Nuclear Power








Asia

North America

Environment

New Jersey ends de-facto nuclear power plant moratorium

New Jersey lifted its de-facto moratorium on nuclear energy on Wednesday in the state. The state is grappling with some of the fastest-rising power bills in the United States. Electricity demand is outpacing the addition of new supply. Sherrill’s office released a statement that said the Governor signed legislation to remove a permit requirement that had effectively prohibited nuclear power development for decades. The law required a method for radioactive waste disposal that was unattainable. Instead, the state will issue permits for radioactive-waste storage that comply with federal nuclear regulations. Sherrill, who won the top government position in January after...

Power Markets

US nuclear regulator ends agency-led drills at plants

Last week, the U.S. Nuclear Power Regulator voted to phase out agency-led inspections of operating reactors. A safety advocate criticized this move as a failure on the part of government responsibilities to protect Americans against attacks 'on the plants. On Friday, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission announced that it had voted to phase-out "force-on force" inspection programs. This was a program in which the agency controlled mock commando attacks to test for potential vulnerabilities at nuclear plants. After the attacks of September 11, 2001, Congress strengthened the program to require inspections at all nuclear plants every three years. The move is...

Power Markets

California's final nuclear power plant to operate until at least 2030

The governor of California, the largest state in the United States, announced on Thursday that federal regulators had approved an operating license extension for the last nuclear power plant still standing in the state. Under'state law, it can run until at least '2030. PG&E Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant, located on California's Central Coast, was originally scheduled to close in?2025. However the plant which contributes 10% of 'the state's overall electricity has remained operational despite 'rising demand and rising power bills' California Governor Gavin Newsom stated that the renewed federal licenses will allow Diablo Canyon to continue providing a 24/7...

Power Markets

CERAWEEK-Constellation exec says grid operator told company Three Mile Island can't connect until 2031

The U.S. grid operators PJM and Constellation Energy have told Constellation Energy that the former 'Three Mile Island Nuclear Power?plant in Pennsylvania will likely not be able connect to the grid before 2031. This is four years later than originally planned. Constellation has been working on a plan to restart operations at the nuclear plant, which will be renamed as the "Crane Clean Energy Center" to provide electricity to Microsoft's data centers. Constellation's chief?external? affairs and growth officer, David Dardis said that the company would?be able to produce electricity by the earlier goal and is?talking with grid operator PJM to...

Fossil Fuels

Trump: Iran's gift to US was 10 oil tankers allowed through Hormuz

Donald Trump, the U.S. president, said 'on Thursday that Iran is allowing 10 'oil tankers to transit the Strait of Hormuz as a 'goodwill gesture during negotiations. Trump's comments were made at a Cabinet Meeting in the White House. He elaborated on what he previously called a "present from Iran". Trump said, "They'said', to show that we are real and solid, we will let you have eight boats of oil. Eight boats, eight large boats of oil." "I 'guess they were real, and they were'real. I think they were Pakistani flagged." It turned out to be 10 boats." The White...

Oil & Gas

Constellation's executive claims that grid operator told the company Three Mile Island cannot be connected until 2031

The U.S. grid operators PJM and Constellation Energy have told Constellation Energy the 'former Three -Mile Island nuclear /power?plant' in Pennsylvania will likely not be able connect to the grid before 2031. This is four years later than originally planned. Constellation is working to restart operations at its nuclear power plant, which will be renamed Crane Clean Energy Center to "feed Microsoft data centres". Constellation's chief?external and growth officer, David Dardis said that the company will be ready to produce electricity at the plant before its goal of 2027. It is also in talks with the grid operator PJM interconnection...

Crude Oil

Oil prices rise as markets evaluate supply risks following Iran's refusal to engage in US-sponsored talks

Prices of oil rose on early Tuesday due to supply concerns. Iran denied that it had held talks with the United States in order to 'end the Gulf War,' contradicting President Donald Trump, who claimed a deal would be made soon. Brent futures increased $1.06 or 1.1% to $101 per barrel at 0001 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate rose $1.58 or 1.8% to $89.71. Crude futures fell more than 10% Monday after Trump announced he ordered a delay of five days to the attacks he threatened against Iran's nuclear power plants. He also said that the U.S. held productive discussions...

Nuclear Power

Google's president: US must invest more in energy to power AI

The U.S. might not be scaling up energy supplies quickly enough to "meet" the demand of the artificial intelligence expansion. Ruth Porat, President and Chief Investment Officer of Alphabet, the parent company of Google, said this on Monday. She was referring to how much capacity is needed to power AI data centers. She said that she was concerned about the fact that the United States is not embracing all energy sources to meet the current needs. Big Tech invests hundreds of billions in?expansion of energy-intensive server warehouses that are used for training and deploying artificial intelligence. The U.S.-based effort has...

Electric Utilities

New York is against reopening Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant despite Trump's push

Kathy Hochul, the New York governor, opposes Trump's campaign to restart an nuclear power plant just north of New York City, her office said this week. Days after?the?U.S. The energy secretary visited to encourage the plant's reopening. The U.S. is experiencing a surge in power demand for the first decade, thanks to the explosion of AI data centers. To meet this demand, President Donald Trump set the goal that the U.S. quadruple its nuclear power capacity by the year 2050. Ken Lovett is Hochul's senior communications advisor on Energy and Environment. She said that the governor had made it clear...

Power Markets

EU chief calls the reduction of nuclear energy a "strategic error"

Ursula Von der Leyen,?EU?chief, said that reducing?Europe's nuclear sector was a'strategic error'. This came as the governments struggled to cope with a severe energy shortage caused by the Iran War. The EU Commission President told a Paris event that Europe used nuclear energy to produce around a third in 1990. That number has now dropped to 15%. This leaves Europe reliant upon oil and gas imports, whose prices have risen in recent weeks. Von der Leyen said that Europe was at a disadvantage compared to other regions because it is "completely dependent on expensive and volatile fossil fuel imports". "This...

Energy Markets

Von der Leyen: EU's decision to abandon nuclear power was a strategic error

Ursula Von der Leyen, President of the EU Commission, said that the decision to reduce nuclear energy's share in the mix of electricity production?in Europe was a strategic error. She said in a speech in Paris at a nuclear energy event that "this reduction in nuclear share was a decision, and I believe it was a mistake for Europe to turn its back on an affordable, reliable source of low-emission power." She said that in 1990, the EU relied on nuclear power for a third of its electricity. Now, it's only about 15%. She added that the European Union wants...

Energy Markets

South Korea to invest in US nuclear power project

Kim Jung-kwan, South Korea's Industry Minister, said that Seoul was 'in talks' to invest in a nuclear project in the United States. This is part of Seoul’s pledge of investing $350 billion into U.S.-based projects. Seoul is scrambling to review its deals with Washington, after U.S. president Donald 'Trump' threatened to increase tariffs on goods imported to South?Korea by 25%. He blamed a delay of the Asian ally in implementing a trade agreement agreed last year. Kim responded to a question from a member of the parliamentary committee about Korea's potential investments in U.S. nucleopower plants by saying, "We are...

Europe

Environment

Commission finds that Norway should not be pursuing nuclear energy now

A government appointment commission stated on Wednesday that Norway should not begin a comprehensive nuclear power introduction process at this time, given the?abundant hydropower and alternative energy sources available. In?2024?the Norwegian government appointed a 12-person committee that would examine the future potential use of nuclear energy in the Nordic nation. This was the first in-depth assessment since the 1970s. The government stated that the need for more emission-free energy was necessary to meet the expected rise in demand due to electrification, and the ambitions of private companies to set up nuclear power production. The committee chair Kristin Halvorsen (a former...

Power Markets

EDF invests 240 millions euros in boosting electrification

The French utility EDF announced on Wednesday that it will be setting aside 240 millions euros ($280.4) to help customers invest in heat pumps and electric heavy-duty vehicles. This is part of its efforts to accelerate France's move away from oil and gasoline and towards more electricity. In February, the French government announced ambitious electrification targets aimed at meeting climate goals and decreasing dependency on fossil fuels. The 'country produces an excess of electricity that has resulted in low market prices and declining profits for the state-owned EDF. EDF announced that it will spend '80 million Euros to help develop...

Nuclear Power

The Kremlin warns that strikes near Bushehr Nuclear Plant in Iran could be dangerous

Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesman on Monday, said that U.S. and Israeli strikes near the 'Bushehr nuclear plant in Iran' are extremely?dangerous. Russia has shared a similar concern with the United States. Peskov stated that such strikes could have irreparable effects. "We consider that nuclear attacks are extremely dangerous. (...) The Russian side has expressed its concerns repeatedly, taking a very responsible position on this issue. The Kremlin spokesperson?said the conflict in Iran "as recent as yesterday"?should have been channeled towards a diplomatic and political settlement. "This is the only way to effectively defuse the catastrophically tension situation that has developed...

Western Europe

Middle East

Fossil Fuels

Baghdad orders probe after drone targets Kurdistan president's home

Security?sources say that a 'drone attack' targeted the home of the President of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region?early Saturday morning. This?incidences comes at a time when tensions are rising in northern Iraq. Sources added that air defences shot down a drone in Duhok near a base of Peshmerga warriors. The strikes come amid an increase in attacks against both Iran-aligned forces and?Kurdish ones as the U.S. and Israeli war on Iran spills?over into Iraq, attracting multiple armed group and straining Baghdad’s efforts to contain?the fallout. His office reported that Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani spoke to him on the phone and condemned...

Nuclear Power

Taiwan freezes its electricity rates in order to maintain price stability and industrial competitiveness

Taiwan won't raise electricity prices at this time despite the increase in energy prices caused by the Middle East war, according to the Economy Ministry. This will help to maintain price stability and industrial competitiveness. The government has been heavily subsidising energy to limit the impact on consumers of the rising energy prices caused by the Middle East war. The ministry released a statement saying that "in light of the 'risks' arising from the escalating conflict and the changes in international tariffs and to maintain industrial competitiveness and stabilize consumer prices, the committee decided to not adjust electricity rates at...

Nuclear Power

Oil prices rise as markets evaluate supply risks after Iran rejects US talks

On Tuesday, oil prices soared on fears of a shortage, after Iran denied that it had?talks? with the United States about ending the Gulf War, in contradiction to U.S. president Donald Trump, who claimed a deal would be reached soon. Crude futures dropped by more than 10% after Trump ordered the delay of attacks on Iran's power plants for five days, claiming that he had held talks with Iranian officials who were not named, and they had reached "major agreements". Brent futures were up $1.25 or 1.3% to $101.19 a barrel by 0858 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate rose $2.15...

Oil & Gas

Sources say that Fujairah in the UAE resumes oil loading after an attack

Four sources confirmed that oil loading operations at the United Arab Emirates Fujairah, a major 'bunkering hub' and crude export terminal, had re-commenced despite a Saturday drone attack and fire. However, it is unclear whether the operations are back to normal. The U.S. - Iran war has already reduced Middle Eastern oil supply by more than?7m barrels a day, or 7% of the global supply. The disruptions?at Fujairah could force OPEC’s third largest crude producer to cut more?production, after already cutting production at its offshore oil fields. According to Kpler, Fujairah outside the Strait of Hormuz exported on average?more? than...

Power Markets

Poland claims that the cyber attack on a nuclear centre foiled by Poland may have been from Iran

The government of Poland announced on Thursday that it had foiled a cyberattack against its nuclear research centre. It is now examining possible signs that Iran may be responsible. Poland claims it has been the victim of many cyberattacks ever since Russia invaded Ukraine on a large scale in 2022. Moscow has denied any involvement. Krzysztof GAWKOWSKI, Minister of Digital Affairs at TVN24+, said that the attack against Poland's National Center for Nuclear Research had taken place "in recent days". "The attack was not on a large scale, but it was an attempt at breaking through security that was stopped....

Energy Markets

Japan reactor restarts fuel record nuclear sales for Mitsubishi Heavy

The restart of nuclear reactors in Japan is expected to boost sales at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI)'s nuclear power unit next year. This will be a record 400 billion yen, or $2.54 billion. This is well ahead of previous forecasts. Hiroshi Nishio said in an interview that we originally thought it would reach 400 billion yen by 2030. MHI plans to increase its headcount by about 10% in the reactor division next year, as orders continue to grow. After 15 years of the nuclear crisis in Japan caused by the tsunami, 15?of the 33 reactors are now operational. The Japanese...

Nuclear Power

Drones attack Duqm port after hitting an oil tanker off the coast of Oman

The?maritime?security?centre of Oman said that a Palau-flagged tanker was hit on Sunday off the Musandam Peninsula injuring four people. This followed drone strikes against the commercial port of Duqm, which is located in the Gulf. These incidents are the first time that targets have been struck in or around Oman following a wave retaliatory'strikes' by Tehran against Gulf states following joint U.S. and Israeli attacks on?Iran, which have plunged the area into a war. In a posting on X, the 'Oman Maritime - Security - Centre said that the 20-person crew of the Skylight Tanker had been evacuated following the...

Fossil Fuels

Senior Israeli official claims that Iran's Supreme leader Ali Khamenei has been killed

A senior Israeli official said that Ayatollah Khamenei was killed by Israeli and U.S. airstrikes. He had turned Iran into a powerful anti U.S. force, extended its military influence across the Middle East, and crushed repeated domestic unrest. No immediate confirmation from Iran was given of his fate. On Saturday, the United States and Israel launched military strikes against Iran. They targeted its top leaders. This threw the Middle East in a war that Donald Trump claimed would eliminate a threat to U.S. security and give Iranians the chance to overthrow their rulers. Khamenei became Iran's highest authority after the...

Energy Markets

Germany, France and UK warn Iran against attacks in the region

Germany, France, and Britain have condemned the 'Iranian' attacks on countries of?the?region on Saturday. They said that?Iran should halt its indiscriminate strikes and return to negotiations. In a joint press release, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that they "condemn Iranian attacks against countries in the area in the strongest possible terms." "We urge the Iranian leadership to seek a negotiated resolution and call for a return to negotiations. "The Iranian people must be allowed to decide their own future", they stated. Leaders said that they have consistently called on Iran...

Power Markets

Lavrov warns Russia against any new US attack on Iran

In an interview published on Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov?said any new U.S. attack on Iran would have serious consequences. He called for restraint in order to find a solution that will allow Iran to pursue a peaceful nuclear programme. Lavrov's interview with Saudi Arabia's Al-Arabiya TV was broadcast a day after U.S. negotiators and Iranian negotiators met in Geneva for indirect talks to avert a new crisis between Washington, D.C. and Tehran. "The consequences of this are bad." Already, there have been attacks on Iran's nuclear sites under the control the International Atomic Energy Agency. Lavrov stated in...

Nuclear Power

Hezbollah's chief in Lebanon says the group is concerned about confronting US threats against Iran

Naim Qassem said that the leader of Lebanon's Iran aligned Hezbollah, Naim, was worried about Washington's threats against Iran. He also expressed concern for any threat made by Washington towards Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ayatollah Khamenei. The tensions between Iran, the United States and Israel have increased following a crackdown against protests in Iran that resulted in thousands of deaths in recent weeks. President Donald Trump suggested this could lead to an American response. Tehran warned that any attack against?Khamenei could trigger a "holy conflict". "We are worried about what is happening and targeted by potential aggression. We are?determined?to defend ourselves....

Power Markets

What is the current status of Iran's nuclear facilities?

The White House reported that regional fears about a U.S. strike on Iran were eased when President Donald Trump stated that Tehran assured him protesters wouldn't be executed. However, he still has "all his options" on the table. Israel and the United States carried out their last major strike on Iran in June, targeting mainly key nuclear facilities. Which nuclear sites were hit? The three uranium enrichment plants in Iran - two at Natanz, and one hidden inside a mountain near Fordow – as well as the sprawling Isfahan complex that includes a number of?facilities?that are part of the nuclear...