The NEA will hold the Fifth International Workshop on the Indemnification of Damage in the Event of a Nuclear Accident in London in early 2027, in co‑operation with the Government of the United Kingdom.
Following four previous workshops organised in France in 2001, in the Slovak Republic in 2005 and in 2017, and in Portugal in 2019, the next edition will focus on nuclear liability and insurance issues associated with small modular reactors (SMRs) and other innovative technologies. As interest in SMRs and advanced modular reactors (AMRs) continues to grow, questions are emerging about how liability and insurance frameworks may be applied to these technologies not only on land, but also in the context of floating nuclear power plants, nuclear-powered commercial ships and space nuclear power and propulsion.
“While interest in the topic is accelerating, practical and targeted steps should be undertaken at an early stage to ensure that countries have an opportunity to resolve liability and insurance-related issues in light of the development and deployment of SMRs and other innovative technologies,” said NEA Director-General William D. Magwood, IV. “Building on the legacy of previous liability workshops, the Fifth International Workshop on the Indemnification of Damage in the Event of a Nuclear Accident will provide a timely and unique platform to foster dialogue on these questions and we look forward to working with the Government of the United Kingdom to advance work on this critical topic.”
Minister for Science, Innovation, Research and Nuclear Lord Vallance said: “This workshop will bring together international expertise to grapple with key issues in this fast-developing space, supporting our delivery of a golden age of nuclear. Jointly hosting the workshop with the NEA reflects the invaluable work they have done to date, while recognising the UK’s ambitious small modular reactor programme and the international prominence of the nuclear and insurance industries based in London."
The workshop will bring together government officials and regulators, representatives from the nuclear and maritime industries, and the insurance sector, alongside academia, international organisations and non-governmental organisations to examine these issues and identify potential paths forward.
