A third training class of nuclear operators for Vogtle units 3 and 4 have passed their US Nuclear Regulatory Commission initial licensing exam. Fifty-six licensed operators are now available for the units, where construction milestones continue to be met. Employees of the United Arab Emirates' nuclear regulator have also completed a reactor operator training programme.

Swedish utility Vattenfall has signed contracts - the values of which have not been disclosed - for the supply of fuel assemblies for units at the Forsmark and Ringhals nuclear power plants. France's Framatome is to supply fuel for Forsmark 3 and Ringhals 3 and 4, while US-Spanish joint venture GNF Enusa will produce fuel for Forsmark 1 and 2.

The US Department of Energy has selected 13 projects to receive USD60 million of cost-shared R&D funding for advanced nuclear technologies, including the first awards under the US Industry Opportunities for Advanced Nuclear Technology Development initiative. Recipients include NuScale Power's small modular reactor, which has become the first SMR to complete the first phase of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission design certification process.

A statement of intent to strengthen cooperation on fast neutron sodium-cooled reactors has been signed between the US Department of Energy and the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission. The partners have also a statement of intent to begin cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence.

Shine Medical Technologies has selected Rock Creek Innovations LLC to lead design and implementation of the instrumentation and control (I&C) protection systems for its medical isotope production facility in Janesville, Wisconsin. Construction of the main production facility at the site is due to start soon.

Nuclear growth is at a 25-year high driven by the need for clean and reliable electricity, World Nuclear Association Director General Agneta Rising told the World Nuclear Fuel Cycle conference last week. While market problems persist in the USA, China's rate of nuclear approvals is picking up, other keynote speakers said.

The US Nuclear Energy Institute reported yesterday that coordination among the various entities involved in the development of accident-tolerant fuels has "progressed to the point that all stakeholders now agree on the feasibility of a 2023 timeline". Citing speakers at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's 12 April briefing on ATF, the NEI said US research, development and licensing frameworks "need to undergo a paradigm shift" to accelerate the way innovative nuclear technologies such as ATF are brought to market.

India and the USA have signed an agreement enabling their scientists to collaborate on the development and construction of different types of neutrino detectors.

The announced closure of four nuclear power plants in Ohio and Pennsylvania will lead to increased emissions of carbon dioxide and air pollutants, according to a report released by the Brattle Group. 

New Jersey legislators yesterday passed bills establishing a zero emissions certificate programme that will recognise and compensate eligible nuclear power plants for their zero-carbon attributes and contribution to fuel diversity.

Peninsula Energy Limited has formally submitted a request to the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality to amend its existing permit to allow the use of a low-pH recovery solution at the Lance uranium project in Wyoming, USA. This is expected to increase recovery rates and improve the cost profile of the project. Meanwhile, a study has highlighted the potential of membrane separation to improve economics at GoviEx Uranium's Madouela project in Niger.

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has approved the issuance of combined construction and operating licences for the two proposed AP1000 reactors at Florida Power and Light's Turkey Point plant in Florida. The utility has yet to make a final decision on whether to proceed with building the units.