WANO

Peer reviews

Peer reviews are at the heart of WANO’s many programmes.

Through them, members can compare their operational performance against the best in the world.

Initiated at the request of plant operators, these reviews provide an in-depth, objective analysis of operations by an independent team from outside the utility. Most importantly, they are conducted by nuclear experts drawn from other members’ plants. In other words, they are done by peers of the station staff who have a unique appreciation for the job. They know what operators face every day, because they face the same issues themselves.

The result is a candid, highly confidential report that highlights strengths and areas for improvement in nuclear safety and plant reliability. They are written by members of the industry for the industry with the sole purpose of helping all plants improve. The same principles extend to companies as well as stations in the form of corporate peer reviews and to new plants under construction through our new Pre-Startup Peer Review Programme.

WANO’s goal is to conduct a peer review at each nuclear unit at least once every six years. Between 1992 and 2011, WANO completed 496 peer reviews in 34 countries or areas and conducted at least one peer review at every operating station in the world.

Programme Highlights

• In 2011, WANO conducted 39 operating plant peer reviews in 17 countries or geographic areas.
• Another 15 follow-up visits were made in 10 countries/areas.
• There were also two corporate peer reviews and one follow-up corporate peer review in 2011.

For full peer review highlights in 2011, please read page four of the 2011 Year End Highlights Report. Previous editions are also available on the publications page.