Talks between Iran and six world powers on its disputed nuclear program failed to produce a breakthrough on Thursday, in an apparent diplomatic setback for both sides.

The six wanted a freeze on Iranian production of uranium enriched to 20 percent purity, which is considered a short step from bomb grade. The Iranians wanted an easing of the onerous economic sanctions imposed by the West and recognition of what they call their right to enrich.

Toro Energy won a recommendation from a state agency on Monday to build what would be Western Australia's first uranium mine.

The West Australian Environmental Protection Authority said the environmental impact of Toro's proposal had been meticulously examined.

Toro, 39 percent owned by OZ Minerals, has been looking to make a final decision on its Wiluna project by the end of 2012, and aiming to make its first uranium sales in 2014, assuming it can line up funding for the project.

CHENNAI: The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCIL) Friday announced that the first of the two 1,000 MW units of Koodankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) is expected to start commercial operations this August and the second unit in March 2013.

The announcement on NPCIL's website as to the expected month of commercial operation of the first unit has now eased the mental pressure on people at KKNPP as the government has been saying that the first reactor would start operations in 20 days' time.

North Korea has resumed construction of a nuclear reactor that can be used to expand the country’s nuclear weapons program, an American-based institute said Thursday, citing the latest satellite imagery of the building site.

In November, North Korea reported brisk progress in the building of a small light water reactor in its main nuclear complex in Yongbyon, north of Pyongyang, its capital. If completed and operational, the plant would give North Korea a new source of spent nuclear fuel from which plutonium, a fuel for nuclear weapons, can be extracted.

Australia’s uranium supply to India will be demand based once the approvals for the yellow cake exports to New Delhi are finalised, the Energy Minister Mr Martin Ferguson has said.

“It (uranium supply) will be demand based. The supply once approved for exports will be of a commercial nature between the Australian uranium and mining industry and potential customers in India,” Mr Ferguson told PTI.

Asked when the uranium exports will begin, Mr Ferguson said “We don’t put a timeframe. This is about a negotiation of a product between Australia and India.”

Hopes to begin generation by June or early July

The Nuclear Power Corporation (NPC), which is working on a war-footing for the commissioning of first phase (1,000-Mw) of Kudankulam nuclear project, has achieved yet another milestone. The state-run entity responsible for the generation of nuclear power for electricity has completed the prerequisites for opening the reactor pressure vessel.

A team of nearly 2,000 Indian and Russian engineers are working round-the-clock to commission the Koodankulam nuclear project’s first 1,000 MWe reactor unit in a tightly compressed time schedule of slightly over a month. The final inspection of the equipment at the first unit is in advanced stages and the process of obtaining clearances from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board of India (AERB) for fuel loading is underway.

The Kudankulam nuclear project is both viable and eco-friendly, said Daniel Chellappa, senior scientist, Advanced Nuclear Fuels, Department of Atomic Energy, here on Thursday.

Delivering a lecture on ‘Kudankulam nuke project: safe and eco-friendly' organised by the Rotary Clubs of Tiruchi Fort, Tiruchi Midtown and Tiruchi Rockcity, he said that the depleting reserves of coal, expensive outlay for tapping solar energy, and uncertainty in wind have all made energy generation a great challenge .