Weekly Global News Wrap Up: Swiss nuke reactor extends outage; Will China fully open energy sector to more private investors?; UK's renewables in dire need of "nurturing"

Find out what the world's biggest energy news are this week.

• Switzerland's biggest nuclear power station at Leibstadt will extend its outage for maintenance by eight weeks until Oct. 29, its operator said on Monday, after discovering discolouration in eight cladding tubes used to encase fuel rods. Find out more here.
• China will open sectors including oil and gas drilling to private capital to counter record-low investment growth by non-state firms. For strategic sectors such as telecommunications, energy and nuclear power, Herrero said there might be some private investment, but not "deep involvement." Read more about it here.
• Britain’s need for a coherent long-term energy strategy has been woefully neglected by governments of both left and right. One example is the furore over the plan for a new and hugely expensive nuclear power station at Hinkley Point. Another is provided by the latest official statistics on the sort of energy the UK uses and where it comes from. Know more about it here.
• Innovative ways to pay for solar power systems could make clean energy affordable for many of Zimbabwe's 1.5 million households that lack electricity, campaigners say. Read more here.
• Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter, plans to discuss energy cooperation agreements with China and Japan, the Saudi cabinet said on Monday. "The cabinet has approved to delegate a number of ministers to discuss with the Chinese side the following projects: a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to cooperate in the energy sector; an initial cooperation memorandum in the field of crude storage," a cabinet statement on state news agency SPA said. Find out more here.