Russia, Uzbekistan Sign Nuclear-Cooperation Agreement

Russia’s Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation and Uzbekistan have signed a nuclear-cooperation agreement that Rosatom says will pave the way for bilateral cooperation “in many aspects of civil nuclear energy.” Rosatom said the agreement was signed on December 29 by its Director-General Aleksei Likhachyov and Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister Nodir Otajonov. “The collaboration could include …

IAEA Highlights and Achievements in 2017 – A Year in Review

Two ministerial conferences, over 50 review missions and several new partnerships to advance the use of nuclear techniques for sustainable development were among the highlights of 2017 at the IAEA. This article summarizes some of the key achievements of the year. IAEA 60th anniversary year The new donor wall, unveiled at the IAEA’s 61st General Conference, …

Russian factory launches new centrifuges for uranium enrichment

YEKATERINBURG, December 28. /TASS/. New-generation gas centrifuge for uranium enrichment came on stream at the Urals Electrochemical Factory [Novouralsk, Sverdlovsk region] on Thursday, the press service of the factory told TASS. “The enterprise successfully launched five sections of a technological unit equipped with ninth-generation gas centrifuges,” the report said. According to Mikhail Denisov, the chief of …

French, Japanese concerns to buy Areva’s reactor-building unit

PARIS — A trio of French and Japanese companies will acquire the mainstay reactor-construction business of struggling French nuclear group Areva, while its nuclear fuel unit turns to Asia to stabilize shaky profits. Areva suffered net losses for six straight years through 2016, stemming mainly from delays on a power plant project in Finland. As …

Kansai Electric to scrap two reactors in latest blow for Japan’s nuclear sector

TOKYO (Reuters) – Kansai Electric Power Co said on Friday it will decommission two 38-year-old reactors at its Ohi nuclear plant as Japan’s electricity industry struggles to cope with new safety standards imposed after the 2011 Fukushima disaster. The widely expected announcement brings to 14 the number of reactors being scrapped since the meltdowns at …

Russia to Develop Nuclear Power Plant Project in Sudan 

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russia and Sudan have signed an agreement to construct a nuclear power plant in the North African country, Russia’s Rosatom said Friday. The agreement was signed by Rosatom’s subsidiary Rusatom Overseas and the Sudanese Ministry of Water Resources, Irrigation and Electricity. As part of the feasibility study of the NPP construction project, the site will be selected and …

Georgia PSC votes to continue construction at Plant Vogtle

Georgia’s Public Service Commission has voted unanimously to allow continued construction of two nuclear reactors at Georgia Power’s embattled Plant Vogtle, which is billions of dollars over budget and years behind schedule. Commission chair Stan Wise said the decision came down to the importance of fuel diversity and the long term benefits the projecct would …