Waste Technology Section
International Decommissioning Network (IDN)
Background
During the fall of 2007, the IAEA launched a new "Network" to provide a continuing forum for the sharing of practical decommissioning experience in response to the needs expressed at the Athens Conference in Dec. 2006 on "Lessons Learned from the Decommissioning of Nuclear Facilities and the Safe Termination of Nuclear Activities". This new Network is intended to bring together existing decommissioning initiatives both inside and outside the IAEA to enhance cooperation and coordination.
Responsible Officer: Paul DINNER
- Facilitate direct exchange of information between practitioners, i.e. between and among those with extensive decommissioning experience and those seeking to learn from this experience.
- Promote application of "best practices" in decommissioning technology, planning, project management, and the management of nuclear wastes.
- Support the Agency's agenda on decommissioning as set out in the "Decommissioning Action Plan"
- Improve the quality and timeliness of responses to requests from MSs for assistance with decommissioning of aging or shut-down facilities
- Assist in strategic and systematic planning of assistance resulting in a logical progression from preliminary planning to full implementation of decommissioning.
An initial programme for the IDN was developed in consultation with Member States at a Technical Meeting held in November 2007. Priorities for "hands on" training and demonstrations were developed. Initial efforts aim to complement existing training courses with additional offerings in the areas of:
- Technological "basics" of decommissioning
- Decontamination and cutting
- Waste management and clearance
IDN Participants can come from organizations in any Member State with responsibilities and interests as noted above. IDN Participants meeting the expectations for Members as noted below, will be identified as such and recognized by the Agency as "Centres of Excellence"
IDN Participants: Organizations that have responsibility for the decommissioning of nuclear facilities, are actively engaged in decommissioning planning or implementation, and who wish to participate in the activities of the IDN will be known as "IDN Participants"
IDN Members: Organizations (Participants) that possess a demonstrated breadth of decommissioning experience, a record of excellence in a wide range of areas, facilities suitable for demonstration or training and a willingness to share their experience through the IDN, will be identified as "IDN Members" and recognized by the Agency as "Centres of Excellence" in decommissioning.
Please click here for the complete Terms of Reference.Costs of membership and interactions are borne by the members and the participants in the Network. In line with practices of the IAEA's programme for Coordinated Research Projects (CRPs), IAEA may provide research contracts with eligible Member States. In addition, IAEA˙s Department of Technical Cooperation (TC) may allocate grants for training, courses, fellowships and scientific visits to the Centres of Excellence, for Member States eligible to receive assistance under the TC Programme.