The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has proposed a reduction in the frequency and scope of inspections at the country's more than 90 nuclear power units to help reduce costs and improve efficiency. In response, the Nuclear Energy Institute said "smarter regulations" can help nuclear plant owners and operators allocate time and resources to areas that most impact safety.

Foratom, the European nuclear trade body, has highlighted the importance of long-term operation of the existing fleet of nuclear power plants in a position paper published on 10 July. Ensuring the LTO of the European nuclear fleet will help Europe achieve its climate goals at an affordable cost, it says.

Holtec International has fabricated and delivered six high-density used fuel racks and associated ancillary equipment to Duke Energy's Shearon Harris plant ahead of schedule.

The United Arab Emirates' Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation has officially certified Nawah Energy's first group of operators for the Barakah nuclear power plant. Certification of operators is a key requirement for the issue of the plant's operating licence.

Rolls-Royce and Analysis and Measurement Services Corporation have signed a partnership agreement to provide advanced Instrumentation and Control system testing services to the nuclear energy market. 

Belgium will need more capacity than previously forecast to cope with its planned nuclear exit and is not yet ready for any scenario, a new report by Belgian grid operator Elia has found. Meanwhile, a team of experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency has completed a review on the long-term operation of two of the country's nuclear power plants.

Unit 2 of the Taishan nuclear power plant in China's Guangdong province has been connected to the electricity grid, becoming the second EPR reactor to reach the commissioning milestone after Taishan 1. Unit 2 is expected to enter commercial operation later this year.

GE Steam Power is to continue providing full maintenance services on two turbine islands at the Cernavoda nuclear power plant in Romania under a newly announced USD120 million multi-year agreement with Societatea Nationala Nuclearelectrica. Meanwhile, work has begun at GE's Belfort site to manufacture the first Arabelle steam turbine for Turkey's Akkuyu nuclear power plant.
 

Units 1 and 2 of the Forsmark nuclear power plant can be operated safely for a further 10 years, until 2028, taking them beyond their initial 40-year planned operation, the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority said yesterday.

Nawah Energy Company - which will operate the UAE's first nuclear power plant at Barakah - has today signed a long-term maintenance services agreement with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, supported by Kepco Plant Service & Engineering. It has also signed a five-year maintenance service agreement with Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction.

An International Atomic Energy Agency team of experts yesterday completed a review of long-term operational safety at units 1 and 2 of Sweden's Forsmark nuclear power plant. The team assessed the plant's preparedness, organisation and programmes related to long-term operation against IAEA safety standards.

France's Framatome has launched a range of new protective coatings that it says can reduce maintenance costs and extend the operating life of components and equipment used in nuclear power plants. The first application of this technology has been at Dominion Energy's Surry plant in the US state of Virginia.