Options for Management of Spent Fuel and Radioactive Waste for Countries Developing New Nuclear Power Programmes

The IAEA has published guidance on particular elements of radioactive waste and spent fuel management,
such as establishing nuclear technical and regulatory infrastructure, relevant financing schemes, national policy
and strategies, multinational approaches and other aspects linked to building nuclear power plants. The present
publication is intended to provide a concise summary of key issues related to the development of a sound radioactive
waste and spent nuclear fuel management system. It is designed to brief countries with small or newly established
nuclear power programmes about the challenges of, and to describe current and potential alternatives for, managing
spent fuel and radioactive waste arising during operation and decommissioning of nuclear power plants. The
publication deals primarily with current technical options, but also considers possible future developments and
discusses relevant legal, political, technical and safety issues. It identifies the role of, and potential actions to be
adopted by, the international community, including the IAEA, in order to support the responsible introduction of
nuclear power in interested countries.