Technical Working Group on Nuclear Power Plant Operations (TWG-NPPOPS)

Background

The IAEA Technical Working Group on Nuclear Power Plant Operation (TWG-NPPOPS) is an advisory group of executives and leaders with responsabilities for operation of nuclear power plants (NPPs) to provide advice and support programme implementation in the area of managing and strategizing sustainable NPP operations by reflecting a global network of excellence and expertise of leadership.

Scope

The scope of the TWG-NPPOPS will focus on operating (or about to be operating) NPPs and will include, but not limited to, the following aspects of NPP operation and maintenance:

• Plant safety
• Plant performance and health
• Maintenance, refurbishment, upgrade, modernization of assets (including human assets)
• Outage and operation management (including fuel and radioactive waste)
• Organizational culture and management of safety and performance
• Efficient, advance and innovative NPP programmes, processes and procedures
• Enhancement of robustness, resiliency and compliance after major events
• Direction of strategic or functional leadership

Functions

The functions of the TWG on Nuclear Power Plant Operations are:

• To identify current and future challenges (legislative, economic, technical, organizational and administrative) to nuclear energy and electricity generation;
• To explore, organize and harmonize solutions to current and foreseen challenges and issues of management of NPP operation and maintenance in timely manner;
• To provide advice and guidance, and to marshal support in their countries for implementation of the Agency's programmatic activities in the area of NPP operation and maintenance;
• To provide a forum for information and knowledge sharing on national and international programme development in the area of NPP operation and maintenance;
• To act as a link between the agencies activities in specific area and national scientific communities, International and regional operator and Industry associations, technology owners and research and development organizations, as appropriate;
• To provide advice on preparatory actions in Member States and the Agency's activities in planning and implementing coordinated research programmes, collaborative assessments and other activities as well as the review of the results of those;
• To develop and/or review selected documents from the Nuclear Energy Series, assess existing gaps and advise on preparation of new ones, in the scope of their field of activity;
• To identify important topics for discussion at Standing Advisory Group on Nuclear Energy (SAGNE) and contribute to status reports, technical meetings and topical conferences in the field of NPP operation and maintenance;
• To encourage participation of owner/operator organization executives and leaders, as well as senior managers with responsibilities for operations, engineering, maintenance and special project departments, in Agency activities
• To propose methods for anchoring of future IAEA activities in support of addressing challenges in the management of safety, sustainability, and viability of NPP operations, as well as for disseminating useful, objective and reliable information on Solutions and good practices to the operating NPPs in Member States.

Membership

Membership in the TWG-NPPOPS is open to executives from the 30 countries with operating NPPs and from soon to be operating Members States.  Members of the TWG-NPPOPS are appointed by the IAEA Deputy Director General, Head of the Department of Nuclear Energy, following consultations with national authorities. 

Term Duration

4 years, 2023-2026