nuclear-news

Secrecy surrounding meeting of World Association of Nuclear Operators in South Korea

Korea Joongang Daily 17th Oct 2017, The Biennial General Meeting (BGM) of the World Association of Nuclear
Operators (WANO) kicked off in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang, on Monday,
bringing together some 500 nuclear industry experts and leaders from around
the world – but the government kept the meeting’s profile very low.

The biennial event, held at the Hico Convention Center in Korea’s cultural
capital some 340 kilometers (211 miles) southeast of Seoul, has the theme
“Leading Nuclear Safety in a Changing World” and will run for six days.
Speakers include Zhang Tao, president of China National Nuclear Power,
Agneta Rising, director general of the World Nuclear Association and
Vincent de Rivaz, CEO of EDF, the French electricity utility.

On the first day of the event, speeches delivered in panel discussions were not provided
to the press. Not a single placard was hung at the Hico building promoting
the event. Entrance to the convention center was closely regulated. No
press was allowed inside, not even a photographer, one security personnel
said.

The secretive nature of the proceeding was surprising given the
biennial event is often called the “Nuclear Power Olympics” for the
scope of expertise and ideas presented. News reports said state-run Korea
Hydro and Nuclear Power (KHNP) was deliberately avoiding publicity because
of the Moon Jae-in government’s attempt to wean Korea off nuclear power.
http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=3039527&cloc=joongangdaily|home|newslist1

October 20, 2017 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | secrets,lies and civil liberties, South Korea