| ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT: |
| UK needs massive energy program, says academy |
| 18 March 2010 |
| The UK needs to exploit its renewable energy resources to the maximum to meet future energy demand and reduce carbon emissions - and will still need to build up to 80, new nuclear or other low-carbon baseload power stations. |
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| NEW NUCLEAR: |
| Training support for emerging nuclear energy nations |
| 22 March 2010 |
| While US organizations have agreed to help the United Arab Emirates establish an institute for training its nuclear energy workers, Russia has signed an agreement to help Vietnam train its nuclear workforce. |
| Grid connection for new Russian reactor |
| 18 March 2010 |
| The second reactor at Russia's Volgodonsk nuclear power plant was today synchronized with the regional electricity grid, having reached 35% of its generating capacity. The unit is set to start commercial operation later this year. |
| Nuclear press confirmed for Sheffield Forgemasters |
| 17 March 2010 |
| A UK manufacturer will be able to supply ultra-heavy forgings for nuclear power plants after a strategic government loan announced today. Sheffield Forgemasters said it could supply pressure vessels within three years of installing the press. |
| USEC reaches American Centrifuge milestone |
| 17 March 2010 |
| USEC is operating a cascade of AC100 centrifuge machines in a commercial configuration at its Piketon, Ohio, plant. The company hopes that reaching the milestone will improve its chances of receiving a loan guarantee. |
| Poland's nuclear site study |
| 16 March 2010 |
| A nationwide survey has selected Poland's best sites for nuclear power plants, two of which are planned for 2020. |
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| WASTE & RECYCLING: |
| Exploration to resume at German repository site |
| 22 March 2010 |
| German federal environment minister Norbert Röttgen has lifted a 10-year moratorium on exploratory work at the Gorleben salt dome, a potential repository for Germany's radioactive waste. |
| Jordan opens storage facility |
| 22 March 2010 |
| Jordan has inaugurated a national interim storage facility for the country's radioactive waste and nuclear materials. The facility was partly funded by the US Department of Energy. |
| Britain looks for reprocessing strategy |
| 18 March 2010 |
| The UK has begun to weigh up its options with respect to reprocessing or directly disposing of used nuclear fuel as its main reprocessing plant ages. |
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| NUCLEAR POLICIES: |
| Conservatives want carbon reform |
| 19 March 2010 |
| Just weeks ahead of a general election the UK's opposition party has released its energy manifesto, promising support for nuclear power and reformed carbon regulation. The green paper was applauded by industry. |
| Majority of Swedes support nuclear energy |
| 17 March 2010 |
| Over half of Swedes think that the country should continue to use nuclear power plants and that Sweden's existing reactors should be replaced with new ones, a new opinion poll has found. |
| Illinois Senate votes to overturn nuclear ban |
| 16 March 2010 |
| The Illinois state Senate has voted overwhelmingly to remove a 23-year-old moratorium on the construction of new nuclear power plants in the state. However, the bill stills need to be approved by the House. |
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| REGULATION & SAFETY: |
| One Bruce worker 'potentially' over dose limit |
| 22 March 2010 |
| One of the workers exposed to contamination during refurbishment of Canada's Bruce A nuclear power plant in November could potentially exceed the annual regulatory dose limit. |
| New York considers cooling tower requirement |
| 19 March 2010 |
| New York state has followed neighbouring New Jersey in introducing draft policy requiring certain industrial facilities to construct cooling towers. The move could cost nuclear operators in the state over $2 billion to comply. |
| NRC team to inspect cracks at Davis-Besse |
| 18 March 2010 |
| The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has dispatched a special inspection team to investigate cracks discovered in the reactor vessel head at the Davis-Besse nuclear plant in Ohio. |
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| CORPORATE: |
| New member for UK manufacturing centre |
| 16 March 2010 |
| Sheffield-based DavyMarkham has become the first company to join the second membership tier of the UK's Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre. |
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| INDUSTRY TALK: |
| Powers at odds on Bushehr |
| 19 March 2010 |
| While Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant continues long-running commissioning tests, the USA and Russia have clashed on whether the plant should start up at all. |
| Swedish parliament to vote on nuclear bills as one |
| 19 March 2010 |
| The Swedish parliament has decided to consider two separate nuclear energy-related bills introduced last month by the government as a single bill, the Stockholm News reported. The first bill would allow the construction of new reactors to replace Sweden's ten existing units, while the second would quadruple the financial liability of nuclear power reactor owners in the event of an accident. |
