Also on Wednesday, the watchdog decided to freeze further steps to bring the Monju prototype fast-breeder nuclear reactor online, criticizing the Japan Atomic Energy Agency its operator for a series of significant safety lapses.

WSJ: Panel: Active Fault Runs Beneath Japan Reactor

Russia's Ministry of Atomic Energy, Minatom, is keen to build a new nuclear reactor at Seversk, though it does not have the money at present.

ECONOMIST: The time-bombs of Tomsk