INEG's Scope of Nuclear Consulting Services


Decommissioning

Decommissioning of nuclear facilities has always been a fundamental component of nuclear industry management. Today it is becoming increasingly important as the commercial nuclear industry enters its second half-century. The issues include safely and cost-effectively decommissioning legacy facilities and applying the lessons learned to the designs of new facilities. Proper anticipation of decommissioning requirements during the planning and design phases of a project can reduce the eventual decommissioning costs by as much as 50%. INEG can provide support and advice both to existing decommissioning projects and to ensure proper planning of new build projects in order to manage the eventual decommissioning liabilities.

Achievements of INEG consultants include:

  • Decommissioning and Environmental Services --  INEG’s experts directed the decommissioning program for a demonstration nuclear power plant in the U.S. and have managed nuclear, hazardous and mixed wastes operations. This expertise and experience enabled these experts to provide the needed facility decommissioning cost assessments for an international non-proliferation project. At the request of a major commercial nuclear corporation, one of INEG’s experts produced a full assessment of the D&D market in the U.K. in support of a strategic investment review that included target corporate acquisitions in the sector.

 

Mergers, Acquisitions and Joint Ventures

INEG helps clients convert their strategic business objectives into M&A and divestiture strategies, and brings parties together for effective joint venture partnerships.  Drawing upon our global resources and deep knowledge of the nuclear industry and its players, INEG offers the experience and expertise you need throughout the process in order to capture the value of the deal or new arrangement.  INEG provides clients with comprehensive services, including selection, valuation and strategy development, financial structuring and tendering support, draft agreement and negotiations, and ultimate delivery.

Achievements of INEG consultants include:

  • M&As, Divestitures, & JVs – INEG experts have evaluated and implemented dozens of mergers and acquisitions, as well as managed the formation of joint ventures both on the inside (as a corporate officer) and the outside (as a business consultant).  In 2003, an INEG expert provided a full scope of management services for the acquisition of a mid-sized nuclear services company in the U.K.  Other M&A activities under our belt include those involving hazardous waste incineration projects and an environmental services company.

 

Non-proliferation

INEG provides support for numerous non-proliferation programs worldwide, including in Russia, and has well-established relationships with key governmental agencies, non-proliferation organizations, nuclear regulators, and the IAEA.  INEG’s scope of consulting services in the non-proliferation area includes developing cost analyses, preparing and negotiating contract scopes for projects, organizing and leading policy and technical workshops, and providing strategic concept development advice.  The scope of INEG’s activity covers all technical areas, including the packaging, transportation, processing storage and disposition of special nuclear materials.

Achievements of INEG consultants in this area include: 

  • Plutonium Disposition – 1.  INEG’s principals serve as Deputy Co-Chair and team members of the bilateral working group that provides integrated cost assessments of plutonium disposition scenarios for the U.S. and Russian governments.  Our support provided the briefings needed for the political decision-makers in the U.S., Russia, and the other G8 countries.
  • Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP) Program – 1. INEG specialists serve as contributors to PEIS (Preliminary Environmental Impact Statement) for the technology demonstration phase of the GNEP program, providing expertise on fuel fabrication and use.  
  • Special Nuclear Materials – 1.  INEG experts were key members of the project management team that successfully transported and down-blended almost three metric tons of highly enriched uranium (HEU) in Kazakhstan.  Our role included providing the technical and project review of the facility designed and constructed for that operation. 2.  INEG experts have acted as liaisons with international bodies on numerous projects involving the identification and control of special nuclear materials.  Our involvement included options assessment and providing the industrial expertise required for project success.
  • HEU Downblending – 1.  INEG experts provided independent reviews of contractor technical strategies and cost analyses for additional HEU downblending activities in support of an important non-proliferation initiative. 
  • Security Upgrades - 1. INEG experts have been engaged in specialist assignments at sites processing special nuclear materials, helping to define the upgrades needed to meet international physical protection (INFCIRC 225-R4) guidelines.

 

Nuclear Fuel Cycle

The resurgence of nuclear power generation has placed major strains on the nuclear fuel supply chain.  Increased fuel prices, fast-changing market conditions, and possible fuel scarcity mean that nuclear fuel cycle issues – both fresh fuel supply and spent fuel management – are of pivotal importance to existing and prospective nuclear projects.  Improved understanding and effective management of these issues can add substantial bottom-line value.  INEG experts have many years of first-hand experience in the international nuclear fuel industry, giving our clients access to a wealth of experience in fuel fabrication, in-reactor fuel performance and management of spent uranium and MOX fuel.  One of INEG’s principals contributes to the development of nuclear industry standards as a key member of the ASTM International fuel cycle committees.  We can facilitate access to key professionals and decision-makers, and assist with strategic planning, market research, and the development and execution of marketing and sales campaigns.

Achievements of INEG consultants include:

  • Uranium & Enrichment Markets – 1. INEG experts helped a major non-proliferation organization to evaluate the nuclear fuel markets’ supply/demand and price behavior as an important underpinning of the client’s subsequent project strategy.  2.  INEG experts provided a large commercial client with in-depth analyses of the marketplace participants, their capabilities, and business strategies to ensure that its marketing strategies were accurately targeted.
  • Uranium & MOX Fuel Fabrication – 1. As strategists and first-rate technologists with project management experience in the development of MOX fuel fabrication technologies, INEG experts have provided in-depth profiles of MOX-involved companies and analyses of the history and economics of MOX fuel fabrication and handling for our clients and organized workshops to introduce them to select European nuclear industry executives so that they could develop a deep understanding of MOX fuel usage from all operational perspectives.
  • Spent Fuel Management – 1. INEG specialists managed engineering assessments of spent fuel storage and cask handling capabilities at all U.S. nuclear power plants for the U.S. government to allow storage and transportation options to be analyzed, and to identify upgrades needed to reduce spent fuel transport costs. 2. INEG specialists have managed the development of transport casks and other package designs for major nuclear service companies, and one led a project to develop a Monitored Retrievable Storage facility in the U.S., including life cycle analysis and scenario optimization on behalf of U.S. utilities. 3. INEG consultants have coordinated import of spent fuel to the U.S., and export of spent fuel from the U.S. for the U.S. Department of Energy and commercial companies.
  • Radwaste Management – 1. INEG specialists have developed operational programs for nuclear facilities on behalf of a major nuclear organization with a particular focus on the financial provisions for waste management and decommissioning.  Their extensive expertise in radwaste management and the management of nuclear site operations enabled the client to substantially cut overall lifecycle costs.
  • Recycling Uranium – 1. INEG’s experts developed strategies for a key client to cost-effectively utilize recycled uranium inventories in Europe, with the potential to cut fuel cycle costs by 30%. 

 

International Project Support

The nuclear industry is truly international, and requires both technology transfer and technology protection on an international basis.  Successful international nuclear projects must bring together teams from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and locations to manage technology transfer issues effectively, as well as ensuring protection of intellectual property rights for the client.  INEG is in pole position to provide the consulting support you need for managing international projects and working with nuclear organizations in other countries.  INEG melds teams drawn from different countries, and manages multi-country operations in order to provide true international project support.

Achievements of INEG consultants include:

  • International Projects – INEG experts helped governments and non-proliferation organizations to demonstrate the potential market impact of using ex-weapon program uranium and plutonium in commercial nuclear power plants.  We provided our clients with market analyses, cost estimates and technical assessments that enabled the comparison and ultimate selection of appropriate disposition options.
  • Field Office Management – INEG experts bring their expertise in field office management to those clients looking to establish offices in offshore locations.  One of INEG’s experts established a Russian field office for a well-known nuclear organization, thereby creating opportunities to provide contracting, engineering, and consulting support to the Russian nuclear industry. 
  • International Technology Transfer –  INEG experts have directed the negotiations and execution of international technology transfer agreements needed for the construction of major nuclear facilities worldwide, and have provided operational assessments of proposed transfer agreements for several current programs.
  • International Business Development – INEG experts have a range of experience helping nuclear companies penetrate overseas markets, including the development of entry strategies specifically targeted to individual country markets. 

 

Research Reactors

Throughout the Nuclear Age, research reactors have played a major role in the development of nuclear science and technology, as well as in the production of radio isotopes for nuclear medicine and many industrial processes, and will continue to do so in the future.  However, with modern budget pressures, many research reactor operators, including some that use HEU fuel in their reactors, find it challenging to maintain the funding and expertise levels they require to meet today’s safety and security standards.   INEG is working on projects included in two important international programs that address these problems:  the U.S. government’s Global Threat Reduction Initiative (GTRI), which supports the conversion of research reactors to use low-enriched uranium (LEU) as fuel, and the IAEA’s Research Reactors Coalition (RRC) initiative, which aims to build alliances amongst the research reactor operators and their clients that will help improve utilization and share best practices in operations, safety and security.  INEG is valued for its contributions to strategic and business planning, market research, and facility liaison.

Achievements of INEG consultants include: 

  • Research Reactor Coalitions – INEG is supporting the IAEA with the launch of the RRC concept, and played a key role in the concept definition.  Our involvement is helping to forge links among the research reactor community, and helping define the implementation strategy.
  • Research Reactor Conversions – 1. INEG specialists are supporting the U.S. Department of Energy in implementing conversion programs at research reactors in the U.S. They have completed the conversion of one reactor and are working on the conversion of a second. 2. INEG experts serve as key members of the project team that is working to convert a non-U.S. research reactor to use LEU fuel. Our team has provided the industrial nuclear expertise required for successful project management, and is assisting with the strategic development and monitoring of the project.

 

Transportation

Transportation of nuclear materials is a necessary part of almost all nuclear projects.  However, increasingly stringent regulations and a reduced number of available carriers and ports of entry have the potential to restrict transportation options and increase costs.  INEG is able to provide expertise in logistics and operations to identify and assess transportation options, and to cost-effectively manage the subsequent operations.    

Achievements of INEG consultants include: 

  • Transportation – INEG experts peer reviewed fissile materials and spent fuel transportation scenarios on behalf of the U.S. government.  INEG’s experts were part of the design team for developing plutonium transportation packages, and have provided logistics and technical support to international spent fuel management programs.