National nuclear policies

Japan to switch off last nuclear power plant

Japan will shut down its last working nuclear power reactor this weekend just over a year after a tsunami scarred the nation.

Japan firms want safety guaranteed before nuclear restarts

Nearly three-quarters of Japanese firms want safety guaranteed before idled nuclear reactors in Japan are restarted.

Japan says two idled nuclear reactors safe to restart

Japan has declared two idled nuclear reactors operated by Kansai Electric Power Co safe and agreed for them to be restarted.

UK signs nuclear decommissioning deal with Japan

Britain and Japan have signed a framework civil nuclear co-operation pact, the UK energy ministry has said.

Russia near deal to build two new Indian reactors

Russia's nuclear chief has said that there could be a deal with Delhi to build two nuclear reactors in the near future.

Global nuclear use could increase significantly despite Fukushima

Global use of nuclear energy could increase by as much as 100 per cent in the next two decades, a U.N. report says.

Belene nuclear project delayed

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borisov says the country will abandon plans to build a nuclear plant on the Danube River if it cannot attract sufficient Western funding for the 8 billion euros project.

Japan nuclear reactor restart to be assessed by ministers

The safety of Kansai Electric Power Co’s two nuclear reactors will be assessed by Japanese ministers as early as this month, media have reported.

Japanese oppose nuclear restarts

A poll by the Asahi newspaper in Japan has shown that a majority of Japanese oppose a restart of nuclear power plants currently shut for maintenance.

Nuclear deals signed between UK and France

Nuclear agreements signed between France and the UK today will create more than 1,500 jobs in Britain, British Prime Minister David Cameron says.

New nuclear plant approved by US regulators

US regulators have approved plans to build the first new nuclear power plant in more than 30 years.

Japan will avoid power cuts this summer

Japan will be able to avoid power cuts this summer even if the nation's last few nuclear reactors cease operating.

Japan's plans to restart nuclear plants sparks anger

Japan's plans to restart nuclear reactors and let them operate for up to 60 years has sparked public anger.

60-year lifespan for Japan’s nuclear reactors

Japan will allow nuclear reactors to operate for up to 60 years in revised regulations on power plant operators.

Japan plans 40-year limit for nuclear reactors

Japan’s nuclear reactors will be limited to a 40-year life, allowing extensions only under stringent conditions, under new plans to be submitted to parliament.

India plans to start Russian-built nuclear plant soon

India plans to start up a Russian-built nuclear power plant within weeks, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh says.

Radiation exposure outside Fukushima exclusion zone

Residents outside the Fukushima exclusion zone were likely to have been exposed to radiation in the aftermath of the earthquake.

Bill Gates and China to collaborate on nuclear reactor deal

Microsoft founder and chairman Bill Gates is teaming up with China to develop a fourth generation (4G) nuclear reactor.

Australian PM pushes to end uranium sales ban to India

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard is pushing to overturn a ban on sales of uranium to India.

Global nuclear power could fall 15 per cent post-Fukushima

World nuclear power generation could fall by up to 15 per cent by 2035 following the Fukushima disaster.

Fukushima plant showing signs of nuclear fission

Tokyo Electric Power Co has said it has found substances in a Fukushima reactor which could be due to nuclear fission.

Belgium agrees to full nuclear exit by 2025

Belgium's two remaining nuclear power stations will be shut down after a conditional agreement was reached by political parties.

Fukushima power plant to take 30 years to dismantle

Japan’s Atomic Energy Commission says it is likely to take more than 30 years to dismantle the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

Kim Jong-il calls for nuclear talks with China

North Korea leader Kim Jong-il has told China that talks on its nuclear programme should be restarted.

Japan not ruling out complete nuclear power closure

Japan has not ruled out the possibility of complete closure of its nuclear power stations as one option for the country's future energy policy, Minister Yukio Edano says.

Japan must be less conservative in nuclear clean up - IAEA

Japan must avoid being "over-conservative" in decontaminating areas affected by radiation from the Fukushima disaster.

Royal Society urges government to build new MOX plant

A new MOX plant is needed to reuse the country's large stockpile of separated plutonium, the Royal Society has said.

Radiation hotspot found in Tokyo

A radiation hotspot in Tokyo has been attributed to mystery bottles stored under a house rather than the Fukushima nuclear plant.

Japan mayor calls for nuclear reactor decommissioning

The Tokaimura nuclear reactor 110km northeast of Tokyo must be decommissioned, the regional mayor has urged.

UK nuclear gets go-ahead after Fukushima review

A review of the UK’s nuclear industry after Fukushima says there is no reason to curtail nuclear operations in Britain.

Greenpeace criticises 'rush' for new nuclear plants

Environmental campaigners have accused the government of pushing forward with new nuclear power plants.

Japan's government begins debate on energy policy

Japan Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda’s month-old government began a debate on Japan’s energy policy on Monday.

IAEA urges states to provide extra funding to strengthen nuclear safety

The UN atomic agency is urging states to provide extra funding to strengthen global nuclear safety after Japan’s Fukushima accident.

IAEA states endorse global nuclear safety plan

A nuclear safety action plan post-Fukushima has been backed by the U.N. nuclear agency's 151 member states.

Japan wants Fukushima 'cold' reactor shutdown by end of year

Japan aims to have the Fukushima plant nuclear reactors in 'cold shutdown' by the end of the year, a top government official says.

Old nuclear plants may not survive stress tests - OECD head

Atomic agency board approves nuclear safety plan

The International Atomic Energy Agency's 35-nation board has adopted an action plan to strengthen global nuclear safety.

Explosion at French nuclear site kills one

One person was killed and four others injured after a blast at the Marcoule nuclear waste treatment site in southern France.

UN nuclear agency seeks rare Middle East talks

The U.N. nuclear agency wants to hold rare talks about the volatile Middle East and efforts to rid the world of atomic bombs.

U.N. nuclear safety proposals weakened, say diplomats

A U.N. nuclear safety action plan has been described as "weakened" by diplomats looking for strong measures.

Japan passes key renewable energy reform

IAEA seeks safety checks in all atomic energy countries

The International Atomic Energy Agency wants safety checks in each country with nuclear power during the next three years. 

Japan nuclear plant cold shutdown facing delay

Tokyo Electric Power Co has warned the tsunami-hit Fukushima nuclear plant may not achieve "cold shutdown" by January.

Japan's Hokkaido Elec gets approval for restarted reactor

Japan's Hokkaido Electric Power Co has been given local approval for commercial operation of its Tomari nuclear reactor.

Japan to set up new nuclear safety watchdog

Japan is to set up a new nuclear safety watchdog under the Environment Ministry, the government has confirmed.

UN atomic agency sets out measures to improve global nuclear safety

The UN atomic agency has outlined a series of measures in a draft action plan to help improve global nuclear safety.

Japan announce new nuclear safety regulator

Japan is to unveil plans for a new atomic safety regulator which is expected to enforce tougher nuclear safety standards.

Japan predicts power shortage next summer

Japan could have a power shortage of 9.2 per cent next summer if all of its nuclear reactors are shut.

Japanese nuclear companies move to extend life of nuclear reactors

Two Japanese nuclear operators have moved to extend the life of reactors at their coastal nuclear plants

EU agrees to bury nuclear waste in secure bunkers

Radioactive waste from Europe’s nuclear reactors must in future be buried in secure bunkers, the EU has agreed.

Russia may look to export nuclear power to Germany

Russia may export nuclear energy to Germany in the wake of Berlin confirming plans to stop using atomic power by 2022.

UK nuclear plant reactors shut down by jellyfish

‘High volumes’ of jellyfish have shut down both reactors at a nuclear power plant on the coast near Dunbar in East Lothian.

Germany must time nuclear exit carefully

Germany must coordinate its exit from nuclear power with the rest of Europe, the EU Energy Commissioner has urged.

UK government names locations of new nuclear power sites

The UK government has confirmed a list of eight sites where the next generation of nuclear power reactors can be built.

Nuclear plant risk checks 'essential', UN atom chief says

Countries with nuclear plants must carry out a "thorough and transparent risk assessment" of all reactors within 18 months.

Germany plans to shut all nuclear reactors by 2022

Germany plans to shut down all of its nuclear plants by 2022, in a policy reversal after Japan’s nuclear disaster.

EU stress tests will not include resilience tests for terror attacks

EU nuclear stress tests to prevent another crisis like Japan will not include tests for resisting terror attacks.

UK Chief Nuclear Inspector publishes interim report on nuclear crisis

The UK does not need to curtail the operation of nuclear power stations after Japan’s nuclear crisis, interim report says.

21 nuclear plants have over a million people within 30km

When the Japanese tsunami damaged the Fukishima nuclear reactor there were 172,000 people living within the 30km danger zone.

Medvedev calls for new nuclear rules post-Chernobyl

China may double PV plans after nuclear crisis

Following the disaster at Japan’s Fukushima nuclear plant, China is evaluating plans to double its goal for solar power capacity to 10GW by 2015.

Nuclear forum backs atomic safety campaign after Japan crisis

Nuclear regulators say they will learn from the Japan nuclear crisis and back a UN-led campaign to strengthen atomic safety.

Germany's nuclear shift could damage relations with France

Germany's decision to phase out nuclear energy is an 'emotional' reaction to the Japan disaster, argue French politicians.

UAE will learn from Japan as it plans first nuclear reactors

The United Arab Emirates says it will apply lessons learned from the Japan disaster when it plans its nuclear programme.

UK Government rejected Japan-style nuclear reactor

The UK turned down the same type of nuclear reactor that engineers are struggling to bring under control in Japan.

Australia rethinks nuclear plans after Japan crisis

Australia's plans to overturn a ban on selling uranium to India may be derailed by the Japanese nuclear crisis.

EDF executive says Britain still needs nuclear power

The crisis in Japan has not changed Britain’s need for nuclear power, according to EDF chief exec Vincent de Rivaz.

EU nuclear stress tests will be voluntary

EU ministers have agreed that European nuclear reactors should undergo safety stress tests - but they will be voluntary.

Stress tests to be done on all nuclear plants in the EU

Stress tests on all nuclear plants in the EU will be carried out by the end of the year, the European Commission says.

Countries put freeze on nuclear plans after Japan quake

Governments all over the world have put a hold on nuclear plans following the crisis at Japan’s Fukushima nuclear plant.

Don’t rush to nuclear judgments, says Energy Secretary

Energy Secretary Chris Huhne has accused other European governments of ‘rushing to judgments’ over the safety of nuclear power in the wake of the Japan crisis.

Future of global nuclear sector in turmoil after Japan crisis

Governments around the world have put plans for nuclear power plants on hold following the devastating Japanese earthquake