WANO marks its 30 year anniversary

On 15 May 2019, WANO marks its 30 year anniversary. The accident at the Chernobyl generating station in 1986 was both an end and a beginning for the nuclear industry. For the world's nuclear operators, it ended any illusions that they could work solely within the confines of their companies or countries. Chernobyl made it clear that an event at one plant impacted every plant and that nuclear safety was everyone's business.
 

Against this backdrop, the leaders of every commercial nuclear reactor in the world set aside their competitive and regional differences and came together in 1989 to create WANO. Its mission was clear: to maximise the safety and reliability of nuclear power plants worldwide by working together to assess, benchmark and improve performance through mutual support, exchange of information and emulation of best practices.

WANO has evolved significantly from its inaugural meeting in Moscow on 15 May 1989. It now represents more than 120 members who operate more than 430 civil nuclear power reactors around the world.

Today, WANO looks back on 30 years of collaboration, mutual support and a collective strive for excellence with pride, but also with a strong sense of continued personal and collective responsibility from members and staff alike. The journey towards excellence in nuclear safety and reliability is continuous, and although today is a special day for the organisation, WANO’s focus today remains as unswerving as it was at the historical inaugural meeting in Moscow in 1989.