The European Commission has approved Belgian plans to support the long-term operation of three nuclear reactors after finding measures to compensate operators Engie-Electrabel and EDF Belgium are in line with European Union rules on state aid.

Unit 4 of the Yangjiang nuclear power plant in China's Guangdong province has completed commissioning tests and now meets the conditions for entering commercial operation, China General Nuclear announced yesterday.

The operator of the Olkiluoto nuclear power plant on Finland's southwestern coast has demonstrated a strong commitment to safety, an expert team from the International Atomic Energy Agency has concluded. However, the mission made recommendations to Teollisuuden Voima Oyj to reinforce some safety measures.

EDF Energy has awarded James Fisher Nuclear a contract to supply inspection devices to more precisely monitor the condition of graphite within the cores of its fleet of operating Advanced Gas-cooled Reactors in the UK.

Global engineering consultancy Amec Foster Wheeler has renewed an agreement to provide long-term engineering and technical support to the UK's fleet of operating nuclear power reactors. The agreement with EDF Energy Nuclear Generation is worth £125 million ($153 million).

A 3D-printed impeller has been in use in a pump at Slovenia's Krško plant since January. Siemens, which produced the component, said this marks "the first successful commercial installation and continuing safe operation" of such a part in a nuclear power plant.

Three Japanese utilities - Chubu, Hokuriku and Tokyo Electric Power Company - have agreed to collaborate on improving their nuclear safety through technical cooperation.

Vattenfall's nuclear power plants performed well in 2016, with a high level of availability and stable generation, according to Torbjörn Wahlborg, head of generation at the Swedish utility. "But 2017 can be an even better year if we continue to enhance our working methods and avoid a number of simple operational errors which caused stoppages last year," he said.

China General Nuclear and Ultra Electronics of the UK have agreed to enhance their cooperation in the development of high-integrity instrumentation and control systems and sensors for nuclear power plants worldwide.

Russia has announced the start of commercial operation of its first VVER-1200 reactor, unit 1 of the Novovoronezh II nuclear power plant.

The UK's Office for Nuclear Regulation has published its assessment of the Periodic Safety Review for Hunterston B in Ayrshire and Hinkley Point B in Somerset, alongside an update of EDF Energy Nuclear Generation's revised graphite core safety case. Hunterston B and Hinkley Point B are Advanced Gas-cooled Reactors that both started up in 1976 and are scheduled to close in 2023.

The two simulators at South Africa's Koeberg nuclear power plant are to be upgraded by Canada-based L3 MAPPS, taking into account the changes that the replacement of steam generators in the actual units will make on the plant's performance.