July, 2012

The Chicago Bridge & Iron Company (CB&I) is to acquire Shaw Group in a transaction worth an estimated $3 billion. CB&I Shaw will become one of the world's largest energy industry engineering and construction companies. ...read more

South Korea's development of its nuclear energy program continues apace, with first concrete being poured for unit 1 of the Shin Ulchin plant, while unit 1 at the Shin Wolsong plant has entered commercial operation. ...read more

EnBW has made clear that it supports the legal action made by other utilities against Germany's nuclear policy but that it is unable to contest the matter due to being publicly owned. ...read more

Work to bolster tsunami and flood protection at the Hamaoka nuclear power plant in Japan will not be completed until the end of 2013, Chubu Electric Power Company has announced. The plant will remain offline until it has strengthened its sea defences. ...read more

China Nuclear Power Engineering Company (CNPEC) has signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate with ONET Technologies of France in a number of fields related to nuclear power plant construction, operation and decommissioning. ...read more

Nuclear regulators have instructed licensees of US nuclear power plants to provide information about the designs of their electric power systems after an incident earlier this year revealed a potential weak spot. ...read more

Areva has raised its forecast for 2012 after reporting first-half earnings higher than previously expected, partly due to increased revenue in its nuclear business and the effects of restructuring its operations. ...read more

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is sending a team of experts to the Onagawa nuclear power plant in northeastern Japan to study the impact of the massive earthquake and tsunami of 11 March 2011 on the plant's structures and systems. ...read more

A Peruvian radiographer has lost part of a finger after working with an unshielded iridium-192 source. The event is classified a 'serious incident' at Level 3 on the International Nuclear Event Scale. ...read more

A new era of space exploration is dawning through the application of nuclear energy for rovers on Mars and the Moon, power generation at future bases on the surfaces of both and soon for rockets that enable interplanetary travel. ...read more

World uranium resources are ample to meet requirements for the foreseeable future but timely investment in facilities will be needed to make sure production keeps pace with growing demand, according to a new edition of the flagship Red Book. ...read more

Unit 2 at EDF's Bugey nuclear power plant is capable of operating for a further ten years, France's nuclear regulator has concluded after the unit's third ten-year safety inspection. A final decision on its continued operation is expected before the end of the year. ...read more

Two minor contamination incidents have taken place at India's Rajasthan nuclear power plant, both due to tritium exposure during maintenance. All the personnel involved continue to work at the plant, all but two in their normal duties. ...read more

Areva is boosting its US capabilities by building a new technical centre and by forming an alliance with Northrop Grumman to provide cybersecurity support for nuclear facilities. ...read more

Ansaldo Nucleare remains among the targets of an Italian anarchist group, with threats to a former senior staff member coming after an attack on the company's CEO in May. ...read more

Westinghouse will prepare detailed construction plans and cost estimates for two potential AP1000 reactors at Ontario Power Generation's Darlington site. ...read more

Canadian regulators have authorised the restart of the Point Lepreau nuclear power station at low power. The announcement comes days after Bruce A1, also undergoing major refurbishment, received permission to restart. ...read more

Disputes over a venture to revive uranium mining in Spain have been resolved with an agreement that sees Berkeley Resources waive its rights to mine in reserves where Enusa has already begun rehabilitation. In exchange, Berkeley will hold full exploitation rights in other reserves. ...read more

Bruce A's unit 1 can restart following refurbishment, Canadian nuclear regulators have ruled. The reactor has been out of service since 1997. ...read more

Canadian mining companies can now sell more uranium to China after diplomats from both countries met in Beijing to sign a new protocol. ...read more

The Belgian government has announced the complete schedule for the forced closure of the country's nuclear power plants, claiming that the move will "create a favourable investment climate" to replace the 50% of domestic power supply that stands to be lost. ...read more

Japan's nuclear debate has intensified considerably with the restart of reactors. Weekly protests at the prime minister's residence have been supplemented by the biggest rally so far and a huge petition. ...read more

A regulatory investigation team has pointed at "faulty computer modelling" and "manufacturing issues" as contributing factors to the rapid deterioration of steam generator tubing at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS). ...read more

South Korea's newest nuclear power unit has entered commercial operation. The country now has 22 large reactors that together supply about one third of its electricity. ...read more

A facility built to evaluate the design and performance of Babcock and Wilcox's mPower small modular reactor has now reached "full reactor operating pressure and temperature conditions." ...read more