WANO members 'consider challenges of the future'

Corporate leadership, knowledge transfer to the 'young generation' and providing the necessary support to new units entering operations were among the subjects under discussion during the World Association of Nuclear Operators' 14th Biennial General Meeting, held in Gyeongju, South Korea. The BGM, under the theme of Leading Nuclear Safety in a Changing World, was attended by more than 300 experts from the WANO membership and other industry organisations.

WANO also launched a revision to its long-term plan, Compass, "reflecting the changes to the industry landscape" that have taken place in the two years since its inception.

WANO CEO Peter Prozesky said: "It is inspiring to see members come together as 'One WANO', with the aim of supporting each other in the journey towards excellence in nuclear safety. These three days in Gyeongju have demonstrated the industry's ongoing commitment to the highest possible safety standards and to the vital task of supporting one another as peers to improve performance. While the nuclear landscape is changing and remains challenging, WANO has adjusted its course to enable it to provide the most targeted and effective support to its members."

WANO Chairman Jacques Régaldo added: "In choosing to belong to WANO, we must continue to demonstrate that we are able and willing to overcome our differences. We have to demonstrate every day that this venture transcends borders, local economic considerations and geopolitical tensions. Nuclear safety requires us to put aside individual interests in favour of solidarity and the common good. For everybody, experienced operators, developing countries, newcomers - WANO is our common home."

During WANO's extraordinary general meeting on 16 October, the membership elected Simone Rossi, incoming CEO of EDF Energy, as the future new WANO President.

WANO is a not-for-profit member association established in 1989 by the world's nuclear power operators to exchange safety knowledge and operating experience amongst organisations operating commercial nuclear power reactors. WANO members operate some 440 nuclear units in more than 30 countries and areas around the world.

Its next BGM is to be held in 2019 in London.

Researched and written
by World Nuclear News