Session 3: Education, Training and Qualification of a Nuclear Workforce

IAEA CN260

Session 3: Education, Training and Qualification of a Nuclear Workforce

Title of Topic: Modern developments, including ‘co-operation’ in initial and continuing training and qualification programmes for a nuclear workforce;

Title: Human Resource Needs to Initiate a Nuclear Energy Program in a Developing Country

AugustinSimo.

National Radiation Protection Agency of Cameroon, P.O. Box 33732, Yaoundé, Cameroon

Abstract

Human resources to analyze the energy situation and possibly offer the nuclear option in the national energy mix are lacking in many developing countries. Technical assistance and training offered by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in the fields of energy planning, nuclear energy and nuclear science and technology, constitute opportunities exploited successfully by the Member States of the Agency. However, the leadership of projects at the national level is not always guaranteed in this case. A critical mass of national experts is essential to design and conduct a sustainable nuclear energy projects. The regional networks of institutions of specialized training and nuclear regulators are reservoirs of expertise that can be mobilized to supplement the lack of local competencies. The Africa Regional Cooperative Agreement for Research Development and Training related to Nuclear Science and Technology - Networking Nuclear Education and Training (AFRA-NEST) and the Forum of Nuclear Regulatory Bodies in Africa (FNRBA) are typical examples of such regional networks. Also, the advent of online education of some disciplines can provide broad knowledge to the members of the national team responsible for the design and implementation of nuclear energy program of the country.

Key words: energy planning, nuclear power, human resource, competence, leadership

Introduction

Nuclear power can be a valid option to cover energy needs of developed and under-developed countries. The State’s decision to launch a nuclear energy programme is based on the foreseen national plan for socio-economic development and the needs to support its implementation. It is therefore essential that both the national socio-economic development plan and the associated energy demand be fully understood and mastered by different stakeholders. Long-term development planning, like 30 years and beyond, is more suitable, than short or medium terms, to accommodate nuclear power of which implementation can require several decades.

The availability of in-country competences to assess the energy demand and to propose relevant options in support to socioeconomic objectives is a great issue in Africa.This problem arises mainly from the lack of specialized training institutions, particularly in the area of nuclear energy. An attempt to address it was proposed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) increating special software, MAED (Model for) Analysis of Energy Demand) and MESSAGE (Model for Energy Supply Strategy Alternatives and their General Environment Impacts), which has been made available to Member States to assist in energy planning. Training events were subsequently organized by the IAEA to develop energy planning skills in the Region. There are presently in several countries technicians and scientists who have good knowledge of and MESSAGE. A preliminary study performed in Cameroon using these tools revealed that in 2035, electricity demand could reach 35 TWh, 19 TWh and 17 TWh for High, Intermediate and Low scenario respectively, against 4.96 TWh in 2012 [1].The gap to be filled in each scenario case is very important. In May 2015, in a public conference, evidence was provided that by 2035it will be necessary to envisage additional sources of electricity, including nuclear, to satisfy the future needs of the country [2].

The IAEA regularly organizes ministerial conferences at the regional and international levels to allow experiences sharing and to sensitize the policy makers on energy issues. Despite all these initiatives, including the energy planning software, the inclusion of nuclear power into national energy mix is still verylimited in developing countries.Indeed, Africa counts only one country with nuclear power plant.

The reasons for this low enthusiasm for nuclear energy are due to not only the lack of training and education facilities in the field, but also to the complexity of technology involved and the limited employment offered in this sector in Africa; also to the poor economy of the majority of countries in the region. In these circumstances, the building of required leadership and competences to initiate and conduct nuclear energy projects need considerable innovations.

AIEA Guides

IAEA has provided Guides to be used by countries which decide to embark on nuclear power programme. One of them establishes phases and milestones in the development of national infrastructure for nuclear power programme [3]. Each phase contains a set of activities which are deemed successfully completed at a milestone point. Nineteen issues are identified that need competent human resource totake care of them in each phase.

IAEA issued another guide to ensure that personnel have the necessary competence for their jobs[4].Making sure that people involved in energy programme at all levels have the competences and skills required is a great concern. Appropriate answer to this question is a prerequisite to the undertaking of nuclear energy projects. In this regard, the selection of members of the Nuclear Energy Programme Implementation Organization (NEPIO) proposed by the IAEA in its Guide should be based on their individual broad knowledge of electricity production technologies, including nuclear power plants, and associated constraints.

Regional Networking

In Africa there are very few countries with complete cycles of academic and professional training at high level in the different disciplines involved in the development of nuclear power, such as: Nuclear Physics, Material Sciences, Automatic Control Systems, Nuclear Engineering, Nuclear Plant Design and Operations, Fuel Cycle (Engineering or Radiochemistry), Decommissioning and Waste Management.The networking of training institutions may be, in this respect, a viable solution. The facilities and experts are seen as common assets to serve the interests of many countries.

The Africa Regional Cooperative Agreement for Research Development and Training related to Nuclear Science and Technology (AFRA) established the AFRA Network for Education in Nuclear Science and Technology (AFRA-NEST) in order to implement AFRA strategy on Human Resource Development through facilitation of cooperation and networking in higher education, training and related research in Nuclear Science.Similarly, the Forum of Nuclear Regulatory Bodies in Africa (FNRBA) was launched in 2009 as a regional platform for regulators to share experiences and expertises in various topics they face on a daily basis. The FNRBA has 10 thematic working groups, including one on nuclear power program development. By participating in these networks, countries that have not yet adopted nuclear power in their energy mix have already access to information and knowledge useful for energy strategic planning. These regional bodies can thus be seen as strategic partners innuclear energy programmes in Africa.

Leadership Issue

The energy planning needs leadership to assess and understand the world situation in this field;and to design and implement the most realistic and effective energy solutions capable to support the projected socio-economic progress. Political leadership is the first concerned, as irrevocable decisionsare to be taken to shape the future and to allocate means to achieve it.

Then the stakeholders involved in the development and implementation of the future energy plans must prove their constant commitment, and their technical and managerial skills needed to discharge their responsibilities in regard to nuclear safety and security during the design, construction, operation and decommissioning of the plant.

Conclusion

Nuclear power can contribute to sustainable socio-economic development of the global community. However, the availability of competent human resourcethat is diversified from region to region in the world jeopardizes the equal expansion of this form of energy. Regional networks of nuclear regulators and academic and professional training institutions can contribute to a better integration of the nuclear option in the energy mix of developing countries. Furthermore, the need for national leadership at different levels of the process for choosing and implementing the energy deserves more attention.

References

[1].Emmanuel GuemeneDountio, Pierre Meukam, Denis Landry PahaneTchaptchet, Lionel EvrardOkonoAngo, AugustinSimo:Electricity generation technology options under the greenhouse gases mitigation scenario: Case study of Cameroon (Energy Strategy Reviews, 2016)

[2] A. Simo: Planification du Secteur de L’énergie Électrique au Cameroun à l’horizon 2035: approche méthodologique (Conférences du MINRESI, Mai 2015)

[3] Milestones in the Development of a National Infrastructure for Nuclear Power; IAEA NUCLEAR ENERGY SERIES No. NG-G-3.1 (Rev. 1); Vienna, 2015

[4]IAEA Nuclear Energy Series No. NG-G-2.1 Managing Human Resources in the Field of Nuclear Energy; IAEA, Vienna; 2009

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