- Daily Course Evaluation
Interregional Training: Advanced Course in Financing Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) Projects
Date: | 6 – 10 November 2017 |
Location: | Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL, USA Argonne National Lab, USA |
Language: | English |
Application Deadline for Nominee(s) of Invited IAEA Member States: 31 August 2017
Purpose
The objective of this course is to support decision makers and those responsible for developing and implementing a nuclear programme in Member States considering the introduction of nuclear power (including States in Phases I, 2 and 3), to improve knowledge, and to develop the skills and abilities needed for success in the introduction of nuclear power, with an emphasis on issues relating to financing nuclear power plants.
Expected Outputs
Expected outputs of the course include:
- Improved ability to address the challenges and issues relating to building a national position and financing nuclear power plants
- Better knowledge of NPP financing and funding options as well as procurement structures
- Better understanding of contracting mechanisms, including Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contracting
- Improved knowledge of financial risk, the economics of nuclear power, and market regulations
- Better understanding of alternative financing mechanisms
- Enhanced networking opportunities among participants
Course Summary
Course activities will revolve around three major interrelated objectives:
- Providing knowledge of key issues a State has to consider when establishing a nuclear power programme, specifically financing options and strategies
- Presenting case studies of countries that have recently conmpleted or are now in the process of making financial arrangements
- Further strengthening networking among emerging nuclear power countries, and sharing international and field experiences
The course will cover financial issues, including alternative contracting and ownership approaches for nuclear power programmes. It will include a brief refresher on key quantitative financial metrics, the outlining of a general framework within which the importance of optimal financial risk allocation can be understood, and presentations on the role of financial modelling.
Modules
This course, planned for 5 working days, will be divided into the following modules:
Module 1 | Key concepts & metrics for financing decision-making |
Module 2 | Financing and risk allocation in nuclear power projects |
Module 3 | Risk allocation in commercial contracts (PPAs & EPCs) |
Module 4 | Sources and structures of financing (debt v.s equity) |
Module 5 | Satisfying lenders & investors (due diligence, reputational risk etc.) |
Module 6 | Case studies |
Module 7 | Financial modelling |
Module 8 | Funding "back end" liabilities |
Background Information
Developing a nuclear power programme is a major undertaking that involves many complex and interrelated activities with a long duration — usually about 10 to 15 years — leading up to start of operation of the first nuclear power plant. The increased interest in nuclear power in a significant number of countries prompted the IAEA to organize courses on the leadership and management of nuclear power plant projects at Argonne since 2009.
The related courses that were held in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 were attended by representatives of more than 20 Member States from Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America. These courses, in addition to other course events, were very useful in supporting newcomer countries to develop skills and relationships in connection with the development of their nuclear power programmes.
Among other recommendations made during these course events, participants requested that the IAEA give special emphasis on key threshold issues for the introduction of nuclear power, specifically approaches for financing a nation's first nuclear power plant.