Nuclear Power

US NRC Issues RIS 2026-04 on Combined License Review Performance and Reporting

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued Regulatory Issue Summary 2026-04 explaining how it will meet new statutory performance and reporting timelines for reviewing certain combined license applications under section 207 of the ADVANCE Act, with the guidance available from mid-May 2026. For qualifying nuclear power projects, this effectively locks in an expedited 18–25 month review window and formal internal reporting if deadlines are missed, giving developers and investors clearer expectations around licensing schedule and regulatory risk.

12 May 2026, 15:27nrc.govUnited States

UK Government Publishes Consultation Outcome and Response on Rolls-Royce SMR Justification

Defra has published the consultation outcome, including the summary of responses and government response, for the Nuclear Industry Association’s justification application for the Rolls-Royce small modular reactor, confirming that the Secretary of State has decided the practice is justified under UK ionising radiation regulations. This consolidates the regulatory case for the Rolls-Royce SMR while signalling that secondary legislation and subsequent approval processes will be the next critical milestones for organisations and investors assessing UK nuclear deployment plans.

9 May 2026, 18:57gov.ukUnited Kingdom

China MEE Approves Operating-Phase EIA for Hainan Changjiang Nuclear Power Plant Units 3 and 4

China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment has approved the operating-phase environmental impact assessment for Units 3 and 4 of the Hainan Changjiang Nuclear Power Plant, setting radiological effluent limits and conditions for operation as of late April 2026. This decision confirms that new nuclear capacity in Hainan can proceed under defined environmental protection, waste management, and oversight requirements, informing long-term operational planning and regulatory engagement for nuclear operators and related suppliers.

9 May 2026, 07:05mee.gov.cnChina

Pennsylvania HB2450 (Amended) Would Raise Radiation Protection Fees For Nuclear Facilities And Radioactive Material Transport

On 6 May 2026, Pennsylvania’s House Energy Committee advanced HB2450, a bill amending the state Radiation Protection Act to define independent spent fuel storage installations and substantially increase nuclear reactor site and radioactive material transport fees. If enacted, this would materially raise ongoing regulatory cost obligations for nuclear operators and specialized waste shippers in Pennsylvania while strengthening funding for radiological emergency preparedness and cost recovery at both operating and shut-down reactor sites.

8 May 2026, 18:57palegis.usUnited States

Pennsylvania HB 2017: Senate First Consideration of Radiation Protection Act Amendments for Microreactor and Small Modular Reactor Fees

In May 2026, the Pennsylvania Senate began considering HB 2017, a bill amending the 1984 Radiation Protection Act to define small modular and microreactors and adjust nuclear facility and transport fee provisions. If enacted, the measure would give regulators more flexibility to tailor fees for new reactor technologies, potentially reducing cost barriers while still funding radiation protection and emergency preparedness.

8 May 2026, 18:09palegis.usUnited States

Netherlands Publishes Explanatory Note on Nuclear Energy Act Amendment for Borssele Life Extension

The Dutch government has issued an explanatory note to parliament on its bill to amend the Nuclear Energy Act so the Borssele nuclear plant can request a licence extension beyond the current 2033 shutdown date, clarifying how safety, environmental impact and financing would be assessed. If adopted, the law would remove fixed statutory end‑dates and place future operating-life decisions with the nuclear regulator and feasibility studies, signalling continued reliance on nuclear capacity for decarbonisation while intensifying scrutiny of long-term waste, water-quality and regional impacts.

8 May 2026, 17:55zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nlNetherlands

US Maritime Administration Seeks Comment on System-Centric Small Modular Reactor Concept for Marine Transportation

In May 2026 the US Maritime Administration launched a Federal Register request for information on developing a commercially viable, system-centric small modular reactor concept for deployment in the marine transportation system, with comments due by 5 August 2026. The consultation does not propose binding rules but signals growing US interest in nuclear-powered shipping and seeks industry input on safety, liability, port access, workforce, and regulatory architectures needed to scale maritime SMR deployment.

8 May 2026, 11:05govinfo.govUnited States

US NRC Issues Subsequent Renewed Licenses and Record of Decision for St. Lucie Nuclear Plant Units 1 and 2

In April 2026 the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued subsequent renewed operating licenses and a Record of Decision for Florida Power & Light’s St. Lucie nuclear plant Units 1 and 2, confirming continued operation under its existing nuclear safety and environmental framework. This extends the plant’s licensed life and signals ongoing reliance on nuclear generation at the site, so stakeholders should factor sustained radiological, waste, and ageing-asset risk management commitments into long-term HSE oversight and investment planning.

7 May 2026, 05:43federalregister.govUnited States

Canada Invites Comments on Draft Impact Statement Guidelines for NWMO Revell Lake Deep Geological Repository (Closes 10 May 2026)

Canadian regulators have opened a time-limited public consultation on draft impact statement guidelines and a public participation plan for the NWMO deep geological repository for used nuclear fuel near Revell Lake, Ontario, with comments due on 10 May 2026. This marks a major planning-phase milestone for a long-term nuclear waste repository, signalling that affected communities and operators must now engage on the scope of environmental, safety, Indigenous rights, and socio-economic issues that will shape future licensing decisions.

6 May 2026, 19:44iaac-aeic.gc.caCanada

Iowa: HF 2757 Would Create Sales and Use Tax Exemptions and Workforce Fund for Nuclear Electric Generation Facilities

Iowa’s HF 2757 bill, as amended, would create time-limited sales and use tax exemptions and refunds for nuclear electric generation projects while directing associated contributions into a dedicated Nuclear Energy Workforce Fund overseen by the state board of regents. If enacted, nuclear developers, operators, and key contractors in Iowa would need to integrate fund contributions, detailed January reporting, and long-lived repayment and sunset conditions into project financing, siting decisions, and supply-chain contracts.

5 May 2026, 14:04legis.iowa.govUnited States

US NRC Proposes Licensing Requirements for Microreactors and Other Reactors With Comparable Risk Profiles

In May 2026 the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission proposed a new Part 57 licensing framework to enable faster, risk-informed approval and high-volume deployment of microreactors and other low-consequence reactors. If adopted, this would significantly reshape US nuclear licensing assumptions on design, siting, security, staffing, and fitness-for-duty, potentially shortening review timelines and lowering barriers for commercial microreactor projects while maintaining regulatory oversight.

5 May 2026, 06:54federalregister.govUnited States

US House Bill H.R. 8106 (RESCUE Act) Proposes Sanctions on Rosatom and Russian Nuclear Energy Sector

In March 2026, US lawmakers introduced H.R. 8106 (RESCUE Act), a bill that would mandate blocking sanctions on Russia’s state-owned nuclear company Rosatom and foreign counterparties to new Rosatom-linked nuclear reactor projects, backed by a broader strategy to decouple allies from Russian nuclear fuel and services. If advanced, this would substantially increase sanctions and counterparty risk across global nuclear power and banking supply chains, pressuring companies to exit Rosatom-related contracts and diversify long-term fuel, technology, and financing arrangements.

3 May 2026, 14:46govinfo.govUnited States

US NRC Issues Subsequent Renewed Operating License and Record of Decision for H.B. Robinson Unit 2

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has granted a subsequent renewed operating license and issued a Record of Decision for Duke Energy’s H.B. Robinson Unit 2 nuclear power plant, effective 23 April 2026. This facility-specific decision confirms long-term operation of the unit at current power levels without changing generic nuclear safety rules, signalling continued nuclear capacity and associated oversight obligations at the site.

1 May 2026, 18:23federalregister.govUnited States

US NRC Issues Exemption for Duke Catawba ISFSI MAGNASTOR Casks

In April 2026 the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission granted Duke Energy’s Catawba Nuclear Station a site-specific exemption to continue storing and, from 6 July 2026, load ten MAGNASTOR spent fuel canisters at its ISFSI despite manufacturing defects in neutron absorber panels. The decision confirms regulatory acceptance of the affected casks without design changes, signalling that similar fabrication issues may be addressed case by case while imposing no new generic requirements on other nuclear operators.

1 May 2026, 18:18federalregister.govUnited States

Croatia Government Presents Final Draft Laws on Nuclear Energy and Public Procurement

Croatia’s government has tabled final draft laws to develop civilian nuclear power—targeting at least 30% of electricity from nuclear by 2040—and to modernise the national public procurement regime with higher simplified-procurement thresholds and full digitalisation. If adopted, these measures would open a strategic pathway for nuclear investment while streamlining public purchasing processes, signalling long-term shifts in Croatia’s energy mix, infrastructure pipeline, and compliance expectations for suppliers.

30 Apr 2026, 06:44mingo.gov.hrCroatia

US NRC Issues Direct Final Rule on FOCD Exceptions for Nuclear Power Plant Licences

In April 2026 the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued a direct final rule creating foreign ownership, control, or domination exceptions in its licensing rules for nuclear power plants, implementing section 301 of the 2024 ADVANCE Act with effect from July 2026. This change could ease access to foreign capital for US nuclear projects from specified allied countries while preserving case-by-case national security reviews, so operators and investors should reassess ownership structures and future project financing options.

30 Apr 2026, 06:42federalregister.govUnited States

US NRC Initiates EIS Scoping for Duke Energy Belews Creek Early Site Permit

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has begun NEPA scoping and will prepare an environmental impact statement on Duke Energy’s Belews Creek early site permit application in North Carolina, with public comments on the EIS scope due by 8 June 2026. This launches the key environmental review step for potential new nuclear capacity at the site, signalling medium-term risks and opportunities around siting, licensing strategy, and long-term environmental and community impacts.

30 Apr 2026, 06:39federalregister.govUnited States

South Korea High-Level Radioactive Waste Committee Approves Site Suitability Investigation and 2026 Implementation Plans

In April 2026, South Korea’s High-Level Radioactive Waste Management Committee approved a detailed site-suitability investigation plan and a 2026 implementation plan, formally moving the new high-level radioactive waste framework into operational phase. This accelerates national site selection and programme delivery under the Special Act on the Management of High-Level Radioactive Waste, raising strategic implications for nuclear operators, potential host regions, and long-term waste governance.

30 Apr 2026, 06:19mcee.go.krSouth Korea

France Proposes Bill to Further Accelerate Permitting for Innovative Nuclear Installations

French lawmakers have introduced a bill to amend Law No. 2023-491 so that innovative basic nuclear installation projects can benefit from an accelerated permitting regime until 2050 and carry out certain demolition and preparatory works earlier under a dedicated administrative authorisation. If adopted, nuclear operators and project developers would gain more flexibility to sequence construction and public inquiry steps, but will also face clearer 12-month time limits for opening inquiries and for the administration to process early-works authorisations, tightening project planning expectations.

29 Apr 2026, 12:21senat.frFrance

US NRC Seeks Comment on Crystal River Unit 3 License Termination Plan

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has opened a formal public consultation on the License Termination Plan for decommissioning the Crystal River Unit 3 nuclear plant, based on a revised license amendment request and supporting radiological analysis. This consultation and associated public meeting set the framework for final cleanup and license termination, so owners, decommissioning contractors, and nearby stakeholders should review the plan, engage with NRC on assumptions, and prepare for compliance with its radiological release criteria and schedule.

29 Apr 2026, 06:48govinfo.govUnited States