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Conversion plant will be kept offline
Conversion plant will be kept offline

An order by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has reinforced a voluntary commitment by Honeywell to keep the Metropolis uranium conversion plant offline until post-Fukushima safety improvements are complete.

Regulation & Safety · Wednesday, 17 October 2012
New reactors still in Chugoku's plans
New reactors still in Chugoku's plans
Chugoku Electric Power Co requested an extension to its licence for carrying out groundwork at the site of its planned Kaminoseki nuclear power plant in Yamaguchi prefecture. Although rejected, the move suggests the company still hopes to move forward with the project, despite the Japanese government recently saying that no new nuclear power plant construction projects would be approved.
New Nuclear · Tuesday, 9 October 2012
Confusion over reactor restart approvals
Confusion over reactor restart approvals
Japan's newly established Nuclear Regulation Authority aims to have a new safety legal framework in place by July 2013 to enable the country's idled nuclear power reactors to restart. However, it is currently unclear who will ultimately be responsible for authorizing restarts.
Regulation & Safety · Friday, 5 October 2012
Stress tests show room for EU improvement
Stress tests show room for EU improvement
Safety is generally good at Europe's nuclear power plants although nearly all need to make some improvements, according to the European Commission's formally released findings on the results of stress tests. Some regulators are not entirely happy with the way the Commission has drawn its conclusions.
Regulation & Safety · Friday, 5 October 2012
Leaked report sparks stress test debate
Leaked report sparks stress test debate
A leaked copy of the European Commission's draft report on the findings from stress tests at all of Europe's nuclear power plants has sparked widespread media coverage.
Regulation & Safety · Tuesday, 2 October 2012
Construction of Japanese reactor to resume
Construction of Japanese reactor to resume
Ohma 48The Japan Electric Power Development Corp (J-Power) will resume construction of the Ohma nuclear power plant in Aomori prefecture. It will be the first Japanese nuclear construction project to restart since all such projects were suspended following the Fukushima accident.
New Nuclear · Monday, 1 October 2012
Swiss energy strategy relies on imports and gas
Swiss energy strategy relies on imports and gas
Residents will see their electricity costs rise as Switzerland makes more use of fossil fuels on its way to phasing out nuclear power under the country's proposed new energy strategy.
Nuclear Policies · Monday, 1 October 2012
New team for nuclear startup reviews
New team for nuclear startup reviews
An industry team that will review safety of new nuclear power plants before they start up has been assembled by the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) at a new office in Hong Kong.
Regulation & Safety · Tuesday, 25 September 2012
Japan puts off nuclear policy commitment
Japan puts off nuclear policy commitment

The Japanese government has already stalled on its nuclear phase-out policy, with prime minister Yoshihiko Noda explaining that 'flexibility' remains important when facing 'a variety of uncertainties.'

Nuclear Policies · Wednesday, 19 September 2012
New Japanese regulator takes over
New Japanese regulator takes over
New Japanese regulators at Fukushima 48A new nuclear regulatory regime came into force in Japan today. The Nuclear Regulation Authority has been created in response to shortcomings identified in the country's previous regulatory structure after the Fukushima accident.
Regulation & Safety · Wednesday, 19 September 2012
Stronger ties join IAEA and WANO
Stronger ties join IAEA and WANO
IAEA-WANO MOU (Dean Calma/IAEA)_48Two organizations dedicated to cooperation in the use of nuclear energy have agreed to work more closely together to support the safe and reliable operation of nuclear power plants worldwide.
Regulation & Safety · Tuesday, 18 September 2012
'Innovative' strategy to end Japanese nuclear
'Innovative' strategy to end Japanese nuclear
Yoshihiko_Noda_14_September_2012_(x48).jpgJapan has confirmed a goal of ending nuclear power generation in the 2030s. The new strategy is based on respect for the will of the Japanese people, but slashes environmental targets to perhaps as little as a 10% reduction in CO2 by 2030.
Nuclear Policies · Friday, 14 September 2012
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