Stakeholder Engagement and the Nuclear Fuel Cycle: Considerations for Spent Fuel Management 

As the world looks to expand nuclear energy for security and decarbonization goals, decisions about how to manage spent fuel will play a critical role in shaping the future of this technology and how it is perceived by community stakeholders. The primary options for spent fuel are direct disposal and reprocessing.

This event, hosted by the Nuclear Scaling Initiative on the sidelines of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s International Conference on Stakeholder Engagement for Nuclear Power Programmes, will explore key considerations for fuel cycle choices and assess the implications of each method for stakeholder buy-in, policy implementation, and long-term fuel cycle strategy.

By examining past cases and future scenarios, the discussion will identify key fuel cycle considerations that must be managed strategically to build supportive stakeholder engagement in nuclear energy projects.