IAEA expands its network of cooperation: five new agreements to support the development of nuclear energy

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) signed five new cooperation agreements (the so-called Practical Arrangements) with key institutions from China, Russia, South Korea, Brazil, as well as with the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association (ITA-AITES) 

Sporazumi – signed during the recently held 70th IAEA General Conference in Vienna – cover a very wide range of areas: from advanced reactor technologies and strengthening nuclear infrastructure, through education and radiation medicine, to deep geological repositories for radioactive waste.

China: development of high-temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGR)

The agreement with Chinergy Co. (a subsidiary of the Chinese giant CNNC) focuses on high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) technology. These fourth-generation reactors are highly regarded and are considered potentially very promising – because, in addition to efficient electricity production, they provide high-temperature process heat necessary for decarbonization of heavy industry and hydrogen production.

In reactors of this design, inert gases (for example CO2) are used for cooling and heat transfer, which due to the extremely high temperatures they can reach can radically increase efficiency. Interestingly, some of the first-generation designs of commercial reactors were gas-cooled reactors—MAGNOX and AGR in the United Kingdom and UNGG in France—and this technology was abandoned, but has been revived as a possible technological solution for fourth-generation reactors. Today, thermal and fast gas-cooled reactors are being developed worldwide.

The collaboration foresees exchange of experience in design, construction, operation, and supply chains for potential HTGR power plants, while the Chinese side will also participate in developing educational programs and training for IAEA experts.

Russia: strengthening infrastructure in the CIS and beyond

Long-standing cooperation between the IAEA and the Russian state corporation Rosatom has been expanded with a new agreement with the International Rosatom Network. This is the first official agreement of this kind with the mentioned network, and the primary goal is to strengthen nuclear infrastructure, education, and development of human resources in the CIS and other IAEA member states that are developing their nuclear programs.

South Korea and Brazil: education and radiation medicine

Also, the agreement with the KEPCO International Nuclear Graduate School (KINGS) has been renewed and expanded. The collaboration includes the development of postgraduate programs in English, specialized training at South Korean nuclear facilities, resource sharing through e-learning platforms, and research in the field of decommissioning.

And with the Brazilian Association for Nuclear Activity Development (ABDAN) a third amendment to the existing agreement was signed, thus – in addition to the previous focus on SMR, long-term plant operation, and energy planning – the cooperation has been expanded to the field of radiation medicine, especially training professionals from developing countries and the application of nuclear technologies in cancer treatment.

Geological disposal facilities: underground waste infrastructure

And we highlight the agreement with the International Association for Tunnelling and Underground Space (ITA-AITES) which links experts in underground construction and management of radioactive waste. The focus of this collaboration will be on safe, economical, and technically feasible design and construction of deep geological disposal facilities (Geological Disposal Facilities) for spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste, along with the development of guidelines for public communication.

S.A.