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Ukrainian reactors operate through turmoil

06 March 2014

Ukraine's nuclear energy plants have operated continuously during the recent political crisis in the country, operator Energoatom has reported. However, future fuel supplies for the plants are uncertain.

The company noted that the fuel supply for its reactors has been secured for the "near future" and that it expects existing fuel supply contracts with Russia to be fulfilled. Dmitry Rogozin, Ukrainian deputy prime minister, was cited by Interfax as saying, "The Ukrainian nuclear power plants have fuel reserves for March and April."

Coal taints Germany's energy mix

12 March 2014

Greenhouse gas emissions in Germany, 1990 - Forecast 2013 (UBA) 66x48

Germany increased its carbon dioxide emissions for the second year in a row due to its Energiewende policies and the effects of global fuel markets.

Return to Tamura in April

11 March 2014

Tamura City map 64x48 Tamura City will be the first place in Fukushima to have its evacuation order lifted, in what prime minister Shinzo Abe hopes will be a period of visible recovery. Industry welcomed the development, three years after the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear accident.

AECL management contract bidding starts

10 March 2014

The Canadian government is seeking bids to manage and operate Atomic Energy of Canada Limited's (AECL's) nuclear laboratories.

EDF's emergency response force in place

12 March 2014

All four of EDF's regional nuclear emergency bases are now in full operation. Proposed following the Fukushima accident, these will be capable of rapidly responding to a serious accident at any French nuclear power plant.

First Haiyang AP1000 takes shape

11 March 2014

The final module - the containment water tank - has been installed at the first of two AP1000 units under construction at Haiyang in China's Shandong province.

Workers to re-enter WIPP

10 March 2014

A recovery process has started at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) with the aim of resuming operations. Seventeen workers have so far tested positive for extremely low levels of contamination following a radiological event at the facility last month.

Industry Talk

USEC files for bankruptcy

US uranium enrichment company USEC announced that it is implementing a financial restructuring plan agreed last December and has now filed a voluntary petition and a plan of reorganization with the US Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. This filing, it said, has no impact on its daily operations, including the American Centrifuge research, development and demonstration program.

New leader for Candu

Preston Swafford has been named as the new president, CEO and chief nuclear officer of reactor vendor Candu Energy, which is owned by SNC Lavalin. Swafford has previously held senior roles with the Tennessee Valley Authority and Exelon.

New head at Japanese commission

Yoshiaki Oka is to become the next chairman of the Japan's senior policy body, the Atomic Energy Commission. The appointment of Oka, a professor at Waseda University's science and engineering faculty, received parliamentary approval on 14 February.

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