Opening session

Full text: It is good to be here at this Symposium and it is good to be here in Budapest. During the next few days we will be looking at and discussing various aspects of Nuclear Power Plant Life Management. But at the outset let me stress that in our consideration Nuclear Power Plant Safety is of paramount importance. Without safe nuclear power plants we have no nuclear power. Also we will be discussing Nuclear Power Plant Life Management. From the various papers and what has been written there still appears to be confusion in the terminology. NPP life is indeed long - covering the period of conception until we again have a 'green-field' site. What we usually talk about when we discuss this subject is operational life and 'operational life extension'. - The operational life is when the plant makes money from the sale of electricity. But it should not be forgotten that we are considering the whole plant cycle from 'pre-conception to the grave'. But even now the Term Plant Operational Life Management seems to have subsumed some of these aspects to do with 'normal operation'. In the operation of NPP the primary consideration - after making the safety requirements is that, as a minimum the plant operates as designed. This is a minimum requirement. There has to be Plant Operational Life Assurance. There are examples where these criteria have not been met - where plant have shut down prematurely - with large financial loss. Plant life has developed from the objectives of Plant Operational Life Assurance towards the optimization of operational life in a way that reduces the cost of electricity and increases the cost of competitiveness of electricity from NPP. There is new and increasing understanding for the need for nuclear electricity and this will contribute to the sustenance and improvement in world living standards and in the environment for the future. The timing of this meeting is opportune and it is heartening to see this strong interest. This, I think, is a reflection of the increased emphasis in protecting the existing capital tied up in NPP and the provision of a breathing space for future plant requirements. I wish you successful and progressive meeting. An important outcome will be the further consideration made by you and the IAEA of issues on this topic. Thank you