February, 2010

As Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin announced the allocation of 53 billion roubles ($1.77 billion) of federal money towards the construction of new nuclear power in 2010, the country could also be poised to buy into a Bulgarian nuclear power plant.

A corrected version of the environmental authorization for a planned tailings reclamation project at First Uranium's Mine Waste Solutions (MWS) project in South Africa has been reinstated.

A plan is under consideration to cull seagulls at the Sellafield nuclear site in northern England amid concerns that some have been swimming in open-air storage ponds containing plutonium and radioactive waste, The Times newspaper reported. "They fly in and float around on the open waste ponds and...

The US National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has signed an agreement with government-owned Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to study the use of mixed-oxide (MOX) fuel made from surplus weapons plutonium in TVA's nuclear power reactors.

The Vermont Senate has voted against the extension of the operating licence of the US state's only nuclear power plant - Entergy's Vermont Yankee plant - for a further 20 years beyond 2012.

Newly released resource figures for the Palangana in situ recovery (ISR) uranium project in South Texas show the deposit has "very substantial potential", while a major study on uranium mining in Virginia is about to proceed.

The earliest possible return-to-service date for Canada's National Research Unit (NRU) reactor is still April, Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd (AECL) has announced in its latest update on repairs to the stricken research reactor. With 43% of repair activities and associated post-repair examinations now...

Westinghouse has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with South African engineering company DCD-Dorbyl for cooperation on its AP1000 reactor design. The move could lead to the production of AP1000 components in South Arrica.

Czech utility CEZ announced that all the reactor suppliers who had applied to participate in the public tender for a contractor for two new units at its Temelin nuclear power plant had met the qualification conditions and advanced to the next stage.

A year-long assessment exercise carried out by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the European Commission (EC) has found that safety at Ukraine's nuclear power plants is in line with international standards.

A new Centre for Nuclear Energy Technology (C-NET) that will help develop nuclear industry professionals and support nuclear R&D has secured a share of a major UK government funding initiative.

The Monju prototype fast reactor (FBR) in Japan has completed a government-mandated procedure to ensure the reactor is safe to restart following a sodium coolant leak which forced it out of action almost 15 years ago. It could restart as early as next month.

Former International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) director general Hans Blix heads a list of distinguished figures announced by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as its International Advisory Board (IAB). Dr Blix is joined on the IAB by special adviser to France's Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique...

The Bulgarian finance minister Simeon Dyankov has said that he will not authorise a state-guaranteed loan from Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom towards the financing of constructing the Belene nuclear power plant, following last week's negotiations on the deal between the two governments...

A Polish research reactor called Maria is to supply US medical company Covidien with the medical isotope molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) in a deal announced just before the Dutch High Flux Reactor (HFR) reactor shut down for major repairs.

The Russian government is welcoming anticipated talks with the European Union (EU) to negotiate a nuclear partnership agreement that would facilitate nuclear trade and exchange of knowledge on safety issues.

France's Areva has been granted exclusive rights to mine for uranium in the central region of Jordan under an agreement signed with the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission.

Iran is still not providing the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) with the necessary cooperation to confirm that its nuclear activities are purely peaceful. Nor has Syria enabled the agency to resolve issues relating to sites where uranium particles have been found.

Yvo de Boer has announced his resignation as executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention of Climate Change (UNFCCC), with effect from 1 July 2010. The former director general of the Dutch Environment Ministry will be joining consultancy group KPMG as global adviser on climate change...

Studsvik of Sweden has signed a contract with Finland's Teollisuuden Voima Oyj (TVO) for the dismantling and metal recycling of old steam generators from the Olkiluoto nuclear power plant.

The financial liability of Swedish nuclear power reactor owners in the event of an accident would quadruple under a bill introduced by the country's government. The bill would also allow the construction of new reactors in the country.

South Africa has stopped funding the development of the pebble bed modular reactor, leaving the project company looking at 75% cuts in staff.

A survey of US electric power industry leaders by Black & Veatch shows that nuclear energy is widely considered best suited to meet the country's environmental standards while meeting increased electricity demand.

Plans to expand the South Texas Project nuclear power plant appear to be back on track after a legal truce between partners.

A two-part investment strategy announced by Ontario Power Generation will see the refurbishment of the Darlington nuclear power station, while the Pickering B plant will be operated for up to ten more years and then shut down.