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16 - 22 February 2010
| NEW NUCLEAR: |
| Russia pressures Bulgaria on Belene loan |
| The Bulgarian finance minister said he will not authorize a state-guaranteed loan from Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom towards the financing of constructing the Belene nuclear power plant, following last week's negotiations on the deal between the two governments. |
| 17 February 2010 |
| American new build has taken a huge boost from the first loan guarantee announcement. Two new reactors at the Vogtle site in Georgia now look likely, while President Barack Obama said, "This is just the beginning." |
| 16 February 2010 |
| Testing of the leak-tight enclosure system at Iran's new Bushehr nuclear power plant has been completed, the reactor's Russian builder AtomStroyExport has announced. |
| WASTE & RECYCLING: |
| 19 February 2010 |
| Studsvik of Sweden has signed a contract with Finland's Teollisuuden Voima Oyj (TVO) for the dismantling and metal recycling of old heat exchangers from the Olkiluoto nuclear power plant. |
| 16 February 2010 |
| The closure of the last functioning reactor at Lithuania's Ignalina nuclear power plant on 31 December 2009 has laid focus on the daunting decommissioning process currently underway with the help of several international agencies. |
| NUCLEAR POLICIES: |
| 22 February 2010 |
| The Russian government is welcoming anticipated talks with the European Union (EU) to negotiate a nuclear partnership agreement that would facilitate nuclear trade and exchange of knowledge on safety issues. |
| 19 February 2010 |
| Iran is still not providing the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) with the necessary cooperation to confirm that its nuclear activities are purely peaceful. Nor has Syria enabled the agency to resolve issues relating to sites where uranium particles have been found. |
| 19 February 2010 |
| The financial liability of Swedish nuclear power reactor owners in the event of an accident would quadruple under a bill introduced by the country's government. The bill would also allow the construction of new reactors in the country. |
| 18 February 2010 |
| A survey of US electric power industry leaders by Black & Veatch shows that nuclear energy is widely considered best suited to meet the country's environmental standards while meeting increased electricity demand. |
| REGULATION & SAFETY: |
| HFR shuts as Maria joins isotope supply chain |
| 22 February 2010 |
| A Polish research reactor called Maria is to supply US medical company Covidien with the medical isotope molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) in a deal announced just before the High Flux Reactor (HFR) reactor in the Netherlands shut down for major repairs. |
| Questions on AP1000 structures |
| 17 February 2010 |
| UK regulators have warned that they need more information from Westinghouse on the AP1000 reactor before it can be certified for build. |
| Bruce Power looks into contamination |
| 17 February 2010 |
| Analysis is under way into contamination at Bruce A nuclear power plant which could have affected up to 217 workers. |
| CORPORATE: |
| PBMR facing massive cuts |
| 18 February 2010 |
| South Africa has stopped funding the development of the pebble bed modular reactor, leaving the project company looking at 75% cuts in staff. |
| Resolution on Texas nuclear development |
| 18 February 2010 |
| Plans to expand the South Texas Project nuclear power plant appear to be back on track after a legal truce between partners. |
| 17 February 2010 |
| A two-part investment strategy announced by Ontario Power Generation (OPG) will see the refurbishment of the Darlington nuclear power station, while the Pickering B plant will be operated for up to ten more years and then shut down. |
| First Uranium tightens belt in financial storm |
| 16 February 2010 |
| Funding is becoming a critical issue for Toronto-based First Uranium after slower than anticipated mine production and changing uncertainties over environmental authorization at its South African sites led to year-to-date losses for the company. |
| EXPLORATION & NUCLEAR FUEL: |
| Areva granted uranium mining rights in Jordan |
| 22 February 2010 |
| France's Areva has been granted exclusive rights to mine for uranium in the central region of Jordan under an agreement signed with the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC). |
| Mitsubishi takes stake in Canadian uranium project |
| 16 February 2010 |
| Japan's Mitsubishi Corp has completed its acquisition of a 50% stake in CanAlaska's West McArthur uranium project in Saskatchewan, Canada. |
| INDUSTRY TALK: |
| UN climate chief resigns |
| 19 February 2010 |
| Yvo de Boer has announced his resignation as executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention of Climate Change (UNFCCC), with effect from 1 July 2010. |
