As all but two of the country's nuclear reactors听remain shut down, the听Kansai Electric Power Company (Kepco)听has today applied to Japan's Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry (METI)听to听raise the region's household electricity prices by 12% and that of commercial users听by 19%听in order to听offset soaring fossil fuel imports.
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Russian leaders have affirmed the strategic and economic importance of nuclear technology to the country, announcing that spending will rise and a major development program will be accelerated.
A Green-led initiative to enshrine nuclear phaseout plans in Swiss law has secured enough support to force a public vote on the issue. Nuclear supporters say the move would needlessly jeopardise energy security.
Only two months after the Japanese government revealed its long-term intention to eventually end nuclear power production, the announcement of a general election has effectively placed development of the country's energy policy on hold._front_305x198.jpg)
_front_77x48.jpg "Isar 1 and 2 (EOn) 77x48")
EOn continues to struggle under German energy policy, with gas generation made "barely profitable" by pro-renewable market arrangements and nuclear generation slashed and taxed by government decree. Investors have been warned of revisions in targets for 2013 and 2015.
The US nuclear energy industry appears confident that President Barack Obama's second term in the White House will oversee a continued central role for the nuclear industry at the heart of the country's energy policies.
The Czech Republic will work to cut its reliance on coal and increase nuclear to supply half of its energy needs under a new long-term energy policy unveiled by prime minister Petr Necas.
The prime ministers of Canada and India have finalised a deal that will allow a nuclear cooperation agreement signed over two years ago to be implemented, opening the door for trade worth millions of dollars between the two countries.