Research Reactor Coalitions:Second Year Progress Report

Ira Goldman, Pablo Adelfang, Danas RidikasInternational Atomic Energy Agency

Kevin Alldred, Nigel MoteInternational Nuclear Enterprise Group, LLC

Research Reactor Fuel Management Meeting (RRFM)23 March 2009Vienna, Austria

RR CoalitionsBackground

• Initial discussions and project design (May-Sept 2006)• Approval of NTI grant request, RER/4/029 (Sept/Oct 2006)• Informal consultations and development of “notional”

proposals (Oct 2006-Spring 2007)• Number of “models” identified• Exploratory missions/meetings (Sept-Dec 2007)• Implementation of 3 formal coalitions, 1 network (2008)

• Caribbean RRC, East European RR Initiative, Eurasia RRC• Mediterranean RR Utilization Network

• IAEA “facilitator” - generate and coordinate ideas/proposals/ventures, provide initial support (meetings, training, studies/analyses)

RR Coalitions Types

• No “one size fits all”

• Different forms to meet needs, capabilities, objectives of members

• Start small, evolve, change form, expand as confidence grows

3

• Bilateral sub-contracting by a “lead” reactor (or joint venture) • Scientific consortium• Peer group network that can share best practice information• Full-fledged, subscription-based coalition/consortia that

• Acts as a single entity, shares revenue, joint marketing

• Facilitates access, accepts subscriptions, invests in capability

Variants include:

RR Coalitions

4

Multi-Discipline Education and Training Radioisotopes

Eurasia INP-K/INP-U/CZ/UKR and isotope users

RI production, supply, export

Caribbean-JAM/COL/MEX/AUT/IAEA NAA, training; regional access

E.Europe-AT/HU/CZ/RO/PO/SL

Nuclear E&T; Neutron Scattering; Material testing?

RIs?Mediterranean – RRUN – AZ/EG/GR/MNGR/SYR

NAA/PGNAA; Beam apps; RI, calculations; NDT

Latin America RLA/0/037:

Regional self-sufficiency in RIs; nuclear E&T network;

feasibility of regional state-of-art RR

Mexico-ININ/LVNPPPractical training for

reactor ops & rad protection

Baltic RR Users Network (proposed – Nuclear E&T)EST/FIN/LAT/LIT/PO/RU/GE/DE/SW/NO

South/North America MURR/MNR/IPEN/CCHEN

RI R&D, supply

RR CoalitionsActivities, Results, Future Actions

Eastern Europe Research Reactor Initiative (EERRI)

http://www.iaea.org/OurWork/ST/NE/NEFW/rrg_EERRI.html

2008 28-29 January, Budapest (MOU w/action items) 5 May, Budapest, discussions at NEST 3-4 September, Atominstitut, Vienna, 2nd EERRI

Meeting monthly teleconferences; standardized

capabilities information

2009 3rd EERRI Meeting, Vienna, 26-27 March EERRI RR theoretical and practical training

course, Budapest & Vienna, 4 May-12 June 2009

Central European Neutron Scattering School, Budapest, May 2009 (TBC)

RR CoalitionsActivities, Results, Future Actions

Eurasia Research Reactor Coalition (EARRC)http://www.iaea.org/OurWork/ST/NE/NEFW/rrg_EARRC.html

2008 Eurasia RRC meeting and MOU, 24-26 November, Vienna UK BERR/CNCP Workshop on Commercial Production of Isotopes for Industrial

and Medical Purposes, Kazakhstan, 22-23 May US DOE Workshop on Isotope Supply, Rockville, MD USA 7-9 August

2009 2nd Eurasia RRC Meeting, Vienna,19-20 March Finalization of Eurasia technology path and business plan May – June Presentation of Coalition capabilities

September

RR CoalitionsActivities, Results, Future Actions

Caribbean Coalition & North/South Americahttp://www.iaea.org/OurWork/ST/NE/NEFW/rrg_CRRC.html

2008 1-2x month conference calls; Colombia operator training at ATI Caribbean Coalition Practical Arrangement signed South-North America Coalition Meeting, 9 October, Columbia, Missouri2009 Jamaica NAA expert mission to Colombia, 9-20 Feb. Kick-off workshop for RLA/0/037, Bariloche, 2-6 March Argentina NAA expert mission to Colombia, April/May. Caribbean/LA regional NAA and custom-oriented service workshop; intro workshop (2nd

half 2009, 2010

RR Coalitions Activities, Results, Future Actions

Mediterranean RR Users’ Network (M-RRUN)

http://ipta.demokritos.gr/mrrun 2008

Feb. 2008: TM on strategic planning for sustainability of RRs

Creation of M-RRUN, agreed on actions plan 2008-20102009

Implementation of actions (web page, NAA, workshops, etc.) Strengthen/extend organization to other countries in the region

Status as of todayStatus as of today

• Egypt Egypt (2)(2)

• Greece Greece (1)(1)

• Syria Syria (1)(1)

• TunisiaTunisia

• MontenegroMontenegro

• AzerbaijanAzerbaijan

RR CoalitionsActivities, Results, Future Actions

Russian Federation (~50 operational RRs)2008

Discussions on Russian Nuclear E&T, 12-14 March, Moscow & Obninsk (agreed protocol) Several telephone conferences; exchange of ideas Proposal by IAEA for feasibility study on conversion

of IRT RRs in Russia

2009 Training of Russian RR specialists in Western RR facilities Workshop on experience from conversion of

Russian- fueled RRs?

RR CoalitionsActivities, Results, Future Actions

Neutron Scattering

2008

11-13 February, Vienna, Investigation of Neutron Scattering Coalition (report &

recommendations)

13-14 October UCN technical assessment mission to TRIGA Pitesti, Romania

RR CoalitionsNuclear Education and Training

2008• Power reactor operators training course held at ININ Triga for

LVNPP training mgrs 26-28 March 2008, regular training programme including for reactor engineers

• Additional practice activities related to thermal balance, xenon and samarium poisoning to be included

• ININ also held radiation protection course for LNVPP

2009• NCSU-JUST Internet Reactor Laboratory (IRL) consultancy,

Vienna, 9-10 March• IRL pilot project to be implemented in 2nd half 2009• EERRI Group Fellowship Training Course in Budapest & Vienna

(May-June)• Baltic exploratory meeting, Poland, June

RR Coalitions Upcoming Activities: New Initiatives

• Implementation of AFRA project for African RR Users Network

• Exploratory meeting on formation of Baltic RR Users Network (E&T), June 2009, Poland (10 countries)

• Cooperation with Asia-Oceanic Neutron Scattering Association (AONSA) on Pacific RR Users network

• Africa regional RAF4022 TC project design Vienna, 7-9 May 2008

• Coalitions is one of the main objectives Coalitions is one of the main objectives (2009-2011)(2009-2011)

• Potentially constant need to access RRs by Potentially constant need to access RRs by Member States without RRsMember States without RRs

• Need of regional concerted/organized actions Need of regional concerted/organized actions (e.g. request/supply forum-data base) (e.g. request/supply forum-data base)

Morocco

AlgeriaLibya

Egypt

NigeriaGhana

D.R. Congo

South Africa

RR Coalitions African RR Users’ Network (A-RRUN)

• AFRA RR conference & kick-off in November 2009, Nigeria

RR Coalitions Baltic RR Users’ Network (B-RRUN)

10

1

4+1

Power Reactors

Operational Operational RRsRRs in the regionin the region

2

0

1

0

0

01

0

Research Reactors

• Nordic/Baltic region remains nuclear (Finland, Sweden, Baltic States + Poland)Nordic/Baltic region remains nuclear (Finland, Sweden, Baltic States + Poland)• RRs shutdown in Latvia, Denmark, and SwedenRRs shutdown in Latvia, Denmark, and Sweden• Clear needs for personnel training & education, R&DClear needs for personnel training & education, R&D

• Exploratory meeting in June 2009, Poland (10 countries)

RR CoalitionsPacific RR Users’ Network (P-RRUN)

• Exploratory meeting in Q4 2009, ANSTO, Australia

AustraliaAustralia

KoreaKorea

BangladeshBangladesh

IndonesiaIndonesia

PhilippinesPhilippines

MalaysiaMalaysia

ThailandThailand

VietnamVietnam

IndiaIndia

AustraliaAustralia

KoreaKorea

BangladeshBangladesh

IndonesiaIndonesia

PhilippinesPhilippines

MalaysiaMalaysia

ThailandThailand

VietnamVietnam

IndiaIndia

• Since 2007 ANSTO is the IAEA Collaborative Centre for Neutron Scattering Applications

• Potential access to the OPAL neutron beam lines for developing Member States from the region:Bangladesh, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines

• Framework for support from the Agencyshort & long term visitorssummer schools & training events

• Coherent actions with developed countries in the region like Japan & Korea, & existing structures like AONSA

1

2

1

3

0

11

1

6

RR CoalitionsOther Future Actions

• Continue efforts to strengthen/extend the Med RR Network

• Clarify the situation related to the STRAINET (residual stress)

• Formulation of 3-year work plans to promote self-sufficiency and to minimize IAEA role

• Development of common market analyses, business plans, and marketing and outreach activities

• Particular emphasis on developing arrangements for and bringing customers from non-RR countries

RR CoalitionsSummary

• Several successes, but substantial work remains to achieve full objective of coalitions.

• 2009-2011: New NTI grant to IAEA (project management); DOE funds; three regional TC projects

• IAEA support will continue, but will emphasize catalytic role, seek to encourage the arrangements to become self-supporting and sustainable

• Clear opportunities related to isotope production but competitive history and instincts need to be overcome

• IAEA remains open to further ideas, welcomes additional partners and participants