NEA Mandates and Structures

COMMITTEE FOR TECHNICAL AND ECONOMIC STUDIES ON NUCLEAR ENERGY DEVELOPMENT AND THE FUEL CYCLE (NDC)

Mandate (Document reference):

• Minutes of the 55th Session of the Steering Committee for Nuclear Energy [NE/M(77)2]
• Proposed Strategy and Programme Objectives in the Field of Development of Nuclear Energy and the Fuel Cycle [NE(81)19]
• Review of the NEA Committee Structure [NEA/NE(2000)11/REV1]
• Review of Mandates of the NEA Standing Technical Committees [NEA/NE(2005)2]
• Summary of Decisions Taken at the 117th Session of the Steering Committee for Nuclear Energy [NEA/SUM/DEC(2008)2]
• Review of the NEA Standing Technical Committee Mandates [NEA/NE(2010)7]
• Summary of Decisions Taken at the 121st Session of the Steering Committee for Nuclear Energy [NEA/SUM/DEC(2010)2]
• Review of the Mandates of NEA Bodies Reporting Directly to the Steering Committee [NEA/NE(2016)5]
• Summary of Decisions Taken at the 133rd Session of the Steering Committee for Nuclear Energy [NEA/SUM/DEC(2016)2]
• Mandate approved under the written procedure by the NDC members [NEA/NDC(2022)5]
• Review of Mandates of the NEA Standing Technical Committees and the Management Board for the Development, Application and Validation of Nuclear Data and Codes (MBDAV) [NEA/NE(2022)20]
• Summary of Decisions Taken at the 144th Session of the Steering Committee for Nuclear Energy (Item 10) [NEA/SUM/DEC(2022)2]
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Mandate (Document extract):

Extract from document NEA/NE(2022)20

Mandate:  

The NDC will conduct technical, resource, economic, strategic, and policy-support studies, and publish authoritative reports regarding developments, challenges and opportunities associated with nuclear energy, nuclear fuel cycles, industrial infrastructure, and other issues in support of member countries’ national energy policies. Specifically, the NDC will:

• analyse the technological and economic aspects of nuclear energy and associated fuel cycles as a low-carbon component of energy production in the context of evolving markets;
• assist member countries in evaluating the role of nuclear energy in their low-carbon energy policies while reviewing societal, technological, policy, financial and other related issues;
• promote international co-operation regarding nuclear energy as a component of energy supply with respect to both the near term (operation of current plants and lifetime management) and the long term (innovative and/or advanced nuclear energy systems, and radioactive waste management);
• analyse the role of nuclear power in the broader perspective of climate change and sustainable development;
• assess the availability of technology and infrastructure (considering human, industrial and institutional capacities) required for the operation of existing nuclear power plants and the deployment of new plants, and identify possible gaps and challenges; and
• assist member countries in addressing concerns related to non-energy applications of nuclear technology and radioactive materials, such as medical radioisotopes.

In fulfilment of its mission, the NDC will be supported by the staff of the NEA Nuclear Technology Development and Economics Division. As many aspects of the work of the NDC impact areas of responsibility of other NEA committees, the NDC will be proactive in seeking close co-operation with other NEA committees as appropriate, as well as other NEA divisions.

The NDC will interact closely with the International Energy Agency (IEA) to ensure the full integration of its analysis within the broader work of the IEA. The NDC will also work with relevant OECD bodies and other international organisations or fora active in the field, including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Generation IV International Forum (GIF), and the International Framework for Nuclear Energy Cooperation (IFNEC).