Power Markets

The U.S. Department of Energy announced on Tuesday that it had selected Sam Altman's nuclear technology company Oklo as well as Terrestrial Energy TRISO X and Valar Atomics to be part of its new pilot project for advanced nuclear fuellines. The announcement is part of efforts by the Trump Administration to improve domestic supply chains of nuclear fuel, and to support the DOE Reactor Pilot Program which expects at least three reactors to reach criticality before July 4, 2026. After decades of stagnation in the U.S., nuclear power is on the rise again. This is due to the surge in...

NextEra Energy announced on Monday that U.S. Nuclear regulator approved the renewal of two units at its Point Beach Plant in Wisconsin for an additional 20 years. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has approved the extension of operations at Units 1, 2 and 3 through 2050 and 2030, respectively. After years of stagnation in the U.S., nuclear power is now gaining momentum. This is due to the surge in electricity demand for energy-hungry data centres and the electrification and transportation industries. On his first day in office, President Donald Trump declared an energy emergency. In late May, he signed executive orders that...

CenterPoint Energy, a U.S. gas and electric utility, announced on Monday that it plans to invest $65 billion between 2026 and 2035. Utilities are planning to increase spending on power infrastructure in order to meet the rising demand. CenterPoint has also increased its forecast for annual adjusted earnings per shares to between $1.75 to $1.77, up from $1.74 and $1.76 previously. The new range has a midpoint that is 9% higher than last year According to data compiled and analyzed by LSEG, analysts estimate $1.76 a share. The company targets a 2026 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of at least...

The U.S. Department of the Interior announced Monday that it will open up 13.1 million acres (53,013.8 square kilometers), of federal land to the public. The Trump administration is trying to reverse the decline in coal use. In April, President Donald Trump issued executive orders to increase coal production. This was one of many actions he took that ran counter to the global effort to reduce carbon emissions. According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), coal-burning power plants will generate about 15% of U.S. electricty in 2024. This is down from 50% in 2000. Fracking and other drilling techniques have...

Interior Department officials said that the Trump administration is preparing to announce policies on Monday to increase coal production, in an effort to reverse the decline in the use of this fuel. In April, President Donald Trump signed executive orders that increased coal production. This was one of many actions he took to counter global efforts to reduce carbon emissions. According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), coal-burning power plants will generate about 15% of U.S. electricty in 2024. This is down from 50% in 2000. Fracking and other drilling techniques have increased natural gas production. The growth of solar...

The Nuclear Company announced on Friday it had signed a strategic partnership with U.S. Steelmaker Nucor Corporation in order to support the domestic manufacturing and boost nuclear power supply chains. TNC, an American nuclear deployment company, announced that the companies would assess the use of NQA-1 and related infrastructure in gigawatt nuclear reactors according to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers certification standards. TNC stated that the partnership is in support of executive orders by President Donald Trump, which target 400 gigawatts of nuclear power (GW) by 2050. This includes construction of ten large-scale reactors within the next five year...

IRNA, the Iranian news agency, reported on Friday that Iran had signed a 25 billion dollar agreement with Rosatom, Russia's nuclear state corporation to build four nuclear plants in Iran. Rosatom had previously stated that it signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Wednesday regarding the construction of small nucleo-power plants in Iran, but did not give a number. The Iranian official news agency IRNA said that the agreement for construction of Generation III plants in the Sirik area of the south-eastern province of Hormozgan will generate 5,000 Megawatts of electric power. The MOU has been signed in Moscow. Iran has...

On Wednesday, a federal judge ruled that a New York state law intended to limit the potential contamination of Hudson River by a nuclear power plant was overridden by federal law. The state law was declared unconstitutional by U.S. District judge Kenneth Karas of White Plains, New York because it severely restricted Holtec International in its decision-making regarding the safe disposal of radioactive material. Holtec filed a lawsuit to block a law that was signed by Governor Kathy Hochul in 2023, which made it illegal for radioactive materials to be discharged into the Hudson as part of the decommissioning process....

The Kansas Department of Commerce and TerraPower, a Bill Gates-backed company, signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Tuesday, to explore possible sites for an energy storage facility and a nuclear reactor. This is in response to the soaring need for electricity. After decades of stagnation in the U.S., nuclear power is on the rise again. This is due to the surge in electricity demand for energy-hungry computer centers as well as electrifications of manufacturing and transportation industries. Donald Trump was elected President of the United States in late May. Sign up for our Newsletter Executive orders directing U.S. Nuclear Regulatory...

U.S. Edward Markey, a former board member of Oklo nuclear power company in the U.S., wrote to President Donald Trump Tuesday to express his concern that U.S. Energy Sec. Chris Wright works to advance the interests of Oklo. Markey, a Democrat from Massachusetts, said that the Obama administration was moving forward with plans for Oklo's nuclear waste reprocessing facility and transferring government-held plutonium to be used as fuel in reactor projects. Markey stated that "Oklo will benefit financially, and Secretary Wright acts in the interest of his former company." The White House sent a comment request to the Energy Department,...

Type One Energy CEO Christofer Mowry announced on Friday that the Tennessee Valley Authority, a government-owned utility in the United States, plans to use the technology of Type One Energy at the retired coal fired Bull Run plant. This plant will become the site for a commercial fusion facility. After decades of stagnation in the U.S., nuclear power is making a comeback. This is due to the record demand for electricity from AI data centres as well as electrifications of industries like transportation and manufacturing. Type One Energy announced that it would provide stellarator technology. This is an advanced version...

A draft decree states that investors in Vietnam's energy, telecommunications and construction sectors will have to get police approval before they can proceed with their projects. This is part of a major reform designed to increase security and guarantee the "absolute authority" of the ruling Communist Party. The text of the proposed public security ministry proposal, which is subject to change, could increase the compliance costs for businesses in Southeast Asia while also significantly increasing the power of the security apparatus. The proposal, published on the website of the Ministry of Security, stated that "in socio-economic development security must be...

Rafael Grossi, chief of the U.N. Atomic Watchdog, said that Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has been without power offsite for six days. Since the beginning of the conflict, the plant in southeast Ukraine was under Russian control. Both sides have accused each other of shelling the facility and compromising nuclear safety. Grossi, the director general of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), wrote on X about his meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sbiha and their exchange of views regarding the plant. He also said that the IAEA is working to restore power. UKRAINE WANT TEMPORARY IAEA STEP-IN FOR PLANT Oleh...

Belarus has proposed to build a nuclear plant in the eastern part of the country, which could provide electricity to parts of Ukraine controlled by Russia. President Alexander Lukashenko announced this on Friday. Lukashenko brought up the idea with Russian President Vladimir Putin during Kremlin discussions in Moscow. Lukashenko used the same language as Moscow to describe the territory of Ukraine that was captured by Russia. The offer highlighted the close relationship between Putin and Lukashenko even though U.S. president Donald Trump pursues an incentive-based strategy to encourage the Belarusian leaders to release political prisoners and improve relationships with the...

Ilya Rebrov, the deputy director general of Rosatom's Chinese division, was quoted on Thursday as saying that Rosatom had made significant progress in placing bonds on the Chinese market. Interfax reported that Rebrov stated that a placement would take months or even weeks. He said that despite the "pressure" Russian industry was under, Rosatom managed to get a rating by a Chinese credit rating agency. It also took decisions which had brought it closer to its goal of being able raise debts in China. Atomenergoprom, Rosatom's power unit, received a "AAA" credit rating in April from China's Dagong Global Capital...

The International Atomic Energy Agency reported on Tuesday that its team, based at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in the southeast Ukraine, heard shelling near the plant and saw black smoke rising out of three locations nearby. IAEA released a statement saying that the team of the U.N. nuclear watchdog had been informed that several artillery shells were fired in an area 400 meters (437 yards), away from its offsite diesel fuel storage facility. The incident, which did not result in any injuries or damage to equipment, once again highlighted the dangers that nuclear security and safety face. IAEA...

The EU's highest court ruled on Thursday that the European Commission shouldn't have approved Hungarian aid to expand its Paks nuclear plant by a Russian firm, as the Commission hadn’t checked whether the contract complied with EU rules. As part of a bilateral agreement between Russia and Hungary regarding the peaceful use nuclear energy, Hungary awarded the contract directly to Nizhny Novgorod Engineering of Russia. The Russian government then provided Hungary with an official loan to help finance the majority of the construction of the new reactors. In 2017, the European Commission also approved the project. In 2018, Austria, a...

The Russian-installed management of the Russia-held nuclear plant in Ukraine announced on Saturday that Ukrainian drones had hit the roof at the Zaporizhzhia training centre. There was no damage to the building and there was no radiation increase. In a Telegram message, the administration stated that the strike took place about 300 meters (984 feet) away from a nuclear reactor. The statement stated that "This centre is unique - it houses the only full scale simulator of a nuclear reactor hall in the world, which is crucial for staff training." Although the station is Europe's largest nuclear power plant, with...

Kazatomprom announced plans on Friday to triple its exploration in Kazakhstan, and explore opportunities for international expansion, following recent agreements signed with Jordan and Mongolia. State-controlled company currently produces its uranium in Jordan, but last week signed an agreement with Jordan to develop the country's assets. "We have been recognized for our mining capabilities, which is why... we also look at opportunities overseas," Meirzhan Yossupov, Chief Executive of the World Nuclear Symposium held in London. Kazatomprom has also signed a deal with Mongolia's Mon-Atom, in addition to its Jordan agreement. Yussupov stated that his company was exploring other options. We...

The Russian nuclear company Rosatom and France’s EDF have positioned large nuclear power plants as the cornerstone for their engagement with India. They are also exploring small modular reactors to be used in targeted applications. India wants to increase its nuclear power production capacity from the current 8 gigawatts to 100 gigawatts in 2047. Reports from April indicated that India was easing rules for foreign entities to be able to own minority stakes nuclear power projects. Rosatom and Indian partners are discussing a range of energy solutions, including large-scale NPPs as well as small modular reactors. Katerina Astashina (South Asia...

Rosatom, Russia's nuclear energy monopoly, has begun development of the Shirondukuyskoye Uranium Deposit in Eastern Siberia. The company plans to produce its first uranium in this deposit by 2028. The deposit, located near Krasnokamensk in the Russian region of the Far East, close to China and Mongolia borders and the city known as the "uranium capitol of Russia", has an estimated 8,000 tons uranium reserves and 40,000 tonnes of molybdenum. The division stated in a press release that "the development of the Shirondukuyskoye Deposit is an important step in the development and growth of Russia's Uranium Mining Industry". It added...

When asked if he agrees with Israeli statements regarding a possible regime change in Tehran, Russian President Vladimir Putin responded on Thursday by saying that Iranian society is consolidating around the Islamic Republic’s leadership. Putin has spoken as Trump Keep the World Guessing As residents of Iran's Capital city began to leave the city after the sixth day of Israel's airstrike, many wondered if the U.S. was going to join Israel in its bombardment of Iranian missile and nuclear sites. Putin said that all sides must find ways to end the hostilities so as to ensure both Iran's rights to...

Diplomats confirmed that the Board of Governors of the U.N. Nuclear Watchdog will hold an extraordinary meeting on Monday in order to discuss Israel's attacks on Iran. At least one country requested it at the regular quarterly session of this body held on Friday. A meeting can be called by any country that is a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) board. Diplomats reported that Iran, a member of the board but not a member, had requested a meeting. It was backed by Russia, China, and Venezuela. Diplomats differed on which board member made the initial request. Before...

China, the largest coal importer in the world, reduced its imports by 18% on an annual basis, according to customs data released Friday. Low-cost domestic coal eroded overseas purchases, while renewables slowed down coal-fired electricity generation. According to the General Administration of Customs, imports were 36.04 millions metric tons for the month, down from 43.82million tons in May 2024. This was the third consecutive month that China's imports of coal fell year-over-year. They had increased previously every month from November 2022. January and February were excluded because they are affected by Lunar New Year holidays. The data shows that coal...