The contents of a failed waste barrel at the WIPP underground disposal site were "chemically incompatible", said the Department of Energy's technical report today, with a certain brand of cat litter playing a major role in the incident.

The restart of unit 2 of the Tsuruga nuclear power plant in Japan's Fukui prefecture has been thrown into doubt after the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) accepted a report compiled by a panel of experts that concluded the unit sits upon an active fault line. However, plant owner Japan Atomic Power Company says it still plans to apply for safety checks in order to restart it.

GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy has unveiled a remotely-operated tool that enables nuclear technicians to complete tasks at the bottom of nuclear reactors more quickly and safely. The tool has been shown to reduce radiation dose associated with uncoupling control rods from their associated blades by as much as 60%.

Unit 3 of the Ningde nuclear power plant in Fujian province was connected to the grid on 21 March, China General Nuclear announced yesterday. The company now has 14 power reactors in operation.

More clarity on Japan's nuclear future came today as the first unit slated for restart gained technical approval, while two further older reactors were announced for retirement rather than being put through the restart process.

Kansai Electric Power Company and the Japan Atomic Power Company have decided to decommission three nuclear power plants shut down after the Fukushima accident of 2011 rather than applying to restart them.

The safety modernization of unit 2 of Sweden's Oskarshamn nuclear power plant is now expected to be completed by the end of 2015, plant operator OKG announced today. The work began in June 2013.

Two new Chinese nuclear power units - Yangjiang 2 and Ningde 3 - have moved closer to commissioning by being connected to the grid and achieving first criticality, respectively.

The Swiss nuclear regulator has inspected the new reactor vessel heads destined for the two-unit Beznau nuclear power plant and given plant operator Axpo permission to carry out their replacement this year.

Ameren's Callaway nuclear power plant can look forward to an additional 20 years of operation after the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission renewed the pressurized water reactor's operating licence.

Forsmark Group AB has applied to the Swedish nuclear regulator to operate permanently unit 2 of the Forsmark nuclear power plant at a higher power level. The unit has been in trial operation for the past two years following a 12% power uprate.

South Korea's nuclear safety regulator has approved a seven-year licence extension for the refurbished and uprated Wolsong 1 pressurized heavy water reactor. The unit has been offline for two years while discussions continued on renewing its licence.