Director General’s review

For the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK), 2024 was a year of significant development and change. In addition to basic radiation and nuclear safety supervision, the year included renewal of STUK’s strategy, promoting the regulatory reform, monitoring the national and international operating environment and preparing for financial cuts in public administration.

STUK’s new vision, "radiation-safe well-being", further emphasises the benefits of the safe
use of radiation and nuclear energy for society as well as individuals. Our goal is to have the regulations and supervision be more in balance with other security risks and appropriate in relation to the derived benefits. Our strategic goals, which are to be a responsible contributor to overall safety, a proactive authority capable of renewal and ensure well-being within the agency, will be implemented by developing our core processes and creating the conditions for renewal. 

Our supervisory activities were risk-aware. We addressed the deficiencies identified in the supervision. 
Based on the supervision, we observed that, for some operators, the pressure to cut costs leads to tight schedules and shortcomings in training. Our overall conclusion is that, as a rule, parties that use radiation and nuclear energy do operate safely and that no material safety risk is caused to employees, the population, society or the environment.

As a result of changes in the operating and information environment, we enhanced our continuous monitoring of the safety situation and improved our preparedness and precautions. We maintained active basic communications and good preparedness to react to various events and the safety concerns they cause. We produced a national and international situational overview of our sector, influenced the preparation of key national policy documents and participated in the activities of several national preparedness bodies and co-operation networks. Our role as an expert and a safety authority participating in creating overall safety for society was strengthened.

We actively promoted the goal of reforming nuclear energy legislation, as detailed in the Government Programme, by supporting the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment in the preparation of the new law. We drew up first drafts of safety regulations. With regard to the Radiation Act, we assessed the success of the overall reform carried out in 2018. Both measures are essential for streamlining the safe use of radiation and nuclear energy and targeting supervision in accordance with safety significance.

We actively participated in international co-operation in the field and familiarised ourselves with new nuclear plant concepts to ensure that we will also be prepared to assess the safety of new technologies as part of licence processing and to monitor their construction and use. We discussed with parties that are considering using nuclear power plants in the future, such as energy companies, cities interested in utilising nuclear energy, nuclear power plant suppliers and new operators. We informed them about the prerequisites and expectations for the safe use of nuclear power and questions related to the placement of plants.

Our key international co-operation project was providing support to the Ukrainian nuclear and radiation safety authority in the acute safety issues arising as a result of the war. The co-operation
is carried out together with other Nordic authorities and it also includes the delivery of a radiation measurement vehicle to Ukraine. We prepared a strategy regarding Nordic nuclear and radiation safety co-operation, aimed at strengthening safety co-operation related to radiation and nuclear safety in the region.

STUK’s financial situation remained stable, and we continued planning measures for strengthening cost-efficient operations and a sustainable financial position. STUK’s key measures for achieving productivity savings include reviewing the scope and financing of regional co-operation, increasing space efficiency and cost structure savings. Achieving the cost structure savings will be supported by strategic personnel planning, internal rearrangement of duties, use of shared government services and systematic monitoring of the cost structure. 

Well-being within the agency is the basis for all of STUK’s activities. Our most important asset is a competent, motivated and responsible personnel that feels well, along with such work and operational methods and organisational culture that support them. Based on the measurements and surveys carried out in 2024, our employees' well-being at work and employee experience are at a good level, and there is continued positive development in many areas. The results concerning the work of immediate supervisors attracted attention in particular, having improved significantly compared with the previous year. 

In a world that feels uncertain and even unsafe, it is important that people can trust us as an authority and expert organisation. Trust is a foundational prerequisite for our operations. According to the Reputation&Trust survey published by T-media at the end of the year, STUK’s overall reputation among citizens is at a good level. In light of the results, STUK is seen as an open and transparent organisation. 

Our values, which we revised last year together with our strategy, indicate the way in which we wish to continue operating: openly, appreciatively, boldly and co-operatively.

A warm thank you to STUK’s personnel, customers and other stakeholders for the year 2024. 

Petteri Tiippana
Director General