The China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) advocated to establish a fifth World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) center in Shanghai. The initiative received unanimous votes at a council conference held in Paris on June 22, and will take effect after being approved at the WANO Plenary Session in October.

The establishment and operation of the WANO Shanghai Center mark China’s nuclear power enterprises, CNNC as representative, further implementing “an active involvement in global governance” proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The center will be a crucial platform for China to contribute its intelligence and strengths to world nuclear power security.

WANO, founded on May 15, 1989, is a non-profit and non-governmental international organization, whose prime directive is to achieve the highest levels of operational safety and reliability in nuclear power plants and units. The organization, headquartered in London, has four regional centers in Moscow, Atlanta, Tokyo and Paris. 

In 2013, CNNC and WANO conceived the idea of adjusting global nuclear power configurations to meet with the speeding development of the Chinese nuclear industry, and therefore came up with the Shanghai center. 

The WANO Shanghai Center initiative has been supported and promoted by China’s central ministries, Shanghai municipal government, CNNC, China General Nuclear Power Corporation, and State Power Investment Corporation.

A biennial conference and a special plenary session will be held in Shanghai in 2021 for global nuclear experts to discuss issues concerning the safe operation of nuclear power to formulate a worldwide nuclear development philosophy, according to the WANO council.

WANO council members discuss the founding of a fifth center in Shanghai in Paris, France, on June 22. [Photo/CNNC]