The process of loading fuel assemblies into the reactor core of unit 2 at the Fangjiashan plant in China's Zhejiang province has begun. The unit is expected to enter commercial operation next year.

The Finnish parliament today voted in favour of Fennovoima's supplement to the decision in principle regarding the construction of a new nuclear power plant in Pyhäjoki, Finland. The vote was carried by 115 to 74.

Chinese and South African parties have signed several nuclear accords including a memorandum of understanding on a nuclear fuel cycle partnership, a financing framework agreement for the construction of a new nuclear power plant in South Africa, and an agreement on nuclear personnel training.

Support for the construction of new nuclear power plants in the UK has grown by more than 10% over the past decade, with 45% of people now approving the building of new reactors, according to the latest Nuclear Industry Association poll.

Fortum would be ready to participate with a minority - maximum 15% - stake in the Fennovoima nuclear power plant project, provided that Fortum obtains a 75% or more ownership in the hydro assets of Russian territorial generating company TGC-1, the Finnish power producer said in a stock exchange release today.

The UK government has signed a cooperation agreement with NuGen "to promote external financing" for the Moorside nuclear power plant in Cumbria.

The reactor pressure vessel head assembly has been delivered for the second AP1000 unit under construction at the Sanmen plant in China's Zhejiang province.

The Commerce Committee of the Parliament of Finland has given its approval to Fennovoima's plans to build a Rosatom reactor at Hanhikvi. The Finnish government is to take a final vote on an amended decision-in-principle in a plenary session on 5 December.

Horizon Nuclear Power has signed an agreement with the UK nuclear regulator which paves the way for it to begin buying long-lead components for the planned Wylfa Newydd plant.

The training of staff to operate the two EPR units under construction at Taishan in China can now start following the commissioning of a full-scope simulator there.

Westinghouse Electric Company, China's State Nuclear Power Technology Corporation and Turkish power company Elektrik Üretim AŞ have signed an agreement to begin exclusive negotiations to develop and construct a four-unit nuclear power plant in Turkey.

Vietnamese officials have chosen Rosatom's AES-2006 design for the country's first nuclear power plant at Ninh Thuan, increasing the planned capacity of the four unit plant by about 800 MWe. A second plant should follow based on a partnership with Japan.