SUMMARY OF THE PANEL AND THE SYMPOSIUM PANEL ON THE BASIS FOR CONTINUED SAFE OPERATION OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS

摘要

The contributions by the panel members covered, from different perspectives, all of the more important topics and issues discussed during this symposium. I shall not try to make a formal summary of the panel discussion, citing various contributions. Instead, I shall take advantage of the prerogative of the chairman at the end of the symposium to make a personal summary of this important symposium and of the conclusions that may be drawn from it. Naturally, much that was said during the panel discussion will be reflected in this summary. Firstly, I think there is general agreement that maintaining and improving the safety of existing nuclear power plants is an extremely important and challenging task for both operators and regulators. A large number of these plants were designed in the 1960s and 1970s, and built in the 1970s and 1980s, and will in all probability be operated well into the 21st century. It is not only technical progress but also political and social changes in many countries, as well as changes in electricity market mechanisms which contribute to this challenge,