Nuclear Energy Week 42 Summary (October 13-19, 2025)
Advanced Reactors and International Partnerships
The US Army launched the Janus Program, targeting the deployment of advanced portable microreactors to enhance military energy resilience and operational security[1]. This initiative builds on the Department of Defense’s prior Project Pele, and seeks to accelerate microreactor deployment on military bases, supporting Executive orders for national security and advanced energy innovation[1]. Radiant Industries signed a landmark contract to deliver its first microreactor to the historic Manhattan Project site at Oak Ridge, Tennessee, after previous selection for both DOD and DOE pilot programs[1].
X-energy, Amazon, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, and Doosan Enerbility formed a strategic partnership to rapidly scale deployment of X-energy's Xe-100 small modular reactors (SMRs) and TRISO fuel, with a plan to jointly mobilize as much as $50 billion in investment for advanced nuclear in the US[2]. The first Xe-100 deployment, under NRC review, will be at Dow’s Seadrift site in Texas with four reactors planned, while a second large-scale deployment in Washington state, partnered with Amazon and Energy Northwest, could incorporate up to 12 Xe-100 units serving AI data center power demand[2].
US-UK initiatives continued to drive investment, policy harmonization, and technology transfer for next-generation reactors and microreactors, with Oklo and other innovators benefiting from unprecedented market gains, regulatory support, and cross-border investment[3].
Nuclear Plant Security and Restoration Efforts
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine entered its fifth week of blackout due to conflict, with restoration work beginning on damaged external power lines under a rare locally agreed ceasefire[4]. IAEA Director Rafael Grossi confirmed that restoring off-site power is essential for nuclear safety, with both sides positively engaging to allow sensitive electrical repairs despite ongoing hostilities[4]. The plant relied on emergency diesel power for over 20 days, marking the tenth instance of grid disconnection since the war began, while Ukrainian officials accused Russia of deliberate grid sabotage tactics.
Regional incidents continued to underline nuclear safety challenges. Russia’s attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure recently triggered a blackout at the former Chernobyl site for over three hours, drawing strong condemnation from European leaders and international agencies[4]. Meanwhile, global incident analysis reminds that safety upgrades and operational advances in the industry are continually informed by past events such as Chernobyl and Fukushima[5].
DOE Fusion Roadmap and Technological Innovation
The US Department of Energy introduced its Fusion Science & Technology Roadmap on October 16, setting out a “Build–Innovate–Grow” strategy to commercialize fusion energy by the mid-2030s[6]. The roadmap emphasizes national coordination across research, AI-powered plasma management, and public infrastructure to close material, plasma, and engineering gaps, aiming for a fusion pilot plant and global leadership in fusion technology[6].
Fusion breakthroughs continue to bridge known gaps, drawing on AI to optimize plasma stability, speed diagnostics, and automate plant controls, as highlighted in recent DOE and Office of Fusion Energy Sciences plans[6]. The roadmap complements ongoing fusion energy events, funding pushes, and partnerships in Washington, D.C., and abroad.
Nuclear Waste Management and Repository Expansion
The International Tunnelling & Underground Space Association, cooperating with the IAEA, launched a special interest group to expand global expertise on geological disposal facilities for nuclear waste[7]. Canada’s nuclear regulator authorized Ontario Power Generation to operate a new building at its Western Waste Management Facility, and Deep Isolation advocated for waste disposal to be a core part of nuclear project strategies in the US[7][8].
Dismantling began for Japan’s Hamaoka 1 reactor, reflecting continued back-end progress in global decommissioning, while Holtec International cancelled plans for an interim used fuel storage facility in New Mexico, but will still support future opportunities through partner alliances[7].
Industry Trends, Investment, and Supply Chains
The World Nuclear Industry Status Report 2025 highlighted diverse newbuild activity, phaseouts, and supply chain evolution worldwide, including China, France, Japan, Russia, South Korea, Ukraine, UK, US, and Taiwan’s completed phaseout[9][10]. With nuclear capacity projected to double to 746 GWe by 2040 if supply chain and investment gaps are bridged, industry leaders at the World Nuclear Symposium called for deeper partnerships and government-industry action to realize “fleet” programs and scalable solutions rather than isolated projects[11].
The World Nuclear Fuel Report reiterated urgency for primary uranium mine development, fuel manufacturing scale-up, and supply resilience in the face of rising capacity ambitions and changing geopolitical factors[11]. Oklo’s microreactor success and US-UK regulatory alignment sent its stock soaring 1,460% the past year, as investors increasingly see advanced nuclear as critical to the clean energy transition and energy security[3].
Global Policy, Safety, and Governance Insights
Safety analyses continued to reinforce the lessons of history, with notable impacts of thyroid cancers after Chernobyl and persistent monitoring of affected populations[5]. The formation of the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) in the aftermath, and ongoing refinery of safety engineering and operation, underpin the industry’s record-low accident rates and continuous improvement in protocols.
Germany’s government remains divided on nuclear relaunch, attending EU nuclear-related meetings while reaffirming phaseout policies and rejecting reactor restarts on economic grounds despite some renewed interest[12][13].
References:
[10] World Nuclear Industry Status Report
[9] World Nuclear Industry Status Report 2025
[7] World Nuclear News - Waste recycling October 14, 2025
[2] American Nuclear Society - Industry Update October 17, 2025
[1] American Nuclear Society - Army’s Janus Program October 19, 2025
[11] World Nuclear News - Key Symposium Takeaways September 29, 2025
[3] Carbon Credits - US-UK Nuclear Pact Oklo stock record high September 17, 2025
[5] World Nuclear Association - Safety of nuclear reactors February 10, 2025
[4] CNN - Work underway to restore power Zaporizhzhia October 18, 2025
[12] DW - German government nuclear divide June 28, 2025
[6] American Nuclear Society - DOE Fusion Roadmap October 16, 2025
[8] World Nuclear News - Deep Isolation October 12, 2025
[13] Clean Energy Wire - E.ON rejects Germany restart November 14, 2024
Sources
[1] Army's Janus Program to boost advanced nuclear reactors
[2] Industry Update—October 2025 -- ANS / Nuclear Newswire
[3] US-UK Nuclear Pact Sends Oklo Stock (OKLO) to Record ...
[4] Work underway to restore power at Ukrainian nuclear plant ...
[5] Safety of Nuclear Power Reactors
[6] DOE's latest fusion energy road map aims to bridge known ...
[7] Waste & Recycling
[8] Consider waste in advanced nuclear initiative, says Deep ...
[9] World Nuclear Industry Status Report 2025
[10] World Nuclear Industry Status Report
[11] Viewpoint: Key takeaways from World Nuclear Symposium ...
[12] German government shows cracks over nuclear energy
[13] Nuclear plant operator rejects ideas to restart Germany's ...
[14] TSN 15:00 news October 13. NATO NUCLEAR DRILLS! ...
[15] 2025 U.S. Nuclear Energy Revival: Policy, Innovation & ...
[16] Iran's Retaliatory Strikes Hit Israeli Cities After US Attack ...
[17] World Nuclear News: Homepage
[18] Sweden to expand nuclear power with first new plant in 50 ...
[19] 'Intimidation and vested interests' at IMO may spur ...
[20] World Nuclear Performance Report 2025
