Fourth Nuclear Industry Summit focuses on industry's direction, security issues

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The fourth Nuclear Industry Summit was held recently in Washington, D.C., where hundreds of nuclear energy industry leaders convened to discuss the future of nuclear technology, cybersecurity and the securing of nuclear materials, among other topics.

The first summit was hosted in 2010 by President Obama, and the two other summits were held in South Korea and the Netherlands.

More than 50 heads of state and four international organizations presented at the latest event, which included discussion of intergovernmental policies in relation to global nuclear security. The policies outlined methods of nuclear-terrorism prevention as well.

Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) President and CEO Marvin Fertel spoke about the industry and how connected it is to a wide range of subjects.

"In medicine, agriculture, manufacturing, research, electricity production and myriad other areas, nuclear technologies and materials raise standards of living and literally save lives," Fertel said.

During the summit, three working groups were formed to finalize actions from previous summits in three key areas: cybersecurity, the future of nuclear technology and the securing of nuclear materials.