March, 2012

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been hosting a four-day International Experts’ Meeting on Reactor and Spent Fuel Safety in the Light of the Accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant from 19 to 22 March to provide a...

19 March (NucNet): Canadian utility Bruce Power has returned unit 2 of the Bruce A nuclear power plant to “a guaranteed shutdown state” because of a moderator leak detected during start-up operations following refurbishment, the Canadian Nuclear Safety...

15 March (NucNet): The UK should rely on nuclear energy not offshore wind power to meet its electricity needs without spending too much money, a former chief scientist has suggested.

14 March (NucNet): The operator of the Mühleberg nuclear power plant in Switzerland is to appeal against a decision by the country’s Federal Administrative Court (FAC) to impose a time limit on the plant’s operation up to June 2013.

12 Mar (NucNet): The US nuclear regulator has issued two orders to operators of all commercial nuclear plants in the country asking them to better protect safety equipment installed after the 9/11 terrorist attacks and to install improved equipment for...

9 Mar (NucNet): One year after the nuclear accident at Fukushima-Daiichi in Japan, the World Energy Council (WEC) says “very little has changed” with regard to plans for new nuclear reactors, but there is “a clear and critical need” to strengthen global...

9 Mar (NucNet): The Fukushima-Daiichi accident should not give rise to questions about nuclear energy, but about the location of nuclear plants and the need for a better evaluation of seismic conditions and design, the head of the OECD’s Nuclear Energy...

9 Mar (NucNet): The most important lesson to be learned from the nuclear accident at Fukushima-Daiichi in Japan is that the nuclear industry must place greater emphasis on accident mitigation in addition to accident prevention, the World Association of...

9 Mar (NucNet): Areva this week signed a series of cooperation agreements with Czech companies as part of potential European Pressurised Water Reactor (EPR) projects in the country, including Temelin-3 and 4.

8 Mar (NucNet): The US nuclear regulator has issued its annual assessment letters for nuclear power plant licensees, showing that as of the end of last year, 88 of the 104 nuclear units in the US “fully met all safety performance objectives” and received...

7 Mar (NucNet): Nuclear installations including the High Flux Reactor (HFR) at Petten in the Netherlands can withstand extreme conditions including flooding events and earthquakes, or a combination of both, a stress test has shown.

6 Mar (NucNet): Based on radiological data collected so far the radiation health effects of the March 2011 Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear accident should be “very minimal” for both the public and workers, radiation health experts told a meeting in the US.

5 Mar (NucNet): Almost one year after the Fukushima-Daiichi accident in Japan, the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) say they are increasing their cooperation on nuclear safety.

Next Sunday, 11 March 2012, marks the first anniversary of the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck the east coast of Japan.

5 Mar (NucNet): Work will begin next month on constructing the arched frame for the shelter being built above the damaged reactor number four at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine, a report by the country’s minister of emergency situations Viktor...

2 Mar (NucNet): The UK’s energy secretary Edward Davey today underlined the government’s commitment to dealing with the country’s nuclear legacy and said operators of any new nuclear plants will be required to put money aside from day one to meet future...

2 Mar (NucNet): A series of meetings has begun between Areva and a number of Polish companies in support of the potential construction of European Pressurised Water Reactors (EPRs) “in Poland and beyond”, Areva said today.

2 Mar (NucNet): The operation of a laser-based uranium enrichment facility planned in North Carolina would not pose an undue risk to worker and public health and safety, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has said.