Xudabao 3 vessel passes hydrostatic tests

The reactor pressure vessel (RPV) for unit 3 at the Xudabao nuclear power plant in China’s Liaoning province has successfully completed hydrostatic testing in Russia. The two VVER-1200 reactors that form phase two of the plant – units 3 and 4 – are scheduled to be commissioned in 2027-2028. The hydrostatic test is a comprehensive …

Major module put in place at Sanmen 4

The largest and heaviest module has been installed at unit 4 of the Sanmen nuclear power plant, the Shanghai Nuclear Engineering Research and Design Institute (SNERDI) has announced. Two CAP1000 units – the Chinese version of the AP1000 – are being constructed as Phase II of the plant, in China’s Zhejiang province. The cuboid-shaped CA20 …

Westinghouse announces a new small nuclear reactor — a notable step in the industry’s efforts to remake itself

Westinghouse announced the launch of a small version of its flagship AP1000 nuclear reactor on Thursday. The new reactor, called the AP300, aims to be available in 2027, and will generate about a third of the power as the flagship AP1000 reactor, enough to power about 300,000 homes. It’s expected to cost about $1 billion …

Construction begins of third unit at Egypt’s El Dabaa nuclear power plant

First concrete has been poured into the foundation slab marking the start of the main construction phase for unit 3 of the El Dabaa nuclear power plant project, and follows the issuing of a construction licence by the Egyptian Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Authority on 29 March. Chairman of Egypt’s Nuclear Power Plants Authority (NPPA), Amged …

Hot Functional Testing completed for Vogtle Unit 4

Georgia Power today announced the completion of hot functional testing for Unit 4 at the Vogtle nuclear expansion project near Waynesboro, Ga. The completion of hot functional testing marks a significant step towards operations and providing customers with a reliable, carbon-free energy source for the next 60 to 80 years. Unit 4 is projected to enter service …

Mass deployment of Holtec SMRs in Ukraine is part of accord’s aims

Energoatom President Petro Kotin at the signing ceremony (Image: Energoatom) Up to 20 Holtec SMR-160 plants will be built in Ukraine under a cooperation agreement signed between Holtec International and Ukrainian national nuclear operator Energoatom. The agreement calls for the first plant to begin supplying power by March 2029. The agreement was signed on 21 …

Licence issued for Russia’s first land-based SMR

How a completed plant could look (Image: Rosatom/Telegram) Nuclear regulator Rostekhnadzor has granted a licence to build the country’s first land-based small modular reactor (SMR), in the Republic of Sakha (also known as Yakutia) in Russia’s Arctic north. Rosatom’s SMR is a water-cooled RITM-200N reactor that has been adapted from the RITM-200 series used to …

Reps. Rick Allen, Jeff Duncan tour Plant Vogtle, advocate for more nuclear construction

After touring the as-yet uncompleted fourth reactor at Plant Vogtle, U.S. Rep. Rick Allen, R-Augusta and U.S. House Energy, Climate and Grid Security Subcommittee Chair Rep. Jeff Duncan, R-South Carolina, had a message — the United States needs more Vogtles. “I’ll go back to Washington with Rick and we’ll share with our colleagues on Energy …