Abstracts and Available Papers Presented at the
2005 International RERTR Meeting

LATEST IAEA ACTIVITIES RELATED TO RESEARCH REACTOR CONVERSION AND FUEL RETURN PROGRAMMES

PABLO ADELFANG AND IRA N. GOLDMAN
Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Materials Section
Division of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology
International Atomic Energy Agency
Wagramer Strasse 5, P.O. Box 100
A-1400 Vienna, Austria
[email protected] [email protected]

ABSTRACT

The IAEA has been involved for more than twenty years in supporting international nuclear non-proliferation efforts associated with reducing the amount of highly enriched uranium (HEU) in international commerce. IAEA projects and activities have directly supported the Reduced Enrichment for Research and Test Reactors (RERTR) programme, as well as directly associated efforts to return research reactor fuel to the country of origin where it was originally enriched. IAEA efforts have included the development and maintenance of several data bases with information related to research reactors (RRs) and research reactor spent fuel inventories that have been essential in planning and managing both RERTR and spent fuel return programmes. Other IAEA regular budget and Technical Cooperation activities have supported research reactor conversion and spent fuel return programmes.
After the announcement of the Global Threat Reduction Initiative (GTRI) by United States Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham on May 2004 at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna and following recommendations of the 2004 RERTR meeting, held in Vienna in November 2004, IAEA support of RERTR and the programmes of repatriation of research reactor fuel to the country of origin are being strengthened. A comprehensive number of new activities have been initiated and some others are being prepared for 2006.
The paper fully describes objectives, structure and implementation of IAEA new activities in support of RERTR and fuel return programmes. Special emphasis is put in explaining IAEA mechanisms used for implementation and specific contribution and value added through Agency’s involvement. Future activities under preparation are introduced and described.

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