IFNEC held its third Executive Committee Meeting in Marrakech, Morocco on October 10th, 2012. Ministers and other senior representatives from 30 countries addressed issues regarding the peaceful use of nuclear energy in a manner that is safe and secure. The Executive Committee welcomed Kenya and Bahrain to IFNEC as full Participants, and Saudi Arabia and Moldova as new Observer countries, increasing IFNEC to 32 Participant countries and 31 Observer countries.
IFNEC Steering Group Chair Edward McGinnis and Michael Wallace, who served as the moderator of the IFNEC Finance Workshop held in May 2012, provided a report to the Executive Committee and Steering Group on the findings of the London Finance Workshop. Mr. Wallace discussed the objectives of the Workshop, its structure and its key findings, including the importance of an effective independent regulatory body, the essential role of government commitment and support and the need for a sound business plan to underpin financing of any new nuclear project. Mr. Wallace also highlighted that the Workshop’s interactive case study format, with public and private sector stakeholders, was key to developing a greater understanding of complex areas related to nuclear finance. Mr. McGinnis presented proposed follow-on actions, including continuing a dialogue between key stakeholders, including the regulatory, energy planning and financial communities The Executive Committee received status reports from the Chair of the IFNEC Steering Group, Mr. Ed McGinnis; the Co-chairs of the Infrastructure Development Working Group, Dr. Al Burkart and Mr. John Mathieson; and the Co-Chairs of the Reliable Nuclear Fuel Services Working Group, Mr. Yves Kaluzny and Mr. Kazuhiro Suzuki. The working groups reported that significant progress had been made in the past year, a joint working group meeting was held to explore cooperation in infrastructure relating to nuclear fuel services, and that engagement with industry, universities and other external entities is progressing well.