Good Morning Ladies and Gentlemen,
On behalf of the IAEA it is my pleasure to welcome you today to the second meeting of the seventh term of INSAG. I want to extend a special welcome to Mr. Slabber and Ms. Couto, both of whom could not be with us for the meeting in November. Unfortunately, Mr. Suzuki has important commitments in Japan as the Japanese utilities are slated to disclose the results of seismic safety evaluation studies following the new NSC reviewing guide. He sends his regrets and is looking forward to the next INSAG meeting in November.
On 3 March 2008, the DG addressed Board of Governors of the IAEA where he stated, "Changes in world markets and technology are having an impact on both the nuclear industry and regulators as never before. A key challenge is to properly assess and address the safety implications of these changes. Member States embarking on nuclear power programmes must be active participants in the global nuclear safety regime. They have to meet the challenge of establishing the technical and regulatory infrastructure as well as building a qualified workforce."
In support of the DG′s expressed interest, Chairman Meserve has submitted an annual "State of Nuclear Safety" letter to the DG for each of the four years of the last term of INSAG. It is a tradition we plan to continue which has had a great influence on Agency programmes and is well appreciated by the international nuclear community. The latest letter has been discussed in many venues since last August and also has been the subject of many articles and press inquiries. It will be distributed to the Contracting Parties of the Convention on Nuclear Safety next week here in Vienna. This week we will be discussing issues to assist the Chairman in developing his letter. INSAG has also been well represented by the INSAG Forum at the IAEA′s General Conference. This is an opportune venue to communicate nuclear safety issues, trends, and concerns to a wider audience. It is timely for us to consider substantive issues for this year′s Forum that will help lead us into the nuclear renaissance or Vita Nova according to my terminology, and how to best communicate them at this year′s General Conference.
I also wanted to report that we are very pleased the Chairman Meserve has decided to participate as an invited member of the Committee on Safety Standards. This is a very positive development and will promote better visibility for INSAG and better cross fertilization of your work.
At the last meeting you had an opportunity to surface many of your views and expectations for emerging work by which INSAG can influence the nuclear community in safety related areas for the future. In the context of the current positive atmosphere for nuclear development, INSAG views are particularly important with the focus on new build, life extension, remaining weak spots in the Global Nuclear Safety Regime, and, in particular, emerging nuclear Member States. The Secretariat has compiled the 20 issues identified in the minutes from your last meeting and would like to suggest a priority for those we feel are important for your consideration. I believe that you will be looking at them on Friday.
Convention on Nuclear Safety
Chairman Meserve has written a letter to CNS President Magugumela requesting time for INSAG on the plenary session agenda as well as requesting the distributing of his last letter to the DG to the Contracting Parties. Both requests have been graciously accepted and Mr. Laaksonen will be presenting remarks next week on behalf of the Chairman. These efforts are consistent with the DGs goal to provide greater visibility for INSAG. This opportunity will allow us to directly convey our message articulated in INSAG 21, Strengthening the Global Nuclear Safety Regime, where we made specific recommendations for improving the CNS process. Those recommendations remain relevant today.
It is of interest that CNS will also address Emergency Preparedness, an issue that was surfaced at your last meeting as one that might be deserving of INSAG′s review. The DG told the Board that: "Much progress has been made regarding emergency preparedness in recent years. Even so, many Member States still do not have an adequate level of nuclear and radiological emergency preparedness and response capability. Local emergencies involving ionizing radiation continue to occur and the Agency has been assisting Member States in the framework of the Early Notification and Assistance Conventions. However, a major emergency involving ionizing radiation would strain the response systems of most Member States and of the Agency. We need to do more to ensure both are better resourced."
Responsibility for Safety
As you are aware, the prime responsibility for safety rests with the operator of a nuclear facility or the user of a nuclear technique, as well as with the national government overseeing that operation or use. This message cannot be diluted. Technology can be transferred, but safety culture cannot; it must be learned by Member States and embedded in their programmes. Safety can neither be outsourced nor delegated to other countries but the challenges are now more complex because of the multi-national character of nuclear industry activities. For those countries embarking on nuclear power programmes, it is essential that they become part of the global nuclear safety regime and share responsibility for its sustainability.
20/20 Review
If you recall, the DG′s Office briefed you at the last meeting about the DG′s 20/20 initiative which is attempting to outline the direction and needs of the agency in the longer term future. That effort is now in the capable hands of the Commission of Eminent Persons who will provide their own views and recommendations to the IAEA. In essence, this effort involves the preparation of a report that would answer two questions: "What kind of IAEA will the world need in the timeframe up to the year 2020 and beyond?" and "How can the IAEA best fulfil that need?" A background report by the DG was submitted to the Commission for their use. The report recognizes the need for increased emphasis on maintaining a high level of safety and combating the threat of nuclear terrorism.This topic is included later on your agenda.
Current Challenges in Nuclear Safety
Complacency
Among the important challenges we are continue to face is maintaining the high level of safety performance both for steadily aging operating plants and construction of new plants. Complacency and its ramifications continue to plague our field. This area cannot be separated from Leadership, Management for Safety and Safety Culture. This is another area for your consideration in the future.
New Entrants
As you know, a major challenge continues to be meeting the needs of Member States expressing an interest to embark on nuclear power development for the first time. In this context, I look forward the finalization of INSAG 22, Nuclear Safety Infrastructure for a National Nuclear Energy Programme based on the IAEA Fundamental Safety Principles. This draft document has generated much interest and will be the basis for a safety guide on nuclear safety infrastructure that the Agency is now developing. This safety guide will attempt to bridge the gap that could be encountered by a Member State that currently does not have a nuclear programme and with no or limited experience to utilize the safety standards. These documents can provide useful guidance to new nuclear Member States to ensure sustainable development based on the safety standards and review services. It is also timely to revisit those safety review services with a view towards their practical application, particularly in the early phase of a new nuclear power programme. A new and visible effort for assistance to building nuclear safety infrastructure in new entrants is needed to ensure that the global nuclear safety regime remains strong. While this presents a challenging environment, it is also an opportunity to contribute to nuclear programmes based on the Fundamental Safety Principles and the IAEA will benefit from INSAG′s advice which will play a significant role in that effort. We are moving forward in this regard as you will hear later today.
Mature Nuclear Programmes and Long Term Operation
We must also not lose sight of the need for a sound safety infrastructure for mature nuclear programmes as well. Safety cannot depend solely on actions taken by a supplier country or vendor. The responsibility and leadership for safety must be embedded in the management and culture of any country wishing to introduce or expand a nuclear programme. We are concerned that some facilities and countries could fall behind in safety performance as worldwide dependence on aging nuclear facilities grows. In light of an increasing number of facilities that are implementing life extension programmes, we must remain vigilant in the pursuit of safety.
Consideration of Extreme Events and Global Warming
The recent beyond design basis earthquake in Kashiwazaki Japan calls attention to the external hazards and their impact on the integrity and life cycle of NPPs. We will hear more on that later today. It is important to consider the long term potential effects of extreme natural phenomena upon nuclear facilities. Flooding, hurricanes, and typhoons may increase in frequency and strength and we must prepare our facility designs to meet this challenge in the face of climate change, addressed so well by Chairman Meserve in his last letter.
Upcoming Conferences of Interest
India Conference on Topical Issues
I would like to highlight the International Conference on Topical Issues in Nuclear Installation Safety to be held in Mumbai, India on 17 - 21 November 2008. This conference is very much tied to INSAG efforts in promoting nuclear safety worldwide. Its title is: Ensuring Safety for Sustainable Nuclear Development. If you look at the agenda for this Conference which is available in your package, you cannot help but notice its similarity to the issues being discussed at this meeting. This Conference is expected to provide an important opportunity to establish broad consensus among senior regulators and industry leaders regarding directions and priorities for international cooperation in nuclear safety in the coming years and is responding to the major changes in nuclear safety worldwide since the Beijing meeting in 2004.
Workshop on the Roles and Responsibilities of Vendor Countries and Countries Embarking on Nuclear Power Programmes to Ensure Long Term Safety
I also want to bring to your attention this conference on vendor responsibilities we are planning for July 1-4, 2008 here in Vienna. This conference is timely in clarifying the roles and responsibilities of vendors and vendor countries in working with new entrant Member States.
Conclusion
Our agenda identifies a commendable achievement; two documents coming to closure with a third close behind.
It is extremely important to link the current Agency work in infrastructure to IAEA Safety Fundamentals and other safety standards. We appreciate very much Mr. Alonso′s contribution in INSAG - 22, on Nuclear Safety Infrastructure I also would like you to join me in congratulating Mr. Alonso on being selected as the 2008 recipient of the Theos J. Thompson Award presented by the American Nuclear Society. This award is presented annually to persons who have made outstanding contributions to the enhancement of nuclear installations safety. It is only through the active, voluntary, participation by operators and regulators in a comprehensive experience feedback programme that we can adequately address the issues related to man/machine interface in this highly technologically based industry. Mr. Laaksonen will make this point among others in his remarks to the CNS when he discusses, INSAG -23 on Operational experience feedback.
INSAG 24 on the relationship between safety and security is now much further along as a result of a workgroup meeting with INSAG and AdSec members conducted under the leadership of Ms. Decobert last month in Paris.
So now it is appropriate to focus on the future direction of nuclear safety issues that are gaining in importance and on which INSAG should speak. This direction suggests ways in which the Agency and the world nuclear community should move in the coming years. Internationally, we remain in the same boat with the nuclear safety conventions providing the basic framework for navigation and the safety standards and their application combined with the international knowledge network providing the forward motion. The nuclear safety message will never become outdated and only gains in importance as the realization of new plans for nuclear energy gradually becomes reality. The Secretariat looks forward to providing any support you require in developing and implementing that message. Once again, welcome to Vienna and I wish you a successful meeting.
Thank you for your attention.