Bringing you the news from the worldwide nuclear energy sector, interviews with key players and easy-to-follow guides to the nuclear essentials each month. The World Nuclear News team has been reporting about nuclear power since 2007 at: https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/ WNN is supported by the World Nuclear Association and draws on its global network of contacts across the industry, academia and international agencies.
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August 12, 2026Episode 5928 min
UxC's Anna Bryndza on uranium price reporting
Anna Bryndza is Executive Vice President for International at nuclear industry market research and analysis company UxC, which plays a key role in the nuclear fuel cycle via its publications such as Ux Weekly . It also publishes the industry standard uranium spot prices. In this episode, she talks with Claire Maden about the current uranium market and the outlook for demand - and how past experience can help inform an element of caution in terms of some of the more ebullient suggestions of how much uranium will be needed in a decade or two's time. UxC's work reporting prices for uranium has a key role in the world nuclear fuel cycle and Bryndza outlines the history of the price reporting and outlines how the process works. And we also hear about the Atomic Runners group, and the growth of the social/fitness initiative. Key links to find out more: UxC World Nuclear Fuel Cycle: How best to meet growing demand? World Nuclear News Email newsletter: Sign up to the World Nuclear News daily or weekly news round-ups Contact info: alex.hunt@world-nuclear.org Episode credit: Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production
July 29, 2026Episode 5827 min
The first World Nuclear Investment Guide unveiled
The inaugural World Nuclear Investment Guide aims to set out how governments, industry and financial institutions can create the conditions for the huge scale of investment required if the goal of at least tripling nuclear energy capacity by 2050 is to be achieved. In this episode, host Alex Hunt is joined by the lead author of the guide, World Nuclear Association's Lola Infante , and Ananya Modi , co-head of the Energy and Power Financing team at Rothschild & Co, one of the experts on the advisory board overseeing the publication. They outline the thinking behind the creation of the guide, how it brought together finance and nuclear experts, and, of course its key findings - such as a cumulative investment opportunity of $6 trillion by 2050. Lola Infante says, of the guide, "we try to set out the journey to move from today's situation, which is mostly driven by government, to a situation where nuclear is just like any other asset class, where risks are known, they're understood, they're priced and priceable, where we have large pools of private capital participating in the market, where there is liquidity in the market, where nuclear financing is not only, or predominantly, a government thing. We need early engagement from investors and lenders so they can build deals that create benchmarks and frameworks and then can be replicated”. Ananya Modi calls the guide "a real turning point", and outlines the various factors which have come together to make financial investors so focused on nuclear power. He also says that financing is a core part of the need for nuclear power to become more standardised, and discusses the next steps. They say the aim is not to provide frameworks, but to provide tools and information and case studies and best practices to "help others create standardised templates … to facilitate their decision-making processes". The first module of the guide - Roadmap to Mainstream Finance: The Path to Scale Nuclear Energy - has just been published, with the rest of the guide set to be published in September. Key links to find out more: The World Nuclear Investment Guide World Nuclear Association Rothschild & Co World Nuclear News Email newsletter: Sign up to the World Nuclear News daily or weekly news round-ups Contact info: alex.hunt@world-nuclear.org Episode credit: Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production
July 16, 2026Episode 5737 min
The US's historic Hanford site, and accelerated decommissioning
The Hanford site in the US has a history dating back to the 1940s when it was established as part of the Manhattan Project. Plutonium was produced at the site, with the last reactor shut down in 1971. The legacy is the Hanford Tank Farms, which is a collection of 177 underground waste storage tanks. In this episode we hear from Karthik Subramanian, Chief Engineer and Innovation Director for Hanford Tank Waste Operations Closure, about the history of the site and the clean-up work taking place. Also taking part is his Amentum colleague Mike Houghton, Vice President of the Environment Division within Energy and Environment International, with the discussion covering the need to rethink the view that sites which need decommissioning are liabilities, and instead focus on the opportunities for future uses for the sites. Linked to this is the idea of accelerated decommissioning, where these potentially valuable sites (often perfect, for instance, for new nuclear) can have their value unlocked sooner. One result of this change of outlook for sites, would be to attract likely new opportunities for private finance in the decommissioning process. Key links to find out more: The Hanford Site Amentum New lease of life for US legacy nuclear sites Heating begins at Hanford radioactive waste treatment plant World Nuclear News Email newsletter: Sign up to the World Nuclear News daily or weekly news round-ups Contact info: alex.hunt@world-nuclear.org Episode credit: Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production
June 17, 2026Episode 5629 min
Urenco scaling up capacity to meet rising nuclear fuel demand
Urenco's chief commercial officer Laurent Odeh joins us and outlines how the leading uranium enrichment company is expanding its operations in the US, the Netherlands and Germany to meet the growing demand for nuclear fuel. Demand which is coming from both existing units and also some of the growing numbers of advanced reactors in development. He talks about the company's history and the experience it has gained, including the decisions it had to take during the 2010s and how they fit in with what is now a record order book for Urenco's services. Odeh says that it is quicker to expand enrichment capacity than it is to build a new nuclear power plant, so is confident that enrichment services will be able to keep track with any rapid future nuclear energy capacity growth. He also gives an update on Urenco's development of LEU+ and HALEU fuel capabilities, as well as talking about the medical isotopes business that Urenco is growing, plus the decommissioning side of its work. And, in a wide-ranging discussion, Odeh says what he wants to see governments doing to help support the nuclear fuel cycle and wider nuclear energy growth in the years ahead. Key links to find out more: Urenco Urenco to build new US enrichment plant capacity World Nuclear News Email newsletter: Sign up to the World Nuclear News daily or weekly news round-ups Contact info: alex.hunt@world-nuclear.org Episode credit: Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production
May 22, 2026Episode 5537 min
Sustainability and the UK's low level waste repository
The UK’s Low Level Waste Repository in Cumbria in the North West of England has been operating for nearly seven decades, so probably for longer than any other such facility anywhere. During that time things have changed from a "tip and tumble" typical landfill disposal system, to today's approach with containerised waste and engineered vaults. Nuclear Waste Services' Director of Sites and Operations, Mike Pigott, and Head of Waste Services Howard Falconer, explain the history of the site, how its operations have changed and its plans for the future - including an update on the prospects for a deep geological disposal facility. The Low Level Waste Repository's role is to ensure that low-level waste generated in the UK is disposed of in a way that protects people and the environment. The repository site receives low-level solid waste from a range of customers, such as the nuclear industry, the Ministry of Defence, non-nuclear industries, educational, medical and research establishments. Legacy disposal trenches and vaults are now full and ready for permanent closure. Pigott outlines progress on the capping of the original parts of the giant site, which aims to make what began as initially a temporary disposal facility, a permanent - and environmentally safe - place for the low level waste. Falconer outlines the sustainability steps taken to reduce the amount of low level radioactive waste. For instance, reusing material from decommissioning projects in new-build constructions. The result is that there are still many decades-worth of capacity at the site. Key links to find out more: World Nuclear News Nuclear Waste Services Capping of UK repository progresses Email newsletter: Sign up to the World Nuclear News daily or weekly news round-ups Contact info: alex.hunt@world-nuclear.org Episode credit: Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production
May 6, 2026Episode 5422 min
Will Spain rethink nuclear energy phase-out plan?
A decision is expected later this year by the Spanish government on whether to award a three-year reprieve to Almaraz nuclear power plant's units 1 and 2. They are currently scheduled to be shut down in 2027 as part of the country's 2019 nuclear phase-out policy. In this episode we hear from Marta Ugalde , President of Spanish Nuclear Industry Forum, Foro Nuclear, about the current situation with nuclear energy in Spain, and what the future might hold for an industry which has a rich history stretching back more than 60 years in the country. Ugalde says that the three-year operating extension would allow time for consideration of whether there should be a more fundamental change to the phase-out plan, noting that similar reactors in the US are now licensed to operate for 80 years. She also talks about what impact last year's blackout has had on the case for nuclear energy. Spain's seven operating nuclear power reactors - Almaraz I and II, Ascó I and II, Cofrentes, Trillo and Vandellós II - generate about 20% of its electricity. Under the country's nuclear phase-out plans, agreed in 2019, four reactors are scheduled to close by the end of 2030 - including the two Almaraz ones - while the remaining three reactors will shut by 2035. The Almaraz plant currently supplies more than 7% of the electricity consumed in Spain, equivalent to 4 million homes, and employs about 4,000 people. Almaraz units I and II are pressurised water reactors with a net capacity of 1011 MWe and 1006 MWe, respectively. Unit I entered commercial operation in 1983 with unit II following the next year. The plant is owned by Iberdrola (53%), Endesa (36%), and Naturgy (11%). Key links to find out more: World Nuclear News ForoNuclear Regulator requested to report on Almaraz licence extension Nuclear Power in Spain ForoNuclear highlights role of nuclear in Spanish energy mix Email newsletter: Sign up to the World Nuclear News daily or weekly news round-ups Contact info: alex.hunt@world-nuclear.org Episode credit: Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production
April 13, 2026Episode 5348 min
China's nuclear energy ambitions
China has been racing ahead in terms of new nuclear capacity and new nuclear developments in recent years, and there are big plans ahead, most recently set out in the country's latest five-year plan. In this episode we take an extended look at the nuclear energy sector in China, with François Morin, Country Director for World Nuclear Association. China currently has 62 GW of generating capacity plus 38 new units under construction which will add 44 GW. There are another 17 units approved with 20 GW capacity. This means that by 2033 China will likely have 120 GW of capacity. That number looks set to continue increasing at a similar - or faster - rate over the next two decades if the aim is to be achieved of a 15% share for nuclear in the future energy mix. Morin discusses the different reactor technologies being used, as well as innovative developments in district heating, and industrial heating with reactor combinations at power plants including high temperature gas-cooled reactors. There is also the latest news about China's landmark small modular reactor, its molten salt reactor developments, nuclear fusion plans, and much more. Key links to find out more: World Nuclear News First San'ao unit connected to the grid China starts construction of innovative nuclear project Chinese SMR completes non-nuclear steam start up test Construction milestone at Chinese underground laboratory Chinese molten salt reactor achieves conversion of thorium-uranium fuel Email newsletter: Sign up to the World Nuclear News daily or weekly news round-ups Contact info: alex.hunt@world-nuclear.org Episode credit: Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production
February 10, 2026Episode 5236 min
What should be the target time to build a new nuclear plant?
How long should it take from signing a contract to first concrete, to completion, for a new nuclear power plant? And what needs to be done to ensure the funding can be unlocked for new units? Those are just two of the topics covered by Assystem's Stéphane Aubarbier. In addition to discussing progress on France's EPR2 new nuclear programme - and the lessons from EPR projects - the deputy CEO talks about Assystem's work in a variety of different countries, including the UK and Kazakhstan. He sees a positive trend towards regulatory similarities across borders, especially with newcomer countries - who he also notes can benefit from devising efficient licensing and permitting systems. Aubarbier also covers the company's involvement with the ITER multinational fusion project and other fusion projects. His advice to young people considering their future career options is to find a subject and work that they find fun, adding: "If you have studied physics, are an engineer or a scientist, nuclear is a dream world." Key links to find out more: Assystem World Nuclear News WNE panel discusses adding value to the supply chain Email newsletter: Sign up to the World Nuclear News daily or weekly news round-ups Contact info: alex.hunt@world-nuclear.org Episode credit: Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production
December 23, 2025Episode 5147 min
What were the big nuclear energy stories of 2025? What to watch out for in 2026...
The World Nuclear News team looks back over the most read articles in 2025 - with topics including Canada's ground-breaking SMR project, the 50th World Nuclear Symposium, the eventual signing of a contract for the Czech new nuclear project, China's SMR completing cold testing, and the drone damage to Chernobyl's New Safe Confinement. Then World Nuclear Association Director General Sama Bilbao y León picks out the key themes of the year, noting the fast-growing interest from the financial sector in investment opportunities in nuclear, plus the declaration from energy users such as Google, Meta and Dow Chemicals to support the goal of at least tripling nuclear energy capacity by 2050. With a number of projects making progress in countries without recent experience of nuclear construction there has also been a lot of focus on developing supply chains, reflected in the success of the World Nuclear Supply Chain conference held in Poland. Looking ahead to 2026 there are big set-piece events to look forward to - such as World Nuclear Symposium in London, World Nuclear Supply Chain conference in the Philippines and World Nuclear Fuel Cycle conference in Monaco - with big moments also expected for the first units in Bangladesh and Turkey, a restart for Palisades as well as first concrete due to be poured for Hungary's Paks II project. Bilbao y León says the "stars are definitely aligned" for nuclear and the coming year "is the moment where the global nuclear industry really needs to be proactive and active and make the most of this opportunity". She says: "We really need to work together with our governments. We need to work together with the nuclear regulators, with the finance community, with large energy users. And we cannot leave behind civil society. We have seen major improvements in acceptance and interest in nuclear, but we need to continue to be very proactive to engage with civil society, to make sure that no question is left unanswered." Key links to find out more: World Nuclear News Canada's first SMR project: How is CAD20.9 billion cost calculated? World Nuclear Association Email newsletter: Sign up to the World Nuclear News daily or weekly news round-ups Contact info: alex.hunt@world-nuclear.org Episode credit: Presenter Alex Hunt. Reporters Claire Maden and Warwick Pipe. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production
December 12, 2025Episode 5030 min
What happened with nuclear energy at COP30? Plus Myriad Uranium's Thomas Lamb
Nuclear energy is now widely seen as one part of the solution to reducing carbon emissions. But how much of a profile did it get at COP30 - the 30th UN Climate Change Conference, held in Belém, Brazil? Jonathan Cobb, Senior Programme Lead, Climate, for World Nuclear Association, was in Brazil for the event and in this edition he outlines what was achieved, and not achieved, at COP30 and what the significant moments were for nuclear energy. He looks ahead to the next editions of COP - in Turkey and Ethiopia - before COP33, which will be held somewhere in Southeast Asia in 2028, and which is due to be when all the National Determined Constributions will have to have been submitted, with a new global stocktake document to be agreed. Also in this edition we hear from Thomas Lamb, CEO of Myriad Uranium, who talks about the history of, and his hopes for, their Copper Mountain project in Wyoming in the USA. He also considers the impact of AI on uranium exploration. K ey links to find out more: World Nuclear News Email newsletter: Sign up to the World Nuclear News daily or weekly news round-ups Contact info: alex.hunt@world-nuclear.org Episode credit: Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production
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