Draft2:International Framework for Nuclear Energy Cooperation

International Framework for Nuclear Energy Cooperation on Wikipedia

The International Framework for Nuclear Energy Cooperation (IFNEC) is a forum of states and organizations that share the common vision of the safe and secure development of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes worldwide. IFNEC members include 32 full-participant countries, 3 permanent observer organizations and 31 observer countries. It works with its members to ensure a clean, reliable, and resilient energy future.

The international organization observers are: the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Generation IV International Forum, and the European Commission. IFNEC operates by consensus among its partners based on an agreed GNEP Statement of Mission.

It was originally named the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP). In June 2010, the Partner countries of GNEP formally agreed to transform the partnership into IFNEC and adopt a new Statement of Mission, endorsement of which is the sole action required of invited states to become IFNEC Participants. The transformation from GNEP was agreed upon by the Partners in order to provide a broader scope with wider participation to explore mutually beneficial approaches to ensure the expansion of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes proceeds in a manner that is efficient, safe, secure, and supports non-proliferation and safeguards. The International Framework for Nuclear Energy Cooperation consists of 34 Participant countries, 31 Observer countries and 4 international observers organizations.

Official Site - ifnec.org

Mission

"The International Framework for Nuclear Energy Cooperation provides a forum for cooperation among participating states to explore mutually beneficial approaches to ensure the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes proceeds in a manner that is efficient and meets the highest standards of safety, security and non-proliferation. Participating states would not give up any rights and voluntarily engage to share the effort and gain the benefits of economical, peaceful nuclear energy."

- Adopted June 16, 2010 in Accra, Ghana

Core functions

IFNEC’s two working groups, the Infrastructure Development Working Group and the Reliable Nuclear Fuel Services Working Group, support the mission of ensuring the use of nuclear energy proceed in a safe and secure manner by addressing specific objectives agreed by the members. 

IFNEC activities also include targeted workshops, such as the IFNEC Finance Workshops.

The Office of International Energy Policy and Cooperation plays an active role in developing and implementing the strategy, agenda, background papers and providing other support for major IFNEC events.

Organization

Leadership

See Organizational Structure for the full list. Below are the United States representatives.

Steering Group

• Chair - Aleshia Duncan - Office of Nuclear Energy

Infrastructure Development Working Group

• Co-Chair - Mike Goff - Office of Nuclear Energy

Reliable Nuclear Fuel Services Working Group

• Co-Chair - Sean Tyson – Office of Nuclear Energy

Nuclear Supplier and Customer Countries Engagement Group

• Co-Chairs - No U.S. representative

Global Nuclear Energy Partnership

GNEP began as a U.S. proposal, announced by United States Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman on February 6, 2006, to form an international partnership to promote the use of nuclear power and close the nuclear fuel cycle in a way that reduces nuclear waste and the risk of nuclear proliferation. This proposal would divide the world into “fuel supplier nations,” which supply enriched uranium fuel and take back spent fuel, and “user nations,” which operate nuclear power plants.

As GNEP the proposal proved controversial in the United States and internationally. The U.S. Congress provided far less funding for GNEP than President George W. Bush requested. U.S. arms control organizations criticized the proposal to resume reprocessing as costly and increasing proliferation risks. Some countries and analysts criticized the GNEP proposal for discriminating between countries as nuclear fuel cycle “haves” and “have-nots.” In April 2009 the U.S. Department of Energy announced the cancellation of the U.S. domestic component of GNEP.

The Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP) was based on the Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative (AFCI), and while GNEP faltered with the advent of the Barack Obama administration in Washington from 2008, the AFCI was being funded at higher levels than before for R&D "on proliferation-resistant fuel cycles and waste reduction strategies." Two significant new elements in the strategy were new reprocessing technologies which separate all transuranic elements together (and not plutonium on its own), and advanced burner (fast) reactors to consume the result of this while generating power. However, this then disappeared from the US Department of Energy (DOE) budget.

Background

A plentiful, reliable supply of energy is the cornerstone of sustained economic growth and prosperity. Nuclear power is the only proven technology that can provide abundant supplies of base load electricity reliably and without air pollution or emissions of greenhouse gasses. In The Global Nuclear Energy Partnership: Greater Energy Security in a Cleaner, Safer World order to help meet growing demand for energy at home and encourage the growth of prosperity around the globe, GNEP provides for the safe, extensive expansion of clean nuclear power.

GNEP is based on the principle that energy and security go hand in hand. GNEP will develop and demonstrate new proliferation resistant technologies to recycle nuclear fuel and reduce waste. The U.S. will also work with other advanced nuclear nations to develop a fuel services program that would provide nuclear fuel and recycling services to nations in return for their commitment to refrain from developing enrichment and recycling technologies. GNEP is designed to allow developing nations to reliably access clean nuclear energy as an electricity source for their people in a safe and cost effective manner. President Bush has provided $250 million in the Department of Energy’s 2007 budget as an initial step of an ambitious plan to accelerate the development of technology as part of GNEP

History

The GNEP proposal began as part of the Advanced Energy Initiative announced by President Bush in his 2006 State of the Union address.

In announcing the GNEP Proposal, the U.S. Department of Energy said:

As a research and development program, GNEP is an outgrowth of the Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative

In April 2009 the U.S. Department of Energy announced the cancellation of the U.S. domestic component of GNEP, and in June 2009 announced that it is no longer pursuing domestic commercial reprocessing and had largely halted the domestic GNEP programme. Research would continue on proliferation-resistant fuel cycles and waste management.

Advanced Burner Reactors

GNEP will develop and demonstrate Advanced Burner Reactors (ABRs) that consume transuranic elements (plutonium and other long-lived radioactive material) while extracting their energy. The development of ABRs will allow us to build an improved nuclear fuel cycle that recycles used fuel. Accordingly, the U.S. will work with participating international partners on the design, development, and demonstration of ABRs as part of the GNEP.

Related Links

• Office of Nuclear Energy
• Samuel Bodman

External links

• World Nuclear Association
• Multilateral Cooperation - Office of Nuclear Energy
• Fact Sheet
• The Global Nuclear Energy Partnership - A report on the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP) is a comprehensive strategy to increase U.S. and global energy security, encourage clean development around the world, reduce the risk of nuclear proliferation, and improve the environment.
• http://nnsa.energy.gov/sites/default/files/nnsa/inlinefiles/GNEP_NPIA.pdf - NNSA
• Global Nuclear Energy Partnership Technology Development Plan
• Global Nuclear Energy Partnership - Oak Ridge National Laboratory
• National Laboratory Directors Highlight Scientific Merits of Global Nuclear Energy Partnership
• Expanding Nuclear Energy the Right Way - Los Alamos National Laboratory