Building on the inaugural NEA-China Forum in 2023, the NEA co-operated with China Atomic Energy Authority (CAEA) and CAEA’s National Innovation Centre for Nuclear Facilities Decommissioning Technology (Innovation Centre) for the 2026 NEA-China Forum: Innovation in Technology to Support a Safe and Sustainable Future for the Nuclear Back-end on 1-4 June 2026 in Haikou, China.
Welcome remarks were delivered by NEA Director-General William D. Magwood, IV, CAEA Vice Chairman Liu Jing and China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) Vice President Chen Junli. The event was facilitated by CAEA Director Xiao Lili.
Jing Chunning, Innovation Centre Chairman, and Rebecca Tadesse, Head of the NEA Division for Radioactive Waste Management and Decommissioning, exchanging Letters of Intent expressing interest in discussing collaboration in the field of radioactive waste management and decommissioning
The second edition of the NEA-China Forum offered an opportunity for international dialogue on the future of radioactive waste management and decommissioning. Participants exchanged best practices, shared experiences with emerging technologies and explored opportunities for future collaboration to support safe, effective and sustainable back-end management strategies.
“As we move towards the next generation of nuclear systems in a world where energy security is becoming one of the biggest concerns, international collaboration is the cornerstone of a successful, sustainable nuclear future,” said NEA Director-General Magwood in his opening remarks. “The strategic partnership between the NEA and China provides a platform for Chinese and international experts to share information and experiences, helping us move forward together and take these innovative concepts beyond the pilot phase and towards real applications with measurable gains in safety, economics and sustainability.”
NEA Director-General William D. Magwood, IV
The Forum consisted of three days of technical presentations followed by a site visit. Presenters and experts attended from NEA member countries including Canada, France, Italy, Japan, Korea, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States were joined by more than 200 Chinese experts, academics and industry professionals.
Forum presentations covered five key areas in radioactive waste management and decommissioning:
- International and national perspectives of nuclear facility decommissioning and radioactive waste management from CAEA, the NEA, CNNC, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Word Nuclear Association (WNA);
- NEA activities including the Integration Group for the Safety Case (IGSC), the Working Party on Technical, Environmental and Safety Aspects of Decommissioning and Legacy Management (WPTES), the Expert Group on Robotics, and Emerging and Advanced Techniques in the Nuclear Back-end (EGREAT), the Working Party on Information, Data and Knowledge Management (WP-IDKM), and the Focus Group on the Back End of Advanced Reactors (FG-BEAR);
- Lessons learnt from waste management strategies with examples of European initiatives, reprocessing and deep geological disposal, as well as selected decommissioning practices;
- Current activities and methodologies such as safety case development, vitrification technologies, and characterisation techniques, as well as examples of ongoing projects and workforce development initiatives; and,
- Innovative technologies including robotics, remote systems, and artificial intelligence.
CAEA Vice Chairman Liu Jing
Ms Tadesse outlined past, present and future considerations in radioactive waste management and decommissioning, including an overview of NEA waste management and decommissioning activities. She highlighted key principles for waste management and discussed current strategies and considerations for dealing with nuclear waste. She addressed the long-term safety and security provided by deep geological repositories and marked recent milestones. Future focus areas including stakeholder engagement, knowledge management and innovation in the nuclear back-end and in future systems were also underlined.
Rebecca Tadesse, Head of the NEA Division for Radioactive Waste Management and Decommissioning
Following the Forum, participants had the opportunity to visit the Chinese ACP100 small modular reactor (SMR) located at Changjiang Nuclear Power Plant alongside two operating CNP600 units and with two further Hualong One 1000MW units currently under construction. The ACP100 start-up tests are underway, providing first-hand insight into ongoing developments in advanced reactor technologies.
Site visit participants touring the Changjiang Nuclear Power Plant Visitor Centre
The 2026 NEA-China Forum provided a platform for the international community to highlight the maturity and feasibility of existing back-end strategies and technologies. The event explored the potential of emerging technologies and innovative systems, emphasising the need to incorporate back-end considerations at an early stage. Participants also underlined the importance of stakeholder engagement, knowledge management and international co-operation in driving further progress in the implementation of sustainable back-end strategies.
