2011 NRI

Traditionally the scope of the NRI is limited to operating nuclear reactors. Research work is done in other nuclear areas, but is coordinated separately. Therefore the scope of the 2011 NRI relates solely to the requirements for nuclear safety research relevant to operating nuclear reactors. ONR is planning to undertake a review to identify the overall requirements for nuclear safety research. This will include whether the scope of the NRI should be extended to cover all areas of nuclear safety research.

Regulatory objectives of the research detailed in the 2011 NRI:

• To ensure that adequate and balanced programmes of nuclear safety research continue to be carried out based on a view of current issues and those that are likely to arise in the future.
• To maximise the contribution of nuclear safety research to promoting higher standards of nuclear safety.
• To disseminate the results of nuclear safety research as appropriate.
• To develop and improve theories and practical methods for safety justification of nuclear plant in line with the needs of the operating and decommissioning programmes.
• To investigate any developing issues associated with the safe operation of nuclear systems and plant.
• To facilitate the development of the nuclear skills that are needed in the UK for safe operation of nuclear facilities.
• Facilitate co-operation with relevant national agencies (e.g. MoD), and participation with international agencies, conferences and programs (e.g. EU research programmes) to ensure research is completed in the most cost-effective manner.

Previous research undertaken under the auspices of the NRI has addressed a wide range of operational, analytical, cultural, organisational and design issues. This general theme is maintained, with suitable modification, to reflect the full diversity of research needs for an adequate and balanced programme, whilst reflecting the need for specific information that is generated by changing industrial circumstances. The NRI strategy seeks to achieve effective dissemination and application of data whilst, at the same time, ensuring that fundamental issues are not neglected.

The research programme envisaged by this NRI aims to achieve a balance between work which addresses current operational safety issues, and work which will have application over a longer time scale. It also takes into account input from a wide range of academic, international, regulatory and industry sources to capture important cultural and performance issues which need to be addressed over the short, medium and long-term.