NEA press room

News releases by theme

General

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.

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.

Nuclear safety and regulation

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.

Radioactive waste

Expert review gives high marks to a Swiss safety study on a radioactive waste disposal concept  
The NEA has just released a report entitled Safety of Disposal of Spent Fuel, High-level Waste and Long-lived Intermediate Level Waste in Switzerland. This document brings together the results of an international, independent peer review that examined the post-closure radiological safety assessment for disposal in the Opalinus Clay of the Zürcher Weinland. (27 April 2004)

Nuclear law

New studies mark twenty years since the Chernobyl accident
The NEA is marking twenty years since the Chernobyl accident with two new publications: Stakeholders and Radiological Protection: Lessons from Chernobyl Twenty Years After demonstrates the importance of local involvement in addressing the needs of affected populations to reduce their radiation dose. International Nuclear Law in the Post-Chernobyl Period, jointly published with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), is a compendium of articles on international nuclear law initiatives since Chernobyl.

Revised Nuclear Third Party Liability Conventions improve victims' rights to compensation 
The signing of the Protocols to amend the Paris Convention on Third Party Liability in the Field of Nuclear Energy and the Brussels Convention Supplementary to the Paris Convention will take place on 12 February, at OECD headquarters. The revised Conventions will allow for a considerable increase in the amount of compensation available to victims of a nuclear accident and for the expansion of the scope of application of the Paris Convention. (11 February 2004).

Nuclear development

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.

Uranium supply adequate to meet demand
The most complete record of the uranium industry to be published to date concludes that uranium supply will remain adequate to meet demand. Forty Years of Uranium Resources, Production and Demand in Perspective, published today by the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA), draws on the twenty editions of Uranium Resources Production and Demand (also known as the "Red Book") released since 1965.

New figures on the costs of generating electricity released today
A new study of the costs of generating electricity was published today by the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) and the International Energy Agency (IEA). Previous editions of Projected Costs of Generating Electricity have served as the reference in this field for energy policy makers, electricity system analysts and energy economists. The study is particularly timely in the light of current discussions of energy policy in many countries.

Sustainable development

Nuclear Energy and the Kyoto Protocol
In a new report released today, the NEA presents a brief analysis of the potential contribution of nuclear energy to lowering the amount of greenhouse gases (GHG) - notably carbon dioxide - released by the energy sector of those OECD countries that choose to continue with the nuclear option as a domestic energy supply source. (29 July 2002)

The NEA evaluates nuclear energy in a sustainable development perspective 
As part of a three-year project on sustainable development conducted by the OECD, the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) announces the publication of a new report for policy makers which provides a review of the specific characteristics of nuclear energy in relation to sustainable development. This report is intended to assist governments in assessing the extent to which nuclear energy is compatible with the goals of sustainable development, and how it can best contribute to them. (7 December 2000)

Radiological protection

New studies mark twenty years since the Chernobyl accident
The NEA is marking twenty years since the Chernobyl accident with two new publications: Stakeholders and Radiological Protection: Lessons from Chernobyl Twenty Years After demonstrates the importance of local involvement in addressing the needs of affected populations to reduce their radiation dose. International Nuclear Law in the Post-Chernobyl Period, jointly published with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), is a compendium of articles on international nuclear law initiatives since Chernobyl.

International accident dosimetry intercomparison exercise to be held on 10-21 June 2002
Over a period of two weeks, over 100 researchers from 30 countries (Eastern and Western Europe, North and South America, Asia) will participate in an international accident dosimetry intercomparison exercise. (19 June 2002)

Protecting the environment from harmful effects of radiation - towards a new international policy 
At an international forum held on 12-14 February 2002 in Sicily, Italy, the NEA together with the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), initiated an international process for the development of a new, broad-ranging policy on radiological protection of the environment. (22 February 2002)

Nuclear science

Plutonium management in the medium term
Plutonium Management in the Medium Term reviews the technical options available for plutonium management from the present up to the point at which a fully sustainable fuel cycle is eventually established. Describing the various proposals that have been made in recent years, this report presents a discussion of the rationale, technical attributes, capabilities and current status of each. (24 November 2003).

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