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Kuwait Becomes a Full Participant in the International Framework

The State of Kuwait has reviewed and accepted the International Framework for Nuclear Energy Cooperation’s Statement of Mission. Kuwait’s endorsement of the Statement of Mission has made it the twenty-sixth country to become a Participant in the International Framework, and the first to do so since the organization’s transformation into a broader and more inclusive structure guided by the newly adopted Statement of Mission.

The International Framework for Nuclear Energy Cooperation will hold its next ministerial-level Executive Committee meeting on November 4, 2010 in Jordan. Over fifty countries and international organizations have been invited.

For more information on the Statement of Mission, please click here.

For more information on the International Framework for Nuclear Energy Cooperation, please contact us here.


Global Nuclear Energy Partnership Transformed to the International Framework for Nuclear Energy Cooperation

Accra, Ghana Group Photo

The Global Nuclear Energy Partnership met in Accra, Ghana on June 16-17, 2010 and approved several transformative changes to reflect global developments that have occurred since the Partnership was established in 2007. The transformation includes a new name – the International Framework for Nuclear Energy and the establishment of a new Statement of Mission. Participants in this new International Framework agreed that this transformation was necessary to provide a broader scope with wider international participation to more effectively explore the most important issues underlying the use and expansion of nuclear energy worldwide.

The Statement of Mission reads as follows: “The International Framework for Nuclear Energy Cooperation provides a forum for cooperation among participating states to explore mutually beneficial approaches to ensure the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes proceeds in a manner that is efficient and meets the highest standards of safety, security and non-proliferation. Participating states would not give up any rights and voluntarily engage to share the effort and gain the benefits of economical, peaceful nuclear energy.” Endorsement of the Statement of Mission is the sole action required of states, upon receipt of a consensus-based invitation by the Participants, to participate in future partnership activities.

The Steering Group addressed follow-up actions to the International Framework’s Executive Committee Meeting that occurred in Beijing on October 23, 2009, including ways to further enhance its activities, such as assurances of fuel supply and cradle-to-grave nuclear fuel management that could serve as one important element of the International Framework. Jordan formally announced that it will host the next meeting of the International Framework’s Executive Committee in the fall of 2010.

The International Framework’s expert-based working groups on infrastructure development and reliable nuclear fuel services provided reports on progress made to date as well as planned near-term activities. The Reliable Nuclear Fuel Services Working Group outgoing Chair from the United States reported on work regarding approaches for selecting back-end fuel cycle options, lessons learned and resource requirements, and introduced the incoming Chair from France. The Infrastructure Development Working Group, currently co-chaired by the United Kingdom and the United States, reported on its progress regarding human resource development, effective radioactive management strategies, small modular reactors, financing options, engagement with specialist organizations and identifying infrastructure requirements for an international nuclear fuel services framework.

This was the International Framework’s first meeting in Africa, and included representatives from the following countries and organizations: Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Germany, Ghana, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Republic of Korea, Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Romania, Russian Federation, Senegal, Slovak Republic, Spain, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, the Generation IV International Forum and the International Atomic Energy Agency.


About the International Framework

The International Framework for Nuclear Energy Cooperation (IFNEC) is cooperation of those States that share the common vision of the necessity of the safe use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes worldwide in a safe and secure manner.

The cooperation will be carried out under existing and, where appropriate, new bilateral arrangements as well as existing multilateral arrangements such as the Generation IV international Forum.

Today the International Framework consists of twenty-five (25) participants, three (3) permanent international observers; and 31 observer countries. The participants are: Armenia, Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Estonia, France, Ghana, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Republic of Korea, Lithuania, Morocco, Oman, Poland, Romania, the Russian Federation, Senegal, Slovenia, Ukraine, United Kingdom and the United States. The three permanent international nongovernment observers are: the International Atomic Agency, the Generation IV International Forum and Euratom.

The Statement of Mission is the policy basis for the International Framework. A country can become a participant by receiving an invitation from the existing participants and by endorsing the IFNEC Statement of Mission. Invited countries may attend meetings as observers to better understand the International Framework before a decision to join is made. International nongovernment organizations may serve as observers at the invitation of the participants.

The International Framework consists of a three-tiered organization. It receives its high-level direction from the IFNEC Executive Committee comprised of Ministerial-level officials. The Steering Group, whose members are designated by the Executive Committee, carries out actions on behalf of IFNEC at the direction of the Executive Committee. At a September 2007 meeting of the Executive Committee, two working groups were established to address matters concerning reliable nuclear fuel services and infrastructure development.