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Final decision on continued operation now rests with government ministry The Almaraz nuclear power station in central Spain. Photo courtesy CSN. Spain’s nuclear regulator has said operating licences can be renewed for the two nuclear reactor units at the Almaraz nuclear power station in central Spain.

The Nuclear Safety Council (CSN) said in a statement that it had approved a technical opinion regarding the renewal.

It said it has authorised Almaraz-1 to operate until 1 November 2027 and Almaraz-2 until 31 October 2028.

CSN said its decision was based upon technical reports and the requirements of laws governing the operation of nuclear facilities.

Date: Tuesday, 12 May 2020
Original article: nucnet.org/news/regulator-approves-licence-renewals-for-almaraz-1-and-2-5-1-2020

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As the COVID-19 pandemic makes governments and international organisations consider new ways of conducting business and protecting communities, we need to turn the recovery into an opportunity to safeguard the future, writes Christer Viktorsson, director general of the UAE’s Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation.

Date: Tuesday, 12 May 2020
Original article: world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Viewpoint-Regulators-adapt-to-an-unprecedented-cha

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Canadian uranium producer Cameco will next week resume production at its Port Hope Conversion Facility's uranium hexafluoride (UF6) plant and its Blind River Refinery in Ontario. The Cigar Lake uranium mine in northern Saskatchewan, in which it holds a majority stake, will remain in care and maintenance.

Date: Tuesday, 12 May 2020
Original article: world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Cameco-to-resume-operation-of-Ontario-facilities

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South Africa's Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) is to begin work on a roadmap for the procurement of 2500 MWe of new nuclear capacity. It will consider "all options" including small modular reactor (SMR) projects led by private companies and consortia, Minister Gwede Mantashe told the country's Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy on 7 May.

Date: Tuesday, 12 May 2020
Original article: world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/South-Africa-announces-roadmap-to-new-build

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Europe’s advocate general says case should be thrown out File photo of construction at the Hinkley Point C nuclear project in southwest England. Courtesy EDF. Austria’s attempt to stop the Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant project in the UK has been dealt a setback with a magistrate for the European Union’s top court saying on Thursday that the case should be thrown out.

The nonbinding advisory opinion from advocate general Gerland Hogan recommended that the European Court of Justice uphold a lower court decision to dismiss a complaint alleging unfair government funding of Hinkley Point C.

“It is clear that the development of nuclear power is, as reflected in the Euratom Treaty, a clearly defined objective of EU law,” Mr Hogan wrote.

The Court of Justice is not required to follow the advice in advisory opinions, but it does some 80% of the time.

Austria in 2015 challenged the European Commission’s decision to back the UK measures, after a number of agreed changes. Austria lost in 2018 and appealed one last time.

Date: Saturday, 09 May 2020
Original article: nucnet.org/news/austria-s-bid-to-block-uk-nuclear-project-suffers-court-setback-5-5-2020

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Half of companies have ceased all exploration operations, survey suggests A uranium mine in Australia. Photo courtesy WikiMedia Commons. Australia’s Association of Mining and Exploration Companies, which represents over 275 member companies and has a working group on uranium, says it is “extremely concerned for the industry” following a survey of its members on the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Since covid-19 restrictions were imposed a month ago, nearly half of the companies surveyed had ceased all exploration operations, and over a quarter more had ceased most exploration operations, the survey said.

“While partially exempt from travel restrictions, our industry is not immune from other impacts of Covid-19 which has all but killed investment appetite for exploration, meaning that companies are unable to attract private investment to continue exploration and fund their operations,” the association said.

Date: Saturday, 09 May 2020
Original article: nucnet.org/news/australia-mining-association-extremely-concerned-for-industry-5-5-2020

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Koeberg is the only commercial nuclear station in operation on the African continent. South Africa is to draw up plans for up to 2,500 MW of new nuclear, the energy ministry told lawmakers on Thursday, according to local press reports.

“The development of the roadmap for the 2,500 MW nuclear new build programme will be commencing soon,” the energy ministry said in a presentation to a parliamentary committee on its plans for 2020-25.

The presentation showed South Africa wanted to complete the procurement of the new nuclear plant by 2024 but gave no indication as to when it wanted construction of the plant to start or for when the plant would come online.

Answering questions, energy minister Gwede Mantashe said on Thursday that the government would first “test the market” and hear what potential investors or consortia had to say about building new nuclear plants.

Date: Saturday, 09 May 2020
Original article: nucnet.org/news/country-is-ready-to-relaunch-nuclear-plans-says-ministry-5-5-2020

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The completion of additional required safety measures at unit 2 of Japan’s Onagawa nuclear power plant in Miyagi Prefecture will not be completed until 2022/3, two years later than previously scheduled.

Date: Friday, 08 May 2020
Original article: neimagazine.com/news/newsmore-delays-in-restarting-japans-onagawa-2-7912070

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Belgium’s Institute for Radioelements (IRE) has produced its first commercial molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) low enriched uranium (LEU) batch for the US market.

Date: Friday, 08 May 2020
Original article: neimagazine.com/news/newsbelgium-produces-mo-99-for-the-usa-using-leu-fuel-7911908

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