The World Nuclear Association (WNA), formerly the Uranium Institute, is a confederation of companies connected with nuclear power production. Nuclear power is any Nuclear technology designed to extract usable Energy from atomic nuclei via controlled Nuclear reactions 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]. Uranium mining is the process of extraction of Uranium Ore from the ground Enriched uranium is a kind of Uranium in which the percent composition of Uranium-235 has been increased through the process of Isotope separation. Nuclear fuel is any material that can be consumed to derive Nuclear energy, by analogy to chemical Fuel that is burned to derive energy Spent nuclear fuel, occasionally called used nuclear fuel, is Nuclear fuel that has been irradiated in a Nuclear reactor (usually at a Nuclear power Electricity generation is the process of converting non-electrical Energy to Electricity.
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. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the [3]
The WNA says it aims to fulfil 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 organisation, funded primarily by membership subscriptions. The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security
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Leadership
WNA members appoint a Director General and elect a 13 man board of management. The Director General is John Ritch, former US ambassador to UN organizations in Vienna, among them the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization. The International Atomic Energy Agency ( IAEA) is an international organization that seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy and to inhibit its The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO is an International organization that will be established upon the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear The Chairman of the board is Andy White, CEO of General Electric's nuclear business and the vice chairman is Ralf Güldner of France's Areva. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. AREVA ( is a French public Multinational industrial conglomerate that is mainly known for Nuclear power; it also has interests in other 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. (born 28 June, 1928 in Uppsala, Sweden) is a Swedish Diplomat and Politician. The World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO is an international organisation founded in 1989 after the Chernobyl accident to foster international cooperation
Charter of Ethics
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 fulfil U. S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower's vision of 'Atoms for Peace'. Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower (October 14 1890 – March 28 1969 was President of the United States from 1953 until 1961 and a five-star general "Atoms for Peace" was the title of a speech delivered by U
Membership
WNA Membership is comprised 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. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. 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.
Affiliates
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:
- Professional organisations with an international membership and a specific focus of interest
- National or regional commercially-based membership organisations
- National nuclear societies
- Citizens' organisations supporting nuclear power as a key clean energy option. Green energy is a term used to describe sources of energy that are considered to be Environmentally friendly and non- polluting.
Activities and services
Industry interaction
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]
- Nuclear fuel production
- Industry economics
- Nuclear trade issues
- Radiological protection
- 'Nuclear event' definition
- Transport
- Uranium stewardship
- Waste management and decommissioning
- Sustainable development and climate change
- Security of the international fuel cycle
- Safe and sustainable uranium stewardship
- Global strategies on public education and public policy
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.
Meetings
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 Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI is a Nuclear industry lobbying group
Public information
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.
Backing up WNA information services is a specialist library at WNA headquarters in London. The WNA library is open to individuals by telephone appointment.
External links
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