| Type | Non-profit |
|---|---|
| Industry | Nuclear power |
| Founded | 2001, formerly the Uranium Institute (founded 1975) |
| Headquarters | City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom |
| Key people | John Ritch - Director-general |
| Website | http://www.world-nuclear.org |
The World Nuclear Association (WNA), formerly the Uranium Institute, is an international organization that promotes nuclear power and supports the many companies that comprise the global nuclear industry. Its members come from all parts of the nuclear fuel cycle, including uranium mining, uranium conversion, uranium enrichment, nuclear fuel fabrication, plant manufacture, transport, and the disposition of used nuclear fuel as well as electricity generation itself [1].
Together, WNA members are responsible for 95% of the world's nuclear power outside of the U.S. [2] as well as the vast majority of world uranium, conversion and enrichment production.[3]
The WNA says it aims to fulfill a dual role for its members: Facilitating their interaction on technical, commercial and policy matters and promoting wider public understanding of nuclear technology. [4]
Accredited to the United Nations, the WNA is an independent, non-profit organization, funded primarily by membership subscriptions. It is unknown how much funding is dedicated to influencing policy.
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The WNA has established a Charter of Ethics [5] to serve as a common credo amongst its member organizations. This affirmation of values and principles is intended to summarize the responsibilities of the nuclear industry and the surrounding legal and institutional framework that has been constructed through international cooperation to fulfill U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower's vision of 'Atoms for Peace'.
WNA members appoint a Director General and elect a 13-member board of management. The current Director General is John Ritch, former US ambassador to UN organizations in Vienna, among them the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization. The Chairman of the board is Christopher Crane, President and Chief Operating Officer of Exelon. Vice chairman is Andy White, President of Trilliant Inc. A board of management fulfils statutory duties pertaining to the organization's governance and sets WNA policies and strategic objectives, subject to approval by the full membership.
WNA operates a Council of Advisors which serves as a means of fostering interchange among nuclear industry leaders and eliciting their advice and support in the conduct of WNA strategy. The Co-Chairmen of the Council are Hans Blix, Director General-Emeritus of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and Zack T. Pate, Chairman-Emeritus of the World Association of Nuclear Operators.
WNA Membership consists mainly of companies, and the WNA's twice-yearly meetings have primarily a commercial focus. Current WNA Members are responsible for virtually all of world uranium, conversion, and enrichment production and some 95% of the world's nuclear-generated electricity outside the USA (85% of world nuclear generation, including the USA ).
The WNA continues to expand its membership, particularly in non-OECD countries where nuclear power is produced or where this option is under active consideration. Already WNA members are located in countries representing 80% of the world's population.
The annual subscription fee for an institutional member is based on its size and scale of activity. Upon receiving an inquiry or application, WNA's London-based secretariat determines the fee according to standard criteria and informs the candidate organisation accordingly. The fee structure provides, in many cases, for significant discounts for organisations located in countries outside the OECD.[6]
A low-fee non-commercial membership is available for organisations with a solely academic, research, policy or regulatory function.
WNA affiliation entails neither financial obligation nor implications for an organisation's independence. WNA independent affiliates comprise diverse nuclear-related organisations that have decided on affiliation with the WNA as a symbolic act of partnership:
An essential role of the World Nuclear Association is to facilitate commercially valuable interaction among its Institutional Members.
Ongoing WNA working groups, consisting of Institutional Members and supported by the secretariat, share information and develop analysis on a range of technical, trade and environmental matters. These subjects include: [7]
When meeting to discuss industry issues, WNA members are cautioned to avoid any topic that could potentially create even the impression of an attempt to set prices or engage in other anti-competitive behaviour. Accordingly, topics not discussed in WNA meetings include terms of specific contracts; current or projected prices for products or services; allocation of markets; refusals to deal with particular suppliers or customers; or any similar matters that might impair competition within any segment of the nuclear industry.
The WNA's Annual Symposium in London provides a forum for members, spotlights the role of the WNA's worldwide affiliates and serves as a platform for speakers from throughout the world nuclear industry. At some Symposia the WNA presents an award for 'Distinguished Contribution to the Peaceful Worldwide Use of Nuclear Energy'.
The WNA also cooperates with the Nuclear Energy Institute on annual World Nuclear Fuel Cycle meetings for industry representatives concerned with nuclear fuel supply and in particular the uranium market.
The WNA represents the interests of the international nuclear industry at key international forums such as:
In contrast to earlier less structured forms of industry representation the WNA claims to provide a unified voice from a single body; encompassing all manner of industry expertise and perspectives. It is clear and unreserved in its purpose of promoting the maximum feasible use of safe nuclear power.
The WNA public website is intended to provide the best available non-technical source of information on the global nuclear industry. The site presents reference documents, and a wide range of educational and explanatory papers which are constantly updated.
The WNA supports World Nuclear News (WNN), an online news service intended to bring accurate and accessible information on developments in nuclear power to WNA's industry readers and the general public. Its output is free of charge and may be widely reproduced in accordance with WNN's copyright policy.
The WNA reactor database contains information on past, present and future nuclear power reactors across the planet.
The WNA is engaged in a number of other initiatives to promote the peaceful development of nuclear power. These include: the WNA Index and the World Nuclear University.
The WNA Nuclear Energy Index tracks the overall performance of publicly traded stocks representing 65 companies involved in the nuclear energy industry, and through this hopefully help stimulate investment in nuclear energy. This weighted and rule-driven index is rebalanced quarterly.
A joint initiative between the WNA and other prominent nuclear bodies, the World Nuclear University (WNU) is a global partnership committed to enhancing international education and leadership in the peaceful applications of nuclear science and technology. It runs a series of programmes designed to complement existing institutions of nuclear learning in their curriculum. The premier event on the WNU calendar is the Summer Institute, which runs each year in July and brings together speakers from industry and government to present on all aspects of nuclear power. It also runs five one-week courses per year with partner universities around the world intended to enhance knowledge of today’s nuclear industry among students.
Women in Nuclear is a global not for profit organization with over 2000 members from some 60 countries. The organization was established in 1993 and is governed by an elected board and executive. The organization is sponsored under the auspices of the WNA and its objectives are identified as including the dissemination of factual information about nuclear and radiation technology, professional exchange among its members and promotion of career opportunities in the nuclear industry[1]. Although open to both women and men, members are primarily women working in nuclear technology related industries including academia, uranium mining, nuclear power generation, regulatory agencies, nuclear medicine, related organizations such as the IAEA and government officials.