Enhancing leadership and management systems in countries introducing nuclear power programmes was the focus of a recent meeting held at the IAEA. The meeting was the first activity of a four-year project aimed at improving management systems, leadership programmes and safety culture in organizations involved in new nuclear power programmes.
The IAEA has been supporting the development and implementation of management systems in Member States. This particular project will provide more practical support in establishing management systems based on the IAEA General Safety Requirements Part 2, Leadership and Management for Safety (GSR Part 2) for the phase of developing the nuclear infrastructure and for the phase of constructing the first nuclear power plant.
The need for such support has been identified by several IAEA Member States embarking on a nuclear power programme. Those in Phase 1 of the IAEA Milestones approach should understand the basic principles of management systems and the requirements of GSR Part 2 and plan for their implementation. Those further ahead in their programme development are expected to start developing management systems to ensure that the activities properly address nuclear safety and its interfaces with security, safeguards, quality assurance, industrial safety, and environmental protection; and establish programmes to foster and sustain a strong organizational culture that recognizes the importance of these requirements.
Representatives from six Member States at various stages of nuclear infrastructure development, i.e. Bangladesh, Belarus, Ghana, Jordan, Poland, and Turkey, took part in the September meeting, as well as participants from the UK and the USA. The meeting concluded with customized plans of activities for the next two years. The IAEA will then carry out a series of tailored expert missions and workshops to address issues and challenges in Member States related to the development of management systems and organizational culture in future owner/operator organizations, as well as regulatory bodies.
“The project’s specific objectives are to provide a better understanding of management systems and the requirements of GSR Part 2, and of the main activities of key organizations in the different phases of the IAEA Milestones approach, as well as related core processes,” said Jose Bastos from the IAEA Nuclear Infrastructure Development Section, which is managing the project together with the Nuclear Power Engineering Section.
In addition, the activities will help owner/operator organizations and regulatory bodies expand existing quality systems to integrated management systems aligned with GSR Part 2. “It is also planned to offer leadership development for senior executives and support the development of an adequate organizational culture,” he added.
Tomasz Trzciński, from Poland's PGE EJ1, a subsidiary of the state-owned PGE, set up to build and run the country's first nuclear power plant, said he appreciated that the meeting focused on the needs of both regulators and future operating organizations in a detailed way. “Because of that unique approach,” he added, “the initiative should provide huge benefits through customized support to particular organizations from countries participating in the project.”
The project “Supporting the development of management systems and nuclear safety culture in countries introducing nuclear power programmes” is funded through a contribution by the United States of America to the IAEA Peaceful Uses Initiative (PUI).
“The initiative should provide huge benefits through customized support to particular organizations from countries participating in the project.”
