Approaches to bolster nuclear supply chain preparedness were the focus at a meeting convened by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as part of its efforts to streamline advanced reactor deployments, including facilitating more robust international cooperation.

More than one hundred participants from thirty-four countries and international organizations including the World Nuclear Association, the World Association of Nuclear Operators and the Electric Power Research Institute attended the three-day meeting on approaches to improve nuclear supply chain readiness.

Global interest in nuclear power has risen significantly in recent years as an international consensus on the importance of realizing its transformational potential has emerged. Projections for new nuclear build projects continue to trend upward. However, deploying commercial nuclear power reactors at scale remains complex, with bottlenecks created by bespoke component production and jurisdictional requirements that vary widely. Addressing these challenges is a priority for a growing number of countries considering nuclear power to help shape the clean energy future.

Mikhail Chudakov is the IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Energy. He said, “We all recognize that efforts are underway worldwide to establish and maintain sustainable supply chains for nuclear power. But coordination remains essential. “Harmonization of requirements, especially for codes and standards, will reduce duplication, ease market entry, and help ensure that the nuclear sector can scale up to meet urgent global energy and climate goals.”

The program covered a wide range of supply chain topics, including procurement dynamics for both nuclear power plant operation and new build projects, the challenge of developing and maintaining suppliers and ways to create a reliable supply chain across multiple markets.

King Lee is the Head of Policy and Industry Engagement at the World Nuclear Association. He said, “As global ambitions for nuclear power continue to grow, supply chain considerations are becoming increasingly important. A clear and long-term commitment to a pipeline of nuclear projects is critical for the industry to invest in the global nuclear supply chain capabilities and capacity to capitalize on the opportunities.”

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi launched the Nuclear Harmonization and Standardization Initiative (NHSI) in 2022. It aims to aid the deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs) and other advanced reactors through a dual-track methodology. The initiative’s Industry Track focuses on standardizing industrial approaches while the Regulatory Track considers how to harmonize regulatory considerations.

The initiative’s Industry Track published its latest working paper last week on aligning in-service inspection codes and standards to boost SMR exports. In-service inspections are critical for keeping plants functional throughout their operational lifetimes by verifying system integrity and minimizing reactor outages. Accounting for these inspections in the design phase and standardizing practices across jurisdictions could allow a more standardized SMR fleet and hasten their introduction into more markets.

Jeremy Hubert is the Chair of the Working Group on Supply Chain at the Nuclear Energy Agency. He said, “Benchmarking supply chain practices with other industries can help speed up advanced reactor deployments going forward,” said “Regulators are doing their part, but we need more effective collaboration. Full, industry-wide cooperation is needed to optimize the supply chain.”

International Atomic Energy