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Civil engineering works have been completed on the building that will house the fusion machine of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor at Cadarache in south-eastern France. The final concrete was poured yesterday for the upper part of the Tokamak Complex, meaning the metal frame of its roof can now be installed.

Commissioning of the Olkiluoto 3 EPR is now running six weeks behind schedule, the Areva-Siemens consortium has informed Finnish utility Teollisuuden Voima Oyj. The supplier is to provide TVO with a revised schedule for the start-up of the plant next month.

Nuclear has a place in Europe's energy mix, but rising costs - even if only perceived - need to be addressed to ensure future growth, speakers agreed at the New Nuclear Watch Institute's first annual forum, held in London yesterday.

The UK government should develop a Regulated Asset Base model for financing new nuclear power projects and support the deployment by 2030 of small modular reactors, the Confederation of British Industry has recommended. The recommendations are among the actions the CBI has set out for any future government to help the country achieve its target of net-zero emissions by 2050.

Unit 2 of the Novovoronezh II nuclear power plant in southwest Russia has entered commercial operation, 30 days ahead of schedule, state nuclear corporation Rosatom announced today. Commissioning of the VVER-1200 brings the number of power reactors in commercial operation in Russia to 36.

Nuclear energy in Asia is meeting the growing demand for electricity, whilst helping to tackle air pollution and climate change, according to a new report by ������ý���� Nuclear Association. The ������ý���� Nuclear Performance Report 2019 Asia Edition shows that last year nuclear generation in the region increased by 12% and avoided the emission of over 500 million tonnes of CO2 that would have otherwise been produced by coal-fired plants.

French utility EDF must present within one month an action plan to the French government that sets out how it will resolve issues, such as skills shortages, that have caused delays and cost increases at new nuclear power plant projects. Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said these have damaged the reputation of the nuclear industry.

The United Arab Emirates' Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation is at the final stage of its ongoing review of the operating licence application for Barakah 1 and 2, it said today.

The core catcher for the second unit at Kursk II in Russia has been delivered to the construction site in Western Russia. Kursk II will be the first nuclear power plant to use the VVER-TOI (typical optimised, with enhanced information) reactor design.

The Czech Republic will need to build not only one new unit at its Dukovany nuclear power plant, but also more reactors at Temelín if it is to avoid becoming dependent on electricity imports from 2030, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade Karel Havlíček said yesterday. Havlíček cited the latest Mid-term Adequacy Forecast published on 18 October by high-voltage grid operator operator ČEPS.

India is aiming for "fleet mode construction" for future nuclear power plant projects in order to reduce costs and construction times, according to Kamlesh Vyas, chairman of the country's Department of Atomic ������ý����. Speaking at the India ������ý���� Forum's 11th Nuclear ������ý���� Conclave in New Delhi on 18 October, he said 17 nuclear power reactors are planned in addition to those already under construction.

The operation of the Koeberg nuclear power plant will be extended by 20 years and a nuclear new build programme will be launched as part of South Africa's energy plans for the next decade. The plans were approved yesterday by the country's government.