April 8, 2014
Hitachi-GE Nuclear Energy
BRUSSELS—The participating nuclear exporting companies and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace have concluded a fifth meeting to review the implementation of the Nuclear Power Plant Exporters’ Principles of Conduct. The Principles of Conduct constitute an industry code of conduct articulating and consolidating recommended best practices in the export of nuclear power plants. The Principles of Conduct secretariat, in cooperation with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, convened the meeting in Brussels on March 5 and 6.
Meeting participants updated each other on their implementation activities and shared best practices. The Principles of Conduct were updated to include a reference to cybersecurity concerns as well as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Nuclear Security Recommendations on Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and Nuclear Facilities. Participants agreed to establish a compendium of useful resources that touches upon the issues raised in the Principles.
To enhance the credibility and value proposition of the Principles of Conduct, the companies identified steps their senior management teams could take to strengthen the effectiveness of outreach and engagement with key stakeholders. They affirmed the importance of the Principles of Conduct as a critical element in their interaction with potential customers and customer states, as well as with other nuclear stakeholders.
Andre Claude Lacoste, chairman of the upcoming review meeting of the Convention on Nuclear Safety (CNS), briefed participants on issues related to that meeting. Participants underscored the importance they attach to active participation in the convention. The secretariat will communicate to the chairman of the 2014 CNS review meeting and the IAEA director general the participants’ support for recommendations to further enhance the safety objectives for nuclear power plants.
As part of the companies’ review of the principles and ground rules they adopted the motto of “Doing it right!” to capture the spirit of the Principles of Conduct.
The participating companies are scheduled to meet again in October.
