A memorandum of understanding signed by Holtec International and Energoatom envisages the adoption by Ukraine of Holtec's small modular reactor technology with the country becoming a manufacturing hub for SMR-160 reactor components. Separately, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has begun a technical review of an application by Holtec for a consolidated spent fuel interim storage facility proposed for southeastern New Mexico.

Costly mistakes have caused "untold reputational damage" to the UK's Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, according to a parliamentary report published yesterday. The Public Accounts Committee report also says that central government "must share the blame" for failures over a GBP6.1 billion (USD8.4 billion) Magnox contract that was terminated nine years early.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and Japan Nuclear Fuel Limited (JNFL) have both completed their investment of some EUR250 million (USD307 million) to acquire 5% stakes in Orano, the former Areva nuclear fuel cycle activities.

Japan's Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) aims to become an innovative global energy and technology company, according to its president, Tomoaki Kobayakawa. He stressed the company will continue providing strong support for the restoration of Fukushima.

Ontario Power Generation can proceed with the refurbishment of Darlington unit 3 after receiving the go-ahead from the province's Ministry of Energy. Refurbishment of Darlington unit 2 has now passed the half-way mark.

Kyushu Electric Power Company today began loading fuel into the core of unit 3 at its Genkai nuclear power plant in Japan's Saga prefecture. The reactor, together with unit 4, is expected to be restarted later this year.

EDF expects its profit to bounce back this year thanks to higher power prices and increased availability of its French nuclear units following prolonged stoppages for safety inspections in 2017.

Bruce Power has awarded L3 MAPPS a contract to replace the digital control computer system of unit 2 of the Bruce A nuclear power plant in Ontario. Last year it was awarded a similar contract for unit 6 of Bruce B.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company and its joint parties have announced they have accepted the California Public Utilities Commission's ruling on the retirement of the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant. The company intends to withdraw its application to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission to renew the plant's operating licence.

The loading of fuel assemblies into the core of unit 3 at the Ohi nuclear power plant in Japan's Fukui Prefecture will begin tomorrow, Kansai Electric Power Company announced. The utility plans to return both units 3 and 4 at the plant to commercial operation by mid-2018.

Exelon's nuclear fleet generated the most power on record in 2017, the company's CEO Christopher Crane said yesterday. The company will start to recognise revenue from Illinois' zero emission credit (ZEC) programme during the first quarter of this year after its Quad Cities and Clinton plants were winning bidders in the state's ZEC procurement.

China General Nuclear subsidiary China Techenergy Corp recently signed an agreement to cooperate with South Korea's Doosan Heavy Industries and Construction to promote self-developed instrumentation and control products. CTEC has also signed a contract with Doosan to supply SpeedyHold (CTEC’s logic controller), and then Doosan will supply replacement control rod systems to four Korean nuclear power reactors.