Nuclear power newsletter. Vol. 7, no. 1, March 2010

Among many other activities of the NENP, supporting the Member States with operating nuclear power plants (NPPs) for safe and effective operation is very important since a lot of the operating NPPs are over 20 years and they are getting old every year. This is also important to the Member States considering the introduction of the first NPP for better public acceptance on nuclear power. The NENP, in coordination with other departments in the Agency, will try its best to support existing fleet for the safe and improved performance as was done in previous years. The NENP will keep focusing on the development of advanced/innovative nuclear power technologies for the preparation of the future needs for sustainable development. The NENP will continue focusing on the timely sharing of scientific and technical information related to advances in nuclear power technology and its various applications including non electric applications such as seawater desalination, hydrogen production and other industrial applications. Major activities in 2010 will focus on the issues for the near term technologies of various types and sizes of nuclear reactors with major focus on water cooled reactors. There will be a series of meeting/ workshops and CRP's, to address the issues for the development and applications of water cooled reactors through the 21st century including economics and sustainability. Similarly, the Agency will continue to play a major role in the technology sharing and development related to fast reactors through CRP's and meetings related to both the startup and shut down of major fast reactor projects globally