INPRO Dialogue Forum on the Development of Sustainable Supply Chains for Advanced and Innovative Nuclear Energy Systems (15th INPRO Dialogue Forum)

A new nuclear power plant (NPP) requires complex or heavy forgings, and only a few manufacturing companies in the world have the capacity to accept ingots of the necessary size. However, many other components are also essential to support current and future nuclear power projects, and these call for reliable and diverse supplier bases. Further, in addition to those components that must be of nuclear grade, an NPP also relies on a wide range commercial grade components and structures.

In order to disseminate good practices and lessons learned with respect to procurement and supply chain issues among owner/operator organizations, regulatory bodies, suppliers, auditors, and other stakeholders throughout the nuclear industry, the IAEA's International Project on Innovative Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycles (INPRO) is organizing a Dialogue Forum on Sustainable Supply Chains for Advanced Nuclear Power Systems.

The objectives of this 15th INPRO Dialogue Forum are:

• to identify typical procurement processes used for NPP construction, operation and maintenance (although targeted at operating NPPs, the principles and processes to be presented at the Dialogue Forum are generally applicable to new-build advanced NPP projects and other nuclear facilities);
• to discuss the national, regional and global situation and address key issues and challenges in the nuclear supply chain;
• to identify proactive methods to avoid procurement-related issues such as counterfeit, fraudulent or substandard items for new and operating NPPs; 
• to exchange information on related programmes that are relevant to a sustainable nuclear supply chain and to localization; and
• to draw up recommendations for the IAEA Secretariat and for the Member States with regard to sustainable supply chains for advanced nuclear power systems.

The expected outputs of the Dialogue Forum are:

• Enhanced understanding of the present situation and future opportunities regarding sustainable nuclear supply chains and localization;
• Identification and analysis of Member States’ needs with regard to creating or maintaining a supply chain for advanced and innovative nuclear power systems; and
• Identification of actions that the IAEA Secretariat should undertake to help Member States achieve sustainable supply chains.