The IAEA strengthened its support for nuclear power sustainability earlier this month with a workshop to bolster skills in nuclear energy planning hosted by the Republic of Korea.
The regional school on strategic planning for sustainable nuclear energy was conducted as part of the Agency's International Project on Innovative Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycles (INPRO). It was the first held in the country amid growing global enthusiasm for nuclear power.
Meticulous planning is key for the sustainability of any major endeavour - especially nuclear power programmes, which typically require about 10 to 15 years of preparation and long-term commitments of a century or more. With so many areas to address, a methodical assessment approach is essential to implement a successful nuclear power programme that is built to last.
"By developing necessary competencies and practical skills, the participants are now better equipped to support the development of more resilient and long-term national strategies for sustainable nuclear energy," said Carolynn Scherer, Head of the IAEA's INPRO section. "The professionalism and expertise of our hosts was evident throughout these two weeks, and it is our hope that this school will become a regular event."
Launched in 2000, INPRO is a membership-based project that provides support to nearly four dozen members as they work to ensure the availability of nuclear power until at least the end of the 21st century. Its work focuses on four primary tasks: global scenarios, innovative technology development, sustainability assessment and strategies, and dialogue and outreach. The INPRO methodology covers six topical areas - environment, safety, proliferation resistance, waste management, infrastructure and economics - helping countries perform holistic assessments of nuclear energy systems and determine their long-term viability.
The school, held from 7 to 18 July in Daejeon, was jointly hosted by the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Korea Nuclear International Cooperation Foundation (KONICOF) and the University of Science and Technology - Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (UST-KAERI). It brought together 22 participants from 10 countries for lectures at KAERI and several site visits. The school introduced participants to INPRO's concepts and approach to nuclear energy system assessment and provided training on the suite of tools developed for these analyses.
"We hope this school will serve as a key hub within the INPRO network, delivering practical value to a broader group of Member States - currently 46, plus the European Commission," said Jun Ho Shin, President of KONICOF. "In particular, we aim to further distinguish the Korean programme by sharing our decades of experience and technical expertise through access to research and industrial sites."
Participants visited several nuclear research facilities, including the KAERI Underground Research Tunnel, used to examine disposal options for high-level radioactive waste, and the System-integrated Modular Advanced Reactor (SMART) integration test loop, a facility for verifying the safety and performance of the SMART small modular reactor (SMR).
The school also featured hands-on exercises, with participants sharpening their analytical skills and gaining experience with modelling and analytical tools such as the Nuclear Energy System Assessment Economics Support Tool (NEST).
"The INPRO School on Strategic Planning provided an outstanding platform to deepen our understanding of long-term nuclear energy strategies and sustainability frameworks. The integration of practical tools like the Nuclear Energy System Economics Support Tool, alongside real-world case studies and expert guidance, has been invaluable," said Zareen Khan Bin Abdul Jalil Khan of the Malaysian Nuclear Agency. "It has not only enhanced my technical capacity but also strengthened my ability to contribute to national nuclear planning efforts."
While this was the first INPRO school held in the Republic of Korea, the country has actively participated in INPRO activities for years. In May 2024, the Republic of Korea hosted the 22nd INPRO Dialogue Forum in Jeju, which was attended by 174 participants from 31 countries and 8 technology vendors, with a focus on prospects for SMR deployment.
"The theme of the school is highly relevant for countries like Uzbekistan that are in the process of developing their national nuclear power programmes," said Maksudjon Khudoyberdiev of Uzbekistan's Uzatom Atomic Energy Agency. "I firmly believe that comprehensive and strategic planning of a nuclear energy system is a key prerequisite for its successful implementation."
INPRO has a busy slate of activities for the remainder of 2025, with another joint ICTP-IAEA INPRO school planned for September, a celebration of the project's 25th anniversary, several technical meetings and the 25th INPRO Dialogue Forum, scheduled for November in Nairobi, which will cover nuclear energy development in embarking countries.
