Nuclear Safety

Norwegian Government Accelerates Transfer of Kjeller Nuclear Facility to NND

Norway plans to transfer responsibility for the Kjeller nuclear facility from the Institute for Energy Technology to state-owned Norsk nukleær dekommisjonering, accelerating the move while keeping the earliest transfer date at 1 January 2027. This centralises nuclear decommissioning under NND and signals forthcoming changes to licences and oversight at Kjeller and KLDRA Himdalen, which operators and contractors should monitor for implications on safety requirements and contractual arrangements.

15 May 2026, 15:04dsa.noNorway

DSA Orders IFE to Conduct Safety Review of Radioactive Waste Storage and Disposal — Deadline 31 December 2026

Norway’s nuclear safety regulator has ordered the Institute for Energy Technology to complete a comprehensive safety review of the KLDRA Himdalen radioactive waste storage and disposal facility by 31 December 2026 following prolonged suspension of waste deposition. This enforcement action will determine how the site can safely support national radioactive-waste management in future and clarifies responsibility as ownership moves from IFE to the state decommissioning body NND.

15 May 2026, 13:31dsa.noNorway

China MEE Publishes EIA Acceptance Notice for Fusion Materials and Tritium Fuel R&D Platform (Nuclear and Radiation)

China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment has opened a 10‑day public notice period after accepting the EIA report for a fusion materials and tritium fuel R&D platform in Hefei, Anhui, classified as a nuclear and radiation construction project. This marks an early procedural step rather than approval, but signals ongoing expansion and regulatory oversight of nuclear and radiation-related R&D infrastructure in China, relevant for nuclear operators and specialised supply chains.

15 May 2026, 13:26mee.gov.cnChina

Netherlands ANVS Opens Consultation On Draft Nuclear Energy Act Permit For Wagenborg Stevedoring B.V.

ANVS has opened a public consultation on a draft Nuclear Energy Act permit allowing Wagenborg Stevedoring to dismantle NORM-contaminated offshore platforms at its Eemshaven, Delfzijl and Farmsum sites until 24 June 2026. This development raises expectations around radiation protection and NORM waste handling for offshore decommissioning operations in Dutch ports, and affected operators should track the final permit conditions for future projects.

14 May 2026, 18:39zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nlNetherlands

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

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

EU–Armenia Summit Joint Declaration on Partnership, Energy, Climate and Digital Cooperation

At the first EU–Armenia Summit on 5 May 2026, leaders issued a joint declaration signalling deeper political, economic and security integration, including closer alignment with EU energy, climate, nuclear safety, digital and sanctions frameworks. For companies active in Armenia or the wider region, this increases the likelihood that EU-style rules such as the AI Act, stricter energy and climate policies, and tighter dual-use and sanctions controls will progressively shape future regulatory requirements and market access.

7 May 2026, 19:39data.consilium.europa.euEuropean UnionArmenia

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

US NRC and Wyoming Finalise Amended Agreement Transferring Regulation of Certain Source Material to State

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has finalised an amended Section 274b Agreement under the Atomic Energy Act that transfers regulation of certain source material recovered during non‑uranium/thorium mineral processing in Wyoming to the state, effective 30 April 2026. Mining and processing operators in Wyoming whose activities generate this source material must now align licensing, inspection and compliance processes with Wyoming's radiation control programme rather than NRC requirements, reshaping regulatory interfaces and oversight responsibilities.

6 May 2026, 07:35federalregister.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

UK Regulators Publish Study on Regulation of Medical Radioisotope Supply

In April 2026, UK nuclear, environmental and health and safety regulators published a joint study explaining how the existing regulatory framework governs current and future medical radioisotope production and supply. The report signals that while no immediate legal changes are proposed, future investment and siting decisions for accelerator, reactor and legacy-waste-based radionuclide production will hinge on clarifying nuclear licensing boundaries, REPPIR emergency-planning thresholds and permitting expectations for novel radionuclides.

5 May 2026, 06:52assets.publishing.service.gov.ukUnited Kingdom

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

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

UN TDG Sub-Committee Drafts Alignment Of Model Regulations With 2025 IAEA Radioactive Material Transport Rules

The IAEA has submitted a detailed working paper to the UN Sub-Committee on the Transport of Dangerous Goods proposing to align the UN Model Regulations for radioactive material transport with the 2025 edition of its SSR-6 (Rev. 2) safety standard, including a full rework of radionuclide activity tables, new NORM definitions, and wide-ranging editorial and technical updates. Once adopted into the twenty-fifth revised edition, these changes will cascade into global modal and national rules, forcing nuclear, medical, industrial and logistics operators to revisit classification, package design, dose-rate and TI/CSI calculations, labelling and long-term transition planning ahead of proposed legacy cut-offs around 2035.

28 Apr 2026, 19:05docs.un.orgGlobal

Slovenia Puts New Regulation on Restricted Land-Use Zones Around Nuclear Facilities Into Force

Slovenia has brought into force a new regulation that redefines restricted-use zones around existing and future nuclear facilities, tightening controls on construction, population density, deep excavations, and incident reporting in the areas surrounding Krško NPP, research reactors, and radioactive waste sites. This change embeds nuclear safety considerations more deeply into spatial planning and permitting, raising compliance stakes for developers and operators in affected municipalities and shaping how new nuclear or large infrastructure projects can be sited and designed near these facilities.

28 Apr 2026, 18:12pisrs.siSlovenia

US NRC Issues EA and FONSI for Kairos Hermes Test Reactor Construction Permit Extension

In April 2026 the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission completed an environmental assessment and issued a finding of no significant impact for Kairos Power’s request to extend the Hermes test reactor construction permit completion date from 31 December 2026 to 30 April 2029. This confirms that the first-of-a-kind Hermes project will remain under construction into 2028–2029 without new environmental constraints, signalling extended nuclear demonstration timelines but no additional obligations for surrounding operators.

28 Apr 2026, 17:42govinfo.govUnited States

US NRC Seeks Comment on Duane Arnold Energy Center License Amendments to Resume Power Operations

In April 2026 the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission proposed three license amendments and related security and emergency planning changes to enable potential resumption of power operations at the Duane Arnold Energy Center, and opened the package for public comment and hearing requests. If approved, these changes would reopen a previously shut nuclear unit and reset security, emergency preparedness, and licensing obligations for the site, so operators, investors, and local authorities should track the outcome and plan for compliance with any new conditions.

25 Apr 2026, 10:49govinfo.govUnited States

Minnesota PUC Submits Legislative Reports on Additional Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage at Monticello and Prairie Island

Minnesota’s Public Utilities Commission has approved additional dry cask storage for spent nuclear fuel at the Monticello and Prairie Island nuclear plants and has now submitted the required legislative reports summarising these decisions and their rationale. These approvals support long-term operation of key carbon-free baseload plants while tightening reporting, community engagement, and environmental safeguards around on-site nuclear waste storage in Minnesota.

24 Apr 2026, 18:01lrl.mn.govUnited States

US NRC Receives Construction Permit Application for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign KRONOS Micro Modular Research Reactor

In April 2026, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission announced it has received and is reviewing a construction permit application from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign for a KRONOS micro modular, high-temperature gas‑cooled research reactor on its Champaign campus. This marks a concrete licensing step for advanced microreactor technology in the US, signalling future opportunities and regulatory scrutiny for campus- and site-scale nuclear applications that could support decarbonisation and resilient power strategies.

24 Apr 2026, 10:03govinfo.govUnited States