22 Jun (NucNet): The World Association of Nuclear Operators (Wano) has published a long-term plan that will pave the way for the organisation to become more effective and to correct shortfalls that contributed to its inability to identify and direct the global industry support necessary to have prevented the Fukushima-Daiichi accident.
Wano said in a statement today that the plan, known as Compass, covers the period from 2015 to 2019 and is intended to “guide the organisation through the next five years in a manner that supports Wano’s existing activities”.
The plan says that to fulfil its mission, Wano must at times take a strong stand on performance issues. It says the organisation must “behave and think independently from member influences” to provide insight to issues affecting station and industry performance.
Wano chairman Jacques Régaldo said 12 projects decided by its own post-Fukushima commission (FPC) in 2011 “provided the pathway” for Wano to correct shortfalls that contributed to its inability to help prevent the Fukushima-Daiichi accident.
The projects are well under way and concrete results are expected to be announced when the association meets later this year in Toronto, Canada, Mr Régaldo said.
Wano said its work since 2011 has been dominated by activities and projects that were generated by the FPC.
The projects include expanding the scope of Wano programmes to address member emergency planning fundamentals, and to ensure Wano “quickly and succinctly” shares information with member CEOs about events of potentially high media interest such as fires, fatal accidents, unplanned releases of radioactivity, and emergency or security-related events.
Wano chief executive officer Ken Ellis said a fresh approach is needed to the challenges ahead.
He said Wano must not underestimate the challenges of increasing nuclear development in Asia, the Middle East and perhaps Africa, and the number of nuclear power plants facing life extension or decommissioning decisions.
But he underlined that Wano’s mission is to maximise the safety and reliability of the world’s operating reactors, and this remains its most important focus area and the foundation from which all other initiatives are built.
Compass also aims to make Wano more effective in key areas such as new build and end of life, life-extensions and decommissioning of plants.
Compass does not represent an additional cost to members, but does outline new areas of activity for Wano, which are in the process of being scoped out by the London and Hong Kong offices and the four regional centres, the statement said.
Wano is a non-profit association established in 1989 by nuclear power operators to exchange safety knowledge and operating experience amongst organisations operating commercial nuclear power reactors. Wano members operate some 440 nuclear reactor units in more than 30 countries.
Details of Compass are online: http://bit.ly/1H5Jvc7
