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More materials irregularities found in France
02 September, 2019
EDF has found more than 200 irregularities in materials supplied by the alloys division of French mining and metallurgical company Eramet for its NPPs.

Investment for Russian NPPs agreed
22 August, 2019
Russian nuclear utility Rosenergoatom (part of state nuclear corporation Rosatom) will be able to spend up to RUB880 billion ($13.5bn) for the construction of new nuclear power units up to 2035, according to preliminary calculations approved by the Ministry of Energy, Komersant reported on 8 August, citing sources familiar with the discussions. Initially Rosatom had asked for finance from the wholesale energy market of RUB1,160bn, which it planned to invest in the construction of two new VVER-1200 reactors (new VVER-TOI design) at Kursk II NPP (already under construction, commissioning in 2021 and 2025), two VVER-1200s for the third and fourth units at Leningrad II NPP, and a BN-1200 fast neutron reactor at the Beloyarsk NPP (commissioning period 2031–2035, for which a feasibility study is underway). The VVER-1200s will replace the RBMK reactors now reaching the end of their design life. However, construction of the BN-1200 may now be postponed to from 2027 to 2036 to reduce energy market spending, Kommersant’s sources said.

Iran loses patience
16 July, 2019
Iran is enriching uranium to 4.5% fissile purity, above the 3.67% limit set by the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) told member states in a closed-door meeting on 10 July, Reuters reported citing three diplomats. The IAEA also said Iran’s stock of enriched uranium was now 213.5kg, over the deal’s 202.8kg limit, and more than the 205kg verified on 1 July.

The lingering ghost of Chernobyl
09 July, 2019
Thirty-three years on as the tales of Chernobyl are being told to a new, younger audience, John Lindberg calls on the nuclear sector to start talking about radiation.

A new wipe test methodology
28 May, 2019
Double sided adhesive tapes have been used instead of wipe pads in two radioactive treatment centres to check containers and drums for surface contamination. Marina Sokcic-Kostic, Frank Scheuermann and Christoph Klein introduce the new approach.

Serious nuclear safety violation under investigation in South Korea
24 May, 2019
South Korea's Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) said on 20 May that it will expand its special investigation into the manual shutdown of the Hanbit 1 reactor earlier this month, in view of concerns that it may have been triggered by a violation of safety protocol. On 10 May, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) carried out a diagnostic test on the effectiveness of control rods, during which the reactor's power output surged 18% exceeding the 5% upper limit range. Instead of shutting down the reactor immediately, it was almost 12 hours before the unit was taken off line, NSSC said. Initial investigations showed that a member of staff who was not licensed to handle the control rods had managed the critical component that regulates the fission reaction in reactors.

Look North: Small is beautiful
03 April, 2019
Rumyana Vakarelska reports from the Nordic Nuclear Forum, where small modular reactors were a focus of discussion.

China signs agreement for nuclear heating demonstration project
14 March, 2019
China's State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC) on 27 February signed a cooperation agreement with the municipal government of the city of Baishan in Jilin province for the Baishan Nuclear Energy Heating Demonstration Project,

Atomic education
20 February, 2019
From the early days, the UK has been at the forefront of nuclear science and technology. Paul Norman, director of the UK’s longest-running nuclear degree programme, looks at how the industry and higher education have evolved.

A Brexit blindspot: US retransfer consent rights?
08 February, 2019
James Glasgow, Meghan Hammond and Ruthanne Neely from Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pitman, identify potential obstacles concerning the retransfer of nuclear materials and components between the UK and Euratom countries