Optimizing Supply Chain Readiness for Nuclear Power Reactors

06.11.2025
Optimizing Supply Chain Readiness for Nuclear Power Reactors

Approaches to bolster nuclear supply chain preparedness were in focus at a meeting convened by the IAEA as part of its efforts to streamline advanced reactor deployments, including facilitating more robust international cooperation. 

Global interest in nuclear power has grown significantly in recent years as an international consensus on the importance of realizing its transformational potential has emerged. Projections for new build projects continue to trend upward. However, deploying nuclear power reactors at scale remains complex, with bottlenecks created by bespoke component production and jurisdictional requirements that can vary widely. Addressing these challenges is a priority for a growing number of countries looking to nuclear power to help shape the clean energy future. 

“We all recognize that efforts are underway worldwide to establish and maintain sustainable supply chains for nuclear power. But coordination remains essential,” said Mikhail Chudakov, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Energy. “Harmonization of requirements, especially for codes and standards, will reduce duplication, ease market entry, and help ensure that the nuclear sector can scale up to meet urgent global energy and climate goals.”

Supply Chain Considerations

More than 100 participants from 34 countries and international organizations including the World Nuclear Association, the World Association of Nuclear Operators and the Electric Power Research Institute attended the three-day meeting. The  programme covered a wide range of supply chain topics, including procurement dynamics for both nuclear power plant operation and new build projects, the challenge of developing and maintaining suppliers and ways to implement a reliable supply chain across multiple markets.    

“As global ambitions for nuclear power continue to grow, supply chain considerations are becoming increasingly important,” said King Lee, Head of Policy and Industry Engagement at the World Nuclear Association. “A clear and long-term commitment to a pipeline of nuclear projects is critical for the industry to invest in the global nuclear supply chain capabilities and capacity to capitalize on the opportunities.”

The Nuclear Harmonization and Standardization Initiative

The Nuclear Harmonization and Standardization Initiative (NHSI), which IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi launched in 2022, aims to facilitate the deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs) and other advanced reactors through a dual-track methodology. The initiative’s Industry Track focuses on standardizing industrial approaches while the Regulatory Track examines how to harmonize regulatory considerations.    

The initiative’s Industry Track released its latest working paper last week on aligning in-service inspection codes and standards to boost SMR exports. In-service inspections are essential for keeping plants functional throughout their operational lifetimes by verifying system integrity and minimizing reactor outages. Accounting for these inspections in the design phase and standardizing practices across jurisdictions, where possible, could enable a more standardized SMR fleet and hasten their introduction into more markets. 

“Benchmarking supply chain practices with other industries can help speed up advanced reactor deployments going forward,” said Jeremy Hubert, Chair of the Working Group on Supply Chain at the Nuclear Energy Agency. “Regulators are doing their part, but we need more effective collaboration. Full, industry-wide cooperation is needed to optimize the supply chain.”