July, 2008

Kazakhstan's uranium mining operations stepped forward recently with permission to ramp up the South Inkai in-situ leach mine and a new sulfuric acid plant essential for such operations.

The Swedish Nuclear Power Inspectorate (SKI) and Swedish Radiation Protection Institute have merged. The new body will have responsibilities in radon protection, medicine, ultra-violet and laser light safety as well as nuclear power.

It looks like nothing more than a hole in the ground at the moment – but site preparations for Europe's newest research reactor, the Jules Horowitz Reactor (RJH), are nearly complete.

Jordan has signed an agreement with Canadian reactor vendor AECL, while a domestic phosphate company is studying the production of uranium. Desalination of seawater is seen as a likely application for nuclear power in Jordan.

US electricity generator and supplier Constellation Energy has bought uranium trading firm Nufcor International from AngloGold Ashanti and FirstRand International. The move appears to highlight a new trend for integration in nuclear fuel.

The US Government Accountability Office said that some the country's nuclear power plants have yet to comply with some of the government's fire safety regulations issued in the 1970s.

The Nuclear non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) was opened for signature on 1 July 1968 and immediately signed by 61 parties. The pact has provided a framework for limiting nuclear weapons and the peaceful use of nuclear power.