Introductory Training Course for Safety Aspects of Long Term Operation Mission Reviewers

Background

More than half of the world’s operational nuclear power plants (NPPs) are over 30 years old. It is increasingly recognized that there are economic and environmental benefits in continuing to operate these plants beyond their originally planned lifetimes. This brings an increased interest in and need for plant life management strategies and preparations to ensure that long term operation (LTO) remains safe.

The IAEA supports Member States in LTO preparation through the publication of related safety standards and providing safety review services to assist in the application of these standards. The SALTO (Safety Aspects of Long Term Operation) safety review service comprehensively addresses strategies and technical elements necessary to manage the safety of NPPs and research reactors during the LTO period.

SALTO missions are conducted by a team of international experts. For an expert to become a SALTO reviewer, in addition to the technical knowledge and experience, it is indispensable to have sound knowledge of IAEA Safety Standards and the SALTO methodology, and to possess good reviewer skills. Training of reviewers consists of online training before the mission, training on the first day of the mission and on-the-job training as an observer during their first SALTO missions. In addition, the IAEA will provide a 3-day training course for first-time reviewers in August 2025, and based on the feedback and recommendation of Members States, this dedicated training will be provided every few years.  According to the experience gained from the previous editions of this training (in 2021 and 2023), this training strongly improves the preparation of first-time reviewers and thereby improves the overall review process during their first mission.

The training covers:

• the relevant IAEA standards;
• the SALTO methodology;
• transfer of practical knowledge from experienced reviewers and experienced IAEA team leaders.

Objective

The objective of the event is to train first time SALTO reviewers to improve preparedness for future SALTO missions and thereby the overall review process.

Target Audience

Experts from nuclear power plants, technical support organizations, or nuclear safety authorities of the Member States.  The experts do not have to already be assigned to a future SALTO mission in order to attend this training.

Participation and Registration

All persons wishing to participate in the event have to be designated by an IAEA Member State or should be members of organizations that have been invited to attend.

Nominated experts should have:

• at least ten years of experience in nuclear safety, out of which at least five years have been spent in positions related to ageing management and/or long term operation;
• not participated in a SALTO or pre-SALTO mission before.

In order to be designated by an IAEA Member State or invited organization, participants are requested to submit their application via the InTouch+ platform (https://intouchplus.iaea.org) to the competent national authority (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Permanent Mission to the IAEA or National Atomic Energy Authority) or organization for onward transmission to the IAEA by 13 June 2025, following the registration procedure in InTouch+.  See Information Sheet for additional details.

Venue

The event will be held at the Vienna International Centre (VIC) where the IAEA’s Headquarters are located. Participants must make their own travel and accommodation arrangements.