It was established on 15 May, 1989 following the nuclear accident at Chernobyl (Ukraine). After the event, nuclear operators worldwide began to work together through WANO to improve safety and reliability to prevent recurrences. Experience shows that many accidents could have been prevented if lessons would have been learned from previous incidents.
The World Association of Nuclear Operators was founded on May 15, 1989, following the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in Ukraine. Since then, global nuclear operators have collaborated through WANO to enhance safety and reliability to prevent future accidents. Historical evidence suggests that many incidents could have been avoided if lessons had been learned from prior events.