Sixth International Conference on Nuclear Power Plant Life Management (PLiM 6) - Abstract and Paper Submission

INDICO is now open for abstract submissions until 1 May 2026.

The main theme of the conference is innovative solutions and strategic management for plant life management in long-term operation, with a focus on the sustainability, safety, and efficiency of nuclear power plants.

To facilitate the achievement of the conference objectives, each topical session will have the following format: 

• A keynote speaker, who will present a paper by invitation;
• A set of presentations that supplement specific areas within the session topic and stimulate discussion among conference participants; and
• A set of detailed technical papers that present the state of the art in the subject area. 

C.1 Opening Session: Opening, Plenary and Keynote Presentations 

Opening addresses will be made by a senior representative of the IAEA, a representative of the Government of Japan and the Conference President. The session will set the conference objectives and provide background information on the status and trends in the field of PLiM. Keynote interventions will provide information about the development of PLiM technology that will emphasize the increasing reliance on a systematic and more effective approach to enhance the safe and economical operation of existing plants. 

C.2 Session 1: Good Practices and Lessons Learned in Nuclear Power Plant Life Management

The aim of this session is to share information on, and good practices in, the application of PLiM from the safety and economic point of view. Topics to be addressed in the presentations include: 

• Policies and strategies for the LTO of NPPs;
• Methodology for the development of PLiM and LTO programmes and their implementation;
• Methodology for integrated plant assessments, including the condition of SSCs;
• New NPP design features that consider PLiM experiences and feedback;
• Good practices and lessons learned from modernization/modification/refurbishment projects or power uprate projects for LTO, including a second long term operation period (subsequent license renewal).
• Aspects of SSC design modification, modernization, innovation, refurbishment and replacement;
• Safety analysis for design modification considering internal/external hazards;
• Potential business opportunities and risks, including power uprating issues related to PLiM;
• Economic analysis for decision making on LTO;
• Cost-effective strategies for modernization and replacement/refurbishment of SSCs;
• Cost-effective technologies/practices for maintenance, inspection and surveillance;
• Supply chain health, technological obsolescence and commercial grade dedication;
• Premature shutdown preparation strategy and procedures, including technical aspects;
• Long term strategies for spent fuel storage (on-site) and waste management;
• Replacement of large components (e.g. steam generators, reactor vessel heads and turbine generators);
• Flexible operation in response to increased grid variability;
• NPP Plant Life Management and the emergence of integrated energy systems.

C.3 Session 2: Innovation for Nuclear Power Plant Life Management

The aim of this session is to discuss innovative approaches to address various issues in Nuclear Power Plant Life Management. Topics to be addressed in the presentations include: 

• Digital twins for predictive performance & asset management;
• Additive manufacturing for obsolescence mitigation & component longevity;
• On-line monitoring & surveillance for proactive aging management;
• Data-driven decision support using artificial intelligence (AI) for LTO;
• Enhanced welding technologies;
• Application of robotics and drones;
• Enhanced regulatory interfaces through digital technologies;
• Verification and validation of new technologies;
• Cyber security considerations of new technologies;
• Innovative approaches to ensure and/or strengthen cyber security;
• Innovative financial approaches;
• Effective management of I&C, including modernization, methods and tools; and
• Lessons learned from the planning and implementation of advanced I&C systems. 

C.4 Session 3: Ageing Management and Preparation of Long Term Operation 

The aim of this session is to share technical updates on ageing management issues for mechanical, electrical/instrumentation and control (I&C) components and civil structures, as well as to discuss challenges related to the preparation for safe LTO. Topics to be addressed in the presentations include: 

• Scoping and screening of SSCs for LTO;
• Ageing management review, including understanding material degradation mechanisms.
• Use of the experience gained from implementation of the International Generic Ageing Lessons Learned (IGALL) programme;
• Development, implementation and improvement of effective ageing management programmes;
• Revalidation of time-limited ageing analysis;
• Supply chain and obsolescence management;
• Research to support LTO and ageing management;
• Technical and safety aspects for LTO beyond 60 years;
• Methodologies, strategies and practices for in-service inspection and non-destructive examination; and
• Equipment qualification, including time-based qualification and condition-based qualification.

C.5 Session 4: Important Engineering Aspects in Nuclear Power Plant Life Management

The aim of this session is to share experiences on important engineering aspects in PLiM. Topics to be addressed in the presentations include: 

• Configuration management, including design basis reconstitution;
• Maintenance optimization for LTO;
• Risk-insights for LTO, including ageing and margin management;
• Equipment reliability;
• Environmental impact on NPP life, including mitigation of climate change;
• Safety analysis for design modification considering internal/external hazards;
• External hazard impact to NPP life, and
• Advances in fuel development and management for LTO.

C.6 Session 5: Stakeholder Engagement, Human Resource Development and Knowledge/Competence Management

The aim of this session is to share experiences and lessons learned in relation to system management and the successful resolution of the technical issues and challenges presented in the previous sessions, and to identify human factors and managerial aspects of the field. Topics to be addressed in the presentations include:

• Stakeholder engagement and public understanding, especially in the context of the NPP LTO role in sustainable development and climate change mitigation;
• Human resource development, such as workforce planning, training and education for LTO to retain and prepare professionals; and
• Knowledge/competence management methods/processes.

C.7 Session 6: Regulatory Approaches and Safety Analysis Relevant to Long-Term Operation 

The aim of this session is to discuss the distribution of roles and responsibilities among the parties involved and to address regulatory policy considerations. This session will prompt conversation between regulators and NPP operators. Topics to be addressed in the presentations include: 

• Regulatory approaches to ageing management and LTO;
• Use of IAEA safety standards and security guidelines for the development of national regulations.
• Requirements for the LTO licensing process;
• Subsequent licence renewal and equivalent approaches;
• Interaction between periodic safety reviews and LTO;
• Use of operational experience in the regulations; and
• Lessons learned from Safety Aspects of Long-Term Operation (SALTO) missions.

C.8 Panel Discussions 

To discuss technical challenges and experiences, several panel discussions will be organized for technical sessions 1–6 in parallel. The panellists and audiences will have a chance to discuss in depth their experiences and lessons learned regarding the implementation of PLiM and LTO. 

In addition to the parallel panel discussions, the keynote speeches on current challenges for LTO of NPPs are planned to take place during the plenary session. The keynote speeches by high level technical experts will consider: 

• Technological issues;
• Regulatory issues;
• Policy issues;
• Human resources;
• Economic issues; and
• Stakeholder engagement. 

C.9 Closing Session 

To conclude the conference, the session chairs will summarize the presentations and discussions of each technical session, and the President of the conference will present their conclusions and recommendations. 

C.10 Technical Tours 

Technical tours of NPPs, as well as opportunities to visit research laboratories, nuclear installations and fuel cycle facilities in operation or under construction, are foreseen. Additional information about these tours will be made available on the IAEA web page for the conference.

Abstracts (approximately 500 to 600 words on one or a maximum of two A4 pages, may contain any charts, graphs, figures and references) should give enough information on the content of the proposed paper to enable the Programme Committee to evaluate it. Anyone wishing to present at the conference must submit an abstract in electronic format using the conference’s file submission system (IAEA-INDICO), which is accessible from the conference web page (see Section Q). The abstract can be submitted through this system from 18 November 2025 until 1 May 2026. Specifications for the layout will be available on IAEA-INDICO. The system for electronic submission of abstracts, IAEA-INDICO, is the sole mechanism for submission of contributed abstracts. Authors are encouraged to submit abstracts as early as possible. The IAEA will not accept submissions via email.

In addition, authors must register online using the InTouch+ platform (see Section H). The online registration together with the auto-generated Participation Form (Form A) and Form for Submission of a Paper (Form B) must reach the IAEA no later than 1 May 2026.

IMPORTANT: The Programme Committee will consider uploaded abstracts only if these two forms have been received by the IAEA through the established official channels.

The Secretariat reserves the right to exclude abstracts that do not comply with its technical or scientific quality standards and that do not apply to one of the topics listed in Section C.

Authors will be informed by 3 July 2026 as to whether their submission has been accepted, either orally or as a poster, for presentation at the conference. Accepted abstracts will also be reproduced in an unedited electronic compilation of Abstracts which will be made available to all registered participants of the conference.