About the Working Groups
Fuel Cycle Members' Forum | CORDEL | Fuel Report | Radiological Protection | Law | Capacity Optimization | Economics | Security of the Int'l Fuel Cycle | Supply Chain | Transport | Waste Management & Decomm | Sustainable Used Fuel Management | Nuclear Innovation Roadmap - NI2050
World Nuclear Association member representatives can view all Working Group reports, documents, presentations and contact lists on the members website.
Fuel Cycle Members' Forum
Chair: James Nevling (Exelon)
Staff Director: Stephen Tarlton
The Fuel
Cycle Members Forum (formerly Fuel Cycle Plenary) focuses on developments in
nuclear fuel and trade, and typically attracts 80-90 people to meetings.
Sessions
consist of formal presentations and panel discussions, as well as reports from
Working Groups in the fuel cycle area.
Chair: Jerry Head (GE-Hitachi)
Deputy Chairs: Hae Ryong Hwang (KEPCO E&C), Jean Barbaud (EDF) and Don Hoffman (Excel Services)
Staff Directors: Andrew Wasylyk and Henri Pelin
CORDEL’s mission is to promote a worldwide nuclear regulatory environment where internationally accepted standardized reactor designs can be widely deployed without major design changes at the national level. In practice, this would mean that generic design certification and safety evaluations approved by a recognised competent authority in the country of origin would be acceptable in other countries.
CORDEL acts as industry’s voice in the area of reactor design standardization with the Multinational Design Evaluation Programme (MDEP), IAEA, ENISS, EUR, International Electro-Technical Commission (IEC) and the SDO Board.
In 2016, CORDEL and the Long Term Operation Task Force launched a consultation and outreach initiative designed to solicit information on the main technical and regulatory issues facing nuclear power plants – both operating and new-build. Two regional workshops were held, the first hosted by Exelon in June 2016 in Chicago, US; the second in cooperation with Rosatom in October 2016 in Moscow, Russia. The next workshop will be held in 2017 in Asia.
The key successes of the various CORDEL Task Forces in 2016, as well as further tasks to be undertaken, include:
- The Mechanical Codes and Standards Task Force played a key role in drafting an international comparison of welding and welders’ qualification requirements, which was published by ASME as a report in early 2016. The Task Force has launched its benchmark on non-linear analysis methods, with results expected in 2017. The group has also initiated a new project on the comparison of code requirements for fatigue analysis.
- The Design Change Management Task Force has finalised its design authority report, which is aligned closely with WANO principles. The main messages of the report have been presented at two IAEA Conferences (on Regulatory Effectiveness, April 2016, and on Knowledge Management, November 2016).
- The Licensing and Permitting Task Force, a joint initiative with the Law Working Group, has initiated work on the concept of the reference plant and on the licensing processes for decommissioning. The members of this group also support the other CORDEL Task Forces, for example the SMR Task Force, on licensing issues.
- The IAEA Nuclear Safety Standards Task Force continues to monitor the work being performed by the IAEA Nuclear Safety Standards Committee (NUSSC) providing industry input where required.
- The Digital Instrumentation & Control (I&C) Task Force has established a formal liaison with the IEC. Work continues in the area of safety classification of I&C systems, defence in-depth and the modernization of I&C systems in existing plants. Several reports are in preparation.
- The Small Modular Reactors Task Force advocates applying the CORDEL model to global SMR deployment with its vision laid out in a 2015 report Facilitating International Licensing of Small Modular Reactors. Current work is focused on the areas of in-factory certification, infrastructure for embarking countries, and export control. A position paper on very small modular reactors (VSMR) is also under preparation
Co-Chairs: Fletcher Newton (TENAM) and Fredrik Leijonhufvud (Vattenfall)
Staff Director: Ian Emsley
Published since the 1970s, The Nuclear Fuel Report: Global Scenarios for Demand and Supply
Availability compiles data from companies, international agencies and other
public sources to produce an authoritative projection of global nuclear fuel supply
and demand. The Fuel Report Working Group is the forum through which member
experts cooperate on the publication. The group is broken down into sub-groups,
which focus on different areas of the fuel cycle, and have ownership for
different chapters.
In 2016 the group started to work on the September 2017
edition, which will cover the period 2017-2035. Over three meetings in January,
April and September, new possibilities for extending and recasting the report
were discussed and agreed. An interim update of the nuclear capacity scenarios
was published in September, while the Utilities Questionnaire was sent in Q4
and the results used to update the planned capacity changes in the Uranium
Requirements Model. 2016 also saw a survey undertaken of member attitudes towards
security of fuel supply, which was reported on at the September meeting.
In 2017 the Secretariat will gather further information via
the Inventories and Producer Questionnaires and continue to update data based on this and new public information. Ongoing teleconferences and email
exchanges will ensure that consensus is achieved on the final form and content
of the report, which will be presented at the Association’s Annual Symposium in
September.
Deputy Chairs: Willie Harris (Exelon) and Chuong Pham (BHP Billiton)
Staff Director: Binika Shah
The group’s mission is to
ensure that industry expertise and perspectives are considered in the setting
of radiological standards with implications for nuclear commerce and
operations. It acts as the global nuclear industry’s interface with established
international institutions, such as the International Commission on
Radiological Protection (ICRP) and the Radiation Safety Standards Committee
(RASSC) of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The group has also
established a cooperation agreement with the International Radiation Protection
Association (IRPA).
2016 highlights include:
- Representing industry views at the 14th IRPA Congress and
the ICRP Special Liaison Organisations meeting.
- Undertaking a plenary session with various international
organisations to discuss the status and development of the system for
radiological protection.
- Finalising a mid- to long-term strategy for the group.
In 2017, the ongoing lessons to be drawn from the accident at Fukushima Daiichi, especially around preparing for emergencies, and the transition from the emergency phase, will feature prominently in the Group’s work and tie in with a visit to the site in April. There will be further consideration of RP in relation to radon and low dose radiation. The group will also continue to monitor and coordinate industry participation in the work of IAEA, ICRP and OSPAR.
Chair: Helen Cook (Shearman and Sterling)
Deputy Chair: Chris White (Urenco)
Staff Director: Kangjun Lee
The group was established with a mandate to raise awareness amongst the broader membership of the World Nuclear Association concerning the legal issues and developments affecting the global nuclear industry, as well as to provide a forum for the members’ legal representatives to discuss such issues and developments and to liaise with other groups and assist when necessary on ways to respond to specific legal challenges. It has developed mutually beneficial relationships with the legal offices of the IAEA and OECD-NEA as well as with other relevant stakeholders (e.g. INLA, WENRA and MDEP).
In 2016, the group examined various legal developments, such as the entry into force of the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and the potential impacts of Brexit on the nuclear industry. There were also discussions on finance mechanisms for new build and decommissioning.
In 2017, the group plans to continue to be a forum for discussion of emerging topics, such as de-licensing of facilities as well as the accessibility of countries’ bilateral nuclear cooperation agreements that affect the activities of the Association’s member companies. The group also seeks to broaden its membership and encourage the participation of additional legal representatives from member companies.
Capacity OptimizationChair: Mike Baron (Global Nuclear Associates)
Staff Director: Henri Pelin
The Capacity Optimization Working Group identifies means by which nuclear power plant operators worldwide can improve the performance of their plants. The group focuses on areas relevant to plant economics such as availability, reliability, flexibility and capacity. In 2015, the group created a Long Term Operation (LTO) Task Force as a forum for: sharing and comparing experience on the LTO licensing processes for different countries; addressing the challenges relating to engineering and asset management; and exchanging and defining best practice. In 2016, the LTO Task Force teamed up with CORDEL to hold the first two regional workshops of a series designed to solicit information on the main technical and regulatory issues facing nuclear power plants. The first workshop was held in June 2016 in Chicago, hosted by Exelon, and the second in October in Moscow, in cooperation with Rosatom. The September meeting focused on the services offered by vendors to operators in the frame of LTO. In 2017, the Task Force will coordinate the next regional workshop to be held in Asia, and cooperate in the IAEA’s 4th International Conference on Nuclear Power Plant Life Management to be held in Lyon, France.
Chair: Milton Caplan (MZ Consulting)
Staff Directors: Greg Kaser and Ian Emsley
In 2016, the group updated the World Nuclear Association’s Nuclear Power Economics and Project Structuring report, the findings of which will support the Association’s outreach in 2017. Some data was also gathered on nuclear employment and presented to the group but was not sufficient to allow a report to be written on the subject.
The group will contribute to the Nuclear Energy Agency’s review over the course of 2017 of the way levelized costs of electricity are calculated to include the value of dispatchable power. It will also support the Long-term Operations Task Force and the Waste Management and Decommissioning Working Group on the economics of major refurbishment projects and decommissioning costs.
Chair: Roger Brunt (Grosmont Howe Ltd)
Staff Director: Serge Gorlin
The mission of this Working Group is to:
• Assemble the practical expertise of the industry and stakeholders (including newcomers) to formulate an industry viewpoint on security policy and systems
• Support and guide the Association’s engagement with IAEA and other agencies in the fields of security and non-proliferation to ensure that the industry’s analysis contributes effectively to the consideration of future policy options. The Group is represented on the Nuclear Security Guidance Committee (NSGC), responsible for developing IAEA recommendations on security.
• Foster cooperation amongst member companies on cyber security issues
• Promote a reliable and proliferation-resistant international fuel cycle and act as a reference point for potential newcomers
In 2016, the group contributed to the working group reports and joint statement of the final Nuclear Industry Summit held in March in Washington. It also organised a side event to discuss industry’s role in security at the IAEA Security Conference in December. World Nuclear Association was an official cooperating partner at this conference.
In 2017, the group intends to increase its focus on the 30 IAEA security recommendations under development providing feedback where required. The group will also contribute to new Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) projects on cyber security, following publication of its 2015 report: Cyber Security at Civil Nuclear Facilities.
Chair: Vacant
Staff Director: Greg Kaser
The Supply Chain Working Group (SCWG) supports members in monitoring and identifying market trends, in identifying techniques for timely and efficient plant construction, and in communicating with stakeholders on industrial developments. The group has represented the industry at the Vendor Inspection Coordination Working Group (VICWG) of the Multinational Design Evaluation Program (MDEP).
A third edition of the World Nuclear Supply Chain Outlook was published in August 2016. The report included a special section on exporting nuclear technology. The group also published a report on vendor oversight and quality control in the nuclear industry in December 2016. A presentation on the risk of counterfeit, fraudulent and suspect items was made to VICWG in December 2016.
The New Build Lesson-learning Task Force, which was established in September 2015 under SCWG, will issue its findings and discuss these with key stakeholders, including power and finance sectors, in the first half of 2017.
The group will continue to work with the Nuclear Quality Standard Association to help ensure that of a new quality management standard for the nuclear supply chain issued by the International Organization for Standardization meets the needs and aspirations of licensees and technology vendors.
In 2017 the SCWG also plans to revisit the 2015 report on nuclear export controls and contribute to the development of a standard for internal compliance programs through the Botticelli Project.
TransportStaff Director: Serge Gorlin
This group acts as a forum for communicating industry developments, exchanging leading practice, and for identifying and resolving issues relating to the shipment of nuclear material. The primary focus of the group is to address commercial topics relating to the transport of front-end nuclear materials.
The group is represented on the Transport Facilitation
Working Group (TFWG), a multi-stakeholder initiative to preserve and open up
new routes for the transport of radioactive material, and the IAEA’s Transport
Safety Standards Committee (TRANSSC). The group also enjoys close ties with the
World Nuclear Transport Institute.
In 2016, the group conducted research and analysis of the
insurance market for nuclear transport. It also conducted an outreach meeting
in Abu Dhabi in April, which brought together regional and international
transport experts.
In 2017, the group will undertake dialogue with the
insurance community with a view to bringing additional capacity to market as
well as spreading risks for nuclear transport. It will also consider
contributing a section on transport to the next edition of the World Nuclear
Association’s Nuclear Fuel Report.
Chair: Mike Pieraccini (EDF)
Staff Director: Binika Shah
This group monitors developments in the international system of waste management and decommissioning and helps to shape industry positions. It advocates the appropriate re-use and recycling of material – and safe disposal of wastes – from nuclear sites. The group represents industry interests on the IAEA Waste Safety Standards Committee (WASSC) and Radioactive Waste Technical Committee (WATEC).
Over 2016, a sub-group of members has worked on a methodological guide for managing waste from decommissioning, the scope of which covers the strategic, technical and economic aspects of waste management. The guide is expected to be finalised in 2017. The group will remain a forum for companies with experience of waste management and decommissioning to share their know-how and experience with those new to the field or planning for the future. A priority in 2017 will remain cooperating with other Working Groups on topics such as sharing practical lessons learned on the radiological protection of workers during decommissioning, preparing for the end of license, and the economics of managing waste and decommissioning.
Sustainable Used Fuel Management GroupActing Chair: Mikhail Baryshnikov (TENEX)
The mission of this group is to monitor developments and shape industry positions with the view to engage in the international debate on sustainable management strategies for the back end of the fuel cycle. The group also acts as a forum for experts to share leading used fuel management practices.
In 2016, the group contributed to the review of the first IAEA Status and Trends in Spent Fuel and Radioactive Waste Management report, and was invited to join the Steering Committee for future editions of the report.
The group also successfully conducted a pilot survey of the members focusing on used fuel management strategy, technical issues, as well as financial and communication aspects. In 2017, the group intends to roll out the survey to all other nuclear utilities.
Nuclear Innovation Roadmap - NI2050This group coordinates industry input into the OECD/NEA Nuclear Innovation 2050 Roadmap project. This project is designed to produce an action plan to boost nuclear fission research and innovation in line with the NEA/IEA Nuclear Technology Roadmap published in February 2015. The roadmap consisting of four areas (reactors; fuel; recycle and waste; emerging energy systems) will give an overview of existing programmes and infrastructure, and also outline what is needed in research, development and demonstration to 2050 and beyond.
Experts’ as well as Advisory meetings – all involving experts from the Industry – were held in 2016, with the objective of proposing prioritized R&D programmes.
The finalization of the roadmap has been delayed for some months due to the complexity of this task, and is now intended to be completed by the end of 2017.
