Sergey Obozov took part in the General Assembly of WANO

10.02.2010

On the Russian delegation the Director General of ОАО “Concern Rosenergoatom” Sergey Obozov took part in the regular General Assembly of the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) in Delhi (India). The General Assembly is the superior executive body of WANO and is held once in two years. The topic of the international forum this year is “Moving forward safely in a changing world.”

The forum gathered about 400 international nuclear executives and focused on topical global issues, including development and advancement of the Association, progress of current WANO projects and activities aimed at further assurance of nuclear safety and reliability.

The General Assembly in accordance with its Charter elected the new WANO President for a two-year term. The new president is a Director General of China Guangdong Nuclear Power Co. – Qian Zhimin. Certain changes were also made to the WANO World Governing Board and Governing Board of Moscow WANO Center.

Moreover, the General Assembly awarded WANO rewards for top achievements in nuclear power engineering as recognition of the officers who made an outstanding contribution into advancement and improvement of NPP safety. Among the honored representatives of Moscow WANO Center is Deputy Director General of State Concern “Rosatom” Alexander Lokshin and Director of Ignalina NPP Victor Shevaldin. The Director General of ОАО “Concern Rosenergoatom” S. Obozov was advised into the WANO World Governing Board.

According to the Head of International Department at “Rosenergoatom” Anatoly Kirichenko, more and more countries are getting interested in nuclear power engineering.

А. Kirichenko noted that the key result of the Assembly includes critical decisions on further improvement and advancement of the Association.

The Concern representative also reminded that a number of consultations and meetings were held in 2009 on WANO restructuring, assurance of NPP safety and collective and individual responsibility. “As a result, we decided on WANO restructuring in terms of quality improvement, diversification of services and membership policies. Besides, we worked out a new balance between regional and central policies of the association, organizational structure,” said the Head of International Department at “Rosenergoatom”. In his view those very decisions make WANO stronger, more attractive and compliant with contemporary situation in nuclear power engineering.

WANO was formed in 1989 by nuclear operators in order to exchange their experience. As of now, all nuclear operators are members of WANO that undertakes its activities independently of state and governing authorities and acts purely in the name and on behalf of its members – nuclear power plants.

Concern “Rosenergoatom” is one of the most active nuclear operators in WANO structure.

WANO includes four regional centers: Moscow, Atlanta, Paris and Tokyo. Coordination center is in London. Executive bodies include Governing boards of the regions and WANO correspondingly.

Moscow Center includes 37 organizations in Armenia, Bulgaria, Hungary, Iran, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Latvia Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Ukraine, Finland, the Czech Republic, India and China.