Contracting and Ownership Approaches for New Nuclear Power Plants

This publication explores the variety of contracting and ownership approaches for a nuclear power plant, illustrated with recent case studies, to assist Member States in understanding the range of options available and the associated benefits and challenges of each approach. Regardless of the approach adopted, the requirements for the safe, secure and peaceful operation of a nuclear power plant remain the same. The challenge is to make sure that these requirements are adequately considered and addressed in Member State nuclear power programmes. This publication is a revision of IAEA-TECDOC-1750, Alternative Contracting and Ownership Approaches for New Nuclear Power Plants, published in 2014, which examined build–own–operate and build–own–operate–transfer models as well as regional approaches in relation to contracting and ownership. The publication used the word 'alternative' to reflect that both the regional approach and build–own–operate / build–own–operate–transfer models were different from those used historically in the nuclear power industry, thus representing an alternative pathway for embarking and expanding countries at that time.