At the present time, there is a general decline in many areas of support for the nuclear industry. Research and Development programmes have been particularly affected, certainly in the Western world. The reasons for this are that the knowledge base to support currently operating plant is at a relatively mature state and the lack of new building programmes means that little new work is needed. In addition, nuclear energy is having to compete with other forms of energy producers in the market. The nuclear business is not seen as a popular business in which to work. The net result is a significant reduction in resource due to a failure to attract new graduates into the industry, a failure to keep new people in the industry and the loss of people in retirement.

It has been recognised for some time therefore, (Storey, 2001) that there is a requirement to maintain technical competence, not only to ensure safe operation and decommissioning of existing plant, but also to be available in the future, if new reactors are required. The continued operation of existing plant does provide a means to ensure some level of competent resource is maintained for both operation and regulation.

Regulators are focussing on a number of areas through the NEA described by Storey (2001). Specific problems have been considered by the Committee on the Safety of Nuclear Installations (CSNI)’s Senior Expert Group and more recently by the European Commission through its research and training programme (RTP) in the field of nuclear energy. The Senior Expert Group has made recommendations for research in a number of important technical areas in the OECD Community. These include the maintenance of a major thermal-hydraulic rig for each reactor type, for fuel and reactor physics facilities, for research on the integrity of equipment structures and for the continued availability of hot cell and research reactor facilities. EC initiatives include the creation of centres of excellence (COEs) for severe accidents and for fission products expertise; the setting-up of databases on seismic activity and support of other areas in respect of human factors and plant monitoring and control.

Other initiatives are moving forward under the auspices of the NEA Committee of the Nuclear Regulatory Authorities (CNRAs), which are more general (including non­technical topics). Some of these are aimed at maintaining safety competence in the industry and the regulator. The NEA and the EC in its RTP programme, referred to above, are also addressing nuclear training and education.

Thus, maintaining a sufficient degree of overall competence is a particular issue in the nuclear industry at the present time (BNIF/BNES Conference — Energy Choices, 2002). As nuclear power is declining internationally and particularly the lack of ‘new build’, there are problems with the retirement of suitably experienced and qualified (SQEP) staff and difficulties in recruiting high-quality personnel into the nuclear industry. In countries where there are continuing nuclear programmes, there is at least a steady stream of work to support plant operation so some capability is maintained.