Average total generating costs for nuclear energy in 2017 in the USA were at their lowest since 2008, according to a study released by the Nuclear Energy Institute.

Japan Atomic Power Company has received regulatory approval of an extension to the operating period of unit 2 at its Tokai nuclear power plant, enabling the reactor to operate for up to 60 years.

Unit 2 of the Sanmen nuclear power plant in China's Zhejiang province has completed 168 hours of full-power continuous operation. The unit is now deemed to be the third AP1000 reactor to enter commercial operation.

One of the two reactors aboard Russia's first floating nuclear power plant, Akademik Lomonosov, has achieved a sustained chain reaction for the first time. The second reactor will be started up and tests carried out before the plant is towed to Pevek next year.

An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of experts yesterday completed a review of long-term operational safety at Argentina's Atucha I nuclear power plant. The team reviewed the plant's preparedness, organisation and programmes related to long-term operation against IAEA safety standards.

Unit 4 of the Tianwan nuclear power plant in China's Jiangsu province has been connected to the electricity grid, bringing global nuclear generating capacity to over 400 GWe for the first time.

Xcel Energy is using unmanned aircraft to assist in inspections at the company’s nuclear facilities in Minnesota, achieving safety and cost benefits.

France's Council of State has invalidated the governement's April 2017 decree to repeal EDF's licence to operate the Fessenheim nuclear power plant. The council ruled the decree had not been issued at EDF's request, as required by law.

The Hiroshima District Court has rejected a call from residents to re-impose an injunction on the operation of unit 3 at the Ikata nuclear power plant in Japan's Ehime Prefecture. The move clears the way for owner Shikoku Electric Power Company to restart the reactor.

A study on the employment generated by the nuclear energy industry has been published by the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency and the International Atomic Energy Agency. Some 200,000 job-years of employment are created by each gigawatt of nuclear capacity constructed, it suggests.

Unit 1 of India's Kaiga nuclear power plant has completed its 895th day of continuous operation, a new world record for continuous operation of a pressurised heavy water reactor and the second-longest for a nuclear power reactor of any type.

A new training course on protecting nuclear facilities against cyber-attacks has been launched by the International Atomic Energy Agency.