Abstract:
For nuclear research and technology development to continue to advance, research reactors (RRs) must be safely and reliably operated, adequately utilized, refurbished when necessary, provided with adequate proliferation-resistant fuel cycle services and safely decommissioned at the end of life.
The IAEA has established its competence in the area of RRs with a long history of assistance to Member States in improving their utilization, by taking the lead in the development of norms and codes of good practice for all aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle and in the planning and implementation of decommissioning. The IAEA Subprogramme on RRs is formulated to cover a broad range of RR issues and to promote the continued development of scientific research and technological development using RRs. Member States look to the IAEA for coordination of the worldwide effort in this area and for help in solving specific problems.
In this paper a description of the ongoing and planned activities under the IAEA's Subprogramme on RRs for the years 2007-2009 is presented. Special emphasis is put on new international collaborative undertakings, like the new IAEA's Technical Working Group on RRs.