June, 2008

Cameco is to begin pumping water from the flooded Cigar Lake mine next week. The uranium mine, which should be the biggest in the world when it enters operation, was flooded by a rockfall in October 2006.

North Korea has made a declaration on its nuclear activities and demolished a cooling tower. The USA has made political concessions in return, but remains guarded on the future of the long-running process.

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has approved a request to increase the generating capacity of units 1 and 2 of the Comanche Peak nuclear power plant by approximately 4.5% each. Luminant Generation Co. (formerly Energy Futures), which operates Comanche Peak for Texas Utilities (TXU), intends to implement...

Current US policies are not enough to give nuclear power a leading role in climate protection. Although policies would see a 15% increase in nuclear power capacity by 2030, American energy use overall would grow by 19%, and carbon dioxide emissions by 16%.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) is to be signed at the weekend between Jordan and the UK that would facilitate cooperation in nuclear energy, including for desalination of water. The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office confirmed the forthcoming deal to World Nuclear News today, stating that the document...

US legislators have approved an energy and water bill that would see increased support for nuclear power initiatives and fully fund Yucca Mountain, but would cut funding for the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP) program to zero.

Four French uranium employees kidnapped in northern Niger on 22 June have been released. Areva announced on 25 June that the four had been handed over to the International Red Cross and would be leaving for France soon. All were reported to be in good health. The four were kidnapped by ethnic Tuareg...

First concrete for a new reactor has been poured at the Novovoronezh phase II nuclear power plant, marking the official start of construction. This is the first unit in Russia's new wave of construction, which could benefit in future from foreign investment.

Over half of the respondents to a new public opinion survey feel that the UK should increase its nuclear capacity – and those living closest to existing nuclear plants are most strongly in favour of new nuclear.

The House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus has passed the second reading of a bill on nuclear power. The bill covers "fundamental principles" for the introduction of nuclear power and declares that benefits to citizens and society must outweigh any negative impacts of...

Nuclear clean-up jobs could be simplified in future by a novel tennis-ball-sized device able to help map radiation sources. Using the device should be cheaper and easier than robotic or manual surveying.

Industriás Nucleares do Brasil (INB) has selected Galvani, a regional phosphates company, as the sole partner in the exploitation of the Santa Quitéria reserve ahead of international miners Bunge and Vale.

Electricité de France has been given until 30 September to implement preventative safety measures in steam generators at its French nuclear reactors including plugging tubes affected by an anomaly in anti-vibration measures

UK prime minister Gordon Brown thinks oil producing countries could stabilise their market and secure long-term futures by investing in alternatives, including nuclear – and has told OPEC leaders he will open up the UK's energy industry to such investments.

A $4.5 billion contract was announced on 19 June, the second huge deal in a program to clean-up the USA's legacy Hanford site. The site's central plateau is the focus of the work, which includes much remediation and environmental monitoring.

French nuclear company Areva is working with authorities in France and Niger to liberate four of its expatriate employees kidnapped by Tuareg rebels in Niger's Arlit region. Areva confirmed that the four kidnapped employees were in good health and had been able to contact the company. Local press...

A team from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) flew to Syria on 22 June to examine the alleged nuclear site near Al Kibar. In September 2007, Israeli jets bombed a building there, which US intelligence officials said was a graphite moderated nuclear reactor suitable for weapons-grade plutonium...

On 24 June, a 700 km cycle race kicks off from the Volgodonsk nuclear power plant in southern Russia to the Zaporizhzhya plant in Ukraine. The race is aimed at promoting a healthy lifestyle and reinforcing friendship between the satellite towns of both plants. This is the third such race that Volgodonsk...

Uranium producer Cameco has joined the Global Laser Enrichment (GLE) venture, promising tie-ins across the front end of the nuclear fuel cycle. Together, the stakeholders in GLE have uranium mining, conversion enrichment and fuel fabrication business units.

Recommendations on a post-2012 framework for global climate policy, backed by international business leaders, have been submitted by the World Economic Forum to the G8 leaders. The businessmen see advanced nuclear power as part of the solution.

Concreting work is to recommence at Flamanville 3, after safety authorities accepted Electricité de France's plans to improve quality control. The company intends to train workers in the necessary safety culture and must report on progress for six months.

France's new national committee on nuclear information - the High Committee for Transparency and Information on Nuclear Safety - held its first meeting on 18 June. The committee's mandate is to act as a forum for the discussion of all issues related to public access to nuclear safety information...

Namibian uranium miner UraMin has gained approval for a mining licence and a positive record of decision on its desalination plant. The miner will use an innovative leaching system and put back displaced top soil.

US utility Exelon is upgrading steam turbines at six of its nuclear power units. The $420 million project should result in about 240 MWe more power across the six units, which have all had 20-year extensions to the operating licenses.

Technical problems at some of its nuclear reactors resulted in lower output and earnings for British Energy during the 2007-2008 financial year, despite overall operational improvements. Speculation continues about the future of the UK nuclear generator, currently up for sale.