NEA-IFNEC Financing Initiative

High-Level Warsaw Conference on Nuclear Financing 

Tuesday, 23 November, 2021 - 14h:00 - 17:00 CET

In 2021, NEA and IFNEC have organized a series of joint webinars on a number of conceptual and practical issues pertaining to nuclear new build financing. These events aim to advance ongoing policy discussions and are shaping a forthcoming NEA report on financing frameworks for nuclear financing in OECD countries. National and regional conditions play an important role when defining financing approaches. In this context, and in collaboration with Poland, this NEA-IFNEC high-level conference aimed to focus on recent progress and policy issues for nuclear financing in Central and Eastern Europe. Several countries in the region have active nuclear new build programs – considering both large and small nuclear reactors – and with various financing schemes under consideration. In addition to reviewing the state of play in the region, the event was also an opportunity to present and discuss NEA conceptual approach and policy proposals in this field.

PROGRAMME

Session 1: Opening remarks (14:00 – 14:20)

• Adam Guibourgé-Czetwertyński, Undersecretary of State for Climate and Environment of the Republic of Poland
• William D. Magwood, IV, Director-General, NEA
• Aleshia Duncan, Chair, IFNEC

Session 2: Progress with nuclear new build in Central and Eastern Europe and approaches to financing (14:20 – 15:30)

Moderator: Yves Desbazeille, Director General, FORATOM

• Adam Guibourgé-Czetwertyński, Undersecretary of State for Climate and Environment of the Republic of Poland
• Massimo Garribba, Deputy Director General, DG ENER, European Commission
• Ehler Tomáš, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Czech Republic
• Pál Kovács, State Secretary responsible for maintaining the capacity of the Paks Nuclear Power Plant, Hungary
• Cosmin Ghita, Chief Executive Officer, Societatea Nationala Nuclearelectrica, Romania
• Danijel Levicar, Chief Operation Officer, Gen Energija, Slovenia

Session 3: Toward robust nuclear financing frameworks aligned with decarbonization objectives (15:30 – 16:30)

Moderator: Michel Berthélemy, Nuclear Energy Analyst,NEA

• Jan Horst Keppler, Chief Energy Economist, NEA
• Henri Paillère, Head, Planning and Economic Studies Section, IAEA
• Chris Gadomski, Lead Analyst, Nuclear, Bloomberg New Energy Finance
• William Fork, Partner, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
• Fiona Reilly, Managing Director, FiRe Energy Ltd

Session 4: Conclusions and next steps (16:30 – 17:00)

• Zbigniew Kubacki, Counsellor, Nuclear Energy Department, Ministry of Climate and Environment, Poland
• Diane Cameron, Head of Division, Nuclear Technology Development and Economics, NEA