The opening session involved participants including Maroš Šefčovič, Vice President of the European Commission; Petteri Tiippana, STUK Director General, Finland; Pierre-Franck Chevet, President of the ENSREG; Juan Carlos Lentijo, IAEA Deputy Director General for Nuclear Safety and Security; Kirill Komarov, First Deputy CEO of Rosatom, Russia; and Dominique Minière, Executive Director in charge of the Nuclear and Thermal Fleet, EDF, France.
Opening the conference, Maroš Šefčovič, Vice President of the European Commisison, emphasised the significant role played by the ENSREG in guaranteeing nuclear safety in the EU and neighbouring countries. “ENSREG plays a crucial role overseeing the implementation of nuclear safety directives, and in particular by providing guidance on how to achieve practical improvements in nuclear safety. ENSREG is also fully involved in providing ongoing peer-review exercises, carried out under the EU directive covering the ageing management of nuclear power plants”.
In his speech Kirill Komarov of Rosatom paid tribute to ENSREG’s efforts to develop nuclear energy in the EU and beyond, and also highlighted Rosatom’s commitment to the principle of maximum physical safety from radiation at nuclear facilities, and the necessity of developing international cooperation in this area.
“There is no doubt that large-scale, environmentally significant projects affecting the stability of energy supply stability for both Russian and European consumers should be the subject of joint study and discussion. We are convinced that not only the issues of nuclear safety, but also global environmental and sustainable development challenges facing the energy sector are promising spheres for mutual dialogue” said Mr Komarov. He also expressed his hope that the Russia-EU Nuclеar energy joint task group’s activities will be resumed in the near future.
In total, about 300 experts from 30 countries participated in the event. These experts comprised international experts and decision-makers in nuclear energy and representatives from large power companies. During the two-day ENSREG conference programme, the participants discussed important industry issues such as the handling of spent fuel and radioactive waste, licensing and extending the life of nuclear facilities, and control over energy supply chains, as well as other key industry questions.