Interested contributors now have until 1 May 2026 to submit abstracts for the Sixth International Conference on Nuclear Power Plant Life Management (PLiM 6) , to be held from 7 to 11 December 2026 in Tokyo, Japan.
The latest IAEA high-case outlook projects global nuclear power capacity increasing by 150% from current levels by 2050 reaching 992 gigawatts. This expected growth is driven by countries extending the lifetimes of existing power reactors, advancing new large-scale nuclear plant construction and accelerating the rollout of small modular reactors (SMRs).
To meet decarbonization and energy security goals, the safety of long-term operation (LTO) of nuclear power plants has become a top priority for many nuclear power fleets. The plant life management (PLiM) programme helps operators manage ageing effects in structures, systems and components for LTO in a safe and cost‑effective manner.
"For Member States, his event provides an important international forum to share proven solutions and lessons learned in nuclear power plant life management programmes-not only for countries with units currently under long-term operation or preparing for it, but also for those preparing for new builds, as well as newcomer countries," said Qun Yu, an IAEA nuclear engineer and one of the scientific secretaries for this conference.
This is the sixth conference in the PLiM series, following previous editions in Austria, China, France, Hungary and the United States of America. It is aimed at staff from utilities, research and design organizations, regulatory bodies, manufacturing and service companies, technical support organizations and government decision makers planning near, medium and long-term energy needs that include nuclear.
"This conference will provide a unique platform for Member States to exchange experience and best practices on safety and availability aspects related to the plant life management of nuclear power plants," said Martin Marchena, an IAEA nuclear safety officer and one of the scientific secretaries for this conference. He added that "This will create a valuable forum for dialogue between countries with established nuclear programmes and newcomer nations, while also engaging operators, regulators and other stakeholders to support shared learning, enhance safety, and promote the sustainable development of nuclear energy worldwide."
Contributors interested in submitting an abstract for the conference should choose a topic in one of the following areas:
- Good Practices and Lessons Learned in Nuclear Power Plant Life Management
- Innovation for Nuclear Power Plant Life Management
- Ageing Management and Preparation of Long-Term Operation
- Important Engineering Aspects in Nuclear Power Plant Life Management
- Stakeholder Engagement, Human Resource Development and Knowledge/Competence Management
- Regulatory Approaches and Safety Analysis Relevant to Long-Term Operation
