Communication

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Objectives

In accordance with our obligations specified in Act CXVI of 1996 (Atomic Energy Act) we must regularly inform the public on all activities and decisions regarding radioactive waste management and disposal. This does not only mean providing information, but also to have real dialogue with those citizens, who live in those areas which are most affected by our activities.

In order to be able to safely dispose radioactive waste, it is of utmost importance to gain widespread social acceptance and support.

Domestic and international experience shows that in order to solve the question of radioactive waste disposal, the support of the public and the affected communities toward the activities of our company is paramount. This requires continuous and targeted efforts.

The primary objective of the activities of our company related to communication is to gain, maintain and strengthen the trust and receptivity of those communities, that are most affected by our programs. This supports the long-term safe operation of our existing and planned facilities. We focus on building and maintaining strong relationships, as well as establishing dialogue with the local communities and the controlling and information associations of the surrounding municipalities.

Our communication programme is three-tiered: communication with the general public, with special groups and with the citizens of the municipalities surrounding our existing and planned facilities.

Communication activities

By utilizing the options made available by the Atomic Energy Act, our company not only uses its own communication tools, but also provides information via the controlling and information associations.

The Associations for our three sites and the research area are as follows:

Radioactive waste management is a task that spans generations; therefore, we pay great attention to address all ages. To be successful, we need to utilize a wide range of communication tools and avenues.

PURAM publishes its newsletter bimonthly with reports on its recent activities. Furthermore, PURAM provides professional materials for the periodicals of the associations to inform the citizens of the municipalities of the programmes that have relevance for them. (view our regional publications here)

Our website provides up-to-date information, our newsfeed contains the most recent events. We also publish short films on our activities on our Youtube channel.

Several times each year we evaluate our recent activities at a press conference, where journalists have an opportunity to learn of our work and ask questions.

We regularly provide opportunities for the members of the press to visit our sites, thus having first-hand information to relay to the public. Our publications provide a clear overview of our facilities and our activities, we also release leporellos on the most interesting topics for our curious readers. (view our publications here)

In cooperation with the associations we also organize competitions and children's quizzes in physics and chemistry to get feedback on their knowledge regarding radioactive waste management and to further educate the participants.

Youth is a high priority target group, so we regularly visit schools to educate the children on our activities during physics lessons.

Our most important tool is direct communication, our Visitors' Centres in Bátaapáti and Paks serve this purpose. (apply for a visit here)

At Bátaapáti a surface and an underground exhibition room is set up for education on our activities, where modern displays and a cross-tunnel in the granite awaits our visitors. The tableaus of the Paks Visitors' Centre present the activities of PURAM with a plotting board to enhance the experience. Up to now over 120 000 visitors visited our exhibition centres and sites.

As a testament to our open communication, the association members also operate a Controlling Committee, for which PURAM provides trainings. After passing the necessary exams, the Committee members - who are all citizens of the surrounding municipalities -, may observe the activities carried out at our sites, perform measurements, and report on their findings.

In cooperation with our Company, the Associations hold a professional day every year, where esteemed guests and lecturers present to the local citizens on topics related to radioactive waste management.

Public hearings are held whenever we plan to expand our facilities, or during licencing procedures. These public hearings are organized by the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority, where citizens may ask questions from the experts of relevant fields.

The mayors of the surrounding municipalities must be kept up-to-date with our current activities, therefore we are always available to discuss any question. Furthermore, we hold quarterly forums for the association members, where we summarize our activities regarding the previous period, thus reinforcing our openness and providing information to our target audience.

We have achieved high acceptability among the locals, which is proved by our bi-annual survey, as well as by the fact that locals are highly knowledgeable about our activities.