The following guidelines cover all transactions involving the export of U.S. sourced nuclear fuel consisting of natural or enriched uranium fabricated into fuel assemblies for the reloading of an existing nuclear power plant. (Transactions involving only the initial core loading follow the guidelines of the relevant nuclear power plant types described in the previous guideline Tables.)

GUIDELINES

A. Liability: The host country must have a regime acceptable to Ex-Im Bank governing liability for nuclear damage.

B. Nuclear Conventions and Treaties: The host country must provide a list of the applicable nuclear-related treaties and conventions, including the in-country status, to which the host country is a signatory.

C. Local Regulatory Structure and Authority: The host country must have an established legal code addressing nuclear regulations and environmental protection. It must have an established nuclear regulatory authority capable of developing and implementing sound licensing and, as appropriate, re-licensing procedures.

The country's nuclear regulatory authority should have the independence and qualifications to oversee the siting, design, construction, commissioning, operation and decommissioning of the entire project to a level sufficient to ensure that all relevant safety measures and procedures are addressed and followed. Any IAEA reports on the status of the nuclear regulatory authority, such as an IRRT assessment, shall be used to evaluate the regulatory authority. Furthermore, the licensing process followed by the country's nuclear regulatory authority should follow the safety requirements set forth by the IAEA, such as IAEA Safety Standards No. GS-R-1 "Legal and Governmental Infrastructure for Nuclear, Radiation, Radioactive Waste and Transport Safety" and relevant supplemental Safety Guides GS-G-1.1 "Organization and Staffing of the Regulatory Body for Nuclear Facilities", GS-G-1.2 "Review and Assessment of Nuclear Facilities by the Regulatory Body", GS -G-1.3 "Regulatory Inspection of Nuclear Facilities and Enforcement by the Regulatory Body" and GS-G-1.4 "Documentation for Use in Regulating Nuclear Facilities".

D. Plant Operation Procedures: There must be evidence that the project has adopted or will adopt sound operating plans, which address emergency procedures, evacuation programs and waste handling approved by the regulatory authority and in accordance with applicable IAEA guidelines such as IAEA Safety Standards No. NS-R-2, "Safety of Nuclear Power Plants: Operation," and that there is (or will be) an adequate number of trained and qualified personnel licensed by the regulatory authority to operate the plant in a safe manner in accordance with the operating plan of the project. The project should conform to the relevant supplemental documents including but not limited to, IAEA Safety Standards NS-G-2.8, "Recruitment, Qualification, and Training for Nuclear Power Plants." 

E. Environmental Monitoring Facility: An environmental monitoring facility shall be (or shall have been) installed at or near the project site, which will monitor the levels of radioactivity from the plant and the effects, if any, of the plant on the environment and ecology of the region around the plant. The facility shall submit regular reports, which show the results of its monitoring activities to the regulatory authority and to the environmental authority of the region. 

page last updated  2012-Aug-17