22 June 2023

Welcome to ONR news

Hello everyone.

Welcome to the latest edition of ONR News, keeping you updated about our work as the UK’s independent nuclear regulator for safety, security and safeguards.

I was delighted to see our Corporate Plan for 2023/24 recently laid in Parliament, which emphasises our continuing commitment to safety, security and nuclear material accountancy and control, as we stand ready to respond to the changing nuclear regulatory landscape.

The industry is currently evolving, with notable ambitions for civil new nuclear and the potential mix of technologies this may involve, significant finance proposed for the defence nuclear enterprise, ever-increasing moves towards the use of innovation within the sector and growing awareness of the potential impacts on civil nuclear facilities of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

It is therefore essential that our regulation adapts accordingly to plan and react to these changes so it maintains and enhances the public trust and confidence in our work.

As always, if you have any comments about ONR, any of the topics included in this newsletter, or our work in general, please get in touch via contact@onr.gov.uk

Best wishes

Rachel Grant

Director of Policy and Communications

ONR Corporate Plan 2023/24 published

We have published our Corporate Plan for 2023/24 after it was laid in Parliament earlier this month.

The 28-page report explains how we intend to continue to put in place effective, consistent and enabling regulation and influence proportionate improvements in the nuclear industry to ensure worker and public safety.

ONR inspectors chosen for UK-France international mentoring

Three ONR inspectors were selected for this year's cohort of the prestigious UK-France Women in Nuclear (WiN) mentoring programme.

ONR experts at IAEA Safety Standards Committees

We represented the UK at two international Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Safety Standards Committees relating to transport and waste.

40-year reunion for one-time nuclear apprentices

Two ONR inspectors who started their careers together as apprentices recently met up with five other members of their one-time apprenticeship cohort - 40 years later.

A group of ex-colleagues standing in front of a URENCO sign

ONR Chair reappointed until March 2027

Mark McAllister has been reappointed as our Chair for an additional three years, until March 2027.

Nuclear cyber security under focus

Our inspectors have been in Vienna this week attending the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) CyberCon23, sharing best practice on how to ensure cyber security within the civil nuclear sector.

The IAEA convened the international conference to provide Member States with a forum to discuss the evolving nature of computer security in the nuclear field.

This includes mitigation capabilities and related tools as the vulnerability of sensitive information from theft and/or manipulation, along with the vulnerabilities of computer systems to cyber-attacks, is widely recognised.

Licensees attend climate change CNI inspection engagement day

We held a successful industry engagement day for our forthcoming Chief Nuclear Inspector’s (CNI) themed inspection on climate change.

Representatives from many of the UK’s nuclear licensees attended last month's event at Redgrave Court, Bootle, Merseyside, to hear our inspectors’ expectations for the CNI themed inspection which runs throughout 2023 until 2025.

We consider it essential that all nuclear licensed sites remain safe and secure from the effects of climate change. This year, we are asking site operators to complete a self-assessment questionnaire on their arrangements and resilience in relation to climate change effects.

Next year, site-based regulatory inspections will be conducted by us at selected sites on a targeted and proportionate basis.

Our mission is to protect society by securing safe nuclear operations

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