US industry groups have submitted a white paper setting out recommendations on how the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission can streamline licensing of advanced reactors. Meanwhile, the US Nuclear Energy Institute has hailed an NRC decision that a voluntary industry initiative can effectively address an electrical system vulnerability as a "win" for regulatory streamlining.

Rostechnadzor, the Russian regulator, has issued a permit required for start-up operations at unit 4 of the Rostov nuclear power plant, state nuclear corporation Rosatom said yesterday. The unit is currently undergoing tests and a gradual increase in generating capacity, Rosatom said, adding that, based on the test results, a decision would be taken on the date the unit will be connected to the grid.

France's Framatome has signed an asset purchase agreement with Schneider Electric to acquire its nuclear instrumentation and control (I&C) business. The asset purchase agreement outlines the terms of the sale, which is expected to close by the end of March.

Rolls-Royce is to provide PSEG with innovative digital analytics systems to drive greater plant efficiency at the Salem and Hope Creek nuclear power plants. The signature of a four-year contract to deploy Rolls-Royce's T-104 service follows a successful six-month trial.

France's Framatome and China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) have signed a protocol for the development of global strategic cooperation. They have also renewed a contract under which Framatome will supply nuclear fuel components to CNNC.

The US nuclear regulator is satisfied that NuScale Power's small modular reactor (SMR) design can operate safely without the need for safety-related electrical systems. The reactor uses passive safety features, such as relying on convection, not pumps, to circulate water in the primary circuit.

EDF has completed cold functional tests at the EPR reactor under construction at its Flamanville site in northern France. Flamanville unit 3 is scheduled to begin operating by the end of this year.

EDF Energy has awarded nuclear services company Cavendish Nuclear a five-year contract to support the continued operation of its UK fleet of advanced gas-cooled reactors (AGRs). The contract is worth some GBP7.5 million ($10.2 million).

Unit 3 of the Tianwan nuclear power plant in China's Jiangsu province was connected to the grid on 30 December. The Russian-supplied VVER-1000 is scheduled to enter commercial operation later this year.

Units 6 and 7 of Tokyo Electric Power Company's Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in Niigata Prefecture meet Japan's new regulatory standards, the Nuclear Regulation Authority announced today. They are the first of the country's boiling water reactors determined to meet the standards.

Finnish utility Teollisuuden Voima Oyj announced today that hot functional tests have started at the first-of-a-kind EPR unit at Olkiluoto. These key pre-operational tests ensure coolant circuits and nuclear safety systems are functioning properly before fuel is loaded.

A report prepared for Connecticut's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and its Public Utilities Regulatory Authority has found that Dominion Energy's Millstone nuclear power plant is likely to operate profitably from the early 2020s to the mid-2030s, even under harsh market and operating cost assumptions.