ENRESA-CIEMAT-UPM Radioactive Waste Management Course 2026: What It Means for the Nuclear Sector

Key data

The Spanish nuclear sector takes a concrete step toward professionalizing radioactive waste management. ENRESA, CIEMAT and UPM have formalized a collaboration agreement to design and deliver a specialized course in this field, published in the BOE on April 8, 2026 through the Resolution of March 24, 2026 from the Under-Secretariat (reference BOE-A-2026-7938).

The relevance of the agreement is not merely academic. In a context where debate about nuclear energy in Spain is more active than ever, training specialized technicians in radiological safety and waste management becomes a strategic factor for companies, regulatory bodies and sector operators.

What does this regulation establish?

The agreement formalizes collaboration between three entities with complementary and differentiated roles:

The purpose of the agreement is the design and delivery of specialized training in radioactive waste management, aimed at sector professionals. Publication in the BOE responds to the obligation to give official publicity to inter-administrative agreements in accordance with current regulations on agreements between public sector entities.

The agreement does not establish a specific entry into force date in its publication, nor does it detail the number of places, course duration or cost for participants.

Economic and operational impact

The direct impact of this agreement is not a regulatory cost for companies, but rather an opportunity and strategic positioning in a sector with a shortage of specialized profiles.

These are the most relevant operational effects for sector organizations:

• Access to official and specialized training: Companies in the nuclear sector and operators of radioactive facilities will be able to send their technicians to training backed by the three reference entities in Spain in this field.
• Reduction of the shortage of qualified profiles: Radioactive waste management is a highly regulated field where the availability of certified technicians determines the operations and regulatory compliance of facilities.
• Alignment with the debate on nuclear future: In a context where the extension of the useful life of nuclear power plants and the management of the Centralized Temporary Storage facility (ATC) are being discussed, having professionals trained in waste management is a growing operational necessity.
• Institutional backing: The combination of ENRESA (national waste operator), CIEMAT (applied research) and UPM (academic qualification) gives the course a level of recognition that is difficult to replicate by private training.

Who does it affect?

• Nuclear sector companies: Nuclear power plant operators, nuclear services companies and technology providers that need qualified technicians in waste management.
• Radiological safety technicians: Professionals working in radioactive facilities of any kind (medical, industrial, research) who require advanced training in waste management.
• Engineering students: Especially in fields such as Nuclear Engineering, Industrial Engineering or Materials Engineering, for whom this course can represent a differentiating specialization.
• Regulatory bodies and administrations: The Nuclear Safety Council (CSN) and other supervisory entities that need personnel with updated training in this field.
• HR departments in the energy sector: That must plan the training of their technical teams in a context of possible expansion of nuclear activity in Spain.

Practical example

A nuclear services company operating in several Spanish power plants needs to certify that its waste management technicians have up-to-date training before the Nuclear Safety Council in a periodic inspection.

Until now, that company had to resort to internal training or courses from private entities with less institutional recognition. With the ENRESA-CIEMAT-UPM agreement in place, it will be able to send its technicians to a program backed simultaneously by the national radioactive waste operator, the country's leading energy research center and a reference polytechnic university.

This not only strengthens staff accreditation before the regulator, but also reduces the risk of regulatory non-compliance resulting from insufficient or officially unrecognized training.

What should companies do now?

1. Identify which technicians in your organization work in radioactive waste management and assess whether their current training meets current regulatory requirements.
2. Contact ENRESA, CIEMAT or UPM to obtain information about the schedule, places and access conditions for the course once it is operational.
3. Review the training requirements set by the Nuclear Safety Council for personnel managing radioactive waste at your facility, and assess whether this course covers those requirements.
4. Include this course in the 2026-2027 training planning of technical departments, especially if your company operates or provides services to nuclear or radioactive facilities.
5. Follow the publication of official calls in the BOE and in the ENRESA and UPM channels, since the published resolution formalizes the agreement but does not yet detail access conditions.