The abolition of the Institute for Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN) announced by the French government worries researchers and employees of the organization. Cécile Cunin and Jean Desquines, two experts in nuclear research, explain why this independent body is essential to guarantee the credibility of scientific opinions in a sensitive sector.

EDF is in dialogue with the French Nuclear Safety Authority (Autorité de Sûreté Nucléaire) in order to postpone the date initially scheduled for the end of 2024, for the replacement of the cover of the EPR reactor vessel under construction in Flamanville. The postponement proposed by Framatome will make it possible to carry out this replacement until mid-2025, as well as to defuse the anomalies on the cover. However, this new delay will result in an estimated additional cost of €500 million, bringing the total to €13.2 billion.

IRSN's Board of Directors is sounding the alarm about the risks of abolishing the institute in a government reorganization project. The unions fear for nuclear safety in the event of the departure of staff and for France's capacity for expertise in this field.

Finland has just taken a decision that could mark the Finnish nuclear landscape in the long term. After obtaining the agreement of the government parties, including the Greens, Minister of the Economy Mika Lintilä announced that the nuclear power plant near Loviisa - whose life was initially planned to last until 2027 and 2030 - will be extended until 2050. This measure is intended to be a significant investment to ensure a positive climate balance and reliable electricity for another 30 years.

Sheffield Forgemasters and Holtec Britain are collaborating on the development of components for the SMR-160 reactor. This collaboration will position Sheffield Forgemasters at the top of the supply chain for the manufacture of small modular reactors in the UK. SMRs offer enhanced security features and are deployable faster and at a lower cost.

There have been significant changes in the U.S. nuclear information sharing rules. Mexico becomes an unrestricted authorized country, while Colombia and Egypt are now excluded from the list of generally authorized countries.

IRSN unions fear the loss of independence of nuclear safety in France after the announcement of the merger with the ASN and the CEA. The Minister of Energy Transition is scheduled to meet with union representatives to discuss this reorganization.

Industriais has chosen Rolls-Royce SMR for the Central Hydrogen Cluster in Poland. This project plans to produce 50,000 tons of low-carbon hydrogen per year from up to three SMRs.

Fermi Energia has selected GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy's BWRX-300 for potential deployment in Estonia. The BWRX-300 is smaller, safer and less expensive to build than other nuclear power plants. With joint company/country efforts, Fermi Energia's goal is to have clean and affordable energy in Estonia by Christmas 2031.

The French have already deposited hundreds of billions of euros in their Livret A savings accounts. Now the government is considering an alternative use of these popular savings to finance the construction of new nuclear reactors and the transformation of the energy landscape.

Framatome and USNC have signed a non-binding agreement to create a joint venture to commercialize fourth-generation nuclear fuel for Micro-Modular™ and other advanced reactor designs. The companies share the vision of socially and environmentally responsible low-emission energy.

The French government has announced its intention to transfer IRSN's competencies to other institutions in order to strengthen synergies in nuclear safety and to revive the French nuclear program. This meeting will strengthen the independence of the control and increase synergies in nuclear research and development.

The signing of the intergovernmental agreement between Russia and Myanmar marks an important step towards the development of collaboration on the use of nuclear technologies. Thus, a strong impetus is given to the scientific development, higher and vocational education as well as the Burmese industrial sector.

At Akkuyu in Turkey, the nuclear power plant is finalizing the installation of the internal containment dome.

Rosatom finalizes shipments to China for first CFR-600 fast reactor core load.

Траусфинид, Уэльс, ведет переговоры с компанией NuScale о строительстве ядерной площадки на окраине деревни.

Trawsfynydd, País de Gales está em discussões com NuScale para um sítio nuclear na orla da aldeia.

Trawsfynydd in Wales ist Gegenstand von Gesprächen mit NuScale, um von einer Nuklearanlage am Rande des Dorfes zu profitieren.

Trawsfynydd, Wales is in discussions with NuScale for a nuclear site on the edge of the village.

Trawsfynydd (Gales) está en conversaciones con NuScale para construir un emplazamiento nuclear en las afueras del pueblo.

Trawsfynydd, in Wales, sta discutendo con NuScale per un sito nucleare ai margini del villaggio.

In China, the country expects nuclear power to expand in the coming years, even though fuel prices are unstable.

Terrafame decided to begin uranium recovery by the summer of 2024, after a feasibility study had been completed.

Rosatom expects 15% growth in 2022 due to a stable foreign order book despite the war in Ukraine.

X-energy announces completion of the key safety system prototype for the Xe-100 advanced nuclear reactors.