#Russia's use of the #Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (#ZNPP) for military purposes violates the second of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Concrete Principles, which state that nuclear sites should not be used to store or base heavy weapons or military personnel. In Truth Hounds’ recent research “Seizing Power” we describe nuclear safety and security challenges at ZNPP that exist due to the plant’s occupation by Russian forces. Based on our investigation and data collected by Greenpeace and McKenzie Intelligence Services, Russia is using ZNPP for: 🔺Accommodation of Russian National Guard personnel, 🔺Stationing of BTR-80 wheeled armored personnel carriers, Ural and Kamaz utility trucks, 🔺With tracks for multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) firing locations – BM-21 Grad and BM-30 Smerch in particular – identified in close proximity to ZNPP. In 2025, Greenpeace released an analysis of satellite imagery demonstrating that Russia has already constructed electricity lines and pylons in occupied #Ukrainian territory between #Mariupol and #Berdiansk. The new line will ultimately be used to connect ZNPP to Russia’s own electricity grid, despite the well-documented dangers of restarting the plant. ❗️The occupation and militarization of ZNPP presents a risk of a potential radiological incident that would not only affect Ukraine and neighboring states. Any incident at ZNPP risks a massive concentration of radioactive contamination in water systems and on agricultural land, with far-reaching consequences for the environment and wildlife.

A traditional approach to nuclear weapons tends to focus on State security matters and does not lend itself easily to a human rights lens. On this International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, read UNIDIR’s Renata Hessmann Dalaqua, PhD’s article on a human rights approach to nuclear regimes and lessons from the legacy of nuclear testing in the Marshall Islands.

Second new report of the day! The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) spends a lot of money building nuclear weapons and their supporting infrastructure. Much like the Department of Defense under the Nunn-McCurdy Act, NNSA is legally required to notify Congress of significant cost growth on construction projects or weapons programs within 30 days. However, for five of seven projects where costs had increased well over 25 percent, NNSA didn’t formally notify Congress for months, let alone within the 30 days called for in statute. None of NNSA’s weapons programs has recently reported significant cost growth.   Additionally, NNSA is required to decide whether to recertify the programs and, if it does, to assess the root causes of the cost overruns within 90 days, and inform Congress of its findings. However, NNSA didn’t do so for five of seven projects.   NNSA said it plans to implement new processes, including the use of templates and root cause guidance, to help project managers better meet reporting requirements. We recommend they complete this guidance and implement these new processes.   https://lnkd.in/eiJ76ayG

⚓ Powering AUKUS: Rolls-Royce scales up Derby nuclear reactor output ⚓ With the current ASTUTE build programme for the UK proving almost interminable, DSEI 2025 provided more than just a glimmer of hope for realising, faster, the next generation of Anglo-Australian SSNs from the 2030s onwards. ⚓ During the Exhibition, Rolls-Royce provided an important if perhaps low key update on its nuclear reactor programme for the future SSN-AUKUS-class submarines, planned for the Royal Navy and Royal Australian Navy. Production has already started on components for the second RN boat, while major materials for boats six and seven have also entered the supply chain. ⚓ To meet the reactor demands of both Navies, Rolls-Royce will need to triple output by 2032, producing one reactor set per year compared with just one every three years today. This expansion is supported by satellite sites in Glasgow and Cardiff, potential new sites in Australia plus partnerships with local governments to ensure skilled workforce growth. ⚓ Indeed, this DSEI briefing builds on Rolls-Royce's more formal announcement earlier this month re selecting Balfour Beatty as its new fissile construction partner for the expansion of its Raynesway site in Derby, whose capacity is doubling to meet the growth in SSN reactor (an enhanced variant of the PWR 3+) demand from the Royal Navy in the first instance. ⚓ All this marks tremendous progress, allied to vast investments at Barrow in particular too. Scaling production from one reactor every three years to one per year will demand world-class collaboration across governments, industry and skills pipelines. Clearly, this is one of the UK’s most ambitious industrial projects and one of the most vital. ⚓ Original sources added to the comment section below. #RoyalNavy #RoyalAustralianNavy #AUKUS #RollsRoyce #Submarines #NuclearPower #DefenceIndustry #EngineeringExcellence #DefenceIndustrialStrategy #GlobalPartnerships #DSEI #BAESystems #BalfourBeatty #maritimecapability

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗮 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗻𝘂𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀? For the High Flux Reactor, a facility for the production of medical isotopes, Kalmar asked Iv to come up with a solution. The circular rail structure, located high up in the dome of the reactor hall, is essential for moving materials. However, manual inspection was impossible due to strict safety regulations and limited accessibility. With our self-developed, motorised inspection trolley, we are able to measure the rail structure after all. Fully remotely operated and equipped with cameras, measuring instruments and magnets. #industry #pallas #nuclearengineering #engineeringthatexcites

Connecticut Becomes 40th NRC Agreement State NRC Chairman David Wright and Connecticut Gov. Edward “Ned” Lamont signed an agreement today giving Connecticut regulatory authority over certain radioactive materials in the state. Connecticut is the 40th state to sign such an agreement with the NRC. The final agreement will be published in the Federal Register on Sept. 26. The proposed agreement was published in the Federal Register on March 19, 2025, for four consecutive weeks for public comment. Under the agreement, effective Sept. 30, 2025, the NRC will transfer 104 specific licenses for radioactive material to Connecticut’s jurisdiction. The NRC retains jurisdiction over Millstone 2 and 3 nuclear reactors, as well as other areas of exclusive federal jurisdiction. Before entering into the agreement, the NRC determined that Connecticut’s radiation control program is adequate to protect public health and safety and is compatible with the NRC’s regulations.

The Senate just passed the $914B National Defense Authorization Act for #FY2026, approving policies and funding levels for a wide range of #DOD programs and activities. Hon. Andrew Wheeler and Peter Rindfuss of our Federal Affairs team outline provisions impacting environmental and natural resources policies, including #NEPA, #PFAS, nuclear energy, and critical mineral development. Read here: https://lnkd.in/dyeubRsA #federalpolicy

According to the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) annual Naval Reactors publications 99% of the radioactive material generated on their nuclear-powered vessels is stored within the nuclear reactor core. The major isotope of concern of the remaining 1% is cobalt-60. Of my 10 mSv of radiation received from 23 years in the nuclear industry about 7.5 mSv comes from cobalt-60 Cobalt-60 has a relatively shot half-life at 5.27 years and will not be around for 300 years like the anti-AUKUS crusaders shout out at public events. In fact, based on the new law and regulations in Australia most of the so-called waste by US standards could be sent immediately to landfills based on Australia's cobalt-60 release criteria. Find out more at: https://lnkd.in/egjHRwHX #AUKUS #WasteManagement #Nuclear

The US Department of Army has announced the launch of the Janus Program, a next-generation nuclear power programme aimed at delivering "resilient, secure, and assured energy to support national defence installations and critical missions". https://lnkd.in/ds7H9W23

Family-controlled engineering company VEEM Ltd (ASX:VEE) has secured entry to another global defence giant, winning approval to supply parts for US nuclear submarines through Northrop Grumman. READ: https://lnkd.in/gpQ9xxHs