Link to the study - European Parliament - Europa

Nuclear Decommissioning: Management of Costs and Risks
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Management has to install and apply all necessary planning and control instruments that allow
performing the decommissioning process in a safe, cost-effective, commercially correct and
timely manner. The consistent re-definition of the tasks and the approach of the management
level are of utmost importance for the whole decommissioning process.
System management structure
The decommissioning process requires thorough planning of all workflows, taking their
interconnections and risks into due account. The classical management methods - applied
during the operational phase - are completely contrary to this requirement. The introduction of
system management structures, the implementation of the associated approaches and their
consistent application in all work- and planning processes is therefore vital for the optimization
of the process. System management methods should include all relevant planning processes so
that all interfaces (material management, decision bases, workforce planning and skill
management, etc.) are as consistent as possible.
Risk management
Decommissioning involves complex technical, safety, regulatory and workflow risks that have
the potential to force a re-planning of complete processes, with consequences for costs and
timing. In order to plan the process with the best information basis the risks need to be
understood, evaluated in respect to their potential impact on workflows and costs and their
potential impact limited and avoided as far as possible. Risk identification and evaluation
involves the inclusion of top-down as well as bottom-up information, and so the feedback of
experiences, to improve the planning.
Workforce, qualification, knowledge and experience management
Decommissioning requires a complete change of the workforce’s qualification, knowledge and
experiences profile. Failure to adapt the quantitative and qualitative availability of trained
personnel to actual needs can reduce cost effectiveness and can cause serious delays of
workflow and processes. The planning of the workforce and profiles can only be performed on
the basis of a detailed plan of the whole decommissioning process. Because workforce planning
needs to be reliable and understandable and because qualification processes often require
lengthier preparations the complete process and timescale must be managed closely.
Management of costs and their risks
The management of costs and their associated risks is only possible and reliable on the basis of a
detailed plan of the whole decommissioning process. Absence of such a plan renders any cost
estimates unusable and unreliable.
3.5.2. Basic decisions to be taken
The following decisions are vital for any decommissioning planning. Strategic decision making on
these issues (see chapter 2.4.3) needs to be performed as early as possible in the process:
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