OREANDA-NEWS. In conjunction with the 6th Nuclear Power Asia Conference, ROSATOM Corporation organized a pre-conference workshop titled “Improving Public Acceptance: Best Practices”. The workshop, which was held in Kuala Lumpur, saw more than 60 delegates from the nuclear power industry in attendance.

The conversation at this session focused on best practices in enhancing public acceptance towards nuclear power in order to tap on to its benefits including economic boost, scientific development, and social impact.

Ivan Dybov, Vice President of ROSATOM International Network a subsidiary of ROSATOM Corporation began the discussion with a showcase, outlining that advantages of nuclear energy go far beyond the electricity supply: “Nuclear technology is a unique tool that is able to deal with various complex challenges facing humanity, including such important fields as medicine, water treatment, ecology and agriculture”, he emphasized.

He said, “Despite the obvious advantages of nuclear technology, it is constantly being affected by the lack of knowledge, which reduce its public acceptance. We all know that anti-nuclear movements exist in any country of the world, which has NPPs or plans to build them. Public acceptance is vitally important if the country wants to maintain its nuclear energy programs, and ensure its energy security and economic growth”.

ROSATOM’s continuous outreach and commitment to deliver proven and objective information about nuclear energy has resulted with a significant increase in public acceptance in Russia over the past three years with more than 70% of respondents supporting the development of nuclear energy.

“What helps ROSATOM to achieve such results is our commitment to deliver to audiences proved and objective information about nuclear energy. Here we emphasize the following key topics: security, technologies, events, as well as impacts on environment and health. To maintain and constantly decrease public acceptance of our activities in Russia and elsewhere, we base our approach in communications on 5 main pillars, which are transparency, understandability, rapid response, direct contact, and creativity,” Ivan Dybov concluded.

With more than 70 years of expertise in the nuclear industry, ROSATOM is the only company in the world that integrates the entire atomic energy cycle that provides comprehensive nuclear services that range from uranium enrichment to nuclear waste management. Development of nuclear technology in the fields of medicine, ecology and agriculture are some of the successful initiatives from ROSATOM. The company has firsthand experience in the positive impacts of nuclear energy for public, industries, and economies.

One of the tools used by ROSATOM for providing public acceptance are Nuclear Energy Information Centers. Professor Ha Manh Thu, Director of Nuclear Energy Information Center located in Hanoi, shared his experience in working with local audiences of Vietnam. “Nuclear Energy Information Center in Hanoi is a multifunctional communication ground where students, nuclear industry experts and journalists may learn about nuclear technologies. We provide information in an understandable and interactive way within various educational programs. All that makes information center a notable cultural and educational hub of the region,” Professor told.
During the workshop, Professor Datuk Dr. Sukiman Sarmani, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Licensing Board of Malaysia (AELB) also shared his views on nuclear energy and public acceptance in Malaysia. He further highlighted the key roles of regulatory agencies in dissemination public information on nuclear safety and security. The workshop also featured a discussion on Public Information and Public Acceptance (PIPA) on Nuclear Technology in Malaysia which highlighted activities and approach by Malaysia Nuclear Agency in educating the nation on nuclear technology development. According to a research conducted by MNA in 2009, more than 70% of respondents support the use of nuclear energy as a source of electricity in Malaysia.

To conclude the discussion, Yury Busurin, Project Manager, Department of International Scientific and Technological Cooperation, Concern Rosenergoatom spoken on nuclear infrastructure development for new entrants. With its focus on not just development of the industry but also issues around security and crisis, ROSATOM has set an emergency response center that offers emergency planning and operations as well as technical support during a nuclear situation or crisis.