The IRRS Follow-up Mission has started

A special feature of this event is that it is the IAEA's 100th IRRS Mission.

At the official opening ceremony, Gyula Fichtinger, Director General of the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority, emphasized that it is of significant importance for Hungary to guarantee a high level of nuclear safety. Our work is determined by the openness to new methods and the exchange of experience with other authorities and international organizations.

The Director General outlined that since the 2015 Mission there had been a number of important changes in the legislation, the HAEA's responsibilities had been expanded, a new organizational structure had entered into force, the organization had grown considerably and the operation of the Authority had become more transparent.

"The findings and recommendations of the new report are of utmost importance to us," said the Director General, adding that maintaining a high level of nuclear safety culture requires continuous efforts.

Mr Michael R. Johnson, Deputy Executive Director of the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (US NRC), as the team leader of the IRRS Follow-up Mission greeted the participants of the integrated peer review mission, mentioning in his introductory speech that the experts face a series of interviews, and follow up inquiries in the course of the coming ten-day period. He expressed his appreciation for Hungary’s commitment to nuclear safety and the progress that had been made.

Ms. Andrea Beatrix Kádár, Deputy State Secretary for Energy underlined in her speech that Hungary had greatly benefited from the International Atomic Energy Agency’s’s review missions at times when world energy production is of vital importance and greenhouse gas emissions should decrease. She also emphasized the necessity of nuclear power’s public acceptance and its positive impact for the coming decades, adding that the IAEA's 100th IRRS Mission serves as a good platform for ensurance of these endeavours.