The International Symposium on Nuclear Energy – SIEN 2013

From 10-14 November 2013, Bucharest hosted the 11th edition of the International Symposium on Nuclear Energy (SIEN). SIEN is a landmark conference dedicated to the Romanian nuclear sector – the first one was organized 20 years ago, in 1993. The symposium is organized biannually by the Romanian Nuclear Energy Association and the Romanian Atomic Forum, under the patronage of the European Nuclear Society.

This year’s symposium welcomed the support of major companies in the nuclear industry and was the first one to be organized in partnership with the Romanian National Committee of the World Energy Council. Among the most illustrious personalities present at SIEN 2013  were Their Excellencies, the Ambassadors of Great Britain, Poland and Italy, as well  as the Commercial Attaché of the Canadian Embassy, in Bucharest; Jean-Pol Poncelet, ENS General Secretary and Peter Bucher, from NucNet news agency. Also present were members of the Romanian Academy; Marius Peculea, President of the Romanian National Committee – World Energy Council (CNR-CME); Iulian Iancu; Elena Popescu, General Manager of the Energy and Environment Division of the Ministry of Economy; Daniela Lulache, CEO of Nuclearelectrica and Florin Tatar, President of the Nuclear and Radioactive Waste Agency.

During the symposium the debates were open to all those interested in nuclear science, technology, financial and economic aspects related to progresses and improvement in the nuclear field, under the motto “Nuclear power - a milestone on the path of progress”. Representatives of the Romanian Government and the private sector sent out a clear message of support for the continuous development of new nuclear projects.

SIEN 2013 brought together around 200 participants from 11 countries (Canada, Great Britain, Czech Republic, Italy, South Korea, Belgium, Austria, Russia, Republic of Moldova and Romania), each with a significant contribution to make to the success of the conference. In addition, participants from Romanian and international institutions such as SN Nuclearelectrica SA, the Nuclear Research Institute in Pitesti, Center of Technology and Engineering for Nuclear Projects (CITON), ICSI-Rm Valcea, the Romanian Regulatory Body, Candu Energy, Ansaldo Nucleare and AMEC also made a valuable contribution. In total, 70 papers were presented in the 5 technical sessions and during the Posters session:

• Nuclear & Regulatory Policies and Public Acceptance

• New Technologies/Techniques/Life Management/Life extension

• Operation, Inspection & Maintenance

• Fuel Cycle, Radioactive Waste Management & Decommissioning

• Safety and Environment

SIEN 2013 also hosted specialized workshops:

• WIN: Environment and Health-How to build and disseminate the messages?

• Young Generation Network: Communicating nuclear science

• Procurement of goods and services for the nuclear sector

• Workshop/SRRp National Conference:   Individual monitoring and environmental dosimetry –  as important  components of the radiation protection culture

An addition, ten papers were presented during the two plennary sessions, which took place at the beginning of each day. The final  day of SIEN 2014 was dedicated to a technical visit at Pitesti Nuclear Fuel Plant.