World Nuclear News
Mid-year updates from major uranium producers
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Kazakhstan's national atomic company said its production on both a 100% basis (that is, the entirety of production of the entities in which the company has an interest) and attributable basis (that is, Kazatomprom's share of the total production once joint venture partners and other third-party shareholders have been accounted for) was higher in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025, due to a higher 2026 production plan, in line with its guidance and Subsoil Use Agreements’ requirements for the year. Kazatomprom's production of 13,291 tonnes of uranium (tU) on a 100% basis was 9% up on the 12,242 tU produced in the same period in 2025.
First-half 2026 sales volumes "closely aligned with results from the corresponding period last year, reflecting stable overall performance", the company said in its second quarter operations and trading update, released on 3 August, although it noted that sales volumes can vary substantially each quarter, and quarterly sales volumes vary from year to year.
"At this time, the Company reiterates its 2026 guidance in relation to production and sales volumes," Kazatomprom said. The company previously set its 2026 production guidance at 27,500-29,000 tU (on a 100% basis).
In its second quarter results last week, Canadian nuclear company Cameco said its production outlook also unchanged, despite uranium production being impacted by "challenging spring road conditions" along supply routes in northern Saskatchewan: in May, flooding caused the collapse a bridge on the primary route used to transport supplies to the McArthur River and Key Lake sites, resulting in a temporary suspension of production at Key Lake and reduced mining activity at McArthur River for about two weeks.
Total production from Cameco's operations in Canada - Cigar Lake and McArthur River/Key Lake - for the first half of the year was 10.1 million pounds U3O8 (3885 tU) (Cameco's share), 5% down from the same period in 2025. Production at JV Inkai in Kazakhstan - a joint venture of Cameco and Kazatomprom - was 5.3 million pounds U3O8 for the first half of the year (on 1 100% basis), and JV Inkai remains on track to produce 10.4 million pounds U3O8 (100% basis) in 2026. Of that, Cameco's purchase allocation is expected to be 4.2 million pounds U3O8: 0.8 million pounds were delivered in the first half of the year, and the majority of Cameco's share of 2026 production is expected to be received before the end of 2026, the company said.
Cameco's uranium inventory stood at 8.7 million pounds U3O8 as of 30 June.
New Chinese reactors reach start-up milestones
Unit 3 of the Changjiang nuclear power plant in China's Hainan province has begun supplying electricity to the grid, while unit 2 of the Taipingling plant in Guangdong has entered commercial operation. Both units feature Hualong One (HPR1000) reactors.
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According to World Nuclear Association figures, China's total installed nuclear generating capacity has now increased to 63.98 GWe, moving ahead of France's 63 GW for the first time and putting it second only to the USA's 96.9 GWe.
On 1 August, Changjiang unit 3 was "successfully connected to the grid, and the first kilowatt-hour of clean electricity was generated here, flowing into thousands of homes", China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) said. "With stable parameters and good operating condition, the unit has officially entered the load-bearing trial operation phase, marking a crucial step towards commercial operation."
Two Hualong One pressurised water reactors (PWRs) are being constructed in the second phase of the Changjiang plant. First concrete was poured for the base slab of unit 3's nuclear island in March 2021, with that of unit 4 being poured in the December of that year. Changjiang Phase II - units 3 and 4 - represents a total estimated investment of CNY40 billion (USD5.9 billion), according to China Huaneng, which holds a 51% share in the project. Both units are scheduled to be fully operational in early 2027.
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(Image: CNNC)
Changjiang 3 achieved first criticality - a sustained chain reaction - on 10 July.
The Changjiang nuclear site is already home to two operating CNP-600 PWRs - Changjiang 1 and 2 - which entered commercial operation in 2015 and 2016, respectively. In 2021, CNNC also began construction of a demonstration ACP100 small modular reactor at the site. The multi-purpose 125 MWe PWR - also referred to as the Linglong One - is designed for electricity production, heating, steam production or seawater desalination. It is currently undergoing pre-commissioning tests.
Read more: China approves construction of eight more reactors
The island province of Hainan is China's southernmost point. Energy policies published in 2019 by Hainan Province Development and Reform Commission specify that nuclear power will become the primary source of electricity for the island, which has a population of close to 10 million.
Taipingling unit 2
Unit 2 of the Taipingling nuclear power plant has entered commercial operation, China General Nuclear (CGN) announced. The unit is the second of six Hualong One reactors planned for the site in Guangdong province.
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(Image: CGN)
The unit "completed all commissioning works on 3 August 2026, and is qualified for commercial operation", CGN said in a statement to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. These works included a series of commissioning tests, including a test run lasting 168 hours.
Taipingling 2 received an operating licence from China's National Nuclear Safety Administration on 30 April. The loading of a total of 177 fuel assemblies was completed on 3 May. It attained first criticality on 25 June. The 1,116 MWe (net) PWR was connected to the grid on 4 July.
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 first criticality on 3 February this year and was connected to the grid on 13 February. It entered commercial operation on 19 April.
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. The first nuclear safety-related concrete for the reactor building of unit 4 was poured in May. The State Council approved the construction of units 5 and 6 on 31 July.
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.
"After Taipingling unit 2 is put into commercial operation, the number of nuclear power generating units in operation managed by the company (including associates) will increase to 31 units and the installed capacity of nuclear power generating units in operation will also increase from 34,248 MW to 35,450 MW," CGN said.
China approves construction of eight more reactors
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The Phase II units (3 and 4) of China National Nuclear Corporation's Jinqimen plant in Zhejiang Province and the Phase III units (5 and 6) of China General Nuclear's Taipingling plant in Guangdong Province have been designated as demonstration projects of Hualong One 2.0.
Hualong One 2.0 is described as "an advanced pressurised water reactor (PWR) nuclear power technology combining third-generation and advanced technologies, developed through independent innovation and overall collaboration, based on feedback from the construction and operation experience of Hualong One". CNNC noted that, so far, 10 Hualong One units are commercially operational both domestically and internationally, with another 37 units approved for construction.
Read more: New Chinese reactors reach start-up milestones
China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) said its subsidiaries, CNNC Datang Zhuanghe Nuclear Power Co Ltd and CNNC (Xiangshan) Nuclear Power Co Ltd, serve as the project owners for the respective approved Jinqimen and Zhuanghe projects and are responsible for project investment, construction, and operational management. "Currently, preparatory work prior to the commencement of construction is proceeding steadily and in an orderly manner at the project sites," it said.
Meanwhile, two larger Guohe One reactors - an enlarged version of the CAP1000 PWR developed from the Westinghouse AP1000 - will be built as the initial phase of State Power Investment Corporation's Laiyang plant, which will eventually house six such units. State Power Investment Corporation is fully responsible for the investment, construction and operation of the Shandong Laiyang Nuclear Power Project. The company said this is "the first standardised and batch-built project approved" for the Guohe One technology.
"The meeting emphasised that nuclear power units must be constructed and operated in accordance with the highest global safety standards, that relevant entities must fulfil their primary responsibilities, and that safety supervision across the entire supply chain and all sectors must be strengthened to ensure absolute safety in nuclear power," the State Council said.
Dominion keeps options open for North Anna new build
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Virginia Electric and Power Company (doing business as Dominion Energy Virginia) submitted its request to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) on 14 July, seeking to renew the Early Site Permit for 20 years beyond its current expiry date of 27 November 2027 or for 20 years from the date of issuance, whichever is later. The NRC formally acknowledged receipt of the request on 28 July, and is now reviewing it ahead of accepting it for docketing.
An Early Site Permit (ESP) is an optional process through which the NRC confirms a site's suitability for new nuclear generation: possession of such a permit reduces the risk of delays during licensing and construction. The permit itself is independent of an application for a construction permit or combined construction and operating licence, and is technology neutral, so a technology can be selected later in the development process.
Days after the NRC issued the Early Site Permit for two potential additional nuclear power units at the existing North Anna site - already home to two operating pressurised water reactors - in November 2007, Dominion submitted an application to construct and operate North Anna unit 3. This application referenced the Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor (ESBWR) design. The NRC granted the licence, known as a COL, in 2017. Some aspects of the Early Site Permit were at that time subsumed into the COL.
In 2024, Dominion Energy issued a request for proposals from reactor vendors to evaluate the feasibility of developing a small modular reactor at North Anna. In its renewal application, Dominion requested the renewal of the Early Site Permit "in its entirety" the company "may pursue licensing of a reactor design alternative to the ESBWR". It also formally notified the regulator of the deferment of the COL, under which it said no construction activities have been initiated.
North Anna units 1 and 2 are 944 MWe pressurised water reactors which began commercial operation in 1978 and 1980, with an initial lifetime of 40 years, which was extended by 20 years in 2003. The units were granted a second - or subsequent - extension to their operating licences in 2024, clearing them for an 80-year operating life, and are now licensed to operate to 2058 and 2060, respectively.
The recent permit and licence updates at North Anna amount to regulatory housekeeping, Dominion Energy spokesperson Tim Eberly told World Nuclear News.
"We are performing this activity to preserve the option for expanding nuclear energy generation at North Anna, although at this time Dominion Energy has not made any commitments to do so," he said. "These regulatory tweaks formalise that our decision to build a third traditional nuclear reactor at North Anna is on hold - while maintaining the groundwork for future nuclear development so we have the option to pursue a traditional or advanced reactor."
The Virginia Department of Energy is in the process of updating its energy roadmap, with plans to release the 2026 Virginia Energy Plan in October. The previous edition of the plan - released in 2022 - called for Virginia to make strategic investments in innovative, emerging technologies, including hydrogen, carbon capture, storage and utilisation, and, particularly, small modular nuclear reactors.
ARC partners with INL for SMR deployment
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The agreement with Battelle Energy Alliance, the laboratory's management and operating contractor, means Idaho National Laboratory (INL) "will bring its full spectrum of nuclear research expertise to bear on the design, demonstration, and deployment of the ARC-100, a 100 MWe sodium-cooled fast reactor designed for safe, flexible, and economical operation".
The multi-year framework agreement will see support cover "engineering and design, advanced materials and manufacturing, high-performance computing and modelling, irradiation testing, reactor commissioning and operation, and site development; covering the full lifecycle from detailed design through first-of-a-kind deployment".
The ARC-100 is a sodium-cooled fast reactor with a metallic uranium alloy core. It is designed for both on-grid electricity production and industrial heat applications. The design is based on the Experimental Breeder Reactor-II integral sodium-cooled fast reactor prototype which operated at the Argonne National Laboratory from 1961, finally shutting down in 1994.
Irfan Ali, ARC Clean Technology's President and Chief Strategy Officer, said: "This partnership with Idaho National Laboratory marks a pivotal step in ARC’s mission to bring safe, reliable, advanced nuclear energy to the world. INL's capabilities in reactor design, materials science, and regulatory engagement are unmatched, and we look forward to working alongside their expert teams to demonstrate the promise of our technology."
Jess Gehin, INL Associate Laboratory Director for Nuclear Science & Technology, said: "INL specialises in advanced reactor technologies, and we look forward to supporting ARC as they work toward the first deployment of the ARC-100."
ARC Clean Technology said it believes a successful first deployment at INL "would establish the ARC-100 as a compelling export opportunity, enabling the United States to offer allies and partners a world-class advanced reactor technology, strengthening energy security, deepening strategic relationships, and countering the growing influence of state-sponsored nuclear programmes from geopolitical competitors".
The company has received an award under the US Department of Energy's Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program that promotes accelerated advanced SMR development. INL has also been part of ARC’s team under the US Department of Energy's Advanced Reactor Concepts 2020 Program, with support spanning key areas including fuel design and analysis, Probabilistic Risk Assessment, and regulatory engagement with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Last year the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission's pre-licensing vendor design review, which began in 2017, concluded there were no fundamental barriers to licensing the SMR.
Since 2018, ARC and New Brunswick Power (NB Power) have been working together on the development of the ARC-100. In July 2023, NB Power, in partnership with ARC, submitted an environmental impact assessment registration document and an application for a site preparation licence for an SMR at the Point Lepreau nuclear power plant site in New Brunswick. The demonstration unit was being targeted for commissioning by 2029, subject to approvals and licensing.
Initiative launched to bolster Italian nuclear supply chain
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The initiative is primarily aimed at companies that are not currently active in the nuclear sector but possess transferable industrial capabilities, with the goal of expanding and strengthening the national industrial base.
The project includes preliminary assessments, gap analyses against international standards, and upgrade pathways to access the nuclear market. RINA will support companies throughout the certification and qualification process, while Ansaldo Energia will provide its industrial expertise in the sector, sharing market requirements and promoting initiatives to support certification processes through financial backing from institutions and public instruments for internationalisation and industrial development.
Companies interested in joining the initiative can find further information on the websites of RINA and Ansaldo Energia.
"Strengthening the country's industrial capacity is an essential step to enable Italian companies to seize the opportunities of a rapidly growing nuclear market," said Ansaldo Energia CEO Fabrizio Fabbri. "We are pleased to launch this initiative together with a leading partner such as RINA, building on other initiatives already undertaken by Ansaldo Energia, such as the recent agreement with SIMEST, aimed at supporting the growth and internationalisation of the supply chain."
Carlo Luzzatto, CEO and General Manager of RINA, added: "The renewed global momentum behind nuclear energy is creating significant new opportunities for Italy's industrial sector. Through this initiative, we aim to support companies on a structured qualification pathway, enabling them to progressively develop the capabilities and meet the requirements needed to operate in an industry defined by the highest regulatory, technological, and safety standards. By combining RINA's expertise with Ansaldo Energia's extensive industrial experience, we will help strengthen the competitiveness of Italy's nuclear supply chain and enhance its ability to capitalise on the opportunities arising from both national and international nuclear programmes."
"The Italian Nuclear Association expresses its strong appreciation and full support for this initiative, which is of fundamental importance to strengthen and coordinate a national nuclear supply chain that can already rely on expertise and industrial capabilities developed also through significant projects abroad," said Stefano Monti, Chairman of the Italian Nuclear Association. "This represents a strategic asset that must now be further expanded and consolidated, to respond effectively both to the numerous opportunities offered by new international projects and to the demanding nuclear programme that will be launched in our country in the coming months."
Nuclear power in Italy
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.
Since then, public opinion has become more favourable towards nuclear energy in the country and 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 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 October last year, Italy's Council of Ministers, at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Giorgia 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.
Last month, Italy's lower house of parliament, the Chamber of Deputies, approved the bill presented by Meloni's government paving the way for the country's return to the use of nuclear energy.
The bill will now be voted on in the upper house, the Senate. The implementing legislative decrees must be adopted within 12 months of the law's entry into force.
