Delphine Batho

Work has begun at the Bailong and Lufeng sites with concrete poured for the nuclear islands, marking the start of construction for two CAP1000 reactors.
French group Orano receives USD900mn in public support to establish a new uranium enrichment facility in Tennessee, as part of a broader US nuclear sector revival plan.

Chubu Electric admits underestimating seismic risks at Hamaoka nuclear plant

Japan’s nuclear restart effort stalls after Chubu Electric acknowledged a possibly flawed seismic risk estimate at its Hamaoka facility under regulatory review.
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Russia has connected its first 1,250 MW VVER-TOI reactor at the Kursk II nuclear power plant to the grid, signalling a key step toward full commissioning by 2034.
Chubu Electric acknowledged a methodological discrepancy in the seismic evaluation of two nuclear reactors, a situation that could weigh on the restart of nuclear operations in Japan.

Denison launches construction preparations for its Canadian uranium mine

Denison Mines is set to commit CAD600mn ($437mn) to build Phoenix, the first large-scale uranium mine developed in Canada in over a decade, with production expected by mid-2028.
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A memorandum of understanding between four companies opens the way for industrial development around compact nuclear reactors, integrating hydrogen production, synthetic fuels, and digital infrastructure.
The Idaho Advanced Energy Consortium secured approval for its five strategic projects, now competing for $75mn in funding under the US Tech Hub programme.

Duke Energy files permit request for nuclear project in North Carolina

Duke Energy has filed a permit application to assess the feasibility of a nuclear reactor in Stokes County on an existing power generation site, without committing to immediate construction.
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The South Korean nuclear regulator has approved the launch of the 1,400-megawatt Saeul 3 reactor, beginning with a six-month pilot phase before full commercial operation.
Ankara confirmed new Russian funding for the Akkuyu project, Turkey’s first nuclear site, strengthening its energy ties with Moscow and advancing its domestic nuclear ambitions.

Nigerien junta rejects French accusations over uranium disappearance

Niger’s military regime disputes theft allegations by French prosecutors after uranium stock vanished from a nationalised site previously operated by Orano.
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Rosatom successfully completed a series of tests on its high-temperature gas-cooled reactor fuel, validating its performance at up to 1,700 °C under prolonged irradiation conditions.
Videberg Kraft AB becomes the first company to request government support to build two new reactors at the Ringhals site, under the national nuclear investment framework adopted in 2025.

Brussels investigates €30bn public loan for two reactors in Czechia

The European Commission opens an in-depth investigation into Prague's public funding of a major nuclear project, which could reach €30bn ($32.88bn), with guaranteed revenues over forty years.
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Niigata's assembly officially backs the restart of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa site, marking a key step in Japan’s return to nuclear energy following the 2011 Fukushima disaster.
The Japanese government plans to fund up to 30% of loans required for nuclear projects, aiming to accelerate reactor restarts and double the share of nuclear energy in its energy mix by 2040.

Newcleo launches European safeguards process for lead-cooled modular reactor

French nuclear reactor developer Newcleo has submitted its lead-cooled small modular reactor design to Euratom, initiating the first regulatory phase to integrate nuclear non-proliferation safeguards at the European level.
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French state utility EDF has increased the maximum estimated cost for building six new nuclear reactors to €72.8 billion ($85.29 billion), representing a 40% rise over the original figure.
US-based Holtec has signed a memorandum of understanding with Hungary’s energy group MVM to assess the deployment of its SMR-300 technology, strengthening bilateral nuclear cooperation and opening prospects for a new market in Central Europe.
Six European nuclear authorities have completed the second phase of a joint review of the Nuward modular reactor, a key step toward aligning regulatory frameworks for small nuclear reactors across Europe.
Driven by off-grid industrial heat demand and decarbonisation mandates, the global small modular reactor market is set to grow 24% annually through 2030, with installed capacity expected to triple within five years.

Fusion energy industry urges Washington to invest over $1bn annually

US fusion energy leaders have called on the federal government to redirect public funding towards their projects, arguing that large-scale investment is needed to stay competitive with China.
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Santee Cooper has approved a memorandum of understanding with Brookfield Asset Management to assess the feasibility of restarting two unfinished nuclear reactors, with a potential $2.7 billion payment and 550 MW capacity stake.
Helical Fusion has signed a landmark agreement with Aoki Super to supply electricity from fusion, marking a first in Japan’s energy sector and a commercial step forward for the helical stellarator technology.

India targets 21,880 MW of nuclear capacity by 2032 with accelerated expansion programme

India’s nuclear capacity is expected to grow by more than 13,000 MW by 2032, driven by ongoing heavy water reactor construction, new regional projects and small modular reactor development by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre.
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NextEra Energy has lifted its earnings estimates for 2025 and 2026, supported by power demand linked to long‑term contracts previously signed with Google and Meta to supply their artificial intelligence data centres with low‑carbon electricity.
London launches a complete regulatory overhaul of its nuclear industry to shorten authorisation timelines, expand eligible sites, and lower construction and financing costs.

Posiva nuclear repository faces new licensing delay in Finland

Finland's Ministry of Economic Affairs extends the deadline to June 2026 for the regulator to complete its review of the operating licence for the Olkiluoto spent nuclear fuel repository.
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Framatome will replace several digital control systems at the Columbia plant in the United States under a contract awarded by Energy Northwest.
The conditional green light from the nuclear regulator moves Cigéo into its final regulatory stage, while shifting the risks towards financing, territorial negotiations and industrial execution.

A drone damages the Chernobyl sarcophagus, Ukraine left alone to handle repairs

The drone strike confirmed by the IAEA on the Chernobyl site vault exposes Ukraine to a nuclear risk under armed conflict, forcing the EBRD to finance partial restoration while industry standards must now account for drone threats.
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Deep Fission is installing a 15 MWe pressurised reactor 1.6 km underground at Great Plains Industrial Park, under the Department of Energy’s accelerated pilot programme, targeting criticality by July 4, 2026.
EDF commits to supply 33 MW of nuclear electricity to Verkor over 12 years, enabling the battery manufacturer to stabilise energy costs ahead of launching its first Gigafactory.

Lianjiang nuclear simulator enters delivery phase after full validation

The full-scope simulator for the Lianjiang nuclear project has successfully passed factory acceptance testing, paving the way for its installation at the construction site in China's Guangdong province.
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A coalition of Danish industry groups, unions and investors launches a platform in support of modular nuclear power, aiming to develop firm low-carbon capacity to sustain industrial competitiveness.
The United Kingdom and TAE Technologies create a joint venture in Culham to produce neutral beams, a key component of fusion, with strategic backing from Google.

Natura Resources accelerates molten salt reactor development with DOE support

Texas-based developer Natura Resources receives new federal funding to test key components of its 100-megawatt modular reactor in partnership with Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
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The Niigata regional assembly is deliberating on restarting unit 6 of the world’s largest nuclear plant, thirteen years after operations ceased following the Fukushima disaster.
Reactor Doel 2 was taken offline, becoming the fifth Belgian reactor to cease operations under the country’s gradual nuclear phase-out policy.