The Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management, for which the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is depositary, is held every three years in Vienna, taking place its next edition in May 2021.

This week the meetings of the senior officials who will lead its seventh edition have begun, via videoconference. Spain will be represented by the commissioner of the Spanish Nuclear Safety Council (CSN), Francisco Castejón Magaña, as president of the country group 7, and by the Enresa technician, Emilio García Neri, as rapporteur for the country group 3.

The preparation of this committee has started through a workshop in which all the incoming and outgoing officers of the Convention have participated to share their experiences.

For Francisco Castejón "it is a success that Spain has been able to designate two officers for the convention, since it will allow some influence capacity and also to obtain information on the experience of radioactive waste and spent fuel management at an international level". In addition, the CSN commissioner points out, "learning from and monitoring good practices identified at the international level as well as overcoming the challenges that are emerging in the management of radioactive waste are two primary objectives of the Spanish participation in the Convention".

Likewise, the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge will submit a national report on the management of radioactive waste and spent fuel in Spain for the revision process of the convention, which will be separated from the groups where Francisco Castejón and Emilio García participate, so as to maintain its neutrality.

The number of countries participating in the Convention has risen from 75 to 83, demonstrating the growing international interest in exchanging experiences, challenges and good practices on the management of radioactive waste and spent fuel from nuclear power plants. Participation is not limited only to nuclear countries, but also is open to other countries that only have radioactive facilities medical and industrial uses.

 

* Check here the glossary of technical terms *