Industry stakeholders attended an engagement day for the ongoing Chief Nuclear Inspector’s themed inspection on climate change.
Inspectors from the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) outlined the findings from the recently-completed site-based inspections at Heysham 2, Sizewell B, Sellafield, Dounreay and AWE Plc (Aldermaston and Burghfield) to industry representatives at Redgrave Court, Bootle, Merseyside.
Also examined were conclusions from the self-assessment phase of the two-year themed inspection project which required licensees to report on their arrangements and plans for the potential effects of climate change, designed to establish the maturity of works in progress.
The site-based inspections have examined if dutyholders are aligning with good practice to provide resilience against climate change effects.
The CNI themed inspection team has identified seven themes arising from the self-assessment questionnaire and site-based inspection phase, which are:
- review and monitoring of data, risk and trends
- update and implementation of licensees’ guidance, external hazards analysis and safety cases, including periodicity
- Periodic Safety Review frequency, scope and effectiveness
- ownership, responsibilities and arrangements in relation to climate change
- plant improvements and mitigation measures
- risk informed approach to understanding the consequences of climate change on plant
- future regulatory activities in relation to climate change
The final summary report is now being written and will be published during the summer, available on ONR's website, with further detail on the themes and findings to be provided.
That concluding report will also include input from other stakeholders including the Environment Agency and ONR's Expert Panel on Natural Hazards.
Rachel Kirley, External Hazards Nuclear Safety Inspector, said: "Climate change and the challenges it presents to the industry is considered a vital topic of focus for us as regulators, but for the sector as a whole.
"We are committed to seeking consistent evidence that the industry understands and has taken into account climate change projections and can demonstrate that activities will remain safe and secure in the future, with flexibility to monitor and review depending on how this topic may evolve.
"Industry engagement days like these show that our stakeholders equally recognise the importance of climate change within their work, with clear willingness to learn from experience and be better prepared for the future."
The Chief Nuclear Inspector’s themed inspections were introduced in 2017 and are designed to examine regulatory matters that are strategic or broader in nature than ONR’s more routine regulatory inspection activities.
They also raise awareness of important issues and highlight ONR’s regulatory activities and expectations to a wider audience, in addition to the nuclear industry.
If dutyholders or interested stakeholders have any questions or comments, please contact CNIClimateChange@onr.gov.uk.