Two new Chinese nuclear power units - Changjiang 1 and Yangjiang 3 - have moved closer to commissioning by achieving a sustained chain reaction for the first time. Both reactors are expected to begin operating later this year.

Russia has completed the feasibility study and prepared the design for construction of Bangladesh's first nuclear power plant - a twin VVER 1200 reactor plant at Rooppur. Bangladesh newspaper The Daily Star reported on 3 October that the study, submitted in June, had found Rooppur to be a suitable site for such a large nuclear power plant.

The European Union should maintain at least the current capacity of nuclear generation up to and beyond 2050, entailing the commissioning of more than 100 nuclear power reactors over the next 35 years, Foratom said 2 October. This target would deliver 122 GWe of nuclear capacity between 2025 and 2045.

Areva's proposed methodology to demonstrate the strength of the reactor vessel of the EPR under construction at Flamanville is "acceptable", according to a letter French nuclear regulator published on its website yesterday. The ASN (Autorité de Sûreté Nucléaire) referred to the recommendations  a group of nuclear pressure equipment specialists (GP ESPN) had made following a meeting with the regulator on 30 September.

Andrei Kobyakov, prime minister of Belarus, has signed a decree ordering government ministries and agencies to ensure the required number of construction workers are available for the country's first nuclear power plant project, at Ostrovets.

Construction of unit 4 of China's Tianwan nuclear power plant has entered a new phase with the installation of its containment dome.

Major components for Vogtle 4, including parts for the reactor's passive core cooling system, have arrived at the plant's construction site, Georgia Power has announced.

The construction of a used fuel processing and recycling facility in China is expected to begin in 2020 and be completed by 2030. The facility will be based on French technology.

The head of EDF Energy has outlined the benefits of Chinese investment in the UK's nuclear industry. His comments came the day after the UK government announced up to £2 billion ($3 billion) in support for the planned Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant.

Areva Med, the subsidiary of French engineering company Areva for the development of cancer treatments, has begun construction of its second lead-212 production facility.

The UK government has today announced up to £2 billion ($3 billion) in support for the planned Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant, the first such plant in Britain for 20 years. The guarantee paves the way for Chinese investment in the UK's nuclear industry.

Industry leaders last week debated how to bridge the gap between the World Nuclear Association's vision of an extra 1000 GWe of new nuclear power capacity by 2050, and the practicalities of working within current political, regulatory and financial environments.