28 Sep (NucNet): The World Association of Nuclear Operators today called on new entrants to the nuclear industry to engage with it earlier in the construction and commissioning process so they can benefit from maximum support for safe and reliable startup.
WANO, a safety organisation for commercial nuclear power plants, said new reactor units are being built or planned in some traditionally non-nuclear countries including Bangladesh, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. China is continuing with its ambitious nuclear unit expansion project, and other countries such as Belarus, Finland, France, Russia, the UK and the US all have new nuclear units under construction.
In 2017, WANO completed five pre-startup reviews for new-build units before their first fuel load.
WANO chief executive officer Peter Prozesky said there will continue to be a shift from the traditional commercial nuclear power generation in the West to the East over the next few decades. “It is important that these new units – whether they are built in countries with existing nuclear capability or entirely new nations – ensure they transition from a construction to an operation mindset several years before initial criticality.”
He said WANO’s pre-startup reviews show that new units and entrants must engage with WANO as soon as the contract for main works is signed. He said: “This will ensure that there is enough time to ensure their operations are ready. It will ensure their staff are fully trained and their systems and processes are ready from the day they first load fuel into the core.”
WANO was established in 1989 by nuclear power operators to exchange safety knowledge and operating experience amongst organisations operating commercial nuclear power reactors. Its members operate some 460 nuclear units in over 30 countries and areas.
