Research Reactor Group


Infrastructure, Planning, and Innovation:

Rationale:

Increasing global interest in a number of peaceful nuclear technology applications, including nuclear generated electricity, is manifesting itself in a growing demand for a variety of research reactor capabilities. However, available and technically capable facilities around the world are increasingly challenged to satisfy the increasing technical demands. With respect to the physical systems, structures and components; many Member States currently operating older research reactors are faced with difficult decisions regarding whether to decommission these facilities and invest in new, state of the art technology or initiate significant, complicated modernisation projects. Member States with little to no nuclear infrastructure are seriously considering research reactor projects as a stepping-stone to an eventual power programme, but lack the supporting organisations, institutions and experience required to initiate and effectively manage such an endeavour. Work in this area is designed to gather, consolidate and share pertinent information from within interested Member States regarding research reactor technical capabilities as well as the planning and implementation of different projects to deploy new or innovative systems, structures and components to achieve the desired ends. Activities will also address infrastructure, human resources and institutional arrangements needed for new national and regional research reactors.

This task is designed to fulfil these needs by collecting and sharing relevant information, including best practices and lessons learned.

Objective: