The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) estimates that nuclear power use will continue expanding in the future and encourages nations with more nuclear energy programs and experience to share their knowledge of radioactive waste and spent fuel management with nations that have less experience.
“The volume of spent fuel will also continue to grow and it is essential that it is managed safely,” IAEA Director-General Yukiya Aamano said. “It will still be some years before the first deep geological repositories for nuclear spent fuel become operational. But the progress being made in this area deserves to be better known.”
The statement was made at the International Conference on Management of Spent Fuel from Nuclear Power Reactors at the IAEA’s headquarters in Vienna, Austria. The conference will continue until Friday.
“I strongly encourage countries with existing nuclear power programs, and experience of the back end of the fuel cycle, to share their experience with newcomer countries to ensure that best practice is implemented everywhere,” Amano said. “Last September, we devoted our annual Scientific Forum to the subject of Radioactive Waste Management. We are organizing an international conference on the same subject in 2016.”
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