Pictured: the PyRoprocess Integrated inactive DEmonstration (PRIDE) facility. Photo credit: KAERI.

The role of recycling has emerged as a central theme in shaping sustainable future nuclear strategies. Recycling is increasingly recognised as a key enabler for advanced fuel cycle approaches and forms a major component in many small modular reactor and advanced reactor concepts. As countries continue to explore innovative technologies, early consideration of back-end perspectives is essential to ensuring efficient and sustainable fuel cycle deployment.

The workshop aims to:

• Identify and discuss strategic drivers to create favourable conditions for recycling; enabling actions to support implementation; and back-end impacts to integrate waste management perspectives;
• Provide a forum to present international progress and share best practices on recycling with a focus on back-end perspectives; and,
• Identify key challenges for recycling which would benefit from future international collaboration.

Hosts

The 2026 Workshop on Recycling for Advanced Fuel Cycles is co-hosted by the Korea Atomic Energy Institute (KAERI) and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP).

Co-ordination

The technical programme of the workshop will be developed by a Programme Committee consisting of representatives from the co-hosts, KAERI and KHNP, and other international partners. The logistics of the workshop will be managed by an Organising Committee consisting of representatives from the NEA, KAERI and KHNP.

Location

The workshop will be held in Daejeon, Korea. Further venue information will be provided in due course.

Key Dates

Registration will open in May 2026.

Site Visits

Site visits to the KAERI/KHNP facilities below will be held on the 13 November 2026:

• PRIDE pyroprocessing research facility
• KURT underground research tunnel for geological disposal
• SMR Simulator Center for advanced reactor simulation and training

Site visit spaces are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis once registration opens. Site visit attendees may require further security approvals from the facilities.

The NEA, KAERI, and KHNP are committed to developing the next generation of nuclear energy experts. To support the attendance of students and young professionals at the 2026 NEA Workshop on Recycling for Advanced Fuel Cycles, a discounted registration fee will be offered for those who:

• Will be under the age of 30 on the 11 November 2026; or
• Have less than 5 years’ experience working in the nuclear back-end

Please indicate that you are a Young Generation participant when submitting your registration form and provide the relevant supporting evidence.