Inertia and LLNL Cut Fusion Target Fuel Production Time

Inertia Enterprises and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have jointly developed an accelerated manufacturing process for the deuterium-tritium ice layer used in inertial confinement fusion target capsules. The process compresses production time from multiple days to a matter of hours, according to Inertia.

The fuel layer—a thin cryogenically frozen coating of deuterium-tritium (D-T)—is a critical component in the spherical carbon-shell capsules used for fusion ignition. Achieving a sufficiently smooth ice layer is essential for target performance. The new process improves manufacturing efficiency while maintaining the surface quality required for ignition conditions.

Supply Chain and Operational Benefits

The manufacturing acceleration delivers multiple advantages across the fusion fuel supply chain. Reduced production time directly lowers manufacturing costs per target, improving economics for pilot-plant operations. The faster cycle also decreases the quantity of tritium that must be maintained in inventory at production facilities.

Lower tritium inventory requirements reduce material handling costs and associated regulatory compliance burdens. Tritium, a scarce and tightly controlled isotope, represents both a supply constraint and a regulatory liability. Minimizing on-site quantities eases operational complexity and reduces dependence on limited fuel supplies, strengthening supply security for fusion energy development.

Myanmar SMR Site Work Could Begin in 2027

Site work for a small modular reactor (SMR) project in Myanmar could begin in 2027. This development follows an intergovernmental agreement and the establishment of a comprehensive contractual framework for the project. The Director General of Rosatom, Alexei Likhachev, indicated that entering the site signifies the start of construction.

An intergovernmental agreement, signed in March 2025 during a state visit to Russia, outlined cooperation for a 110 MW project in Myanmar. This initial phase will feature two SMRs, with the possibility of expanding the capacity to 330 MW with additional units. The SMRs planned for the project are RITM-200N pressurized water reactors, each with a capacity of 55 MW. These reactors are adapted from the RITM-200 type, which is currently utilized in the nuclear icebreaker fleet.

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin commented on the project's potential after discussions with Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing during an official visit to Russia. Mishustin expressed confidence that the project would significantly boost cooperation in related fields, including fundamental and applied scientific research, and would symbolize the friendship between Russia and Myanmar.

Russia is actively pursuing SMR technology, with a land-based SMR currently under construction and a sea-based unit already operational. The country views SMRs as having considerable export potential. Earlier this year, a ceremony marked the pouring of concrete for the first of two Russian SMR units in Uzbekistan, further demonstrating Russia's commitment to exporting this technology.

Xudabao simulator commissioned ahead of operator training

A full-scope simulator for the Xudabao nuclear power plant was formally commissioned this week. The facility will support training for the initial cohort of operators assigned to units 1 and 2 before those reactors begin commercial operation. Officials described the milestone as foundational to establishing qualified personnel and maintaining safety standards during the transition to active plant operation.

Project scope and reactor technology

Xudabao units 1 and 2 are each equipped with 1250 MWe CAP1000 reactors, a Chinese-designed pressurized water reactor based on Westinghouse technology. Construction licences for both units were issued in November 2023, with formal site work commencing that same month near Xingcheng City in Liaoning Province. The combined investment in the first two units exceeds CNY48 billion, equivalent to approximately USD6.6 billion.

The broader Xudabao project originally envisioned six reactors at the site. Units 3 and 4, supplied as Russian-designed VVER-1200 reactors, entered construction in 2021 and 2022 respectively, with commissioning targeted for 2027 and 2028. Two additional CAP1000 units remain in the proposal phase. When fully developed, the six-unit complex is projected to generate more than 7.6 GW of installed capacity and supply approximately 54 billion kilowatt-hours annually.

Ownership and contracting

Liaoning Nuclear Power Company Ltd holds operational responsibility for the Xudabao site. The company is structured with a 70 percent stake held by China National Nuclear Corporation, 20 percent by Datang International Power Generation Company, and 10 percent by State Development and Investment Corporation. China Nuclear Power Engineering Company Ltd, a subsidiary of China National Nuclear Corporation, serves as the general contractor for construction activities.

Ongoing simulator operation, maintenance, and optimization will be managed by CNNC Wuhan Nuclear Power Operation Technology Co, the subsidiary that developed the facility. The simulator is expected to support continuous training and qualification of operating personnel through the commissioning phase and into routine operations.