Jordanian researchers will have access to the research reactors and ancillary facilities of the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission following the recent signing of a partnership agreement with the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission.

The European Commission yesterday approved EDF's takeover of Areva's nuclear reactor business under EU merger regulations. The transaction, expected to be completed by the end of this year, is "unlikely to raise competition concerns", it said.

Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has delivered three replacement steam generators for unit 1 of the Cruas nuclear power plant in south-western France. They will be installed later this year during a scheduled maintenance outage.

The board of directors of French utility EDF today approved the formation of Edvance, a new company focused on the supply of nuclear islands. Edvance, of which EDF will hold 80% and Areva NP 20%, will be responsible for the design and implementation of nuclear islands and control systems for new reactors constructed in France and worldwide.

CORRECTED - French nuclear engineering company Assystem has made an offer of €125 million ($136 million) to Areva and EDF to take a 5% stake in Areva's nuclear reactor business, referred to as 'New Areva NP'. French utility EDF agreed in July 2015 to take a stake of between 51% and 75% in Areva's reactor unit in a government-backed plan to revitalise France's nuclear power industry. Strategic investors will be able to take minority stakes in the business.

Institut National des Sciences et Techniques Nucléaires and the National Skills Academy for Nuclear have announced they will work together to boost "long-standing Franco-British nuclear industry relations". Their cooperation will include development of a "quality standard" for skills provision and training that will enable them to design education programs, organise exchanges between students and lecturers and implement new, innovative teaching tools.

France cannot achieve a significant reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases from electricity production while also reducing the share of nuclear in its energy mix, the country's Academy of Sciences says.

France's nuclear regulator, the Autorité de Sûreté Nucléaire, has defined the preconditions for the resumption of forging operations at Areva's Le Creusot forge. The facility has been out of operation since December 2015 following the discovery of quality assurance issues.

The outgoing French government has published a decree to repeal EDF's licence to operate the Fessenheim nuclear power plant. The plant, it said, must be shut down when the Flamanville EPR begins commercial operation, expected by 2020, as EDF has already agreed.

EDF's board of directors yesterday voted against the imminent closure of the Fessenheim nuclear power plant in eastern France, as demanded by the current government. The company said it intends to comply with previously announced legal requirements regarding the plant's continued operation.

French utility Engie plans to transfer its 40% share in UK nuclear power plant developer NuGeneration to Japan's Toshiba. NuGen, which plans to build three Westinghouse AP1000 reactors at Moorside in West Cumbria is "facing some significant challenges", Engie said, that have led to the decision to exercise its contractual right to transfer its stake to Toshiba.

The French nuclear safety authority has approved EDF's suggested solution to repairing the containment of unit 5 of its Bugey nuclear power plant in eastern France. The containment was found not to be airtight owing to a corroded seal.