At Work 2021 edition Foreword 2020 is a year unlikely to be forgotten anytime soon, for published a white paper, The need for large and small a number of reasons. All of us have been impacted by nuclear, today and tomorrow, describing how both large- the pandemic in one way or another, and we have been scale nuclear power plants and small modular reactors forced to reassess our priorities. The ongoing crisis can play a significant role in the clean energy transition. showcased just how important affordable and reliable Towards the end of 2020, the Association also began electricity is, both hallmarks of the nuclear industry. As we its preparation for COP26 in earnest, meeting with UK look ahead at the challenges of the post-COVID economic government ministers to reinforce the importance of recovery, of achieving greater climate ambitions at COP26 nuclear energy in any deep decarbonization efforts. and reaching the Sustainable Development Goals, nuclear energy is perhaps more important than ever before. The World Nuclear University became virtual in 2020 to Association will continue to devote every effort towards continue its mission to train the future leaders of the ensuring that the industry’s voice is heard loud and clear. nuclear industry. Two World Nuclear Industry Today courses were hosted, one in China and one in Brazil, The pandemic recovery has inevitably been an important with over 1400 participants. Furthermore, three Extended aspect of the Association’s work for the past year. We Leadership Development workshops were hosted, joined forces with the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency attracting more than 350 participants. to explore how nuclear energy can aid the recovery. This resulted in four briefs – jobs creation, cost-effective During the course of the year, the Association has decarbonization, financing and building resiliency with welcomed new members covering diverse sectors, from nuclear energy – highlighting the multifaceted role that operations to waste management and instrumentation. nuclear energy can and should play in helping the world Our Working Groups have remained active through to get back on its feet. In July we published Building a virtual meetings resulting in the publication of several Stronger Tomorrow: Nuclear power in the post-pandemic reports on the enduring value of nuclear energy assets, world, a white paper setting out how nuclear energy can transportation of uranium, harmonization of reactor design play a central role in post-COVID recovery efforts by and licensing, and safety classifications. boosting economic growth in the short term, whilst also supporting, in a cost-effective manner, the development of We have also continued to build and strengthen a low-carbon, resilient and affordable energy infrastructure. collaborations, be it with traditional partners such as the International Atomic Energy Agency and the OECD- Despite the pandemic, six reactors were connected to the Nuclear Energy Agency, or newfound ones, such as the grid in 2020, including two in newcomer countries – Belarus United Nations Economic Commission on Europe, the (Ostrovets-1) and the United Arab Emirates (Barakah-1) International Monetary Fund and the ASEAN Centre for – and construction started on a further six. Every reactor Energy. Our ability to extend our reach to new audiences constructed gets us closer to fulfilling our goals of global and new channels in 2020, despite difficult conditions, decarbonization and economic development. demonstrates the strength of our industry. The Association continued to be at the forefront of nuclear In September, it was announced that Agneta Rising, conversations around the world, representing the industry Director General since 2013, would be stepping down. at events throughout the year. At the inaugural World Many of us have admired Agneta and her stalwart Nuclear Association Strategic eForum in September, efforts to further the nuclear cause for many decades. attended by some 1350 delegates, the global industry We are grateful for her service to the Association and its came together virtually to discuss pressing issues such members, and the broader nuclear industry. as how to maximize the benefits of nuclear and drive investments towards nuclear projects. Looking ahead, the Association will continue to represent the interests of the nuclear industry in the global arena, Beyond the pandemic response, the Association has ensuring that nuclear power continues to play an integral continued to engage on issues of global impact, most role now and in the future. As the global community comes notably the European Union’s Sustainable Financing together to work towards delivering on our ambitions Taxonomy, the end point of which is critical to ensure that to combat climate change and achieve sustainable nuclear energy shares the same access to affordable development, it is crucial that we stand ready to do our financing as other low-carbon energy sources. We bit in building a stronger and cleaner tomorrow, today. Sama Bilbao y León Philippe Knoche Director General Chairman 1 Highlights In the midst of the March June challenges posed by International Youth Nuclear Congress Collaboration with the OECD-NEA The Association participates in The Association collaborates with the the global pandemic, the Congress in Sydney, Australia, OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) on presenting the Harmony programme and four policy briefs examining the role of the Association, with leading discussions on uranium mining. nuclear energy in aiding the economic the continued support recovery in the aftermath of the COVID-19 Response to the global pandemic pandemic and Agneta Rising takes part in of its members, The Secretariat moves to remote a series of webinars presenting the briefs. working, ensuring continuity of all was able to take services. The Association provides up- Expanded Summary of the Nuclear important steps to to-date information about the industry’s Fuel Report 2019 response to the COVID-19 pandemic For the first time ensure nuclear energy via a new information page and a new ever, the is recognized as a section in World Nuclear News (WNN). Association releases uniquely clean, reliable the Expanded Summary that outlines the and resilient source of main conclusions of the 19th edition of The Nuclear Fuel Report and explains the electricity. Here are the key issues facing the nuclear industry. key achievements for Long-term operation position paper the year. The Capacity Optimization’s Long- April Term Operation Task Force releases a paper entitled The Enduring Value of January Working Group meetings All Working Group meetings are held Nuclear Energy Assets, which describes Working Group meetings virtually due to the pandemic. the benefits of long-term operation of 185 participants from 82 organizations nuclear power plants, and the main attend Working Group meetings in Response to the European considerations that need to be taken London to discuss activities and Commission’s 2030 Target Plan into account to ensure the longevity of nuclear operations in the years ahead. publications for the year ahead. The Association submits a response to the public consultation, highlighting nuclear energy’s role in ensuring that emission reduction targets are achieved July in a responsible and sustainable fashion. White paper on nuclear's contribution to the post-pandemic world The Association releases a paper entitled May Building a stronger tomorrow: Nuclear Association Board power in the post-pandemic world, Philippe Knoche, Chief Executive Officer, discussing the role of nuclear energy in the Launch of Nuclear Essentials ORANO, becomes Chairman of World post-COVID-19 environment and calling A new website section geared to the Nuclear Association and Kirill Komarov, upon policy-makers to take proactive general public is launched. It discusses First Deputy Director, ROSATOM, measures to support nuclear power. the strengths of nuclear technologies assumes the role of Vice Chairman. and addresses common myths Technical position paper on nuclear surrounding nuclear energy. WNU Leadership Development employment workshop The Economics Working Group releases World Nuclear University (WNU) holds a paper on Employment in the Nuclear February its first ever online Extended Leadership and Wind Electricity Generating Sectors. Development workshop. The workshop Harmony programme ‘Effective consisted of presentations from OECD-NEA webinar Safety Paradigm’ paper leaders, an introduction to the Networks Agneta Rising presents at the OECD- The Harmony programme paper is for Nuclear Innovation on the IAEA NEA webinar examining the theme of released with the aim of shifting the focus CONNECT platform, and a networking its policy brief on Creating high-value in discussions about safety towards experience for the global WNU Summer jobs in the post-COVID-19 recovery with consideration of genuine public wellbeing. Institute alumni network. nuclear power projects. 2 Highlights August The World Nuclear Supply Chain: November Outlook 2040 report launch event World Nuclear Performance UNECE workshops on Report 2020 The Association holds a virtual launch carbon neutrality event to present its new report, which The Association releases the World The Association participates in a provides a market-oriented review of the Nuclear Performance Report 2020, series of workshops as part of the opportunities and challenges for nuclear providing details on power generation 16th Session of the Group of Experts power plants and their supply