Unit 1 of the nuclear power plant under construction in Belarus has achieved first criticality, Russia's Rosatom announced today. The milestone was reached at 2.26am (local time) on 11 October. First criticality, also referred to as the minimum controlled power level, is reached when neutron flux is recorded in a reactor at a level sufficient to sustain a fission chain reaction. It is considered to be the final stage of the physical start-up procedure, and enables personnel to verify whether the physical characteristics of the reactor core comply with the design requirements.

Cold functional testing has been completed at unit 6 of the Tianwan nuclear power plant in China's Jiangsu province, China National Nuclear Corporation has announced. The ACPR1000 reactor is scheduled to enter commercial operation by the end of 2021.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has described his support for the country to expand its use of nuclear power. Zelensky was speaking to reporters during his visit to the Rovno region on 1 October.

The Energy Impact Center has announced the first major update to OPEN100 - the world's first open-source design and implementation platform for a small, standard nuclear power plant. Launched in February 2020, the project aims to offer developers everything from a web interface to visualise plant and component design, costs studies and construction plans.

Rosatom has completed the delivery of steam generators for the Akkuyu 1 and Rooppur 1 units under construction in Turkey and Bangladesh. The equipment was produced by Atommash, part of the Volgodonsk branch of Rosatom’s engineering subsidiary AEM Technology.

A decision on planning consent for the Wylfa Newydd nuclear power plant project on Anglesey that was due to be made yesterday has been delayed until 31 December, as requested by Horizon Nuclear Power, the UK project developer owned by Japan’s Hitachi.

The shareholders of PGE EJ1, the company set up to build and operate Poland's first nuclear power plant, have signed a letter of intent with the State Treasury regarding the acquisition of 100% of its shares. The transaction, if completed, will see the government take full control of PGE EJ1 at the end of the year.

The climate emergency has further boosted Czech support for nuclear energy, Zuzana Krejčiříková, director of public affairs at ČEZ Group, said last week during a webinar hosted by the Expert Group on Resource Management of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. The largely state-run utility's transparent approach to new-build projects has also helped public acceptance of the government's plans to support the expansion of the Dukovany nuclear power plant, she said.

Brussels' wish for ​​a relatively rapid decommissioning of the coal-fired power plants of European Union Member States has the potential to create huge imbalances in Bulgaria's electricity system, writes Borislav Boev, a PhD student at D A Tsenov Academy of Economics.

The development of a national nuclear industry facilitates a country's economic growth while at the same time keeping in harmony with low-carbon and sustainable development, Yaroslav Mozdakov, director for communications and international affairs at Rusatom Energy International, said last week during a webinar hosted by the Expert Group on Resource Management of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. REIN is a subsidiary of Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom.

A ceremony has been held to mark the final official acceptance of unit 4 at the Chashma nuclear power plant in Pakistan's Punjab province. Constructed by China National Nuclear Corporation, the unit is China's fourth overseas nuclear power unit.

The Netherlands is considering the expansion of nuclear power in its energy mix, according to a letter Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Policy Eric Wiebes submitted to the Dutch parliament last week, together with a report by consultants Enco. The cabinet will now prepare a motion requesting that the country holds a market consultation to assess commercial interest in nuclear new build.