Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Materials Section

Objectives

To increase the capabilities of interested Member States for policy making and strategic planning, technology development and implementation of safe, reliable, economically efficient, proliferation resistant and environmentally sound nuclear fuel cycle programs.


Introduction

The Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Materials Section is mainly responsible for implementing the activities related to Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Material Technologies

There is a broad spectrum of needs in different Member States, ranging from those with just one part of the fuel cycle, such as uranium mining, to a small number with entire fuel cycle services. Recently, attention on nuclear fuel cycle activities in interested Member States has been focused on the sustainable development of nuclear power. There are various issues in the nuclear fuel cycle affecting sustainability, such as: incidents caused by facility operation with insufficiently trained or unmotivated staff; increasing environmental burdens caused by some mining/milling operations; potential proliferation risks from civil plutonium utilization; and differences in fuel technology standards between Member States operating NPPs with different designs. In addition, there are political or social issues such as delays in the deployment of spent fuel repositories leading to increasing volumes of spent fuel for storage and prolongation of interim storage. These issues tend to devitalize not only nuclear fuel cycle activities but the whole of the nuclear power industry through eroded public confidence in nuclear power. Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Material Technologies of the Agency is designed to address these issues by contributing to the sustainable development of nuclear power.

Working Areas: