December 12, 2013
Hitachi-GE Nuclear Energy
TORONTO—The participating industry civilian nuclear power plant vendors and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace have concluded a fourth meeting to review the implementation of the Nuclear Power Plant Exporters’ Principles of Conduct (POC). The POC constitute an industry code of conduct articulating and consolidating recommended best practices in the export of nuclear power plants. The meeting was convened in Toronto, Canada, on September 25 and 26, 2013, by the POC secretariat with the gracious local support of Candu Energy and Bruce Power. It was chaired by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Meeting participants updated each other on their implementation activities and shared best practices. Companies noted the high quality of the presentations and the benefits of building on each other’s most innovative internal implementation experiences. They welcomed the steady progress made by all vendors, including those that have either recently joined the process or gone through a corporate transition.
Participants confirmed the value of the POC and discussed a number of ideas for advancing their objectives and strengthening the mechanisms through which those objectives can be achieved. They exchanged views on existing efforts to implement the POC and discussed guidelines and procedures for enhancing their effective implementation.
In recognition of vendors’ commitment to upholding the highest standards of nuclear safety, Principle 1 was modified to include a reference to the World Association for Nuclear Operators (WANO) principles “Healthy Traits of a Nuclear Safety Culture.” This document was shared with vendors by WANO as part of its long-standing dialogue with the POC.
These experts lauded the POC’s role in reinforcing high standards in the development of nuclear power. They offered concrete suggestions for advancing the POC process and broadening its scope in support of public safety. These suggestions were extensively discussed by participants and will be considered again at the next review meeting.
Participants were also joined by Duncan Hawthorne, CEO of Bruce Power and president of WANO, to reflect on some of the challenges currently facing the nuclear industry and ways in which these can be addressed. Frank Saunders, an expert on the POC process and vice president of Bruce Power, also joined. Roger Howsley, executive director of the World Institute for Nuclear Security, briefed companies on the institute’s key projects.
The companies confirmed the ongoing outreach to emerging nuclear industry players, including small modular reactor vendors. They noted their appreciation for the IAEA’s central role in developing good practices for nuclear power and reiterated the invitation to the IAEA to attend future POC review meetings.
Participants also welcomed a representative from the State Nuclear Power Technology Corporation (SNPTC), a major developer of nuclear power plants in China. SNPTC attended the meeting as an observer while it contemplates adopting the POC.
Companies updated antitrust guidelines to ensure that all aspects of the POC review process continue to comply with competition laws. Participants discussed one case study on the successful development of nuclear power programs.
More information about the Nuclear Power Plant Exporters’ Principles of Conduct is available at www.nuclearprinciples.org.
