nuclear plant

Unions have warned the construction of Hinkley Point C (HPC) nuclear power station could be delayed if a dispute over bonus payments is not resolved. GMB and Unite will be holding a ballot – from May 2nd to May 5th – of their 700 members working at the Somerset site. The unions argue the bonus […]

The European Commission has signed the first ever project for co-operation on nuclear safety with Iran. The €2.5 million (£2m) project aims to enhance the capabilities of the Iranian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (INRA) by preparing a feasibility study for the Nuclear Safety Centre under the deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). […]

A United Nations Committee has asked the UK to suspend work on the Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant in Somerset. The UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) requested the halt because of the UK Government’s failure to consult with European countries over the project. It comes after the UN last year said the UK […]

The company building a new nuclear power plant in Cumbria said Toshiba “remains committed” to the project. NuGen is to continue to progress plans to develop the 3.8GW power station at Moorside, near Sellafield, which would provide 7% of the UK’s electricity needs. Toshiba has a 60% share in NuGen, a joint venture with France’s […]

There are no casualties and no risk of contamination after a fire occured at a nuclear power plant in northern France. EDF said the fire at Flamanville 1 was in a “non-nuclear area” in an engine room and was immediately brought under control. Production unit 1 was disconnected automatically from the power grid following the […]

More than 1,200 construction workers at the Sellafield nuclear power plant in Cumbria have taken part in a strike today. The Unite union said its members took part in the action for two and a half hours this morning in a row over health and safety. It follows an ongoing work-to-rule and overtime ban which […]

A worker at the troubled Japanese nuclear plant who fell 10 metres into an empty water tank this morning has died. He was flown to a local hospital by air ambulance for treatment but his death was later confirmed at the hospital. The plant’s owner TEPCO expressed “sincere condolences” to the family and said it will investigate […]

The last working Magnox nuclear reactor in the world will continue running until December 2015. Yesterday regulators gave Magnox thumbs up to prolong the Wylfa power plant’s life. It was originally scheduled to stop generating power in 2010. To keep Wylfa running, partially used fuel must be transferred from Reactor 2 to Reactor 1. Stuart […]

A British nuclear expert is joining the international task force advising on the clean-up at Japan’s Fukushima nuclear plant. Fukushima was the site of a nuclear disaster in 2011 when three of its reactors went into meltdown, critically damaged by the deadly tsunami and earthquake. Owner of the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant TEPCO has a tough […]

A Belgian nuclear plant is likely to be closed for the rest of the year after it was deliberately tampered with. One of the four reactors at Doel power station shut down automatically on 5 August after “significant damage” was inflicted on a high-pressure steam turbine (not the nuclear part of the plant). Authorities blamed […]