Nuclear power is the required energy source for development of the Russian gold deposit at Kyuchus, the country's minister of natural resources and the environment, Alexander Kozlov made clear as the deposit's development rights were auctioned. The small reactor planned for Ust-Kuyga will supply the mine.

Russia has developed a new process line for  manufacturing the zirconium sponge needed for nuclear fuel assemblies. A new facility to make the substance has been launched by Rosatom subsidiary TVEL at its Chepetsky Mechanical Plant.

Rosenergoatom has begun unloading used fuel from the Leningrad 2 reactor in Russia. Partially used fuel assemblies will be used in units 3 and 4 at the plant during their final years of operation.

Russian strongmen have achieved a world first: pulling a nuclear reactor. The athletic demonstration event took place at Atomenergomash's Volgodonsk factory on 28 September, which is celebrated as Nuclear Industry Worker's Day.

'Digital' mining has started at the Khokhlovskoye uranium deposit in Russia, Rosatom subsidiaries announced. Operators have full information on the process and its environmental effects, as well as simulation of their options.

Advanced fuel assemblies have begun an operational trial at Russia's Rostov nuclear power plant. Fuel manufacturer TVEL said if successful they would provide a higher level of performance and safety. "Fuel irradiation in a commercial reactor is an important step for the further commercialisation of this product," said Natalia Nikipelova, president of TVEL, adding: "It is symbolic that this milestone is achieved when TVEL celebrates its 25th anniversary."

The reactor pressure vessel for the first new reactor under construction at Russia's Kursk II nuclear power plant has been delivered to site. Made from nickel-free steel it can give the plant service life of up to 100 years, Rosatom said.

Recycled REMIX nuclear fuel has passed a five-year operational test in Russia and is ready for pilot operation, Rosatom fuel subsidiary TVEL has said. REMIX is designed to reduce uranium consumption and close the fuel cycle using mainstream light-water reactors.

Russia's MBIR multipurpose sodium-cooled fast neutron research reactor is now in the installation phase, Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachov announced yesterday. Likhachov's announcement was made during a working trip to the city of Dimitrovgrad in the Ulyanovsk region to monitor the construction of the reactor, which began at the site of the Research Institute of Atomic Reactors in September 2015.

Atomenergomash is in the process of manufacturing the reactor pressure vessel for Turkey's new Akkuyu 3 reactor. Improvements to hand-held cutting tools have cut the time of some jobs by 75%, it said.

A firefighting system using artificial intelligence has been tested at Russia's Kalinin nuclear power plant and will be installed in the turbine hall as a pilot project. The head of Rosenergoatom's fire service, Valery Kharevsky, said it is designed for preventative monitoring, automatic fire detection and fire extinguishing without direct involvement of staff.

Four small modular reactors will power the huge Baimskaya copper and gold mining development in the Russian Arctic, according to an agreement signed by Rosatom subsidiary Atomflot. The company's director general, Mustafa Kashka, said the deal was significant for the whole global market for small reactors.