Arising from the fifth in a series of international conferences on effective nuclear and radiation regulatory systems, this publication includes the opening addresses, a summary of the conference, and the conference President’s summary and conclusions. The participants’ presentations and posters from the conference are available as part of the online publication. Ongoing challenges, such as capacity building for regulatory infrastructure, knowledge management, and safety and security culture are addressed. Emerging issues, such as those associated with new technologies and those related to ageing nuclear power plants and the back-fitting of current safety measures to existing nuclear power plants, and decommissioning and waste management, are considered, as is the threat posed by counterfeit and fraudulent items. An important concept throughout is the interface between safety and security. The objective of the publication is to share regulatory experiences related to improving the effectiveness of nuclear and radiation regulatory systems, addressing the international framework for the safety and security of nuclear and other radioactive material. A key message is that international cooperation to address regulatory challenges improves regulatory effectiveness worldwide.

This publication presents the basic concepts and techniques for conducting economic evaluations of nuclear energy system alternatives. It supplements the publications on the INPRO Methodology in the area of economics and on the INPRO service analysis support for enhanced nuclear energy sustainability (ASENES). The economic concepts presented in the report are generic but central to the economic evaluation of alternative nuclear energy projects. The report also highlights the essential aspects beyond the scope of an INPRO nuclear energy system assessment in the area of economics, such as system effects, environmental and external costs, and macroeconomic impacts. These aspects are to be included in a realistic economic comparison of nuclear energy systems and potential alternatives. The report also explains the limits in applying the presented economic evaluation approaches.

It was formerly hypothesized that placing a radioactive source near the end of a lightning conductor would improve the likelihood that lightning would strike the conductor. It is estimated that hundreds of thousands of these radioactive lightning conductors (RLCs) were installed worldwide. However, no convincing scientific evidence has been produced to demonstrate increased efficacy and the use of RLCs does not comply with the justification principle established in the International Basic Safety Standards. Therefore, most countries have recognized the need to stop installing RLCs and to remove existing devices from the public domain. This publication summarizes all technical and organizational aspects related to the recovery and dismantling of RLCs as well as the safe management of the associated disused radioactive sources. The report describes the general arrangement, highlights the quality management components, identifies the staffing requirements and covers certain areas vital for the preparation for dismantling and source conditioning operations. Relevant information is provided on the various models of radioactive lightning conductors and how their design features influence the dismantling and source recovery operations. The publication also incorporates the most recent experience on various concluded projects in several Member States and captures the lessons learned.

Written for use by operating organizations of nuclear power plants and regulatory bodies, this Safety Guide provides specific recommendations on maintenance, testing, surveillance and inspection to ensure that the levels of reliability and availability of all structures, systems and components important to safety remain in accordance with the assumptions and intent of the design, and also that the safety of the plant is not adversely affected after the commencement of operation. The publication covers the establishment and implementation of preventive and corrective maintenance programmes; testing surveillance and inspection; the repair of defective plant equipment; the provision of related facilities and equipment; procurement; and generating and retaining records of maintenance activities.

Aimed primarily at operating organizations of nuclear power plants (NPPs) and regulatory bodies, this Safety Guide provides specific recommendations to ensure that operations in NPPs are conducted in a safe, effective, thorough and professional manner. It identifies the main responsibilities and operating practices in relation to such safe operation. The structure of the operations department, which is the part of the operating organization responsible for the conduct of operations of an NPP is addressed. Also addressed are the setting of high standards of performance and making safety related decisions in an effective manner, conducting control room activities in a thorough and professional manner and maintaining a nuclear power plant within the established operational limits and conditions.

Since the last edition of the IAEA Safeguards Glossary in 2001, IAEA safeguards implementation has continued to evolve, with a greater emphasis on 'State as a whole' considerations in the development of State level safeguards approaches, and reflecting a myriad of technological advancements. This new edition reflects these developments and represents terms that are either specific and unique to IAEA safeguards, or those that may be used in other domains, but which have a specific meaning or application relevant to IAEA safeguards. New terms that have come into common use over the past two decades have also been introduced. Each term includes a definition, and where applicable, further explanation or examples. Each section addresses a specific subject area relevant to IAEA safeguards, and the terms are arranged in relation to the subject area. Within each definition, terms that are defined elsewhere in the Glossary are italicized and an index referring to the term numbers has been provided for ease of reference.

This publication complements an online tool available on the IAEA Human Health Campus website and the IAEA’s International Research Integration System (IRIS). Together they address and calculate staffing requirements for the optimal and safe delivery of nuclear medicine services, based on current standards of practice and relevant IAEA guidance. Users can assess their current performance as well as additional staffing needs depending on their case-mix — the type or mix of studies or treatments performed by their nuclear medicine department — or when acquiring new technologies. This publication and the online tool are intended for hospital administrators, department heads and all nuclear medicine practitioners to support the planning of new departments, introduction of new technologies and periodic reviews of resources.

This publication serves as a high-level introduction to systems engineering for instrumentation and control at nuclear facilities. Systems engineering is a holistic, interdisciplinary and cooperative approach to the engineering of large and complex systems. Many industrial sectors consider the approach as a necessary means to develop and utilize current and fit-for-purpose systems. This publication is intended to assist Member States in understanding the philosophy and methodologies of systems engineering as presented by the ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288 standard, and provide guiding principles for the application of systems engineering to nuclear facilities and their instrumentation and control. Where necessary, it provides relevant referrals to other publications for detailed practical aspects.

Presenting the Regional Strategic Framework (RSF) for Technical Cooperation with the IAEA–CARICOM Member States for 2020–2026, this key document offers a reference for the preparation of project and programme proposals. The first of its kind for the Caribbean region, the RSF provides a novel opportunity for closer collaboration to advance the region’s development agenda, aiming to facilitate the joining of efforts and creation of synergies throughout the Caribbean to respond to socioeconomic issues that can be addressed with the application of nuclear science and technology. The RSF represents a joint approach for sustained development in the Caribbean through the innovative use of nuclear techniques in agriculture and food production, human health, environment, energy, radiation safety and radiation technologies.

<div>The Country Nuclear Power Profiles (CNPP) provide background information on the status and development of nuclear power programmes of Member States. The CNPP's main objectives are to consolidate information on the nuclear power infrastructure and developments in participating countries, and serve as a resource in effective planning, decision making and implementation of nuclear power programmes that lead to safe and economical operations of nuclear power plants.</div><div><br></div><div>The CNPP summarizes organizational and industrial aspects of nuclear power programmes and provides information about the relevant legislative, regulatory and international framework in each country. The descriptive and statistical overview of the overall energy and electricity situation in each country and its nuclear power framework are intended to serve as an integrated source of key background information about nuclear power programmes in the world. Statistical data about nuclear plant operations, energy and electricity use are drawn from national contributions and the IAEA's Power Reactor Information System (PRIS), IAEA's Energy Economic Data Base (EEDB) and World Development Indicators (WDI) of the World Bank.</div><div><br></div><div>The CNPP website is updated continuously, and an annual publication is prepared to provide a high-level overview of programmes in participating Member States. Currently, it contains historical country information for 50 countries, including 30 countries currently operating nuclear power plants, and 20 countries with past or planned nuclear power programmes. The CNPP reports are updated based on information voluntarily provided by participating IAEA Member States. Each of the profiles in this publication is self-standing and contains information officially provided by the respective national authorities.</div><div><br></div>

Nuclear professionals gain knowledge, experience and skills over the years while working at their organizations. Some of these are strategically important for continuous business performance. The success of a strategic knowledge management programme depends on the ability to convert individuals’ knowledge, experience and skills into organizational assets. This publication, based on IAEA expert missions and assistance visits since 2004, provides guidance on developing and implementing a strategic knowledge management programme as a proactive measure, to reduce the risk of knowledge loss and provide both safety and financial benefits. It is aimed at leaders and decision makers in both industry, academia and government, senior and middle level managers, and knowledge management specialists in nuclear organizations.

X ray, neutron and gamma radiography have been widely used by industry as non-destructive testing methods for quality control and to assess the safety and integrity of structures. Such techniques use intense, human-made radiation sources in the laboratory and at industrial sites. Muons are relatively massive elementary particles produced naturally by cosmic rays, and which may be used as a highly penetrating, non-destructive probe. Muon imaging is therefore an attractive alternative for certain applications. This publication describes some of the main muon imaging techniques, the detector types involved, and a wide variety of applications that have been identified from examination of modern and ancient built environments, volcanology, industry to nuclear security and safeguards. This publication is expected to be of use to all those individuals working in industry and academia with an interest in muon imaging.