The partnership between the IAEA and the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) must deepen and intensify following the Fukushima Daiichi accident, says IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano. "Together, we can help to ensure that the most robust safety culture establishes deep roots in all countries with nuclear power programmes."
He was speaking during his keynote address to the WANO Biennial General Meeting (BGM), held in Shenzhen, China from 23 to 25 October 2011.
This is the single-most important event on WANO's calendar; bringing together international members, reactor vendors and new entrants to the nuclear industry, facilitating high-level discussions on nuclear plant safety. This year's theme is WANO After Fukushima: Strengthening Global Nuclear Safety.
"Nuclear safety remains the responsibility of individual countries, but the IAEA will play the leading role in shaping a safer nuclear future throughout the world. It is important for all of us - governments, nuclear regulators, plant operators and the IAEA - to maintain our sense of urgency even after the crisis at Fukushima Daiichi has faded from the international headlines. All stakeholders must play their part to ensure that the measures agreed in the IAEA Action Plan are implemented fully and quickly," says Amano.