Nuclear news from the world

The Monju breeder reactor (Japan) has diverged again after a shutdown period of 14 years. This prototype reactor was stopped in 1995 after a sodium leak from its cooling system had initiated a fire. The construction works of the third power reactor on Brazilian soil has begun on the Angra site. The Chinese advanced research reactor (CARR - 60 MWth) diverged for the first time on May 2010 the 13., its design nears that of the Australian Opale reactor. The first reactor of the Ling Ao Phase 2 has been commissioned, this reactor is the first Chinese model (CPR-1000) to be built, it is the fruit of the technological transfer agreements that were signed in 1992 and 1995 with Framatome. The Finn government has given its agreement for the extension of the storing capacity in deep geological layers of the Posiva Oy center, this capacity is now of 9000 tonnes of uranium. Russia and Namibia have signed an agreement for the exploration and exploitation of uranium mines. The 2 first BWR-type reactors (1350 MW) on American soil will be constructed in the state of Texas. Russia and Turkey have signed an agreement for the construction of the first nuclear power plant in Turkey, this plant will be composed of 4 reactors. A study shows that there is no supplementary health hazards in the surroundings of nuclear power plants in Spain. (A.C.)