Leaders of the world’s nuclear electric utilities met together at the World Association of Nuclear Operators’ seventh Biennial General Meeting, held in Seoul, South Korea, on 17-19 March 2002 to discuss safety in the nuclear industry. The meeting included 346 chief executive officers and senior executives from every nuclear utility in the world, and 17 suppliers and vendors.

Speakers reviewed the industry’s progress and discussed WANO’s future role in the changing electric utility environment.

At its meeting on 17 March, the WANO Governing Board unanimously elected Mr Hajimu Maeda Chairman of the World Association of Nuclear Operators to serve a two-year term from July 2002. He will succeed Dr Zack Pate, who has served as WANO Chairman since May 1997.

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. He also 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.

In addition, a new president was elected at the WANO Biennial General Meeting. Mr Pierre Carlier, former executive vice president, industry, at Electricité de France succeeded Mr Soo-byung Choi, the former president and CEO of Korea Electric Power Corporation, as president of WANO. Mr Carlier will serve as president until the next WANO Biennial General Meeting in October 2003.

The WANO Governing Board also elected Mr Sigval Berg to become Director of the Coordinating Centre and WANO Managing Director to serve a two-year term from October 2002. Mr Berg is an executive vice president at the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations.

Two new members joined WANO and were recognized at the meeting. Representatives the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran and the Electric Power Development Company of Japan signed the WANO charter.

All WANO members sign the WANO Charter, which binds them to support WANO’s mission, which 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:
Mr Tony Capp
Director
WANO Coordinating Centre
Tel +44 (0) 20 7828 2111
Fax +44 (0) 20 7828 6691