Japan's Tohoku Electric Power Company has pushed back the expected completion dates of construction work to bolster safety at unit 2 of its Onagawa nuclear power plant and unit 1 of its Higashidori plant. The work must be completed before the units will be allowed to resume operation.

France's Areva has reached agreements with both Japan Nuclear Fuel Limited (JNFL) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) on the main terms of their respective acquisition of 5% stakes in its nuclear fuel cycle activities. The operations are being split from Areva's reactor business into a new entity, referred to as 'NewCo'.

Cameco announced today that Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings has issued a termination notice for a uranium supply contract with Cameco Inc that it does not accept. "Cameco Inc sees no basis for terminating the contract, considers Tepco to be in default, and will pursue all its legal rights and remedies," the Saskatchewan, Canada-based uranium producer said.

Tepco Holdings has made significant progress in its adoption of a stronger safety culture, an advisory body to the company has said. The Nuclear Reform Monitoring Committee, which has reviewed the company's self-assessment, made several recommendations for further improvement.

Japanese electronics conglomerate Toshiba Corp - owner of Westinghouse and its CB&I Stone & Webster subsidiary - is to review its nuclear reactor construction business outside of Japan, the company's president and CEO has said.

A construction crane collapsed in high winds at Takahama nuclear power plant on 20 January, coming to rest across the reactor and the fuel handling buildings of unit 2. Nobody was injured during the incident, which had no impact on safety within the buildings, according to plant owner Kansai Electric Power Company.

Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority has confirmed that Kyushu Electric's Genkai units 3 and 4 in Saga Prefecture meet new regulatory standards. The Japan Atomic Industry Forum said today that the decision, which Kyushu announced on 18 January, was based on the NRA's approval of a revised review of reactor upgrade plans at the two 1180 MWe pressurized water reactors.

Horizon Nuclear Power - the UK subsidiary of Japan's Hitachi - and NuGeneration - the UK joint venture between Japan's Toshiba and France's Engie - have joined government officials, trade associations, and wider stakeholders during a trade mission to Tokyo this week.

Japan's future use of nuclear energy could be significantly impacted by decisions made this year on restarting reactors and extending the operating periods of its older units, according to the Institute of Energy Economics, Japan. However, it sees nuclear playing an important role in achieving energy security, economy and environmental protection.

Japan needs to work towards bringing its reactors back online if the country is to meet its climate goals, Akio Takahashi, president of the Japan Atomic Industry Forum, said this week. Nuclear energy currently accounts for just 1.1% of Japan's electricity production and commercial operation has been resumed at only three of the country's nuclear power plants - Sendai 1, Sendai 2 and Ikata 3.

Toshiba Corp may have to write off "several billion" dollars because of Westinghouse Electric Company's purchase a year ago of CB&I Stone & Webster (S&W) - a US construction firm that specializes in nuclear power projects. In a statement yesterday, the Japanese electronics conglomerate said it needs to "determine the value" of the possible Westinghouse loss and the impact on Toshiba's financial forecast for 2016 announced last month.

Japan and the UK will expand their existing collaboration in civil nuclear activities - including decommissioning, research and development, and nuclear new build - through a memorandum of cooperation signed yesterday in Tokyo.