Fuel & operations

First American Nuclear Co and South Korean contractor Hyundai E&C have elevated their EAGL-1 collaboration from a framework agreement to a binding master service agreement, covering constructability reviews, engineering consulting, and potential EPC participation.

Newcleo has inaugurated its EUR10 million advanced nuclear fuel engineering, testing, and training center in Chusclan, France. The FASTER facility will support the development and manufacturing of mixed uranium/plutonium oxide (MOX) fuel for Newcleo's small modular lead-cooled fast reactors.

The Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) plans to significantly contribute to India's nuclear energy expansion. UCIL has developed expertise and infrastructure in uranium mining and processing over six decades, supporting the country's nuclear power program.

The nuclear industry is prioritizing durability in both plant maintenance and policy development. Utilities are investing in upgrades and efficiency improvements, while government agencies are implementing policy changes to streamline regulatory processes.

The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Dominance Financing has announced a conditional loan commitment of up to $4.2 billion for nuclear uprates and modernization across Vistra's nuclear fleet in Pennsylvania and Ohio. This investment aims to add 433 MW of new nuclear capacity and extend plant operations for an additional 20 years.

India's new nuclear legislation consolidates regulatory oversight and opens the sector to private participation, with a 4 September deadline for stakeholder feedback on implementing rules.

Nusano, a Utah-based company, has announced details of its project selected by the National Reactor Innovation Center. The initiative will concentrate on high-assay low-enrichment uranium (HALEU) production, marking a new direction for the company as it continues to develop a radioisotope production facility.

India aims to achieve 100 GW of nuclear energy capacity by 2047, a significant increase from its current 8.8 GW. This expansion relies heavily on the deployment of indigenously developed Bharat Small Modular Reactors (BSMRs) in decentralized industrial settings. However, the ambitious goal faces substantial institutional, regulatory, and human resource challenges.

China General Nuclear has finished loading 177 fuel assemblies into the San'ao unit 2 reactor core, marking a key commissioning milestone for the Hualong One plant in China's Yangtze River Delta region.

The MARVEL microreactor project has reached significant milestones, including the delivery of its primary coolant system and federal safety approval, as it prepares for initial startup tests.

New Mexico Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard has issued an executive order prohibiting new uranium mining leases and related activities on state lands. The order also prioritizes the cleanup of existing legacy uranium sites within the state.

NTPC has announced a substantial capital expenditure plan of approximately ₹16.86 lakh crore to achieve 149 GW of installed power generation capacity by 2032 and 244 GW by 2037. A key component of this strategy is the expansion of its nuclear power footprint, with a target to contribute 30 GW of nuclear capacity towards India's national goal of 100 GW by 2047. The company is currently advancing the 2.8 GW Mahi Banswara nuclear project in Rajasthan and exploring additional opportunities across various states.

China Nuclear Industry 24 Construction Co Ltd completed the first nuclear island concrete pour for Haiyang unit 5 on 31 October, marking the start of main construction for the CAP1000 reactor and signalling full-scale progress on Phase III of the Shandong plant.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is reviewing a license amendment request from Holtec following a fuel loading incident at the Palisades nuclear power plant. This incident has temporarily halted restart efforts at the Michigan facility. Concurrently, the application for the Pioneer SMR is progressing.

Framatome has inaugurated a EUR 30 million pilot facility in Paimboeuf, France, to apply chromium coatings to zirconium alloy cladding tubes for nuclear fuel assemblies, with industrial qualification targeted by end-2026 and series production planned for early 2027.

Andhra Pradesh's thermal power stations generated a record 19,268 million units (MU) of electricity in the first half of fiscal year 2026-27, marking a 13.1% increase from the previous year. This achievement comes alongside efforts to secure fuel supplies and improve operational efficiency.

Westinghouse Electric Company, Nordion, and PSEG Nuclear have finalized agreements to produce cobalt-60 at the Salem nuclear power plant in New Jersey. This collaboration aims to establish the first commercial-scale cobalt-60 production platform in the United States, utilizing pressurized water reactors for medical isotope production.

Urenco USA has begun commercial production of low-enriched uranium-plus at its National Enrichment Facility in New Mexico, following regulatory authorisation granted in September 2025 to enrich uranium up to 10% U-235.

Savannah River Mission Completion (SRMC), a liquid waste contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environmental Management at the Savannah River Site (SRS), is expanding its heat safety program to mitigate heat stress for its workforce.

NTPC, India's largest power generation company, announced a 13% year-on-year increase in power generation for Q2 FY2026-27, reaching 117.9 billion units. The company also reported substantial growth in coal dispatch and power trading volumes, reflecting enhanced operational efficiency.