NEA press room

Welcome to the NEA press room. Here you will find resources for journalists covering all of the NEA's work areas. Press kits provide introductory information on major nuclear issues, including the accident at Chernobyl. You can search the press room by keyword and register for e-mail alerts of new press releases. If you can't find what you're looking for, feel free to contact the NEA press office.

Press releases and news

Securing vital supplies of medical radioisotopes
The Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) High-level Group on the Security of Supply of Medical Radioisotopes (HLG-MR), chaired by Serge Dupont, Deputy Minister in the Government of Canada, has just concluded its second meeting in Paris, France.

Nuclear energy and addressing climate change
The need to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in an effort to tackle climate change has become a major driver of energy policy. Indeed, many believe that an "energy revolution" is needed to decarbonise energy supply, which is heavily reliant on fossil fuels.

Top regulators take important steps to enhance the safety of new nuclear reactor designs
Top nuclear regulators have met at the OECD, in Paris, with vendors, operators and standards organisations, taking important steps to enhance global nuclear safety.

Recorded webcast - The International Press Conference:
Global nuclear safety and the construction of new reactors
11 September 2009

Transmission enregistrée -La conférence de presse internationale :
L’harmonisation de la sûreté nucléaire dans le monde, La construction de nouveaux réacteurs
11 septembre 2009

Nuclear electricity generation remains stable despite the economic crisis   
According to official data released by the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA), nuclear electricity generation in OECD member countries has only marginally declined despite the economic downturn.

Nuclear energy in the 21st century: safe, clean and affordable
At the International Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Energy in the 21st Century, in Beijing, China, OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría highlighted that “Clean and affordable energy, including access to safe and secure nuclear power, should be a central element of our efforts… not only for a sustainable economy, but also for the future of our planet.”

Keynote speech by Angel Gurría, OECD Secretary-General, at the International Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Energy in the 21st Century

Security of Supply of Medical Radioisotopes
At a workshop organised by the NEA on 29-30 January 2009, participants recognised the vulnerability of the global medical isotope supply chain and identified measures to enhance short-term supply security.

The OECD Nuclear Energy Agency at Fifty
An international array of some 250 dignitaries and government experts in the field of nuclear energy gathered in Paris on 16 October 2008 to mark the 50th anniversary of the creation of the NEA and to discuss the future use of nuclear power for peaceful purposes.

The Outlook for Nuclear Energy
With the launch of its first Nuclear Energy Outlook, the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) makes an important contribution to ongoing discussions of nuclear energy’s potential role in the energy mixes of its member countries.

Energy, Environment, Climate Change: Unlocking the Potential for Innovation
Keynote speech by Angel Gurría, OECD Secretary-General, during the World Energy Council: Energy Leaders Summit, London, UK, 16 September 2008

New nuclear energy data released
According to the latest official figures released today by the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA), nuclear power plants provided 21.6% of the electricity generated in OECD countries, as compared to 22.9% in 2006. This was despite record production at nuclear power plants in Finland, Hungary and the United States, which did not offset reduced output in France, Germany and Japan and plant closures in the Slovak Republic and the United Kingdom. Total nuclear electricity production was 2 172 TWh in 2007, about 3.6% less than the previous year.

NEA nuclear safety project celebrates 50 years of operation
The OECD/NEA Halden Reactor Project is celebrating 50 years of continuous operation today with a ceremony in Oslo, Norway. Under the auspices of the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA), the research being done in the project helps improve the safety of nuclear power plants. It is the Agency's longest-running and largest joint project with an annual budget of EUR 15 million.

Uranium resources sufficient to meet projected nuclear energy requirements long into the future
There is enough uranium known to exist to fuel the world's fleet of nuclear reactors at current consumption rates for at least a century, according to the latest edition of the world reference on uranium published today.

Nuclear safety initiative enters new phase
Heads of the nuclear regulatory agencies of ten countries met this week at the NEA to discuss progress in an important international initiative, the Multinational Design Evaluation Programme (MDEP). During the meeting chaired by Mr. André-Claude Lacoste, Chairman of the French Nuclear Safety Authority, the regulators agreed to enter a new phase of co-operation and launch a programme of work, including design-specific and issue-specific activities, where results are expected in the short term.

OECD/NEA countries adopt a statement about qualified human resources in the nuclear field
Representatives from OECD/NEA member countries have unanimously adopted a statement on the need for qualified human resources in the nuclear field. The adoption of this statement reflects their concerns about the difficulties nuclear institutions in many OECD/NEA member countries are experiencing in recruiting qualified specialists.

Janice Dunn Lee appointed new Deputy Director-General of the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency
The OECD Secretary-General, Mr. Angel Gurría, is pleased to announce the appointment of Janice Dunn Lee as Deputy Director-General of the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA). Ms. Dunn Lee took up her duties at the NEA on 23 July 2007.

New NEA study explores the risks and benefits of nuclear energy
With the publication of Risks and Benefits of Nuclear Energy, the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) provides a useful new aid for decision makers. The study brings together authoritative information and illustrative data on how the risks and benefits of nuclear energy might be assessed in the light of sustainable development goals.

New nuclear energy data released
According to the latest official figures released by the NEA, total electricity generation in OECD countries rose to just over 9 867 TWh in 2006, about 0.5% above 2005. Nuclear power plants provided 23.1% of this electricity, as compared to 22.8% in 2005. Nuclear electricity generation in the OECD area provided 2 278 TWh in 2006, about 1.8% more than the previous year.

NEA contribution to the G8 summit
NEA Director-General Luis Echávarri contributed this article to G8 Summit 2007 - Growth and Responsibility, a publication which will be distributed to all participants at the G8 summit to be held on 6-8 June 2007 in Heiligendamm, Germany.

The NEA and the Russian Federation sign a Joint Declaration on Co-operation
A joint declaration on co-operation was signed today in Moscow during a ceremony attended by officials from the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) and the Russian Federation agencies involved in its implementation. Konstantin Pulikovsky, Chairman of the Federal Environmental, Industrial and Nuclear Supervision Service (Rostechnadzor), signed on behalf of the Russian Federation and Director-General Luis Echávarri signed on behalf of the NEA.

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