To Enhance Safety of103 Asian Nuclear Power Plants
Kim Kee-young, vice president of the Safety Department, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), has been elected as the director general of the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) Tokyo Center. Kim is the first KHNP official to head the institution. He will serve for 18 months starting from January 2023 and can be reelected.
Founded in 1989 following the tragic accident at Chernobyl, WANO is the world’s largest not-for-profit organization with a mission to maximize the safety and reliability of the global commercial nuclear plants. It represents worldwide owners and operators of nuclear fleets (123 members in 35 states). The Tokyo Center is among the four WANO regional centers (Atalanta, Paris, Moscow and Tokyo) providing peer reviews to 103 nuclear plant units in 18 Asian members.
The director general is appointed at the general board meeting and general meeting held among CEOs of 18 Asian members.
“As the third-largest nuclear power plant operator in the world, KHNP will continue cooperating with international institutions, such as IAEA, and non-profit organizations to contribute to global nuclear safety and expand the reactor export opportunity with an improved market presence,” KHNP CEO Whang Joo-ho said.
“I will devote my capabilities to improving safety of nuclear power plants across Asia, going beyond Korea,” Kim said.