There are large numbers of old reactors, nuclear facilities, and legacy sites worldwide, that are either being actively dismantled or are candidates for decommissioning in the near future. In support of decommissioning and nuclear knowledge management in Member States, IAEA’s Department of Nuclear Energy signed an agreement today, on the sidelines of the 62nd General Conference, with the Institute for Energy Technology (IFE) in Norway.
“Establishing formal collaboration between the IAEA and IFE, will enable us to work towards improving the dissemination of research results and helping us identify emerging good practices for Member States,” said IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Energy, Mikhail Chudakov. “IFE’s work in the field of digitalization and 3D modelling is of particular interest to us, as we seek to ensure that the nuclear industry, especially in decommissioning, takes best advantage of emerging technologies to improve planning for a range of risk scenarios and for better training of field workers.”
The Institute of Energy Technology is host to the Halden Research Reactor Project, an international collaborative project under the umbrella of the OECD/Nuclear Energy Agency, involving nuclear research using a 25 MW(th) heavy water moderated research reactor. In addition, IFE also plays an important role in international research addressing safety, environmental, petroleum and radio-pharmacological issues.
IFE President Nils M. Huseby said his institute has been engaged in research and practical application of advanced digitally enhanced concepts for nuclear decommissioning for decades.
“With the coming decommissioning of the Halden Reactor, IFE and Norway have a strategic interest in enhancing the competence within this field,” he added. “IFE would like to take a leading role for facilitating a smooth adoption of innovative digital support concepts by the industry, in collaboration with the IAEA.”
The new agreement foresees cooperation in the following areas:
- Exchange and dissemination of information, including publications and sharing of experiences, best practices and case studies;
- Training and capacity building, including cooperation, in the development of educational and training courses and considering digitalization of knowledge management for nuclear decommissioning;and
- Support, for events, such as meetings, symposia, workshops, to be organized by either Party or jointly.