Christer Viktorsson

FANR Board of Management appointed Mr. Christer Viktorsson as the new DG of FANR from June 1, 2015. Mr. Viktorsson is a nuclear physicist and has more than 35 years of experience in nuclear regulation and safety. He has worked nationally and internationally in the fields of nuclear safety, nuclear emergency preparedness, nuclear waste management, radiation protection, security and safeguards. Furthermore, he has extensive experience in nuclear policies and in the preparation and application of national regulations, international standards and peer reviews. He has given numerous lectures and presentations at a variety of fora as well as taken part in many bilateral and international negotiations in the area of nuclear cooperation. Mr. Viktorsson also has a degree in economics and is experienced in management and administration of state bodies. He graduated from Abo Academy University in Finland and spent his first 3 years after graduation in nuclear research at the University and radioisotope production for medical purposes. In 1995, he became the Deputy Director General of the Swedish Nuclear Safety Authority where he spent 10 years regulating the nuclear industry. He started his international carrier in 1987 when he was recruited to the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency in Paris for 6 years to set up an enhanced international cooperation in occupational radiation protection and emergency preparedness for nuclear accidents. From 2005 to the end of 2008 he worked at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna where he was in charge of policy matters in the Department for Nuclear Safety and Security.

Session Overview

Thursday, 6 November

11:00

Decarbonisation Conference Room A 11:00 - 11:40

Maximising nuclear's potential in today's energy industry

Nuclear energy is regaining global relevance as countries seek pragmatic, scalable, low-carbon solutions to deliver the energy the world needs in the most cost- and carbon-efficient way possible. With renewed investment in advanced fission, small modular reactors (SMRs), and early-stage fusion, nuclear is positioning itself as a dependable complement to renewables and a key enabler of energy security. SMRs are gaining momentum for their ability to deliver consistent baseload power and serve industrial energy needs. Fusion is also attracting significant funding from both public and private sources, fuelling long-term optimism despite commercial deployment being at least a decade away. Despite these milestones, advanced nuclear faces persistent challenges - from licensing complexity and financing hurdles to supply chain constraints and the need for reliable offtake agreements. As electricity demand continues to rise - driven by the growth of artificial intelligence (AI) across all sectors and the electrification of heavy industry - nuclear technologies offer a resilient pathway to low-emission energy. Realising their full potential will require collaboration across regulators, energy providers, and industry leaders to accelerate market readiness and integration into a transforming energy system.

Attendee Insights:

Hear how operators, technology developers, and policymakers are navigating the resurgence of nuclear, exploring the role of SMRs and fusion in securing low-emission energy while addressing the regulatory, financial, and infrastructure barriers to scale.