The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) was joined by the Dutch nuclear regulators on a visit to Hinkley Point C (HPC), focusing on shared expertise and best practices.
It follows the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ONR and the Dutch Authority for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection (ANVS) to bolster cooperation between the two international regulators.
Joining ANVS in Somerset were members of the senior leadership team from PALLAS, a new medical isotopes reactor currently under construction in the Netherlands.
With the PALLAS project approaching a crucial milestone in its construction - the first concrete pour for its nuclear island - it was a valuable opportunity for ONR to share regulatory experience from the equivalent phase at HPC.
Alun Griffiths, ONR’s site inspector for HPC, also recently visited the Netherlands where he attended ANVS workshops and met the PALLAS team in Petten, the centre of Dutch nuclear research.
Alun said: “The exchange of learning and best practices with international partners provides invaluable benefits to everyone involved.
“As HPC's construction has progressed significantly, we are well-positioned to share our knowledge and experience with projects at earlier stages of development, making this collaboration particularly meaningful."
Stef Carelsen, ANVS’ nominated site inspector for the PALLAS reactor site, said: “The PALLAS reactor is the first nuclear new build in the Netherlands for 50 years.
“ONR’s very similar approach to system-based oversight makes these engagements even more relevant and directly applicable in ANVS’ inspectors’ practices.
“Alun’s experience in regulatory oversight, in particular on nuclear new builds, has provided an invaluable benchmark that greatly helped our team to improve our lines of questioning and strengthen the focus of key recent inspections.”
As part of our continued commitment to working with the Dutch regulator, ONR’s Chief Executive and Chief Nuclear Inspector Mark Foy and his Dutch counterpart, Annemiek van Bolhuis, recently signed the Memorandum of Understanding to further strengthen the relationship between the two organisations.
Mark said: “Working with other national regulators is important for ONR as it allows us to learn from each other and share good practice.
“I look forward to strengthening our relationship with ANVS and cooperating on matters of mutual interest.”
Annemiek said: “For the ANVS, it is extremely important to work together with other regulators.
“The close and fruitful collaboration with ONR is exemplary and this MOU provides an even more solid basis for further expanding our collaboration.”
The MoU will enable greater information sharing including learning from site visits, workshops, employee exchange and shared participation in courses, secondments, and seminars.
Joint research groups may also be set up to collaborate on nuclear and safety related research.