WANO Statement on the 40th anniversary of Chornobyl
Since WANO’s foundation nearly four decades ago, the nuclear industry has made positive progress and good developments to maximise safety and reliability worldwide.
Sunday 26th April 2026 marks the fortieth anniversary of the Chornobyl accident, which emphasised to the nuclear industry how an event at any one plant affects the entire industry.
As a result of the accident, the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) was founded – bringing together a unified global community of nuclear operators with a shared mission – to maximise the safety and reliability of nuclear plants worldwide.
Through membership of WANO, nuclear operators work together to share knowledge, best practices and operating experience, and benefit from services such as peer reviews, trends and performance monitoring, member support and industry performance improvement.
Since WANO’s foundation nearly four decades ago, the nuclear industry has made positive progress and good developments to maximise safety and reliability worldwide.
Nuclear power plant operators are providing a safe, reliable low-carbon source of electricity to its local communities and nations globally. Nuclear power continues to conduct an important and evolving role in the energy mix, and stations and facilities are delivering continuous improvements that support consistently high performance.
Despite this progress, safety remains the key priority. For example in recent years, military activity has posed a risk to the safe operation of commercial nuclear plants and facilities in certain regions, including the area where Chornobyl is located.
In relation to this, WANO reaffirms its support for the International Atomic Energy Agency Seven Pillars of Nuclear Safety and Security and the Five Principles for the protection of nuclear facilities. These frameworks remain fundamental to ensuring that nuclear installations are not placed at risk and that operators can perform their duties safely and without interference.
Although the margin of safety has improved since Chornobyl, the journey to nuclear excellence is never ending. The lessons from the accident will continue to serve as a reminder to us all that maximising safety is always the priority.
