The Governing Board of the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) has announced plans to elect Mr Hajimu Maeda as Chairman of WANO at its 17 March 2002 meeting in Seoul, Korea. Mr Maeda will be elected for a two-year term from July 2002. The decision was made at a meeting of the Board in Berlin, Germany on 22 February 2002.

Mr Maeda’s career at Kansai Electric Power Company, the second largest power company in Japan, spans more than 40 years. Mr Maeda served as executive vice president and in this position, he was responsible for all nuclear power activities in Kansai Electric Power Company. In addition, he served as executive director and member of the Board since 1989. In June 2001 Mr Maeda was named Senior Advisor at Kansai Electric Power Company.

Kansai Electric Power Company serves about 12 million customers in an area that includes Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe and Nara. The company operates 11 nuclear power units with a total installed capacity of 9,768 MW.

From 1999 to 2001, Mr Maeda also served as chairman of the nuclear power development committee of the Federation of Electric Power Companies (FEPCO) in Japan. After the criticality accident at JCO in 1999, Mr Maeda led the Japanese nuclear industry in an effort to establish Nuclear Safety Network, an industrywide association aimed at enhancing safety culture and improving the performance of its members.

Mr Maeda will succeed Dr. Zack T. Pate, who has served as chairman of WANO since May 1997.

WANO's mission is to maximise the safety and reliability of nuclear power plant operations by exchanging information and encouraging communication, comparison and emulation amongst its members. WANO's membership includes every utility organisation in the 35 countries or areas that operate the more than 430 nuclear reactors around the world.

For further information, contact:
Tony Capp
Director
WANO Coordinating Centre
Tel +44 (0) 20 7828 2111
Fax +44 (0) 20 7828 6691