During the week of May 7-11, Dr. Charles Miller participated in a workshop for the International Framework for Nuclear Energy Cooperation (IFNEC). IFNEC provides a forum for cooperation among participating countries to explore mutually beneficial approaches to ensure the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, with participation from over 60 countries.
The workshop brought together experts from a number of disciplines to present, discuss, and debate the various issues, challenges, and impediments to financing new nuclear power plant construction and operation worldwide. Mr. Miller represented the regulator’s perspective by participating in two expert panels relating countries that had nuclear power and wanted to expand their programs, and countries that would be new entrants. In addition to the experts that represented the views of bankers, insurers, energy planners, export credit agencies, market consultants, legal consultants, vendors, utilities, rating agencies and regulators, there were a number of attendees who were interested in gaining knowledge that would be beneficial to their countries in making informed decisions about nuclear power as a potential part of their growing energy needs. The workshop was chaired by the U.S. Department of Energy.