Regulators have concluded that Westinghouse's AP1000 nuclear reactor design is suitable for construction in the UK. The Office for Nuclear Regulation, the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales - which undertake the Generic Design Assessment of new reactor designs - are "satisfied that the reactor meets expectations on safety, security and environmental protection at this stage of the regulatory process".

The UK's Office for Nuclear Regulation has granted its first consent for the start of construction of a nuclear power plant at Hinkley Point C. The consent covers the placement of the structural concrete for the first nuclear safety-related structure at the site. It does not give consent for all elements of construction.

UK regulators expect to complete the Generic Design Assessment of the AP1000 and the UK Advanced Boiling Water Reactor (UK ABWR) in March and December this year, respectively. They have also reported the start of the GDA of the UK HPR1000, which they expect to complete in 2021.

Queen Elizabeth II has given Royal Assent to the Brexit bill, clearing the way for Prime Minister Theresa May to start talks to leave the European Union. 

GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy and Advanced Reactor Concepts have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on the development and licensing of a small modular reactor. Each company has so far been developing its own sodium-cooled fast reactor models.

The U-Battery consortium, led by Urenco, has registered its micro-modular reactor technology for pre-licensing vendor design review with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC).

The UK's Office for Nuclear Regulation has published its assessment of the Periodic Safety Review for Hunterston B in Ayrshire and Hinkley Point B in Somerset, alongside an update of EDF Energy Nuclear Generation's revised graphite core safety case. Hunterston B and Hinkley Point B are Advanced Gas-cooled Reactors that both started up in 1976 and are scheduled to close in 2023.

The continued operation of the Loviisa nuclear power plant is safe and meets legal requirements, the Finnish Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority has concluded following a review of operator Fortum's first periodic safety assessment of the two-unit plant.

LeadCold, the lead-cooled small nuclear reactor technology company, has said licensing and construction of a demonstration SEALER (Swedish Advanced Lead Fast Reactor) in Canada has moved a step closer thanks to $200 million in funding from Essel Group Middle East.

Terrestrial Energy USA announced today it had informed the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission of its plans to license a small modular reactor in the USA. Terrestrial said it intends to start "pre-application interactions" with the regulator this year and to make its licensing application in late 2019.

Unit 2 of the Kudankulam nuclear power plant in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu has for the first time reached 100% of its operating capacity. ASE Group said yesterday the milestone had been achieved during the night of 22 January, following the successful completion of physical tests at the 90% capacity level and the relevant permission from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Body of India had been received.

The Barakah nuclear power plant has received licences to transport, handle and store nuclear fuel from the United Arab Emirates' Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR). The licences are a milestone towards the loading of fuel into the country's first nuclear power plant.