| NEW NUCLEAR: |
| Second EDF contract for UK architect |
| 12 March 2010 |
| London-based YRM has been awarded a contract by EDF Energy to act as overall architect for the planned new Sizewell C nuclear power plant in Suffolk, UK. The contract follows an earlier one for work on the new Hinkley Point C plant. |
| European nuclear safety training institute |
| 11 March 2010 |
| Four national technical safety organizations have announced the creation of a European Nuclear Safety Training and Tutoring Institute (ENSTTI) to help strengthen European research and assessment know-how in the fields of nuclear safety and radiation protection. |
| MidAmerican nuclear study fee clears Iowa Senate |
| 10 March 2010 |
| The Iowa state Senate has voted to allow utility MidAmerican Energy to increase electric consumer rates so that it can study the feasibility of constructing a nuclear power plant. |
| Teams compete for NGNP design |
| 9 March 2010 |
| The USA has asked for more reactor design work from two technology teams led by General Atomics and Westinghouse. One of the designs could be picked for construction as the Next Generation Nuclear Plant (NGNP). |
| |
| WASTE & RECYCLING: |
| High-level waste returned to Japan |
| 10 March 2010 |
| The first consignment of solid high-level waste belonging to Sellafield's Japanese customers has safely arrived in Japan from the UK following a journey by ship of over six weeks. The waste arose from the reprocessing of those customers' used nuclear fuel at Sellafield. |
| |
| NUCLEAR POLICIES: |
| Nuclear 'roadmap' in latest Russia-India accords |
| 15 March 2010 |
| New agreements between Russia and India include a new cooperation agreement on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and a roadmap for this year's work by the two countries. Meanwhile, the Indian government has deferred a bill that could be vital to opening nuclear trade with the USA. |
| IAEA sets target on delay and denial |
| 12 March 2010 |
| The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has set a target of reducing delays and denials of shipment of radioactive material to "an insignificant level" by 2013. |
| Now Turkey for South Korean nuclear exports |
| 11 March 2010 |
| South Korea's ascent to the top level of nuclear nations has continued with prospective cooperation with Turkey and fresh determination to introduce reprocessing. However, political and commercial hurdles remain. |
| Siting guidelines for Italy |
| 10 March 2010 |
| The new guidelines for the localization of nuclear power plants in Italy were issued while the country's energy leaders attended a Paris meeting on nuclear power. |
| Swiss canton launches first consultation |
| 9 March 2010 |
| The Swiss canton of Aargau has launched a consultation on its structural masterplan in preparation for a possible new reactor at the Beznau power station. Meanwhile, operators of the existing reactors are to benefit from a simulator upgrade. |
| |
| CORPORATE: |
| Ansto bolsters research collaboration |
| 15 March 2010 |
| The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization (Ansto) has widened its nuclear research cooperation with the French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), as well as signing an agreement with an Australian university to conduct research into the storage of radioactive waste. |
| Chinese projects place orders |
| 11 March 2010 |
| Orders for waste management systems and valves for new nuclear reactors under construction in China have been placed with US-based suppliers Energy Solutions and Flowserve. |
| |
| EXPLORATION & NUCLEAR FUEL: |
| Canada's uranium production recovers |
| 10 March 2010 |
| The world's second biggest uranium-exporting country has overcome a period of low ore grades and operation problems to reach production levels last seen in 2005. |
| |
| INDUSTRY TALK: |
| Koeberg prepares to keep World Cup lights on |
| 15 March 2010 |
| South Africa's Koeberg nuclear power station is to undergo two maintenance outages over the next month in preparation for the World Cup soccer tournament, to be held in South Africa in June. |
| Prison sentence for former KazAtomProm head |
| 15 March 2010 |
| Moukhtar Dzhakishev, the former president of Kazakh national nuclear company KazAtomProm, has been found guilty by a court in Astana of misappropriation and bribery, according to an Interfax report. He has been sentenced to 14 years in a high-security prison. |
| Assessments continue at Bruce |
| 12 March 2010 |
| Bruce Power is conducting checks on 192 staff that could have been affected by a contamination incident in November last year. Chalk River Laboratory has so far carried out 39 large volume bioassays, none of which have shown a dose beyond annual or five-year dose limits. An American lab is soon to help speed the work. |
| PBMR chief steps down |
| 9 March 2010 |
| Jaco Kriek has resigned as CEO of PBMR Pty Ltd. The announcement comes weeks after South African government funding for the development of the pebble bed modular reactor (PBMR) was withdrawn, leaving the company facing major cuts. |
