NEA Conference in Stockholm on the deployment of Small Modular Reactors

We attended the Bridging Law and Technology International Workshop for the Deployment of Small Modular Reactors in Stockholm last week, organised by the Nuclear Energy Agency.

The Conference considered four main topic areas: (i) the authorisation of SMR designs, (ii) pre-licensing and licensing aspects, (iii) factory manufacture, mobile reactors and transportation and (iv) maritime applications.

Discussions were detailed as ever, with all delegates recognising  the need to continue to support longer-term, multilateral, efforts on harmonisation to facilitate the international deployment of SMR designs, such as the IAEA’s Nuclear Harmonisation and Standardisation Initiative. Our key takeaway from the Conference, however, was the growing consensus that smaller groups of states must start making progress through bilateral or small multilateral instruments rather than waiting for global initiatives to develop.

Aspects discussed included closer contractual collaboration on generic design approvals, Technical Support Organisations moving with SMR designs to provide technical capability and capacity to regulators in deployment states, joint licensing decisions and the establishment of nuclear shipping corridors with agreement between contracting parties on key aspects of safety, security, safeguards and nuclear liability.

This will certainly be a change from our current reliance on global multilateral treaties, but most delegates seemed to accept this was the only way nuclear deployment could realistically happen at the pace required to meet the moment.

Rather than trying to do everything, everywhere, all at the same time, we should start small and build from there.

If you have any questions in relation to the conference or the deployment of SMRs, please contact Ian Truman or Ian Salter.