On February 6, 2026, students completed the second module of the CAS course "Working Environment Nuclear Energy." They began with an overview of the national and international organizations and authorities that shape the regulatory framework for nuclear energy in Switzerland. This part was presented by Roger Lundmark, CEO of swissnuclear, among others.
🔎 The focus was on the structure of Switzerland's political system in the field of nuclear energy and the relevant parliamentary instruments and responsibilities.
🏛️ The legal basis is provided by the Nuclear Energy Act (KEG), the Nuclear Energy Liability Act (KHG), and the Radiation Protection Act (StSG). The corresponding ordinances regulate the technical details.
At the federal level, DETEC (nuclear energy law and radioactive waste disposal) and the FDHA (radiation protection) play a central role. Parliamentary commissions – in particular the Commissions for the Environment, Spatial Planning and Energy (UREK) – also play a significant role.
👉 Stakeholder management is crucial in the Swiss political environment: the broader and more influential the support, the greater the chances of success for implementing a proposal.🤝
Stakeholder management is also essential at the international level, especially in terms of sharing experience and knowledge. 🪴The community of practice approach can significantly improve the safety and reliability of nuclear power plants in the long term. Learning from each other helps avoid unnecessary mistakes and increases the level of safety for everyone. 🔄️
The central platform for networking and knowledge exchange is the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO), which includes all nuclear power plant operators worldwide. The exchange of lessons learned, peer reviews, and best practices is part of its core mission.
WANO's work is based on three core values: teamwork🤝, integrity🛡️, and innovation💡. WANO's goal is to maximize the safety and reliability of nuclear power plants worldwide through cooperation, mutual evaluation, benchmarking, and continuous improvement.
⚖️ However, WANO's recommendations are not legally binding. The implementation of safety-related measures is the responsibility of the national regulatory authorities. In Switzerland, this task is performed by the Swiss Federal Nuclear Safety Inspectorate (ENSI).
Open communication is key. Safe operation can only be ensured through transparency, mutual support, and the sharing of experiences.🔐
Or, as Bill Lee, the first president of WANO, aptly put it: "If you solve a problem, others won't gain from your experience unless you share it."
🔎 Further information about CAS:
CAS Working Environment Nuclear Energy | BFH
