WANO, a non-profit nuclear safety organisaton with offices in Atlanta, London, Paris, Tokyo and Moscow, said it has signed a lease for office space in Shanghai in an area of Pudong called the New Bund. This area, close to the city’s main airport, is being established as a business hub.
Conceptual architectural plans have been approved and construction drawings completed, and a letter of intent signed for the hiring of new apartments for staff. WANO said this will enable it to bring technical staff to Shanghai to establish operations.
WANO said the new office will make it easier for it to provide its full range of services to operators in the world’s fastest growing region for commercial nuclear power.
“The strategic rationale for setting up the new office is to ensure WANO is in a strong position to cater for the dramatic growth in the development of nuclear power plants in China and across Asia – where around two-thirds of the world’s new reactors are under construction,” WANO said. “With a growing demand for WANO's services from new units, the organisation can ensure that these units make a safe and reliable transition from construction to operation.”
WANO chief executive officer Ingemar Engkvist said completing the legal and administrative processes has been a big accomplishment and the establishment of a physical office and address in Shanghai will be an important next step.
