The Japanese government has adopted a plan to extend the operation of existing nuclear power reactors and replace aging facilities with new advanced ones. The move is part of a policy that addresses global fuel shortages following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and seeks to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority has approved a draft of a new rule that would allow the country's nuclear power reactors to be operated for more than the current limit of 60 years. The amendment will require parliamentary approval.

Holtec International has announced its intention to reapply for federal funding to allow it to restart the Palisades nuclear power plant in Michigan, which closed down in May after more than 50 years in operation. An application earlier this year was unsuccessful.

The second unit at the nuclear power plant in Belarus is now expected to be connected to the country's power system in the first three months of 2023, according to Energy Minister Victor Karankevich.

The International Atomic Energy Agency is going to establish a permanent presence at all operating nuclear power plants in Ukraine, as well as at Chernobyl, with the move seen as particularly important "at a time when Ukraine’s energy infrastructure is facing unprecedented challenges as a result of the war and in the middle of winter".

Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power confirmed that Hanbit unit 4 resumed power generation at 3:40 am on 11 December, ending an outage that began in May 2017.

Unit 1 of the Shin Hanul nuclear power plant has entered commercial operation, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power announced. The unit - the first of four APR-1400 reactors at the site - has been in test operation since July.

Canada's nuclear regulator has given Ontario Power Generation the go-ahead to load fuel into Darlington unit 3 after removing the first regulatory hold-point for the refurbished reactor.

European safety regulators have backed Ukraine as the rightful owner and authority to oversee the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Meanwhile, Russia's Rosenergoatom has appointed Yury Chernichuk as 'director' of the plant.

The Russian president's press secretary Dmitry Peskov denied Ukrainian suggestions that Russian forces were preparing to withdraw from the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

Kansai Electric Power has announced it will apply for regulatory approval to extend the operating life of Takahama units 3 and 4 by a further 20 years. The company has also announced plans to replace the steam generators at the two pressurised water reactor units.

The company's Board of Directors has made the financial investment decision that will see production activities begin at the Lance project during the first quarter of 2023, for delivery into existing offtake contracts in the final quarter of the year.