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Conference Spotlight
2026 ANS Annual Conference
May 31–June 3, 2026
Denver, CO|Sheraton Denver
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Swiss nuclear power and the case for long-term operation
Designed for 40 years but built to last far longer, Switzerland’s nuclear power plants have all entered long-term operation. Yet age alone says little about safety or performance. Through continuous upgrades, strict regulatory oversight, and extensive aging management, the country’s reactors are being prepared for decades of continued operation, in line with international practice.
Technical Session|Panel|Sponsored by OPD
Tuesday, November 15, 2022|10:00–11:45AM MST|Bougainvillea
Session Chair:
Brian K. Grimes
Session Organizer:
Alternate Chair:
Michelle Catts (GE-Hitachi)
Developing the necessary structure and capabilities of a regulatory body for a comprehensive, independent safety assessment of NPP designs needs substantial time and resources. In many cases, neither sufficient time nor sufficient resources will be available for countries embarking in nuclear power now with the aim to supply carbon free energy in the near future. The panel members will present and discuss various options for the use of Third-Party oversight of design, construction and operation with a particular focus on how the deployment of nuclear power reactors can be enabled for newcomer countries. Examples of options to be discussed are: the model already established by Lloyd's Register in the shipping industry as pseudo-regulators for design, construction, and operation, with some experience in the assurance of nuclear-powered submarines; a concept for an Independent Technical Support Organization funded by major national regulatory bodies; a concept for a Third-Party review funded by the reactor vendor; a concept for the informed adoption of safety assessments or design approvals by well-established regulatory bodies. The role international organizations could play in these approaches will also be addressed.
Brian Grimes
Senior Executive Consultant, Numark Associates
Mark Tipping
Lloyd's Register
Thomas Riekert
Head of Nuclear Safety, TÜV NORD
Michelle Catts
GE, CORDEL Steering Committee
Tatjana Jevremovic
Technical Leader, Nuclear Power Technology Division, IAEA
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