The global nuclear energy sector continues to evolve, bringing new entrants, new nuclear technologies and new opportunities and challenges. To fulfil their missions, regulators must adapt to these developments.
In this context, the NEA and China’s National Nuclear Safety Administration (NNSA) co-organised a seminar on 3-4 December 2024 in Xiamen, China. The event gathered representatives from Chinese regulatory bodies, lead regulators from Canada, France, Hungary, Spain, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, and other experts from around the world to share their practices and experiences towards the goal of the most efficient regulation of nuclear energy, as well as their strategies to tackle future challenges.
NEA Director-General William D. Magwood, IV, welcomed the seminar participants, noting the importance of international co-operation in a context where regulators are challenged by the increasing number of nuclear projects. He highlighted that providing frameworks for sharing experiences, knowledge and best practices is essential to ensure effective regulation of nuclear energy.
Welcome remarks were also delivered by Baotong Dong, Vice Minister of China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) and Administrator at the NNSA. Perspectives from local authorities were presented by Xiangfeng Ji, Vice Mayor of Xiamen City.
The first session of this two-day event was moderated by Director-General Magwood and was dedicated to a discussion of the challenges and opportunities for regulators given the perspectives for nuclear energy and the fast-changing nuclear landscape. The session invited high-level representatives from nuclear safety authorities to share views from their countries and organisations. China’s nuclear and radiation safety regulatory practices and considerations for promoting modernisation were presented by Jianjun Luo, Deputy Director General of the Department of Nuclear Facility Safety Regulation, MEE/NNSA. Christer Viktorsson, Director General of the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) of the United Arab Emirates, discussed the challenges and opportunities in technology licensing. The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission’s (CNSC) approach to the changing nuclear landscape in Canada was presented by Ramzi Jammal, the CNSC’s Executive Vice-President and Chief Regulatory Operations Officer. Stéphanie Guenot Bresson, Commissioner of the French Nuclear Safety Authority (Autorité de sûreté nucléaire) shed light on the regulatory challenges and opportunities in France while the Spanish perspective was shared by Juan Carlos Lentijo, President of the Spanish Nuclear Safety Council (Consejo de Seguridad Nuclear). Participants were introduced to nuclear perspectives and regulatory aspects in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by Khalid Aleissa, Director General of the Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Commission (NRRC).
The event convened around 150 participants and also explored the topics of speeding up capacity building and modernising safety assessments, inspections, and licensing processes to improve regulatory efficiency, effectiveness and public trust.
A summary of the seminar, including key messages, outcomes, and potential recommendations, will be jointly published by the NEA and NNSA in English and Chinese.
During the visit to China, the NEA delegation also held a series of meetings with nuclear sector stakeholders in the country to discuss the ongoing and future co-operation.
