Experience With Technical Advisory Groups in the Japanese HLW Disposal Programme

Abstract

Recognising the benefits to be gained by integrating national and international experience into a rapidly growing programme, NUMO already in June 2001 set up both domestic and international technical advisory committees. These groups supported NUMO during the time when many of the basic, often innovative, concepts that characterise the Japanese deep geological disposal programme were developed. Overall experience with those technical advisory committees was very positive: most of the essential programme elements have been put in place and, in some technical areas, NUMO is now up at the front along with other leading programmes. On the other hand, after a decade, NUMO recognized the necessity to revisit their roles and rethink the overall NUMO policy on technical support, advice and review. This paper provides a summary of NUMO’s experience with advisory committees and an outlook on the future use of such bodies.