Problems with Regulator
Posted: 19th July 2025
The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has identified its “insufficient organisational capability” as an increasing strategic risk in its latest annual report. The risks are: Insufficient organisational capability, the ONR being ineffective at discharging its duties as a regulator, failure to deliver objectives due to an inability to respond to incidents, poor knowledge management, inflexible funding, the impact of changes to deliver leadership and insufficient security controls. Each of these risks has been analysed on whether it is static, increasing or decreasing. Notably, it said the risk of “insufficient organisational capability” was found to be increasing. This has “matured out of the former Insufficient Organisational Capability and Capacity risk to allow for an enhanced focus on the capability of the organisation. “We have implemented a review of regulatory competence and capacity to meet future regulatory requirements.” An ONR spokesperson told NCE: “The government has announced its biggest expansion of nuclear power in several decades and so maintaining a resilient regulatory capability and capacity to deliver our mission remains a key priority.