Category: IAEA

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Relationship Between Safety and Sustainability Explored at IAEA Conference

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

Over 600 policy makers, regulators, owners and operators of nuclear and radiation facilities, as well as representatives from non-governmental organizations and academic institutions are participating in discussions at the International Conference on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management, Decommissioning, Environmental Protection and Remediation: Ensuring Safety and Enabling Sustainability.  

The weeklong conference that opens today will cover various thematic topics — on the management of radioactive waste, environmental protection, decommissioning of facilities using radioactive materials, and remediation of contaminated areas — and draw attention to the relationship between safety and sustainability.

“There are many opportunities for nuclear science and technology to contribute to sustainable development if we get it right – in particular, if it is safe throughout its lifecycle,” said Lydie Evrard, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Safety and Security in her opening remarks, noting that “it is important to generate awareness on this relationship between safety and sustainability. Relevant interested parties: regulators, operators, governments, play a vital role as do the public who ultimately play an essential role in the acceptance and development of safe and sustainable solutions for the uses of nuclear technologies and applications.”

Through its mandate to accelerate and enlarge the contribution of atomic energy to peace, health and prosperity, the IAEA actively supports countries in their efforts to reach United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The use of nuclear science and technology contributes directly to nine of the 17 SDGs, in areas including energy, human health, food production, water management and environmental protection. The safe management of radioactive waste, environmental releases, decommissioning, and remediation is key to ensuring that the use of nuclear science and technologies is itself sustainable.

The interconnection between safety and sustainability is a systemic and dynamic one as they both influence each other. Enabling the sustainable use of nuclear applications requires optimization of the related protection and safety parameters and at the same time, the optimisation of protection and safety is anchored in the three pillars of sustainability.

At the conference, participants will also learn about one of the ways in which the IAEA supports its Member States to strengthen the sustainable uses of nuclear applications through nuclear safety— which is through the peer reviews and advisory services it offers. One such service is the Integrated Review Service for Radioactive Waste and Spent Fuel Management, Decommissioning and Remediation (ARTEMIS) that offers independent expert opinion and advice based on the IAEA safety standards, technical guidance and international good practices.

Another important area that will be discussed at the conference is the IAEA safety standards that serve as a global reference for protecting human health and the environment. These safety standards highlight that the societal, economic and environmental aspects should also be taken into account and be integrated with safety aspects in a holistic way in the decision-making processes for sustainable development.

“Whichever way you look at it, safety – safety throughout the lifetime of nuclear science and technology – is intrinsically integrated with sustainable development,” said Evrard adding that “the safety standards also reflect this influence of sustainability on safety.” 

The IAEA conference is being held in cooperation with the European Commission (EC), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

“It is timely to consider carefully the implications of Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals for the international framework for safety,” said Carl-Magnus Larsson, the Conference Chair.  “By learning from decommissioning, waste management, remediation, and environmental protection, we may position ourselves better in carrying out future activities in a way that is safe and sustainable,” he added.

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IAEA Conference to Discuss Safety of Radioactive Waste Management, Decommissioning, Environmental Protection and Remediation

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

Government officials, regulators, industry, and civil society, including non-governmental organizations and academic institutions are gathering this week at the International Conference on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management, Decommissioning, Environmental Protection and Remediation.

The purpose of the event is to provide a forum for exchanging information, experiences, and anticipated future developments for keeping the highest levels of standards on safety and managing the interrelationships between safety and sustainability. The event will also identify pragmatic approaches for managing such interrelationships. 

The five-day event is open to the media and will be streamed live today from the opening at 09:30 CET. It will take place in M-Plenary/BR-B/M1, on the first floor of the M-Building of the Vienna International Centre (VIC).

Press opportunities:

The conference is open to the media. The full programme is available here.  

Accreditation

All journalists are asked to request accreditation to the conference by emailing the IAEA Press Office at press@iaea.org.

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The Role of Medical Imaging in Addressing Growing Global Cancer Burden

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

The importance of lifesaving medical imaging as part of widening global access to cancer care, was highlighted at a Women in Nuclear IAEA event at the Agency’s Vienna headquarters last week.   

IAEA Director General, Rafael Mariano Grossi, the Minister for Public Health for Uruguay, Karina Rando, and United States Ambassador to the Vienna Office of the United Nations and to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Laura Holgate, were among international and IAEA experts highlighting the importance of nuclear technologies as one of the most powerful tools in the fight against cancer. 

Highlighting how the IAEA flagship initiative Rays of Hope is helping close the gap in cancer care access in low- and middle-income countries, Mr Grossi said the IAEA was making an “intense effort” to expand access to medical imaging across the world.   

“It is not acceptable, morally or ethically or in any other way, that cancers that here in Vienna are perfectly curable are a death sentence in so many countries all around the world.” 

 Uruguay’s Minister of Public Health Karina Rando spoke of Uruguay’s legacy in the field of cancer care, highlighting Raul Leborgne, a Uruguayan radiographer who invented the first mammography device in the 1950s.  

“Uruguay has consistently shown dedication to addressing women’s health issues,” she said.  
“There are ongoing national programmes and initiatives that focus on diseases like breast and cervical cancer, emphasizing early detection, awareness and treatment.” 

In Uruguay, every year, 2000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer and 700 die due to the disease. In terms of cervical cancer, annually there are 300 new diagnoses, and 130 deaths. More than half of the people diagnosed with cervical cancer are younger than 50 years old.  

US Ambassador Laura Holgate, who serves as the Permanent Representative of the United States to the IAEA, said the Rays of Hope initiative was a prime example of the benefits of expanding access of peaceful nuclear technologies around the world. 

“Cancer currently accounts for one in every six deaths worldwide,” she said. “According to estimates from the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the number of global cancer cases is expected to grow significantly in the next two decades, increasing the burden on countries with limited or no access to such care. Unfortunately, the heaviest burden will fall on low and middle-income countries, where over 70 per cent of cancer deaths are expected to occur, yet these areas receive only five per cent of global spending in this area.  

“Every single cancer patient deserves access to lifesaving treatments.”  

The importance of building capacity in terms of a skilled workforce to meet the increasing demand for nuclear technologies was also discussed, with emphasis placed on the importance of greater inclusivity and diversity.  

May Abdel-Wahab, Director of the Division of Human Health at the IAEA, said delivering better access to cancer care remained a challenge: “We cannot forget that equipment alone will not usher in an era of equity for all. Urgently increasing the number of well-trained professionals globally will be key for success and sustainability.”

The importance of promoting greater gender parity in nuclear professions and in medicine and research was also stressed by many participants at the event, to address gender bias in medical treatment which could otherwise have a negative impact on health outcomes for women. 

“The current workforce, even in high income countries, exhibits gender imbalance,” said Abdel-Wahab.

The IAEA has a number of initiatives promoting greater gender equality in the nuclear field, including its flagship Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme, which provides female students with scholarships for Master’s programmes and an opportunity to pursue an internship facilitated by the IAEA. 

The event was held by the IAEA’s Women in Nuclear network, an organization committed to the advancement of qualified women in the nuclear and radiation professions. 

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Update 192 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

A new team of experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency crossed the frontline this week to replace their colleagues in monitoring nuclear safety and security at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), the thirteenth such mission since the IAEA last year established a permanent presence at the site to help prevent a nuclear accident during the military conflict, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said today.

Also on Thursday – when the rotation of IAEA experts took place – there were Russian reports of drone attacks in the town of Enerhodar, where many plant staff live.

Almost every day in recent weeks and months, the IAEA experts have continued to hear explosions some distance away from Europe’s largest nuclear power plant (NPP), underlining ever-present dangers to nuclear safety and security.

“For fourteen months now, we have had IAEA experts present at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant, monitoring nuclear safety and security and informing the world about developments there. Their work is vital for efforts to keep this major nuclear facility safe and protect people and the environment in Ukraine and beyond. However, the risk remains. Our important work continues as long as it is necessary,” Director General Grossi said.

Over the past week, the IAEA experts have continued to perform walkdowns at the site,  visiting its facilities for storing fresh fuel, the emergency diesel generators of unit 1, the  open switchyard of the 750 kilovolt power line, the central warehouse and the temporary emergency response centre. They were informed that an emergency exercise is planned for November, the first since before the conflict.

The experts have also been at the ZNPP’s cooling pond and associated areas, where they observed cleaning of the outlet channel of the cooling towers. The IAEA team was informed that the current shutdown status of the ZNPP’s six reactors provided an opportunity to perform this cleaning work.

Following last month’s closure of the reactor vessel of unit 3, which had been left open following maintenance in 2022, the plant informed the IAEA experts that pressure testing of the unit’s steam generators was under way and would be completed over the weekend, after which testing on the primary and secondary cooling circuits will be conducted. Today, the ZNPP confirmed to the IAEA experts that unit 3 would be kept in cold shutdown following the completion of the pressure tests.

An open reactor vessel together with the adjacent spent fuel storage pool contains borated water which might be pumped and used for cooling of fuel in any of the six units, if needed. However, additional volumes of borated water are also stored in two special buildings at the ZNPP site. The reactor vessel closure improves the nuclear safety status of the unit.

The ZNPP confirmed to the IAEA experts this week that there are no plans to re-start any of the units, four of which are in cold shutdown and two in hot shutdown to generate steam for various nuclear safety functions and heating for Enerhodar during the winter.

The IAEA continues to pay close attention to maintenance activities at the site, with maintenance of equipment essential for plant safety a continued source of concern.

“The reduced number of maintenance staff at the plant and the limited availability of all necessary spare parts have the potential to impact the operation of safety systems. It is essential that all necessary maintenance is performed,” Director General Grossi said.

Related to such activities, the IAEA experts were informed that maintenance of part of the safety system of unit 6, as well as hydraulic testing of its primary cooling circuit, was completed this week.

The IAEA experts are also continuing to collect information on the status and condition of staff, as well as on the training and licensing of operating staff at the plant under Russian Federation regulations.

As part of preparations for the winter, the ZNPP has begun to insulate the ground water wells that have been constructed near the water sprinkler pond area as an alternative source of cooling water following the destruction of the Kakhovka dam in June. The insulation is intended to ensure that the wells continue to provide cooling water to these ponds, which in turn provide essential cooling of the six reactors, during the winter.

The IAEA team has continued to request access to the rooftops of reactor units 1, 5 and 6, after in recent months being able to go to those areas of the ZNPP’s three other units.

The IAEA experts also need access to all six turbine halls together. However, they were only granted partial access to the turbine hall of reactor unit 2 on 27 October, after earlier the same month receiving similarly restrictive access to the turbine halls of units 1 and 4.

Eight of the plant’s nine mobile diesel boilers are currently operating to generate more heating during the winter, their usage depending on the requirements for steam at the plant and for heating in Enerhodar.

The IAEA teams at Ukraine’s three other NPPs – the Khmelnitsky, Rivne and South Ukraine NPPs – and the Chornobyl site report safe and secure operations of these nuclear facilities despite the continuation of the conflict.

This week, the IAEA carried out its 31th delivery of equipment to Ukraine to support nuclear safety and security in the country. State enterprise USIE Izotop and the Institute for Safety Problems of Nuclear Power Plants of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine received portable gamma-radiation detectors donated by Greece.

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Hosting a Nuclear Facility: Mayors Discuss Role of Community Engagement

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

Engaging local stakeholders through transparent and open dialogue is pivotal for the success of nuclear projects. Engagement requires time, trust-building and adaptability as expectations evolve. In many places, communities that initially expressed scepticism or opposition have become advocates because of this engagement and better understanding of what it means to host a nuclear facility.

“The nuclear industry in Canada provides tens of thousands of high paying jobs, provides medical isotopes around the globe and, for Ontario, generates a significant amount of reliable, affordable, low carbon electricity,” said Adrian Foster, Mayor of Clarington in Canada. “As a host community, we enable all of these benefits, and we take pride in that.”

The IAEA recently hosted a meeting in Vienna that brought together leaders of nuclear facility host communities, representatives of facility operators, safety authorities and government officials from some 50 countries to share experiences in fostering positive relationships with local stakeholders. A group of host community representatives also met with IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, who recognized the need for open engagement with stakeholders if low carbon nuclear energy is to achieve its potential in the clean energy transition.

Nuclear energy stands on a robust technical and safety foundation, but misconceptions and concerns persist, particularly about nuclear waste. The IAEA supports countries in their efforts to engage stakeholders in activities that span the nuclear fuel cycle, from uranium mining to nuclear power plant construction and decommissioning, up to waste management, through publications, conferences, expert missions and technical meetings as well as the Safety Standards.

Mayor Rebecca Casper of Idaho Falls in the United States of America, home to the Idaho National Laboratory, highlighted how an initially fraught public dialogue has positively evolved over time.

“A dialogue that was formed through distrust and even some anger has transformed into one that is now based on collaboration over improving future outcomes,” Caspar said. “The form of engagement also has changed from press releases and ad-hoc public meetings to a schedule of regular, face-to-face meetings and forums. I believe regular interaction facilitates ongoing attention and understanding as problems emerge or plans change.”

Countries initiating nuclear power programmes also contributed to the discussion, including Lilian Matu of the Kenya Nuclear Power and Energy Agency. “In Kenya, the local communities have different languages, cultures and norms that lead to communication barriers,” Matu said. “Hence, it is important to undertake a contextual analysis of the community before any engagement and understand their languages, interests, beliefs and perceptions.”

Participants also noted the important distinctions between hosting research reactors and nuclear power reactors or radioactive waste facilities, as each of them has different purposes, opportunities and risks. Casper compared discussions about waste storage versus new technologies and their potential economic and environmental benefits. “It can be much easier to create a public dialogue that is based on future opportunity than one based on measured risk,” she said.

Fabian Sjoberg is Mayor of Östhammar, which hosts both nuclear power reactors and the future spent fuel repository in Sweden. “Östhammar is in favour of hosting nuclear facilities because we are, and have always been, an industrial municipality. For most people, the nuclear industry in our municipality is like any other industry,” Sjoberg said.

However, establishing a nuclear facility such as geological repository for spent fuel takes time, and it is something final that will stay in the community forever, bringing additional challenges for local engagement and outreach.

“Some may say that the progress is slow, but if so, it is because the nuclear community, engineers and scientists, are taking every precaution to do this right,” said Olena Mykolaichuk, Head of the IAEA’s Division of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology. “The perception may be that nothing happens because we don’t know what to do, but the truth is different: it happens slowly because we do know what we are doing.”

National support is crucial for host communities, and formal associations can facilitate this, promoting knowledge exchange and cooperation among host communities. Associations, such as the Canadian Association of Nuclear Host Communities and the US Energy Communities Alliance, provide valuable insights, connections to national leaders, and avenues for positive changes in laws and regulations, according to participants.

Sjoberg, who also serves as Vice Chair of the Group of European Municipalities with Nuclear Facilities in Europe, emphasized the importance of municipalities conducting their own studies and research. “Doing this in a way that strengthens the process requires external funding for the municipality,” he said. “But without the support and engagement from the local government and listening to its citizens, it’s impossible to have a successful process, and the time will instead be spent handling upset communities.”

The October meeting was the latest effort by the IAEA to support national initiatives to strengthen stakeholder engagement and outreach related to nuclear power programmes. Last April, the Agency hosted a first-of-a-kind workshop on reimagining nuclear energy. It brought together more than 60 participants from 32 countries including from academia, government and industry to explore creative and innovative ways to engage stakeholders on nuclear energy, which provides a quarter of all low carbon electricity.

“Meetings like this provide a platform for sharing experiences and discussing challenges in different countries but also for constructive thought evaluation on what is working, what is not and how best to improve,” Matu said.

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IAEA Confirms Third Batch of ALPS Treated Water Released Today Has Tritium Level Far Below Japan’s Operational Limit

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

The tritium concentration in the third batch of diluted ALPS treated water, which Japan’s Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) started discharging today, is far below the country’s operational limit, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) experts present at the site confirmed.

IAEA experts stationed at the IAEA Fukushima NPS Office took samples from the third batch of diluted water on 30 October, after it was prepared for discharge. Using Agency equipment, the IAEA’s independent on-site analysis confirmed that the tritium concentration in the diluted water that is being discharged is far below the operational limit of 1,500 becquerels per litre.

Japan is discharging the ALPS treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (FDNPS) in batches. The IAEA has confirmed that both previous batches – which started on August 24 and October 5 – also contained tritium concentrations far below operational limits.

Last week, the IAEA Task Force conducting the ongoing safety review of the water discharge said that the release was progressing as planned and without any technical concerns.

All reports on sampling, independent analysis and data evaluation will be available on the IAEA website.

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IAEA Mission Says Czech Republic Manages Radioactive Waste and Spent Fuel Safely, Encourages Preparations for Nuclear Power Expansion

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) mission said the Czech Republic has established a solid basis for the safe and responsible management of radioactive waste and spent fuel. The IAEA team also provided recommendations and suggestions regarding plans for a deep geological repository (DGR) and to ensure readiness for a potential expansion and prolongation of the country’s nuclear power programme.

The Integrated Review Service for Radioactive Waste and Spent Fuel Management, Decommissioning and Remediation (ARTEMIS) review team concluded a ten-day mission to the Czech Republic on 25 October. The mission was requested by the Government to support the Czech Republic’s need to meet EU obligations for independent reviews of national frameworks and programmes for managing radioactive waste and spent fuel. It considered the findings from a recent IAEA Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) review mission.

The Czech Republic operates six nuclear power reactors at two nuclear power plants (NPPs) in the country’s south: four units at Dukovany NPP and two at Temelin NPP. The Government has initiated a tender for a new unit in Dukovany. It also evaluates the possible construction of one more unit in Dukovany and one or two new units in Temelín. The country is preparing a policy for deploying small and medium-sized (or modular) reactors to reduce carbon emissions in industrial sectors and district heating.

After storage in pools for seven to ten years, spent fuel is kept in dry storage facilities at the NPP sites. A shallow land repository for low-level radioactive waste from both NPPs is located at the Dukovany NPP site. The Government plans to commission a deep geological repository for spent fuel and shortlisted four possible sites in 2020.

A repository for low and intermediate-level waste from medical and industrial use is situated in a former limestone mine, Richard, near Litoměřice in the north of the Czech Republic. Another repository for waste from health, industry and research sectors containing naturally occurring radionuclides can be found near Jáchymov in the northwestern part of the country.

ARTEMIS reviews provide independent expert assessments using teams of international specialist peer reviewers convened by the IAEA. They can cover all aspects and topics related to managing radioactive waste and spent fuel, decommissioning and remediation. Reviews are based on the IAEA safety standards, technical guidance, and international good practices.

The ARTEMIS review team comprised six experts from France, Hungary, Romania, the Slovak Republic, Sweden, the United Kingdom and two IAEA staff members.

The team held extensive discussions with representatives of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Czech Radioactive Waste Repository Authority (SÚRAO), the State Office for Nuclear Safety (SÚJB), the operator of the NPPs (ČEZ), and the Nuclear Research Institute Řež (ÚJV Řež). The team also visited the Richard facility, where they received briefings on the waste package testing site and the underground caverns holding low and intermediate-level waste.

The team commended the strong commitment of the Government and all involved organizations to ensure the safe management of radioactive waste. It concluded that many relevant aspects for the safe management of radioactive waste and spent fuel are in place.

“The Czech Republic has put in place many aspects relevant to the safe management of radioactive waste and spent fuel,” said ARTEMIS team leader Sylvie Voinis, Deputy Director of Safety, Environment and Waste Management strategy at the French National Agency for Radioactive Waste Management (ANDRA). “By adequately considering the outcomes of the present review, the Czech Republic will be in a good position to continue meeting high standards of safety for radioactive waste and spent fuel management in the country.”

The team also provided recommendations and suggestions to maintain and further improve the safe management of radioactive waste in the Czech Republic, including:

  • The Government should consider undertaking an in-depth review of the potential impacts on the financing arrangements of an expanded scope and extended duration of the country’s nuclear power programme.
  • The Government should consider undertaking a review of the potential impact of radioactive waste and spent fuel from additional nuclear power reactors which could be included in a future State Energy Policy.
  • SÚRAO should consider further enhancing plans and resources for engagement with interested parties, in particular with potential host communities, to ensure sustained and effective engagement beyond the site selection phase of the DGR.

The review team also acknowledged the mechanisms for verifying the alignment of the individual organizations’ strategies with the national policy and for ensuring the alignment between the strategies as a good practice.

“SURAO, as a waste disposal implementor, highly appreciates all technical discussions and observations that underline the good basis for safe and responsible waste management. It is based on the high technical competence and the solid performance of all organizations and facilities ensuring the safety of radioactive waste disposal in the Czech Republic,” said Lukáš Vondrovic, SÚRAO Director.  

“On behalf of the Czech counterparts, we appreciate the approach of foreign experts and thank them for the intensive discussion in the last ten days. The observations and recommendations will help us to improve the radioactive waste and spent fuel management framework and programme, an essential part of the nuclear programme development in the Czech Republic. We are confident that we have set a good path for further improving the plans for the future DGR,” said Tomáš Ehler, acting Director General of the Section of Energy and Nuclear Sources of the Ministry of Industry.

The final report from the review will be provided to the Government of the Czech Republic in two months.

About ARTEMIS

ARTEMIS is an integrated expert review service for radioactive waste and spent fuel management, decommissioning and remediation programmes. This service is intended for facility operators and organizations responsible for radioactive waste management, as well as for regulators, national policymakers and other decision-makers.

The IAEA Safety Standards provide a robust framework of fundamental principles, requirements, and guidance to ensure safety. They reflect an international consensus and serve as a global reference for protecting people and the environment from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation. IAEA documents, such as Nuclear Energy Series publications, are also included in the review basis. They include practical examples to be used by owners and operators of utilities, implementing organizations, academia, and government officials in Member States, among others.

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IAEA’s Technical Cooperation Programme: Nuclear Science for Sustainable Development

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

The Technical Cooperation Programme is the IAEA’s primary mechanism for transferring nuclear technology to Member States, helping them to address key development priorities in areas such as health and nutrition, food and agriculture, water and the environment, industrial applications, and nuclear knowledge development and management. The Programme also helps Member States to identify and meet future energy needs, and assists in improving radiation safety and nuclear security worldwide, including through the provision of legislative assistance.

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Japan’s Reports on Conditions at TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, 30 October 2023

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

On 26 October 2023, Japan provided the IAEA with a copy of a report on the discharge record and the seawater monitoring results at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station during September, which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent to all international Missions in Japan.

The report contains information on discharges from the subdrain and groundwater drain systems, as well as on groundwater bypassing conducted during the month of September. In both cases, in advance of the action, TEPCO analyzes the quality of the groundwater to be discharged and announces the results. These results confirm that the radiation level of sampled water are substantially below the operational targets set by TEPCO.

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IAEA Reviews Estonia’s Nuclear Power Infrastructure Development

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

Estonia has developed a comprehensive assessment of its nuclear power infrastructure needs to enable the government to decide whether to launch a nuclear power programme, an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of experts said today.

The IAEA team concluded an eight day mission to Estonia to review the country’s infrastructure development for a nuclear power programme. The Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) was carried out at the request of the Government of Estonia.

Estonia, seeking to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, is looking at nuclear power as a reliable and low carbon option to diversify its energy mix by 2035 when the country plans its phase-out of domestic oil shale. The plans for nuclear energy are focussed on the deployment of small modular reactors (SMR) as a solution for climate-neutral electricity production and security of energy supply.  SMRs are the focus of increased global interest due to their ability to meet the need for flexible and affordable power generation for a wider range of users.

A Nuclear Energy Working Group was established in 2021 by the government to review the nuclear infrastructure required for the nuclear power programme. Its comprehensive report – planned to be finalized in December 2023 – will provide recommendations to support the Government to make a decision regarding the nuclear energy programme.

The INIR team comprised of three international experts from Brazil and the United Kingdom, as well as six IAEA staff. It reviewed the status of 19 nuclear infrastructure issues using the IAEA evaluation methodology for Phase 1 of the Milestones Approach which evaluates the readiness of a country to make a knowledgeable commitment to a nuclear power programme.

The mission team noted good practices in Estonia’s approach. It has commissioned a comprehensive set of detailed studies with the support of external experts as part of its assessment to be presented to the Government to support a knowledgeable decision. The team also said the country’s strategy to support future human resource development aims to ensure the short-term and long-term success of the nuclear power programme. Finally, the inclusion of a review of possible locations for the geological disposal of spent nuclear fuel in its assessment will help provide greater confidence to the public in Estonia’s ability to manage waste disposal.

“Estonia is well-organized in its preparations towards the decision on launching a nuclear power programme to support the country’s just transition towards net zero carbon emissions,” said Eric Mathet, Operational Lead of the IAEA Nuclear Infrastructure Development Section and Team Leader for the mission. “During the cooperative and open discussions held over the past days, we observed the strong commitment from Estonia’s highly motivated and competent professionals to developing the infrastructure needed for a nuclear power programme.”

The team said that Estonia now needs to finalize its comprehensive report to support the decision on a potential nuclear power programme, including with clear timelines for the major activities. The team also found that Estonia needs to complete its plans and policies and give further consideration to the development of its legal and regulatory framework to support the next phase of the programme.

Antti Tooming, Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Climate and Head of the Nuclear Energy Working Group said he welcomed the team’s findings which will be integrated into the working group’s comprehensive report. “The mission provided us with reassurance that we are on the right track with our nuclear energy considerations and gave us valuable insights for follow-up activities in the next phase if Estonia decides to embark on nuclear power.”

Based on the outcomes of the INIR Mission, the IAEA and Estonia will develop an Integrated Workplan to provide coordinated support in line with the future development of the country’s nuclear power programme. 

About INIR Missions

INIR missions are based on the IAEA Milestones Approach, with its 19 Infrastructure Issues, three phases (consider, prepare, construct) and three milestones (decide, contract, commission and operate). INIR missions enable IAEA Member State representatives to have in-depth discussions with international experts about experiences and best practices in different countries.

In developing its recommendations, the INIR team considers the comments made by the relevant national organizations. Implementation of any of the team’s recommendations and suggestions is at the discretion of the Member State requesting the mission. The results of the INIR mission are expected to help the Member State develop an action plan to fill any gaps, which in turn will help the development of the national nuclear infrastructure. INIR follow-up missions assess the implementation of the recommendations and suggestions provided during the main mission.