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Regulation & Safety

Regulation & Safety
IAEA supports discharge of Fukushima Daiichi water

IAEA supports discharge of Fukushima Daiichi water

A review of the management of treated water stored at the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan has been carried out by the International Atomic Energy Agency. It says the two options under consideration for disposing of this water - discharge into the sea and via vapour release - are both technically feasible.

Regulation & Safety 03 April 2020

BN-600 licensed to operate until 2025

BN-600 licensed to operate until 2025

Russian nuclear regulator Rostekhnadzor has extended the operating licence for unit 3 of the Beloyarsk nuclear power plant in the Sverdlovsk district by a further five years. The licence for the BN-600 fast reactor, which began operating in 1981, was due to expire this year.

Regulation & Safety 01 April 2020

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Australia produces first batch of medical isotope

BN-600 licensed to operate until 2025

IAEA addresses safety of smart devices in nuclear plants

IAEA enhances support for nuclear newcomers

IAEA supports discharge of Fukushima Daiichi water

Kyushu misses deadline for Sendai 1 emergency facilities

Oklo submits first advanced reactor licence application

Second US plant licensed for 80-year operation

Tepco outlines treated water disposal options

Pandemic adds to emergency exercise complexity

Pandemic adds to emergency exercise complexity

A planned emergency exercise coordinated by the International Atomic Energy Agency went ahead last week with the participation of 35 countries and two Regional Specialised Meteorological Centres of the World Meteorological Organization. The three-day exercise - from 24 to 26 March - was conducted while the responders in many Member States and in the IAEA's Incident and Emergency Centre worked remotely to support measures taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Regulation & Safety 01 April 2020

Tepco outlines treated water disposal options

Tepco outlines treated water disposal options

Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) has released a report on two potential methods for disposing of treated water currently being stored on the site of the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. The report considers the discharge of the water into the sea and via vapour release.

Regulation & Safety 30 March 2020

Australia produces first batch of medical isotope

Australia produces first batch of medical isotope

A new radioactive version of the element scandium has been produced in Australia's OPAL reactor for the first time. Scandium-47 has the potential for theranostic use, that is, both as a therapeutic drug and a diagnostic agent, and has similar properties to lutetium-177, which is already being used in clinical trials.

Regulation & Safety 19 March 2020

IAEA addresses safety of smart devices in nuclear plants

IAEA addresses safety of smart devices in nuclear plants

The safety of smart digital devices used in nuclear power plants - some of which were not initially designed for nuclear-related purposes - was discussed last month at a meeting in Vienna organised by the International Atomic Energy Agency. The objective of the meeting was to establish guidance on the selection and evaluation of smart devices to be used in systems important to the safety of power plants.

Regulation & Safety 19 March 2020

Oklo submits first advanced reactor licence application

Oklo submits first advanced reactor licence application

California-based Oklo Inc has submitted a combined licence application for its Aurora "powerhouse" to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission. This is the first COLA to be submitted using a new application structure for advanced fission technologies and the first privately funded application for a commercial advanced reactor.

Regulation & Safety 18 March 2020

Kyushu misses deadline for Sendai 1 emergency facilities

Kyushu misses deadline for Sendai 1 emergency facilities

Kyushu Electric Power Company today took unit 1 of its Sendai nuclear power plant offline as it had failed to meet the deadline for completion of a back-up control centre. It's the first time operation of a Japanese reactor has been temporarily suspended for this reason. It plans to take unit 2 offline in May for the same reason.

Regulation & Safety 16 March 2020

IAEA enhances support for nuclear newcomers

IAEA enhances support for nuclear newcomers

The International Atomic Energy Agency has produced new guidance to countries planning to adopt nuclear power. In a document titled 'Initiating Nuclear Power Programmes: Responsibilities and Capabilities of Owners and Operators', the IAEA provides advice on establishing and developing a nuclear power plant.s owner/operator.

Regulation & Safety 11 March 2020

Second US plant licensed for 80-year operation

Second US plant licensed for 80-year operation

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has approved Exelon Generation Company's application for an additional 20 years of operation for Peach Bottom units 2 and 3, authorising an operating life of up to 80 years. These are the second subsequent licence renewals granted by the US regulator, following Turkey Point units 3 and 4 which were granted renewals last December. Peach Bottom 2's subsequent renewed licence will expire on 8 August 2053 and units 3's on 2 July 2054. 

Regulation & Safety 09 March 2020