The Status and Trends in Spent Fuel and Radioactive Waste Management project is a collaborative effort between the IAEA, the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency, the European Commission, the World Nuclear Association, and—new for the Fourth Cycle—the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). The project aims to provide, at regular intervals, a report offering a concise international overview—based on national and international inputs—covering:

• Global status and trends in spent fuel and radioactive waste management
• Spent fuel inventories
• Radioactive waste inventories (i.e. material considered radioactive waste under national classification systems)

Launched in 2014, the project’s first report was published in 2018 on a three-year reporting cycle and established the methodology for compiling and analysing national and international data. The second cycle report, published in 2022, expanded the analysis with a stronger focus on cross-cutting themes and evolving strategies.

This Technical Meeting will support the development of the fourth cycle report, by incorporating feedback on the third cycle report as well as inputs from the 2025 Joint Convention Review Meeting, held from 17?28 March 2025, at IAEA Headquarters in Vienna, Austria. These inputs, together with national programme updates and updated global spent fuel and waste inventory data, will help identify key trends, challenges, and lessons learned to be reflected in the next report.

Participants will be invited to share updates on their national programmes and engage in discussions on emerging issues in spent fuel and radioactive waste management. Feedback on the Third Cycle report (Preprint S&T in Spent Fuel & Radioactive Waste Rev 2) and gathering input on emerging trends, data needs, and thematic priorities for the Fourth Cycle.

The meeting will also include in-depth discussions on key topics, including:

• Progress and challenges in deep geological repository (DGR) development;
• Strategies for sustaining long-term commitment and funding of national programmes;
• International cooperation and shared infrastructures; and
• Implementation challenges faced by small or less advanced programmes.

The event is intended for experts in spent fuel and radioactive waste management, including those from regulatory bodies, technical support organizations, implementing agencies, utilities, and research institutions.

In order to be designated by an IAEA Member State or invited organization, participants are requested to submit their application via the InTouch+ platform to the competent national authority (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Permanent Mission to the IAEA or National Atomic Energy Authority) or organization for onward transmission to the IAEA.

Deadline for submitting nominations:  22 September 2025 

For more information about the event please visit the event information sheet.