MUMBAI (Commodity Online): If global nuclear power generation needs to progress, nuclear reactor vendors worldwide need to enhance their production capacities with joint-venture arrangements. This is vital as nuclear power plant construction all over the world stands shelved for nearly 20 years, according to a paper jointly prepared by Capgemini and Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ASSOCHAM).

The vendors need to bring together know-how of experienced nuclear countries with industrial and human resources of new nuclear countries, the paper titled 'Nculear Energy Legal and Regulatory Frameworks: Best Practices' to be released soon said. Collaborations between experienced and less experienced nuclear operators are necessary to bring new nuclear operators upto speed, adds the Paper.

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In order to bring together know-how of experienced nuclear countries with those of plenty of industrial and human resources of new nuclear countries, collaborative approach would pave ways for forging durable and longer nuclear alliances. Therefore, new and existing nuclear countries need to reinvigorate or to create an industrial network by establishing a map of critical competencies and decide what should be provided at national or local level and what could be imported. The new and existing nuclear countries need to identify gaps and create the right incentive to bridge those gaps, say the Paper of ASSOCHAM and Capgemini.

It further emphasizes that aging workforce is a major issue in existing nuclear countries. Vendors and operators need to massively recruit engineers to replace baby bombers retiring to meet the growing demand.

Nuclear energy institutions need to be created or boosted and research related to safe and long term disposal of nuclear wastes for long life time radioactive elements transmutation.

The Paper on issue of pre-requisites for a sustained nuclear renaissance, however, says that it needs to be put in place through world wide collaborations so that these turn nuclear generation programme into success.

Nuclear plants construction carries multi-dimensional risk. In addition, the nuclear industry has some unique and especially stringent requirements to comply with. Capabilities to meet these requirements are prerequisites for industry to succeed.

This would need precautionary steps such as effective nuclear non proliferation control, stringent safety management, ensure nuclear energy financial competitiveness and master exceptionally long project life times and large investments. In addition, smooth industrial ramp up, competent human resources and public opinion acceptance would also be needed.

New nuclear countries will need to establish the right safety structure with right governance and trained future collaborations. Existing nuclear countries will need to re-inforce their safety authority staff for which an action plan of human resources would have to be launched.

On the issue of multi faceted risks of nuclear plants, the Paper points out that construction of nuclear plant costs a few billion dollars and it’s lifetime extends to 60 years or more. Construction time would include close to 10 years including several years needed to get clearance on regulatory requirements. Other risks would include technical complexities, contractual or environmental concerns, complex and volatile regulatory environment, suppliers, scalability, skilled human resource scarcity and local communities opposition etc.

Risk limitations for nuclear operators would involve careful planning, role and responsibilities definition, clear contractual arrangements, regular multi risk assessment, best practices implementation and other risks are beyond the capability of nuclear operators alone.

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