Fukui’s push for reactor restarts reflects local economy’s reliance on nuclear power

Fukui Gov. Issei Nishikawa’s decision on Monday to give the go-ahead to restarting two reactors at the Oi nuclear plant highlights the local economy’s dependence on nuclear power, even 6½ years after the March 2011 Fukushima disaster. At a news conference, Nishikawa offered what he sees as the merits of a restart, saying the plant …

Russian and Brazilian firms to cooperate in nuclear power

Russia’s Rosatom has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Brazilian companies Centrais Elétricas Brasileiras (Eletrobras) and Eletrobras Termonuclear SA (Eletronuclear) to promote cooperation in nuclear power. It includes the possible construction of a new nuclear power plant in Brazil, Rosatom said. The MoU also covers services, including operation, maintenance and decommissioning work; nuclear fuel …

UK Industrial Strategy highlights ‘vital part’ of nuclear power

The nuclear sector is “integral to increasing productivity and driving growth” in the UK, according to the government’s Industrial Strategy White Paper launched today. In the UK, a White Paper is a government report giving information or proposals on an issue. Unveiling the White Paper, Business Secretary Greg Clark said the strategy sets out a …

Egypt’s parliament approves laws creating nuclear power regulatory bodies

Egypt’s House of Representatives approved three laws on Monday which allow for the creation of two regulatory bodies on nuclear power, paving the way for the construction of Egypt’s first nuclear power plant to generate electricity at El-Dabaa. The approval came after a five-hour marathon of debate in an urgent plenary meeting. At the start …

Fukui gives OK to restart of Japan’s Kansai Electric’s Oi nuclear plant

FUKUI–Kansai Electric Power Co. has cleared all hurdles toward restarting two reactors at its Oi nuclear power plant early next year after gaining the consent of the prefectural governor here Nov. 27. The utility plans to resume operations of the No. 3 and No. 4 reactors in January and March, respectively. “I have agreed to …

Pakistan, China agree to build Chashma 5

China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) and the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) have signed a cooperation agreement on the construction of a HPR1000 Hualong One reactor at the Chashma nuclear power plant. “According to the agreement, CNNC will build a one-million-kilowatt-class nuclear power unit with HPR1000 technology at the Chashma Nuclear Power Plant in Pakistan,” …