WANO stresses importance of collaboration for nuclear growth

Chigusa was speaking at the conclusion of the 18th Biennial General Meeting of the association, an event attended by more than 400 people from 38 countries.

World Association of Nuclear Operators - WANO - was created in the years following the Chernobyl accident in 1986, an event which "made it clear that an event at one plant impacted every plant and that nuclear safety was everyone’s business".

It operates with strict confidentiality, allowing experts from operating units to carry out peer reviews at other member units, where, using their experiences, they can provide support and advice. Each operating nuclear unit is a member and the aim is "to achieve the highest possible standards of nuclear safety".

This year's gathering, from 28-30 September in Tokyo, was held under the theme Fostering a Continuous Improvement Culture, with discussions covering industry performance trends, the impact of innovation and AI on efficiency and productivity, as well as "the opportunities presented by SMRs and other emerging technologies".

Chigusa said: "The nuclear industry continues to deliver strong safety performance, but sustaining excellence requires continuous improvement. This conference demonstrated the strength of our members' collective commitment to learning, collaboration and excellence. By harnessing advanced data analytics, digital technologies and AI-powered capabilities, WANO and its members are transforming how performance is understood, monitored and improved."

He said that as nuclear expands, "WANO will continue to evolve to meet these needs, providing members with both robust performance insights and practical support that helps turn ambition into sustained operational excellence".

José Gago, WANO chairman, said: "The discussions throughout this meeting have demonstrated … a recognition that the future success of our industry will depend on deeper collaboration, openness in sharing experience and a relentless commitment to learning. Together, we are building a stronger global nuclear community, one that is equipped to support an expanding industry while maintaining the highest levels of performance of the current operational fleet."

The event, which also included speeches and panel contributions from Sama Bilbao y León, Director General of World Nuclear Association, and William Magwood, Director General of the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency, was hosted by Tokyo Electric Power Company, the Federation of Electric Power Companies, and the Japanese Nuclear Operators. The next Biennial General Meeting will be held in Shanghai, China in 2028, hosted by China National Nuclear Corporation.