The attorney general of the state of Massachusetts has filed an appeal with a US court against the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC's) decision to relicense the Pilgrim nuclear power plant. Meanwhile, environmental groups are calling on the NRC to delay final reactor licensing decisions until it has studied the environmental impacts of its policy for on-site used fuel storage.
The construction of the United Arab Emirates' first nuclear power plant has received approval from Abu Dhabi's environmental regulator. A construction licence is still required before building can actually begin at the Braka site.
Nuclear plant operator Electrabel has reacted with dismay to a government announcement that two of the country's seven nuclear units will not get a previously promised ten-year licence extension.
NuStart Energy Development has announced that it is to disband now that it has achieved its twin objectives of obtaining a construction and operating licence for a new reactor in the USA and completing the design engineering for Westinghouse AP1000 reactor technology.
China took a step towards full resumption of its nuclear power program with preliminary approval for a post-Fukushima nuclear safety plan.
Areva's EPR reactor is unlikely to receive design certification by the US nuclear regulator before the end of 2014, the agency has told the reactor vendor. Design certification for the EPR had earlier been targeted for June 2013.
The operating licence for Energy Northwest's Columbia Generating Station in Washington state has been extended for a further 20 years by the US nuclear regulator.