Challenges in Long-Term Operation of Nuclear Power Plants - Implications for Regulatory Bodies

Following discussions at the CNRA meeting held on 7-8 June 2010, the Senior Task Group on Long-term Operation was established to prepare a document on regulatory challenges for long-term operation of nuclear power plants. The group was to review the principles and criteria that should be considered in making a regulatory decision to approve an operator’s application for operation of a nuclear power plant beyond the operation period considered in the plant’s design. During the preparation of this document, the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant
accident occurred. As a consequence, the CNRA requested that aspects of the event related to long-term operation should also be addressed in the review.

This report has been prepared by the Senior Task Group on Long-term Operation, in collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), on the basis of discussions and input by members of the group and consideration of information from a wide array of documents produced by the NEA, its member countries and other international organisations.