The first Indian-designed 700 MWe pressurised heavy water reactor has begun commercial operation in Gujurat - almost three years after reaching first criticality.

The International Atomic Energy Agency has reported that the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has been reconnected to a back-up power line which has been down since 1 March.

French utility Engie and the Belgian federal government have signed an interim agreement defining the terms for the extended operation of the Doel 4 and Tihange 3 nuclear power units by ten years. A final agreement is expected next month.

An International Atomic Energy Agency team has conducted a Safety Aspects of Long Term Operation follow-up review mission to Bulgaria's Kozloduy nuclear power plant and concluded "the operator has completed all major actions to safely operate the reactors in the LTO period".

International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said it was important to "see with my own eyes" the water supply situation at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant after leading the latest rotation of agency experts to the plant where they will be stationed.

The International Atomic Energy Agency says the impact of the damage to the dam on cooling water supplies to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is being monitored but alternative sources of water on-site should provide sufficient water for cooling "for some months" and means "our current assessment is that there is no immediate risk to the safety of the plant".

The VR-2 research reactor, construction of which began last year, has entered operation at the Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering at the Czech Technical University in Prague. The reactor will mainly be used for teaching nuclear engineering students.

Canada's Ontario Power Generation will provide operator services to Poland's Orlen Synthos Green Energy under a letter of intent signed between the partners, extending their existing cooperation on the deployment of small modular reactors.

The Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority has granted an operating licence for unit 3 of the Karachi nuclear power plant, the second of two Chinese-supplied Hualong One reactors at the site.

A life-size mock-up of the reactor and special tools have been designed and built ahead of the repair procedure which the operating company hopes will take place next month at Argentina's Atucha II nuclear power unit.

Fuel loading has been completed at Bruce 6, keeping the project on track to resume operation later this year. Meanwhile, Canada's nuclear regulator has given the go-ahead for Ontario Power Generation to restart Darlington 3.

International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi says agreement on protecting the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is needed urgently, saying "this situation cannot continue" after its link to external power supplies was lost for most of the morning on Monday and it was forced to rely on emergency diesel generators for a seventh occasion.