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Regulation & Safety

Regulation & Safety
IAEA launches course on managing combined emergencies

IAEA launches course on managing combined emergencies

The International Atomic Energy Agency recently held its first course on preparedness and response to a nuclear or radiological emergency combined with other emergencies, such as a natural disaster. The course - attended by more than 50 experts from 15 countries - was held in cooperation with Austria's Civil Protection School in Traiskirchen, near Vienna. The participants were mainly nuclear power plant operators, regulators and first responders.

Regulation & Safety 23 January 2020

IAEA notes strengthened safety inspections in Japan

IAEA notes strengthened safety inspections in Japan

Japan has strengthened inspections as part of extensive efforts in recent years to improve its regulatory framework for nuclear and radiation safety, an International Atomic Energy Agency peer review mission has concluded. The team identified areas for further improvement, recommending measures on occupational radiation protection and transport safety.

Regulation & Safety 21 January 2020

Most Read

Ethiopia makes progress in cancer treatment provision

Iran scraps limit on uranium enrichment

Lifting of Fukushima evacuation orders re-opens rail link

New aircraft to support US radiological emergency response

Ontario government apologises for false alarm

Rostov unit 1 cleared to operate until 2031

Russia's Bilibino 2, Novovoronezh 4 get licence extensions

Second injunction keeps Ikata reactor offline

South Ukraine 3 clear for operation with Westinghouse fuel

Lifting of Fukushima evacuation orders re-opens rail link

Lifting of Fukushima evacuation orders re-opens rail link

Evacuation orders in the towns of Futaba, Okuma and Tomioka - imposed after the March 2011 accident at the nearby Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant - are to be partially lifted in early-March. The areas include three train stations, allowing a full service to resume on the JR Joban Line.

Regulation & Safety 20 January 2020

Second injunction keeps Ikata reactor offline

Second injunction keeps Ikata reactor offline

The Hiroshima High Court today imposed a temporary injunction on the operation of unit 3 of the Ikata nuclear power plant in Japan's Ehime Prefecture, currently in a maintenance outage. Operator Shikoku Electric Power Company said it will appeal the decision, the second injunction to be imposed on the unit since it was restarted in 2016.

Regulation & Safety 17 January 2020

IAEA chief highlights political commitment to nuclear security

IAEA chief highlights political commitment to nuclear security

Rafael Mariano Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, has pledged to build on the political impetus seen in international cooperation in nuclear security in recent years. "It is vital that we remain ahead of the curve in guarding against nuclear terrorism," he told delegates at an event in Vienna yesterday.

Regulation & Safety 16 January 2020

Ontario government apologises for false alarm

Ontario government apologises for false alarm

The Solicitor General of Ontario has apologised for the public alert issued in error by Ontario's Provincial Emergency Operations Centre during a routine training exercise yesterday. An investigation will be held to find the cause of the error, which meant residents were notified that an incident had taken place at the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station when none had. The false alert was sent about 7:25am local time and PEOC retracted it at about 9:11 am.

Regulation & Safety 13 January 2020

Rostov unit 1 cleared to operate until 2031

Rostov unit 1 cleared to operate until 2031

Russian regulator Rostechnadzor has issued an operating licence extension for unit 1 of the Rostov nuclear power plant in southwest Russian to 2031. As of 9 January, the VVER-1000 unit had generated 148.174 terawatt hours of electricity since it started operations in 2001.

Regulation & Safety 10 January 2020

Iran scraps limit on uranium enrichment

Iran scraps limit on uranium enrichment

Iran said yesterday it will ignore the limit on the number of uranium enrichment centrifuges agreed under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), thus withdrawing from the last operational restriction imposed by the 2015 deal. The statement, reported by the Mehr news agency, followed the US assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani last week.

Regulation & Safety 06 January 2020

South Ukraine 3 clear for operation with Westinghouse fuel

South Ukraine 3 clear for operation with Westinghouse fuel

The State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine has approved commercial operation using Westinghouse fuel at unit 3 of the South Ukraine nuclear power plant. The regulatory authority signed the relevant document after pilot operation of the unit had shown the fuel was "safe, reliable and efficient", Energoatom said on 28 December.

Regulation & Safety 30 December 2019

Russia's Bilibino 2, Novovoronezh 4 get licence extensions

Russia's Bilibino 2, Novovoronezh 4 get licence extensions

Russian regulator Rostechnadzor has issued operating licence extensions to two more nuclear power units, bringing the total number to 27 since 2001. Unit 2 of Bilibino NPP and unit 4 of Novovoronezh NPP are now licensed to operate until the end of 2025 and 2032, respectively, which is six and 13 years longer than their previous licences.

Regulation & Safety 30 December 2019