Xudabao Unit 1 Installs Outer Dome, Advancing Modular Construction

Modular Construction Progress at Xudabao Unit 1

The outer dome, a critical component of the shielded building for Xudabao Unit 1, has been successfully installed. This conical steel dome, measuring approximately 41 meters in diameter and 11 meters in height, has a lifting weight of nearly 1,000 tonnes. Its installation marks a significant step towards completing the unit's large steel structure modules and establishing the foundation for the nuclear island plant structure.

The CAP1000 reactor design, a Chinese adaptation of the Westinghouse AP1000, employs modular construction. This method allows for the fabrication of large structural modules off-site in factories, which are then transported and installed at the construction site. This approach aims to accelerate construction timelines, enhance economic efficiency, and improve quality control by enabling parallel construction activities.

Project Overview and Investment

The Xudabao project, also known as Xudapu, received its construction license for units 1 and 2 in November 2023 from the National Nuclear Safety Administration. Construction of Unit 1 officially commenced later that month. These units will each feature 1,250 MWe CAP1000 reactors. The total investment for Xudabao units 1 and 2 is reported to exceed CNY48 billion (USD6.6 billion).

The Xudabao plant is owned by Liaoning Nuclear Power Company Ltd. The ownership structure includes CNNC with a 70% stake, Datang International Power Generation Company holding 20%, and State Development and Investment Corporation owning 10%. China Nuclear Power Engineering Company Ltd, a subsidiary of CNNC, is the general contractor for the project.

While units 1 and 2 are CAP1000 reactors, the Xudabao site also includes units 3 and 4, which are Russian-supplied VVER-1200 reactors. Construction for these units began in July 2021 and May 2022, with commissioning anticipated in 2027 and 2028, respectively. Two additional CAP1000 reactors are proposed for units 5 and 6. Upon completion, the six-unit project is projected to have a total installed capacity exceeding 7.6 MWe, generating nearly 54 billion kilowatt-hours of clean electricity annually.

Atucha 2 Dry Storage Facility Equipment Undergoing Testing

Testing Underway for Atucha 2 Dry Storage

Testing is in progress for equipment destined for the Almacenamiento en Seco de Combustibles Gastados de Atucha II (ASECG II) facility. This dry storage solution is considered essential for the continued long-term operation of the Atucha 2 nuclear power plant. The facility is designed to safely and securely store up to 50,000 used fuel elements on the plant site. A key feature of the ASECG II is its passive ventilation system, which is engineered to maintain the temperature of the fuel elements within safe parameters without requiring external electricity or human intervention.

Used nuclear fuel is typically stored underwater for a minimum of five years, and often for much longer periods, to allow for cooling and a reduction in radiation emissions. Projections indicate that the cooling ponds at Atucha 2 are expected to reach full capacity by the end of next year. The new dry storage facility is therefore necessary to ensure the plant's ongoing operational capability.

Among the equipment currently being tested is a gantry crane. This crane is critical for the safe and precise movement of containers within the storage facility. The gantry crane was developed by IMPSA, based on technical specifications provided by Nucleoelectrica, and was delivered at the end of 2025. Its installation and commissioning are scheduled to take place over a four-month period. A similar dry fuel storage facility for the Atucha 1 nuclear power plant commenced operations in 2022, designed to store fuel assemblies from its pressurized heavy water reactor.

Atucha 2 Operational Background

Atucha 2 is a 693 MWe pressurized heavy water reactor, originally ordered in 1979. The plant's design, a larger version of the Atucha 1 unit, was provided by Siemens. Construction began in 1981 as a joint venture between Argentina's National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA) and Germany's Siemens-Kraftwerk Union. However, progress was slow due to funding constraints, leading to a suspension of work in 1994 when the plant was 81% complete.

In 1994, Nucleoeléctrica Argentina was established to assume responsibility for the country's nuclear power plants from CNEA and to oversee the completion of Atucha 2. Plans for the plant's completion were presented to the government in 2003. In August 2006, the government announced a strategic plan for the national nuclear power sector, which included the completion of Atucha 2. The unit was effectively completed in September 2011, achieved first criticality in early June 2014, connected to the grid later that month, and reached full power in February 2015. In May of the current year, the Autoridad Regulatoria Nuclear granted a renewed 10-year operating license for Atucha 2, extending its operational period until May 2036.

Ampera and LLNL Collaborate on TRISO Fuel Development for Advanced Microreactors

TRISO Fuel Development Collaboration

Ampera and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) have initiated a collaboration focused on developing tri-structural isotropic (TRISO) fuel. The project, named Thorium Unimodal Droplet Ejection for Reactors (Thunder), aims to evaluate and optimize liquid-metal-jetting technology. This technology is intended to produce highly uniform, spherical thorium-232 kernels, which are a key component of TRISO fuel.

The Thunder project builds upon LLNL's prior research, known as PowderJet, which involved the development of a particle production prototype utilizing droplet-based liquid-metal-jetting. The current work encompasses computational modeling, materials and nozzle compatibility testing, high-temperature process development, particle characterization, and safe radiological handling. A primary objective is to transfer scalable process and design rules to support future commercialization efforts.

Strategic Goals and Supply Chain Integration

The collaboration seeks to enable resilient, cost-effective, and sustainable manufacturing of advanced TRISO fuel. This initiative aligns with Ampera's broader strategy to establish a scalable and secure domestic advanced nuclear fuel supply chain. Ampera's founder and CEO, Brian Matthews, stated that developing a scalable domestic capability for advanced nuclear fuel manufacturing is fundamental to the company's strategy. He noted that this partnership could accelerate the technical foundation needed to vertically integrate fuel supply, reduce costs, mitigate supply-chain risks, and support the deployment of their compact subcritical nuclear energy systems.

Viktor Sukhotskiy, LLNL Research Engineer and Principal Investigator, highlighted the value of connecting LLNL's research capabilities with industry partners. He emphasized that working with Ampera provides an opportunity to apply joint expertise to a complex nuclear fuel challenge while maturing liquid metal jetting as an advanced manufacturing technology. Sukhotskiy also noted that Project Thunder demonstrates how early LLNL investments in manufacturing and materials science can lead to external partnerships in strategically important technology areas.

Ampera's Microreactor Technology and Fuel Strategy

Ampera is developing subcritical thorium-based microreactor systems designed for high energy density and capable of operating for up to 30 years without refueling. These systems utilize a proprietary TRISO fuel platform, neutron-source technology, and advanced additive manufacturing to deliver scalable, factory-built, and rapidly deployable emission-free power. Target applications include data centers, defense, industrial, and maritime sectors. Unlike conventional reactors, Ampera's subcritical systems rely on an external neutron source for operation, which provides an additional layer of operational control and enables innovative fuel-cycle approaches.

In June, Ampera announced plans to fuel its energy systems with thorium procured from Australia, which the company intends to produce in-house as part of its vertical integration strategy for the entire fuel value chain. Earlier in February, Ampera established Ampera Australia Pty Ltd to facilitate the procurement and import of thorium to the USA. This followed a framework agreement between the USA and Australia in October 2025 for securing critical minerals and rare earths supply. Ampera has also indicated plans to produce TRISO thorium kernels at a facility in Florida, where its global headquarters are located.