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Conference Spotlight
2026 Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
August 24–27, 2026
Dallas, TX|Hilton Anatole
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2026
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Nuclear Science and Engineering
October 2026
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September 2026
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August 2026
Latest News
Center for Used Fuel Research: Building confidence in storage and transport
Used nuclear fuel storage and transportation have reached a critical juncture.
Dozens of utilities need reliable data on how used nuclear fuel performs in dry storage casks and canisters to extend regulatory licenses at sites across the United States. Likewise, the Department of Energy expects to take ownership of the used nuclear fuel—termed “spent nuclear fuel” in the laws and regulations governing its stewardship—and transfer it to one or more federal staging facilities for management and disposition.
Meanwhile, dozens of reactor companies are testing prototypes of advanced reactors and advanced reactor fuels. Eventually, regulators and industry must also verify the safety and security of storage methods for these advanced fuel types.
To help address these challenges, the DOE established the Center for Used Fuel Research (CUFR) in January 2026 for work related to the long-term storage and transport of used nuclear fuel.
Global 2026
DOE Office of Nuclear Energy
Dr. Kaushik Banerjee serves as a Senior Advisor in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy, supporting efforts to establish a secure and resilient domestic nuclear fuel supply. He leads DOE’s High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) Availability Program and provides technical and strategic leadership across a range of nuclear fuel-cycle activities, including fuel sourcing, allocation, transportation, and commercialization. He also supports DOE’s Fuel Line Pilot Program and other strategic fuel-cycle initiatives. With more than 15 years of experience, Dr. Banerjee has led major national programs in nuclear fuel supply, spent nuclear fuel management, criticality safety, radiation shielding, and nuclear material transportation. Before joining DOE, he held leadership positions at Idaho National Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. He earned a Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences from the University of Michigan and has authored numerous technical publications. His honors include the 2025 American Nuclear Society Fuel Cycle and Waste Management Division Significant Contribution Award and a 2024 Secretary of Energy Honor Award.
