China hosts Global Nuclear Energy Partnership Meeting in Beijing on October 23, 2009

The Global Nuclear Energy Partnership held its third Executive Committee Ministerial Meeting in Beijing, China on October 23, 2009. The meeting was hosted by GNEP Partner China and chaired by Zhang Guobao, Director of China’s National Energy Administration.

Forty-three countries attended the meeting along with two GNEP observer organizations, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Generation IV International Forum.  The partners welcomed three new countries as GNEP observers: Kenya, Mongolia and Uganda.

During the meeting, the Executive Committee received status reports from the Chairs of the GNEP Steering Group and the Infrastructure Development and Reliable Nuclear Fuel Services Working Groups.  The working groups have made significant progress in the past year and have expanded their engagement with industry, universities and other external entities while continuing to coordinate closely with the IAEA.

The Steering Group reported on its creation of a revised Action Plan to reflect modified GNEP procedures and expanded working group structures, the approval of a Radioactive Waste Management Sub-Group and small and medium reactor activity area under the Infrastructure Development Working Group, and the drafting of a Joint Statement that was issued by the Executive Committee at the conclusion of the meeting.

The Infrastructure Development Working Group (IDWG) reported on its progress analyzing global human resources needs, the creation of a Human Resources Modeling Tool, enhancements of the on-line Resource Library, and completion of an infrastructure assessment in Jordan and the beginning of another in Ghana. In addition, the IDWG held Resources and Gaps Workshops on human resources development and small and medium reactors. Finally, it created a Subgroup on Radioactive Waste Management and began activities in that area.

The Reliable Nuclear Fuel Services Working Group reported on studies provided by its sub-group on Lessons Learned and Resource Requirements; the creation of a sub-group on Assurances a Country Should Seek as Sufficient for Nuclear Fuel Supply; and the development of a work scope for the sub-group on Approaches for Selecting Back-End Fuel Cycle Options. It hosted a workshop on the impact of fuel fabrication on fuel supply assurance which included the findings of an expert study on the international fuel fabrication market.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the GNEP partner countries issued a Joint Statement that highlighted the important role that nuclear energy can play in addressing global climate challenges and energy security and that safety, security and non-proliferation/safeguards are fundamental prerequisites for the peaceful use of nuclear energy. In addition, the Joint Statement recognized that because of global developments that have occurred since the Partnership was established in September 2007, transformation of GNEP is necessary to provide a broader scope with wider participation. Therefore, the Executive Committee will explore some Partners’ proposals to rename the Partnership and examine a draft vision statement, acceptance of which would be the sole action required of states to participate in future activities. The Executive Committee tasked the Steering Group to act accordingly and to review the GNEP operational structure in order to adjust it to a possible new cooperation approach and to submit its finalized proposal to the Executive Committee by April 2010.