Leadership

Duke Energy adds a large nuclear reactor project to its 2025 plan for the Carolinas, anticipating electricity demand more than twice previous forecasts.
EDF has selected Arabelle Solutions to supply two complete turbine islands for the Sizewell C nuclear power plant, strengthening their industrial cooperation initiated at Hinkley Point C.

Rome launches legislative process to reintegrate nuclear energy into its mix

The Italian government has approved a bill granting the executive authority to regulate the return of nuclear energy, in line with European carbon neutrality and energy security targets for 2050.
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Framatome and the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission have commissioned a specialised industrial line in Jeumont for the manufacturing of nuclear components used in French Navy vessels.
Italian company Terra Innovatum is advancing the commercialisation of its SOLO micro-reactor, with two new partnerships and $42.5mn in funding as part of a merger with a listed company.

Orano, Navoiyuran and ITOCHU launch uranium mining at South Djengeldi site

The Nurlikum Mining joint venture enters a new industrial phase with the launch of the South Djengeldi project, targeting annual production of 500 tonnes of uranium over ten years in Uzbekistan.
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The containment structure over Chernobyl’s destroyed reactor lost power after a Russian strike, as Zaporizhzhia remains cut off from external electricity for over a week.
Uranium deliveries to U.S. civilian operators rose 8% in 2024, while the average price climbed to its highest level since 2012, according to the latest available data.

Medvedev announces the rise of public investment in nuclear and AI

The Vice-Chairman of Russia’s Security Council believes more countries will develop nuclear weapons and generative AI technologies as a result of increasing public sector efforts.
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An international tribunal ruled in favour of French company Orano against the State of Niger, which had blocked the sale of uranium extracted from the Arlit mine since taking control of the site in 2023.
US-based Oklo and Sweden’s Blykalla join forces to coordinate supply chains and regulatory data sharing to accelerate the commercial deployment of their metal-cooled small modular reactors.

EDF to invest €25bn to strengthen nuclear capacity by 2030

EDF plans a massive €25bn ($26.5bn) investment to modernise its nuclear fleet, focusing on reactor lifetime extension and preparing for new nuclear projects in France.
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The French Energy Regulatory Commission set the full nuclear cost at €60.3/MWh by 2026, outlining the taxation thresholds applicable under the market reform scheduled for 2026.
The Ministry of Energy will initiate talks with developers of small nuclear reactors after signing a cooperation agreement with the United States to conduct preliminary studies on their deployment.

EDF pushes back Flamanville EPR restart to 17 October

The restart of the Flamanville EPR reactor, initially scheduled for 1 October, has been delayed by more than two weeks due to a maintenance operation on the primary circuit.
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The International Atomic Energy Agency says known natural uranium reserves will meet global nuclear power plant demand for the rest of the century, despite price pressures.
Site selection for Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant enters an advanced technical phase, with more than 100 experts mobilised by Rosatom to conduct complex geological and seismic analyses.

ICSID blocks the sale of SOMAÏR uranium by the State of Niger

The ICSID arbitral tribunal ordered Niger to suspend any sale of uranium produced by SOMAÏR, ruling that this material falls under Orano’s contractual rights, amid a dispute with the State that has lasted for several months.
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US-based TNC has entered into a strategic agreement with Nucor Corporation to expand gigawatt-scale nuclear capacity in line with federal targets of 400 GW by 2050.
Framatome and Italian agency ENEA have signed an agreement to design nuclear reactors capable of powering future human settlements on the Moon, amid growing European ambitions in space.
Canadian firm Aecon will collaborate with Estonia’s Fermi Energia on preparatory work for the BWRX-300 reactor, aiming to transfer Canadian expertise in small modular nuclear technology.
Kansai Electric Power will restart feasibility studies in November for a new reactor at Mihama, halted after Fukushima, as part of a prolonged public effort to revive investment in Japan’s nuclear sector.

Terra Innovatum signs agreement with Argentina’s Conuar for SOLO nuclear reactor components

Terra Innovatum has signed a memorandum of understanding with Conuar for the supply of key components for the industrial production of its SOLO micro-modular reactor, marking a strategic move into the South American market.
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Validation of underground injection permits by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency strengthens Dewey Burdock’s regulatory position and paves the way for state permitting expected in 2025.
Facing energy security challenges, several Southeast Asian countries are turning to nuclear and could invest up to $208bn to reach 25 GW of capacity, favouring small modular reactors.

London and Washington commit to accelerating bilateral nuclear projects

A strategic partnership between the United Kingdom and the United States aims to shorten nuclear licensing timelines and strengthen industrial cooperation around fusion and modular reactors.
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The International Atomic Energy Agency projects global nuclear capacity to reach 992 GW by 2050, driven by small modular reactors and lifetime extensions of existing plants.
Premier American Uranium and Nuclear Fuels have announced a target date of around September 19 to finalise their strategic consolidation, pending final approval from the TSX Venture Exchange.

Nuclear energy retained in the European Union green taxonomy

The General Court of the European Union has rejected Austria’s appeal against the inclusion of gas and nuclear energy in the classification of sustainable investments.
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Kazakhstan has signed an agreement with Nukem Technologies Engineering Services GmbH to benefit from German expertise in nuclear decommissioning and radioactive waste management.
The European Court of Justice annulled the European Commission's authorisation of Hungarian state aid for the Paks II nuclear project, questioning compliance with EU public procurement rules.

A CNY4.2bn contract awarded for China’s Xuwei nuclear project

A Chinese consortium has secured a CNY4.2bn ($594mn) contract for the construction of conventional islands for the Xuwei nuclear project, combining third and fourth generation reactors.
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Rosatom and China National Nuclear Corporation signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen bilateral cooperation in talent development and skills training in the nuclear sector.
Iran has reached a new agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency to formalise the resumption of inspections, following months of suspension linked to military tensions and criticism of its nuclear programme.

France positions itself on small modular reactors with eleven key recommendations

The French Energy Regulatory Commission outlines a structured plan to accelerate the deployment of small modular reactors, focusing on industrial heat and series effects to enhance competitiveness.
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US-based Nuclearn has secured $10.5mn to scale its artificial intelligence platform, already deployed in over 65 nuclear reactors, to automate critical operations amid rising energy demand.
The steel dome of the CAP1000 Haiyang 4 reactor has been positioned, a major construction milestone paving the way for upcoming maintenance and technical installation phases.

French and Belgian nuclear industry groups sign strategic cooperation agreement

The Groupement des Industriels Français de l'Énergie Nucléaire and the Belgian Nuclear Forum formalise a partnership aimed at strengthening industrial exchanges and joint projects between the two countries’ nuclear sectors.
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The International Atomic Energy Agency warns that little time remains to reach an agreement with Iran on fully resuming inspections, as European sanctions could be reimposed within 30 days.
Slovenia’s JEK2 project moves forward with two nuclear technologies judged technically compatible, estimated between EUR9.31bn ($10.1bn) and EUR15.37bn ($16.66bn).