Generic designs for two nuclear reactors proposed for construction in the UK have been granted interim acceptance by the independent nuclear safety, security and environment regulators. Read it all..

Shortly after the Fukushima disaster in March, the European Council (EC) requested that each member state with nuclear power facilities ensured that operators conduct ‘stress tests’ of each facility.

The tests are led by questions that have been raised following the events at the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant, which was struck by an earthquake, and subsequently overwhelmed by the resultant tsunami, causing a loss of power and loss of cooling. Read it all..

The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has informed Westinghouse that it has agreed to close a ‘regulatory issue’ raised against its AP1000 reactor design. The regulatory issue, opened in February 2010 by ONR’s predecessor organisation (HSE’s Nuclear Directorate) concerned the AP1000’s civil structures, which were assessed by the regulator as part of the Generic Design Assessment, run jointly by ONR and the Environment Agency.

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An interim assessment of the implications of the nuclear crisis in Japan concludes there is no need to curtail the operations of nuclear plants in the UK but lessons should be learnt.

The UK’s Chief Inspector of Nuclear Installations, Mike Weightman, today publishes a report, requested by the UK Government, in which he calls for action to be taken to learn from events at Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power station. Read it all..

The interim Chair of the new Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) was today confirmed as Nick Baldwin, former chief executive of Powergen. Read it all..