**1. Germany is forced to stay with reactors **
Stress tests were recently conducted in Germany to test the stability of the grid during the winter. It showed that it is necessary to extend the operation of 2 out of 3 remaining nuclear power plants in service until mid-April 2023.
Germany has announced that it will continue to phase out nuclear power. However, looking at their past successes in this regard, the reactors may remain in use for a long time to come.
**2. the UK will invest in nuclear power **
The UK will invest £700 million (over $800 million) in EDF's (Électricité de France) planned nuclear power plant.
In addition, the UK plans to build one nuclear power plant per year until 2030.
**3 The Inflation Reduction Act will support the nuclear industry in the US **
A tax credit for nuclear energy production will be introduced. It is intended to support existing nuclear power producers and prevent the shutdown of plants in operation.
The current tax credits, which apply to carbon-free energy sources, will be transformed to include nuclear projects. The availability of these tax credits will improve access to financing for advanced nuclear projects.
Funding is also provided to ensure access to nuclear fuel for nuclear projects in the US.
The above-mentioned bill is one of many steps taken in the U.S. over the past few years to support the domestic nuclear industry.
**4 High-profile merger of Uranium Energy Corp. and UEX **
**5. Japan - there's a lot going on here **
As of this moment, 10 of the 33 reactors located in Japan have resumed operation. Another 7 are expected to come online starting next summer. In addition, Japan is planning to build more nuclear power plants to meet its carbon reduction targets.
It is also considering extending the maximum lifetime of the country's existing nuclear reactors beyond 60 years. After the Fukushima disaster, the limit was 40 years. It is worth mentioning for comparison that similar facilities in the United States, according to experts, can operate for up to 80 years, while solar panels and wind turbines have a maximum lifetime of 20-30 years.
Another important signal from Japan, is the announcement of the restart of a nuclear fuel plant by Mitsubishi Nuclear Fuel Co.