The meeting, organized by WANO together with the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNP) and the WANO Shanghai Office, was attended by more than 50 nuclear specialists representing 16 organizations from 10 countries around the world, both in person and via conference call. 

The event was opened by the chairman of the working group - Deputy General Director - Director for Business Development of Rosenergoatom JSC (Electric Power Division of the State Corporation Rosatom) Nikita Konstantinov. He noted significant progress in the development by NUA I-WG, jointly with WANO and the IAEA, of two documents to assist in the construction of new units - the Operational Readiness Guideline and the "Pre-Operational Safety Reviews Guideline". 

The Operational Readiness Guideline is being developed to assist managers at various levels at all stages of nuclear power plant construction, based on the previously published Roadmap for Operational Readiness document by NUA I-WG. The presence of experts in the NUA I-WG with significant experience in commissioning power units allows for the preparation of a useful, practical document containing guidance based on experience from projects in a number of countries. An essential feature of this document is its applicability to all types of reactors. 

The second important document is the Pre-Operational Safety Reviews Guideline. Its goal is to help managers of newly commissioned power units prepare to receive WANO Pre-Startup Reviews (PSUR) and IAEA Pre-Operational Safety Review Team missions (Pre-OSART). Although conducting such reviews at new units, prior to the delivery of nuclear fuel and physical start-up, it is now common practice that information on experience and training requirements and their acceptance for the management of new operating organizations is very limited. 

Both documents are planned for publication before the end of this year as joint guidelines between WANO and the IAEA. 

Another important area of work of the ORG, which was discussed by the meeting participants, was the activities of its subgroup on small modular reactors (SMRs). This area was created in 2022 to exchange information on all areas related to SMRs. In the future, the goal of the subgroup, which is also carried out in cooperation with the IAEA, will be to develop a roadmap to ensure operational readiness for SMRs. The SMR subgroup can serve as a platform for the exchange of experience and best practices, including the participation of all stakeholders - design organizations, suppliers, technical support organizations, operating organizations, as well as potential SMR owners who do not have experience in the nuclear industry. 

The meeting participants were also informed about the status of nuclear energy development projects, construction and commissioning of new power units in the following companies: NPCBL (Bangladesh), Sanmen (China), TÜNAŞ (Turkiye), El Dabaa (Egypt), Belarusian NPP (Belarus), Paks ll. Ltd. (Hungary), and Hinkley Point C (UK). 

In addition, during the meeting, WANO Paris Center presented participants with NUA Module on Equipment Performance and Condition (EPC). Presentations were also made by Alpiq (Switzerland), IAEA, WANO Tokyo Centre, WANO London Office) and a number of operating organizations in China. 

After two days of the meeting, the participants were given a visit to the Sanmen NPP site, where two CAP1000 generation 3+ power units are currently under construction. 

The next meeting is scheduled for early November 2024 via conference call.