The European Commission presented its Communication on a Nuclear Illustrative Programme (PINC) at the start of April. The PINC is a non-legislative document periodically presented by the Commission under Article 40 of the Euratom Treaty, providing an overview of investments in the EU in all stages of the nuclear lifecycle.
The last PINC was published in 2008, so this Communication is the first report since the Fukushima disaster in 2011 and focuses on the investments related to post-Fukushima safety upgrades and to the safe operation of existing facilities. In addition, this PINC highlights the estimated financing needs related to nuclear power plants' decommissioning and to the management of radioactive waste and spent fuel.
According to the report, the nuclear fleet in Europe is aging and significant investments are needed for a lifetime extension of some reactors (and related safety improvements), for expected decommissioning activities and for the long-term storage of nuclear waste. Investments are also needed to replace existing nuclear plants, some of which could be spent on new nuclear plants. The total estimated investments in the nuclear fuel cycle between 2015 and 2050 are projected at between EUR 650 billion and EUR 760 billion.
“Based on Member States input, the Nuclear Illustrative Programme of the Commission (PINC) provides a useful photograph of the whole lifecycle of nuclear power in Europe: from the front-end of fuel fabrication, to safety upgrades and long-term operations, to the back-end of the cycle, including waste management and decommissioning. The PINC contributes to the implementation of the Energy Union strategy, by looking into relevant Member States' investments from the perspective of safety, security of supply, diversification, technological and industrial leadership,” European Commission Vice-President responsible for Energy Union, Maroš Šefčovič, said in a statement.
Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy Miguel Arias Cañete added that Europe had learnt lessons from the accident at Fukushima Daiichi. “The Nuclear Illustrative Program brings together for the first time an overview of all investment aspects of nuclear energy in a single document. It thus contributes to the public discussion on nuclear matters. Together we should be able to identify ways to cooperate across Europe to ensure that knowledge about the safest use of nuclear power plants is shared, rather than done separately by each regulator, and that the management of radioactive waste is secured financially by Member States until its final disposal,” he said.
The Nuclear Illustrative Program provides a basis for discussion and aims to include all stakeholders, especially civil society, in the discussion on nuclear energy trends and related investments for the period up to 2050.
For more information:
http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-16-1202_en.htm
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