aseismic bearing for Rolls-Royce SMR
Rolls-Royce SMR has contracted Skanska UK to deliver an aseismic bearing pedestal demonstrator for its small modular reactor. These structural isolation devices are a key part of the factory-built nuclear power plant's design.
How a Rolls-Royce SMR might look (Image: Rolls-Royce SMR)
Aseismic bearings are installed beneath the plant's nuclear island to decouple the reactor building from ground motion during an earthquake. By absorbing and dissipating seismic energy, they reduce the forces transmitted to the superstructure, preserving both integrity and functionality.
The project will be delivered from Skanska's fabrications facility in Doncaster, England, and includes building a prototype of the aseismic bearing pedestal. Skanska - one of Sweden’s largest companies - is one of the world's leading project development and construction companies.
(Image: Rolls-Royce SMR)
"Working with Skanska is a significant step forward in proving the capability of our aseismic bearing technology and demonstrating our modular approach to construction," said Ruth Todd, Rolls-Royce SMR Operations and Supply Chain Director. "By working with a trusted delivery partner, we are de-risking our 'fleet-based' approach and creating opportunities for more British and Czech suppliers to play a key role the Rolls-Royce SMR mission."
Adam McDonald, Executive Vice President at Skanska UK, added: "We'll be bringing our civil engineering, design and fabrications expertise to build and test a first-of-its-kind pre-cast bearing pedestal – a critical component for Rolls-Royce SMR in building new nuclear power generation. Over the coming months, we'll develop the prototype and run various technical trials at our Bentley Works facility in Doncaster. We are looking forward to playing our part in developing the next generation of nuclear energy."
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.
It has been selected by both the Czech Republic and the UK governments for their respective proposed SMR programmes.
"The standardised bearing design is pre-qualified against a wide spectrum of seismic profiles, meaning the Rolls-Royce SMR can be sited nearly anywhere in the world without bespoke redesign," Rolls-Royce SMR said. "Proven in nuclear and civil applications, the aseismic bearing system aligns with international seismic codes and best practice guidelines, streamlining regulatory review and boosting stakeholder trust.
"This approach enables a flexible yet standardised SMR solution: a globally deployable plant design that adapts to local environments without compromising safety, performance, or efficiency."
The 10-year framework agreement between X-energy Reactor Company and SGL Carbon LLC covers the supply of graphite for the deployment of X-energy's Xe-100 small modular reactor, with a contract to support the first deployment of the reactor at the Seadrift site in Texas and an agreement to reserve capacity for a planned 12-unit plant in Washington State.
Wiesbaden, Germany, headquartered SGL has already begun production of graphite reactor components using its NBG-18 medium-grain isotropic graphite for the first deployment of the Xe-100 under the initial contract which is worth USD100 million over three years. The proposed four-unit plant at Dow Inc's Seadrift site on the Texas Gulf Coast is being supported by the US Department of Energy's Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program.
The companies have also signed an agreement to reserve capacity and develop production readiness for the Cascade Advanced Energy Facility with Energy Northwest in Washington state, a planned 12-unit Xe-100 plant and the first of a series of Amazon and X-energy projects targeting at least 5 GWe of new nuclear energy by 2039. Graphite production for this is expected to begin in the second half of 2026.
The Xe-100 is a based on based on HTGR (high temperature gas cooled reactor) technology, using TRISO (tri-structural isotropic) particle fuel to power an 80 MWe reactor that can be scaled into a 'four-pack' 320 MWe power plant. Fine-grain graphite is a critical component: the Xe-100 uses graphite as both a neutron moderator and structural component, enabling it to operate at high temperatures while maintaining exceptional safety characteristics.
SGL has a long history in supplying graphite into nuclear applications, and has collaborated with X-energy since 2015 on the qualification of NBG-18 graphite for use in the Xe-100, leveraging SGL's experience manufacturing graphite for HTGRs.
"Scaling new nuclear requires partners who know how to execute, and have done so time and again in the world's most demanding industries," X-energy CEO Clay Sell said. "SGL brings decades of innovation in aerospace, automotive, energy, and semiconductor applications, and we are thrilled to bring that depth of experience into the new nuclear sector."
SGL Carbon CEO Andreas Klein described work done in recent years by X-energy as "groundbreaking", adding that the company is proud to be part of the "success story" as the implementation phase begins. "This is a first milestone in the development of new applications for our products and SGL Carbon's entry into a strategically important market," he said.
The agreement with SGL is the most recent in a series of announcements as X-energy builds a portfolio of suppliers to support its commercial pipeline. These include agreements with Doosan Enerbility for steel manufacturing and capacity expansion, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power for fleet-scale deployment collaboration, and additional agreements for IG-110 fine-grain graphite.
China starts construction of innovative nuclear project
First concrete has been poured for the nuclear island of unit 1 at Phase I of the Xuwei nuclear power project in China's Jiangsu province. The plant will supply both industrial heating and electricity by coupling a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor with two Hualong One pressurised water reactors.
(Image: CNNP)
Xuwei Phase I was among 11 reactors approved by China's State Council in August 2024. China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) plans to build two 1208 MWe (net) Hualong One units and one 660 MWe high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) unit at the site in Lianyungang, Jiangsu province. The project will be equipped with a steam heat exchange station, which will adopt the heat-to-electricity operation mode for the first time. China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) describes the project as the "world's first dual-coupling demonstration project combining a third-generation nuclear PWR and a fourth-generation nuclear HTGR".
(Image: CNNP)
At the plant - very close to CNNC's existing Tianwan plant - demineralised water will be heated by the primary steam of the Hualong One units to produce saturated steam, and the primary steam of the HTGR will be used to heat the saturated steam for the second time.
(Image: CNNP)
A contract for the construction of the conventional islands of the three units was awarded in September last year to a consortium formed by China Energy Engineering Jiangsu Electric Power Construction No 3 Company and China National Nuclear Huachen Construction Engineering Company. Under the CNY4.2 billion (USD594 million) contract, Jiangsu Electric Power Construction No 3 Company will build the three conventional island power plants, their ancillary facilities, and the construction and installation of some 'balance of plant' components.
A rendering of the Xuwei plant (Image: CNNC)
CNNC Suneng Nuclear Power Company, is the CNNC subsidiary which is the owner of the Xuwei project and responsible for project investment, construction and operation management.
Once the project is completed and put into operation, it will supply 32.5 million tonnes of industrial steam annually, with a maximum power generation of more than 11.5 billion kilowatt-hours, which can reduce the use of standard coal by 7.26 million tonnes and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 19.6 million tonnes each year.
Arabelle turbines selected for Polish plant
EDF subsidiary Arabelle Solutions has been selected by Bechtel and Westinghouse to supply half-speed Arabelle steam turbine and generator sets for the three AP1000 units planned at Poland's first nuclear power plant.
(Image: Polish Government)
Arabelle Solutions will supply all three units of the Choczewo nuclear power plant with the steam turbine, generator including auxiliary systems, as well as key equipment of the water steam cycle including the condenser, moisture separator reheaters, low and high-pressure feedwater heaters, and feedwater and deaerating tanks. In a nuclear power plant, heat from the reactor turns water into steam, which spins a turbine and generator to produce electricity.
In total, the half-speed Arabelle steam turbine generator shaftline for the AP1000 will be 68 metres long and includes a combined high/intermediate-pressure module and three double-flow low-pressure modules for improved cycle efficiency. It will be coupled with a hydrogen and water-cooled GIGATOP 4-pole generator synchronised to the 50 Hz Polish grid.
"The selection follows a rigorous procurement process evaluating both technical and financial criteria," Bechtel said. "Arabelle Solutions will adapt its standard steam turbine design for the turbine island at the Choczewo site, with fabrication expected to begin after the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) agreement for the project is finalised."
"We are proud to partner with Bechtel and Westinghouse Electric Company to deliver the turbine hall equipment for the first nuclear power plant in Poland, contributing to providing reliable, low-carbon electricity to the country," said Arabelle Solutions CEO Catherine Cornand. "This project reflects both the trust of our partners and the commitment of our teams to carry forward our long-standing expertise and legacy of innovation to meet the world's growing energy needs."
Ed Gore, Project Director, Poland AP1000 Project, Bechtel, said: "Arabelle Solutions brings deep regional capabilities and provides opportunities for Polish producers to participate in this project. We are proud to apply Bechtel's world-class construction expertise to support the energy transition of Poland."
Dan Lipman, President of Westinghouse Energy Systems, added: "The choice of Arabelle Solutions for the project's steam turbine generator is a strong complement to the AP1000 reactor. Having such a major European supplier involved in the project underscores Westinghouse-Bechtel consortium 'Buy Where We Build' philosophy and our commitment to having Polish companies participating throughout the entire project."
"We have chosen a partner who guarantees experience, and above all reliability and a wide chain of suppliers - largely Polish," said Marek Woszczyk, President of the Management Board of Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe (PEJ).
In November 2022, the then Polish government selected Westinghouse AP1000 reactor technology for construction at the Lubiatowo-Kopalino site in the Choczewo municipality in Pomerania in northern Poland. An agreement setting a plan for the delivery of the plant was signed in May 2023 by Westinghouse, Bechtel and PEJ - a special-purpose vehicle 100% owned by Poland's State Treasury. The Ministry of Climate and Environment in July 2024 issued a decision-in-principle for PEJ to construct the plant. The aim is for Poland's first AP1000 reactor to enter commercial operation in 2033. The total investment costs of the project are estimated to be about EUR42 billion (USD47 billion).
EDF completed its acquisition of a portion of GE Vernova's nuclear conventional islands technology and services - including its Arabelle steam turbines - in May 2024. The transaction included the manufacturing of conventional island equipment for new nuclear power plants as well as related maintenance and upgrade activities for existing nuclear plants outside of the Americas. EDF's acquisition of the business - at that time, known as GE Steam Power - was first announced in early 2022 and the final agreement was signed in the November of that year.
German steam generators arrive in Sweden for recycling
EDF subsidiary Cyclife Sweden AB has completed the transfer of the four steam generators from Germany's shut down Unterweser nuclear power plant to its facility in Nyköping, Sweden, for processing.
(Image: PreussenElektra)
In 2021, PreussenElektra awarded the contract for the dismantling and disposal of a total of 16 steam generators from the Unterweser, Grafenrheinfeld, Grohnde, and Brokdorf plants to Cyclife, a subsidiary of EDF specialising in nuclear power plant decommissioning and waste management. Cyclife is responsible for the entire process, from collection at PreussenElektra plants to the upcoming treatment and the future return delivery of the processed waste.
Steam generators are the heat exchangers in pressurised water reactors (PWRs), producing the steam that turns the turbines to generate the electrical energy in the generator. PreussenElektra said the dismantling and disposal of the steam generators is one of the key projects in the dismantling of its PWRs and will take more than a decade.
The removal of all four steam generators from the reactor building at the Unterweser plant began in mid-May last year. In total, all four steam generators - each measuring 20 metres in height and weighing about 300 tonnes - were removed within four weeks, completing the project on schedule. The actual dismantling was preceded by nearly two years of planning, testing, and implementation of the necessary modifications and additions inside and outside the reactor building, as well as the individual dismantling steps of the large heat exchangers.
Unterweser - a pressurised water reactor with a gross installed capacity of 1410 MWe - operated between 1978 and 2011. It was one of seven nuclear power plants shut down in Germany in March 2011 when it lost its commercial operating licence under the 13th Amendment to the Atomic Energy Act.
(Image: Mammoet)
Cyclife Sweden has now successfully completed the transport of the four steam generators from Unterweser to its new facility in Sweden.
"After several months of preparation and coordination, the four steam generators have now arrived at our facility, where they will be processed with the aim of recycling a substantial proportion of the material in our new facility which is doubling our treatment capacity here in Sweden," said Delphine Servot, managing director of Cyclife Sweden. "We worked closely with PreussenElektra throughout the project, from planning to execution, contributing expertise and resources to enable the safe and efficient transport and handling of the components."
Michael Bongartz, member of the board of PreussenElektra, added: "Following the successful shipment of the steam generators from our pilot plant in Unterweser to Sweden, we now look forward to working with Cyclife to transfer the lessons learned and experience to the upcoming steam generator projects. Upon reaching this key milestone, I would also like to express my gratitude to the on-site teams for their professionalism and collaborative spirit."
"Awarding this contract for our nuclear power plants was a strategic decision to accelerate decommissioning," said PreussenElektra CEO Guido Knott. "This will enable us to leverage synergies across all sites and consistently apply the knowledge we have gained. With Cyclife's proven expertise in managing complex decommissioning projects, this partnership sets a benchmark for safe and efficient implementation."
Cyclife says it has developed a process and facilities in Sweden for dismantling and disposing of steam generators that provides a turn-key solution for nuclear operators on retired metallic large components and scrap metal. This includes the management of their transport from/to customer or final depository, the storage on Cyclife's site before and after treatment, a volume reduction up to 95%, the characterisation of secondary waste, associated analysis and conditioning of final packages, and eventually the management of metallic reusable ingots (characterisation, free-release and selling to conventional industries).
To date, Cyclife Sweden has successfully processed more than 30 large components (steam generators, heat exchangers, etc) from Swedish, German, French and British nuclear power plants.
Tests confirm integrity of Deep Isolation disposal canister
US nuclear waste disposal company Deep Isolation says that a two-year research project that subjected its Universal Canister System to the kinds of conditions found thousands of feet below the surface has shown materials used in its fabrication perform reliably and remain resistant to corrosion over time.
(Image: Deep Isolation)
Disposal in deep boreholes - narrow, vertical holes drilled deep into the earth's crust - has been considered as an option for the geological isolation of radioactive wastes since the 1950s. Deep borehole concepts have been developed in countries including Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, and the USA but have not yet been implemented.
Deep Isolation's patented technology leverages standard drilling technology using off-the-shelf tools and equipment that are common in the oil and gas drilling industry. It envisages emplacing nuclear waste in corrosion-resistant canisters - typically 9-13 inches (22-33 centimetres) in diameter and 14 feet long - into drillholes in rock that has been stable for tens to hundreds of millions of years. The drillhole - which is lined with a steel casing - begins with a vertical access section which then gradually curves until it is nearly horizontal, with a slight upward tilt. This horizontal 'disposal section' would be up to two miles (3.2 kilometres) in length and lie anything from a few thousand feet to two miles beneath the surface, depending on geology. Once the waste is in place, the vertical access section of the drillhole and the beginning of its horizontal disposal section would be sealed using rock, bentonite and other materials.
Deep Isolation's Universal Canister System (UCS) - developed in collaboration with NAC International Inc through a three-year project funded by the US Department of Energy (DOE) Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (ARPA-E) - is designed to accommodate a range of advanced reactor waste streams, including vitrified waste from reprocessing, TRISO used fuel, and halide salts from molten salt reactors. It is compatible with modern dry storage and transport infrastructure, and meets performance and safety requirements across both borehole and mined repository options, which gives greater flexibility and reduced uncertainty in future waste disposition, the company says.
Project SAVANT (Sequential Advancement of Technology for Deep Borehole Disposal) - a two-year research initiative funded by the DOE's ARPA-E - found that Deep Isolation's UCS and borehole casing materials can sufficiently resist corrosion to safely store radioactive waste material, "further validating the design and advancing the company toward a full-scale deep borehole disposal demonstration".
Building on the project's central objective, the Project SAVANT team evaluated corrosion performance under realistic thermal, chemical, and mechanical stressors expected in a deep borehole environment. These data sets strengthen the scientific basis for Deep Isolation's UCS and reinforce confidence in the system's design life.
"This important study shows that Deep Isolation has achieved another critical milestone in the development of a safe method of disposing of radioactive nuclear waste – something the world critically needs," said Deep Isolation President and CEO Rod Baltzer. "Nuclear energy is facing a growing challenge. Global nuclear power capacity is forecast to increase by more than 300 GW by 2050, yet the world has not permanently disposed of any of the spent fuel it has created over the last 70 years. We believe our deep borehole technology will ultimately be the solution for safely and permanently disposing of nuclear waste deep underground, a solution the world needs."
"The Project SAVANT data significantly strengthens our understanding of how UCS and borehole system materials perform under the conditions expected in a deep geologic environment," said Jesse Sloane, Executive VP of Engineering at Deep Isolation. "These results demonstrate wide margins of safety for the public and reinforce the robustness of our design approach. With these results in hand, we are well positioned to advance into larger scale testing.”
Stan Gingrich, Principal Engineer at Amentum and a Project SAVANT collaborator, emphasised the importance of materials research in advancing disposal readiness. "The corrosion testing produced data representative of deep borehole disposal environments," he said. "Our collaboration with Deep Isolation, including our co-authored paper on the results of materials under high temperature and pressure conditions (presented at Waste Management Symposia 2025), underscores how phased testing can bring innovative disposal solutions closer to reality."
The project also incorporated supply chain research and cost estimation developed in partnership with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). These findings highlight opportunities to build domestic manufacturing pathways for canisters, casing materials, and deployment equipment that could accelerate commercial readiness and reduce lifecycle costs for future disposal facilities.
Deep Isolation said Project SAVANT supports a broader industry effort to modernise the back end of the nuclear fuel cycle. "As nations expand advanced reactor deployment, durable and predictable disposal pathways are increasingly essential to long-term planning and public confidence. The Project SAVANT findings provide new, data-driven insights that can guide future regulatory, commercial, and technical decision-making for deep borehole disposal."
Helen creating subsidiary for nuclear project
Finnish energy firm Helen is establishing a wholly-owned subsidiary, Helen Ydinvoima Oy, to investigate the prerequisites for constructing nuclear power in Helsinki and to prepare the project for an investment decision.
LDR-50 district heating SMR (Image: Steady Energy)
Helen - which currently produces heat, electricity and cooling in power plants and heating plants in different parts of Helsinki - is aiming for carbon-neutral energy production during the 2030s. In September 2024, the company launched the first phase of its nuclear programme, aimed at constructing a small nuclear power plant for producing heat for Helsinki city. Its nuclear energy programme will evaluate small modular reactors (SMRs) based on proven solutions, which can be used to produce just heat or both electricity and heat. During the initial phase of its nuclear programme, Helen said it will negotiate with potential partner shareholders, evaluate plant suppliers and determine potential plant sites. The first phase of the programme is due to be completed in 2026.
The company said the new subsidiary will begin operations at the start of February. Jarmo Tanhua - who served for 17 years as CEO of Teollisuuden Voima Oyj, during which time the Olkiluoto 3 EPR was constructed in Olkiluoto - has been appointed as Chair of the Board of Helen Ydinvoima Oy, while Pekka Tolonen has been appointed CEO.
"In Finland, we have good experiences and excellent expertise in nuclear power," Tanhua said. "There is a clear need for Helen's project, and it starts from a new perspective. We want to find out whether it is possible to build and commission the first new small nuclear power plant in Finland. Of course, such a project is of great interest."
"Transferring the nuclear energy programme to its own project development company enables flexible development of the programme as an independent entity," said Helen CEO Olli Sirkka. "It also creates better conditions for the project's success by opening up opportunities for various financing and business solutions."
In November 2022, Helen announced a joint study with Finnish utility Fortum - operator of the Loviisa nuclear power plant - to explore possible collaboration in new nuclear power, especially SMRs. The companies formed a study group to explore possible synergy benefits for the two firms.
In October 2023, Helen became the first energy company to engage in cooperation with Steady Energy by signing a letter of intent aimed at enabling an investment in a small-scale nuclear power plant for the production of district heating. Valid until 2027, the agreement includes promoting the reform of the Finnish Nuclear Energy Act, applying for a siting licence and a technological permit, and fixing the contract price of the plant. It would also enable Helen to procure up to ten reactor units with an output of 50 MW from Steady Energy.
Helen announced in November last year that it had selected three potential power plant sites in Helsinki for further assessment. The sites in question are the Vuosaari and Salmisaari power plant areas and the Norrberget area in western Östersundom. With the exception of Norrberget, the sites are already being used for energy production operations and are managed by Helen.
"Currently, the project is running a competitive bidding process for plant suppliers, exploring business and partnership models, and investigating collaboration opportunities with both industry and other energy companies," Helen said. "In addition, the project is assessing the prerequisites for nuclear energy production at previously announced potential plant sites through studies and environmental impact assessments."
Operating permit for very low-level waste disposal facility in Finland
An operating permit which is valid until 2095 has been issued by the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority of Finland for a new disposal facility for very low-level radioactive waste at Olkiluoto, to be operated by Teollisuuden Voima Oyj.
(Image: TVO)
The radiation properties of this waste is not harmful to people or the environment. Very low-level waste can include, for example, protective plastics and protective clothing that have been used during maintenance outages at a nuclear power plant.
Very low-level waste has so far been disposed of in Olkiluoto's VLJ repository, which was commissioned in 1992 and consists of two rock silos, a hall connecting the two and auxiliary facilities constructed at a depth of 60-100 metres inside the bedrock.
Teollisuuden Voima Oyj (TVO) says the establishment of a new facility reduces the need to expand the operating waste repository.
Construction and operation of the facility "will not start until TVO makes the construction decision and STUK (Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority of Finland) verifies compliance with requirements through specific inspections". Operation of the facility will not start until 2028 at the earliest.
The plan is for the facility, which will be near the VLJ repository, to have a total volume of 45,200 cubic metres, with nuclear waste accounting for up to 10,000 cubic metres. TVO said: "In a soil disposal facility, very low-level waste is packaged by waste type and covered with a layer of soil." It added that although it was the first such facility in Finland, it has been a long-standing method in other parts of the world, including in Sweden.
Senior Project Manager Jari Eskola said: "The operating permit is a significant step for responsible waste management in Olkiluoto. The solution is based on high safety requirements to ensure that the final disposal of very low-level waste is implemented in a controlled manner and protecting the environment."
Finland has five operable nuclear reactors providing about one-third of its electricity. There are various schemes and plans for new small modular reactors in the country. The country is close to giving the go-ahead for operations at the Onkalo deep geological repository to permanently dispose of used nuclear fuel. This is a repository in crystalline rock with used fuel in copper canisters surrounded by a bentonite buffer at a depth of 400-430 metres.
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