The Status of the IAEA International Project on Innovative Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycles (INPRO) and the Ongoing Activities of the Phase 1B of INPRO

Abstract

The IAEA General Conference in 2000 has invited “all interested Member States to combine their efforts under the aegis of the Agency in considering the issues of the nuclear fuel cycle, in particular by examining innovative and proliferation-resistant nuclear technology”. In response to this invitation, the IAEA initiated an “International Project on Innovative Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycles” (INPRO). The overall objectives of INPRO are to help to ensure that nuclear energy is available to contribute in fulfilling in a sustainable manner energy needs in the 21st century, and to bring together all interested Member States, both technology holders and technology users, to consider jointly the international and national actions required to achieve desired innovations in nuclear reactors and fuel cycles that use sound and economically competitive technology. In the first phase of the project the report “Guidance for the evaluation of innovative nuclear reactors and fuel cycles” has been published. (June 2003, IAEA tecdoc 1362, Report of Phase 1A) In the following phase member states are contributing by case studies to validate the methodology for assessment and to evaluate the application of the basic principles, requirements and criteria. The paper will shortly summarize the main findings of the published report in the following fields (a) Prospects and Potentials of Nuclear Power, (b) Economics; (c) Sustainability and Environment, (d) Safety of Nuclear Installations, (e) Waste Management, (f) Proliferation Resistance, (g) Crosscutting issues and (h) the Methodology for Assessment. Further on the paper will deal with the actual phase of INPRO and the ongoing activities.