FORATOM broadly welcomes EC’s recommendation
on the efficient use of nuclear decommissioning funds in the EU
FORATOM, the trade association representing
the European nuclear industry, broadly welcomes the Recommendation
that was adopted yesterday by the European Commission (EC) on
the way that Member States should appropriate, manage and use
funds destined for the decommissioning of nuclear installations
and for the management of spent fuel and radioactive waste. FORATOM
fully supports the general principles that underpin the Recommendation,
namely that sufficient decommissioning funds should be set aside,
that funding arrangements are managed in a transparent way and
that any decommissioning activity should be carried out with safety
and environmental protection as primary considerations. FORATOM
acknowledges the EC’s call for harmonisation of rules governing
the appropriation and use of decommissioning funds. It particularly
welcomes the Recommendation’s emphasis on maintaining a
flexible approach to harmonisation that recognises how operational,
regulatory and legal conditions vary among the Member States.
One of the main principles behind the EC’s
Recommendation on decommissioning funds is that it would be of
clear benefit for nuclear safety if rules for the constitution,
management and use of decommissioning funds were harmonised throughout
the EU in such a way that ensures sufficient funds will be made
available when required.
The nuclear industry recognises the EC’s
overall objectives of ensuring that adequate funding should be
made available across the EU to meet all future financial decommissioning
obligations and agrees that it is ultimately the responsibility
of the licence holder, under the supervision of the national regulatory
body, to ensure that decommissioning is carried out safely and
efficiently.
FORATOM’s Director General, Santiago San
Antonio, gave the following reaction to the main points outlined
in the Recommendation: “The safe management of nuclear facilities
from start-up to decommissioning remains a priority for the nuclear
industry. Decommissioning is already being successfully carried
out in several EU countries and financing systems have been put
in place. All external costs, including those to cover decommissioning
and waste management are included in investment plans for the
building of future nuclear units in Europe. This demonstrates
how nuclear energy is one of the most competitive ways of generating
CO2-free base-load electricity. However, financing models vary
from country to country due to basic differences in operational,
regulatory and legal requirements. The European nuclear industry
does not favour any one model of financing as long as transparency
of funding arrangements is maintained. We believe that greater
harmonisation can be achieved if a flexible approach that takes
into account differing operational, regulatory and legal requirements
is adopted.”
The issue of decommissioning will continue to
grow in importance in the coming years, especially in light of
the nuclear revival that is gathering momentum in a number of
European countries. With this in mind, the nuclear industry welcomes
the Recommendation’s emphasis upon the need for continuing
consultation and dialogue on decommissioning funds between the
EC, Member States and operators.
For more information on the EC Recommendation
can be found on the Europa website. Alternatively, you can contact
Mark O’Donovan of FORATOM at: Tel.: 0476 98 42 18
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