WANO CEO Statement on Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant

World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) remains deeply concerned with the situation at Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant. The station operators are facing unprecedented challenges in carrying out day-to-day operations and maintaining nuclear safety standards.
 
Given this ongoing situation, the WANO Governing Board issued a resolution (below) on behalf of all members who operate nuclear power stations worldwide. It was developed at the Biennial General Meeting of WANO held in October in Prague, Czech Republic.
 
It is resolved that, as nuclear professionals, every effort must be taken to ensure that there be no interference in the operators’ ability to safely perform their work. Consistent with the founding principles of WANO in 1989, it is also vital to maintain WANO unity in supporting the Zaporizhzhya power plant and ensure that no member nuclear power station becomes isolated either from the industry or from the nuclear safety assistance needed.
 
The resolution states that WANO will continue to support the operators at Zaporizhzhia in any way practical and assist the station staff in verifying that nuclear safety fundamentals remain in place under changing conditions. WANO will also continue to support the IAEA safety efforts through close collaboration.
 
The WANO Governing Board calls on all parties, including WANO staff, to become more directly engaged in stabilising the situation at Zaporizhzhya station as soon as possible.
 
As WANO CEO, I have accepted this mandate and I am appealing to all parties to support the WANO resolution. Under normal conditions, WANO would immediately schedule a Peer Review mission at Zaporizhzhya nuclear power station. However, this mission cannot be carried out until the safety of WANO personnel can be assured.
 
WANO has consistently supported the efforts of IAEA at Chernobyl and Zaporizhzhya to visit the sites and provide direct assistance to the operating staff. In this regard, I consider the IAEA initiative to create a nuclear safety and protection zone at Zaporizhzhya station to facilitate both IAEA’s efforts and those of the nuclear operator’s community to support the station personnel more directly.
 
Currently, WANO London Office is evaluating a set of support measures that are feasible in the current conditions to meet the Governing Board resolution.
 
Ingemar Engkvist
WANO CEO
London

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Written resolution of
World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) (the ‘Company’)

 
Circulation date: 11 October 2022
 
Proposed by the board of directors of the Company in accordance with section 291 of the Companies Act 2006:
 
The governing board of the World Association of Nuclear Operators at its Biennial General Meeting in Prague and representing its members who operate nuclear power stations worldwide, pass an ordinary resolution in accordance with section 282 of the Companies Act 2006.
 
WHEREAS based on our best information from multiple sources, conditions now exist or could soon exist at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station that challenge the plant operator’s ability to perform their work safely and to maintain adequate margins of safety consistent with WANO operating standards and expectations; and
 
WHEREAS there is significant uncertainty that a path to correct these conditions has or can be established before an event requiring an emergency response or rapid outside assistance occurs. The board agrees this is not an acceptable situation, and the community of nuclear operators call on all parties including WANO staff, to become more directly engaged in stabilising the situation as soon as possible; and
 
WHEREAS WANO will continue to support the operators at Zaporizhzhia in any way practical and assist the station staff in verifying that nuclear safety fundamentals remain in place under changing conditions. WANO will continue to support the IAEA safety efforts through close collaboration; and
 
NOW THEREFORE, the board resolves that:

• every effort is taken to ensure that there be no interference in the operator’s ability to safely perform their work; and 
• to maintain WANO unity in supporting the Zaporizhzhia power plant and ensures that no member nuclear power station becomes isolated either from the industry or from needed industry interaction to support the highest levels of nuclear safety.

 
This is a founding principle of WANO that will be maintained.
 
 
By order of the board: Tom Mitchell
WANO Chairman and Director
 
Date: 9 October 2022