Brief summary of the first expert mission in Accra, Ghana, 23-26 July 2018
Thursday July 26th, 2018
The first expert mission to Ghana, in the frame of the CoE project P 60, took place in Accra from 23 to 26 July 2018. The sixteen national participants (including three female participants) were staff of all main stakeholders of safety and security management and users of the radioactive sources. Two experts of the implementing Consortium (ENCO, SCK-CEN, and STUK) were also present at this mission. The objectives were to collect information and assess the status in the areas of interest for the CoE project P 60. The scope of the discussions included legal and regulatory framework, management of the radioactive sources including disused and orphan sources, inventory, accountancy and control of radioactive sources, national response plans in case of radiological incidents, equipment needs for detection and identification of radioactive sources as well as safety and security of storages for radioactive sources. The Ghana Nuclear Regulatory Authority (GNRA) was newly established by the Nuclear Regulatory Authority Act, 2015. At present, the NRA actively develops the new regulations, procedures and practice which are required to assure compliance with the IAEA standards and international best practice regarding security requirements for radioactive sources. Along with the development of new regulatory documents, NRA is…
Brief summary of the first expert mission in Malawi 10-13 July 2018
Friday July 13th, 2018
The expert mission to Malawi, in the frame of the CoE project P 60, took place in Lilongwe from 10 to 13 July 2018. Fourteen staff (three were female) from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (AERA), Environmental Affairs Department, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Transport, Malawi Police Service, and Bureau of Statistics participated in the meetings, along with three experts of the Implementing Consortium (ENCO, SCK-CEN, and STUK). The objectives of the mission were to collect information and assess the status in areas of interest for the CoE project P 60. The discussions addressed legal and regulatory framework, licensing, inspection and enforcement, import/export of radioactive sources, orphan sources, radiological EP&R, inventory of radioactive sources and accountancy, security management including transport, source/waste storage facility as well as the available detection equipment. AERA explained the structure of the legal and regulatory framework, different coordination mechanisms between AERA and other national organizations involved in safety and security of radioactive material. The authorization process and inspections are based on graded approach for security of radioactive material. AERA is responsible for drafting regulations, in addition to the Atomic Energy Act No. 16 of 2011 and Atomic Energy…
Steering Committee Discusses P-60 Implementation, Considers Next Steps
Tuesday July 10th, 2018
Brussels/Astana, June 2018. A regular meeting of Project 60 Steering Committee took place in Brussels on 22 June 2018. National Focal Points and radiological and nuclear (RN) experts from P-60 participating countries were joined by representatives of the project’s managing and implementing partners: the European Commission’s DEVCO and Joint Research Center, UNICRI, ISTC, the Secretariat of the CBRN ECA CoE, as well as by representatives of the Consortium, contracted to carry out the project’s trainings, expert missions, consultancies and country reports. New members of the SC coming from Ethiopia, the Seychelles, Tanzania, and OSA (the on-site assistance facility) were presented and welcomed. Jean-Pierre Bardoul, ICSP and EU CBRN CoE coordinator from the EU Delegation to Kenya pointed out that the meeting offers an excellent opportunity to take stock of the progress made in the Project’s implementation. Kamen Velichkov, P-60 Manager, ISTC, provided an introductory overview, clarified and answered a number of questions related to the project’s duration, to the preparation of country specific reports on management of radioactive sources that takes place during the ENCO experts’ missions, as well as to the assessment of the specific equipment needs of the participating countries - a question of primary importance to them.…
First expert mission in Uganda 2-5 July 2018
Monday July 2nd, 2018
The Expert mission to Uganda, in the frame of CoE project P 60, took place in Kampala from 2 to 5 July 2018. The twenty-one staff (five were women) from the main stakeholders including President’s Office, Ministry of Defense, Atomic Energy Council, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Justice, National Customs Authority, and the Data Expert Solution (DES) participated in the meetings. Three experts of the Consortium (ENCO, SCK-CEN, and STUK) implemented the mission. The objectives were to collect information and assess the status in areas of interest for the CoE project P 60. The scope of the discussions included legal and regulatory framework, activities using radioactive sources in Uganda, authorization process, inspection and enforcement, import/export of radioactive sources, radiological emergency preparedness and response, interim radioactive source storage facility, control of scrap metal companies, etc. Also discussed were training on going activities and future needs, international cooperation, national coordination related with safety and security of radioactive sources, specific nuclear security activities with the IAEA, current developments on different topics, etc. The Atomic Energy Council is the regulatory authority responsible for preparing the regulation. Drafting of several of those is ongoing. The legal texts and some standard operating procedures that are…
Brief summary of the first Expert Mission to Tanzania
Tuesday June 26th, 2018
The first Expert Mission to Tanzania, in the frame of CoE project P 60, took place in Arusha and Dar es Salaam in Tanzania from 26 to 29 June 2018. The sixteen national participants (including three female participants) were staff of all main stakeholders of safety and security management and users of the radioactive sources. Three experts of the implementing Consortium (ENCO, SCK-CEN, and STUK) were also present at this mission. The objectives were to collect information and assess the status and issues in the areas of interest for the CoE project P 60. The mission visited two locations, to enable the discussion with Arusha based regulator (TAEC, Tanzania Atomic Energy Commission) and other main stakeholders who are based in Dar es Salaam. The main sea port, international airport, national and international transport companies and main industries are in Dar es Salaam. TAEC also maintains a regional office in Dar es Salaam. TAEC was established by the Atomic Energy Act No. 7 in 2003. The improvements in regulations were introduced to reflect new international standards and good practices i.e. IAEA GSR Part 1, Part 3, etc. In addition, the IAEA Uranium Production Site Appraisal Team (UPSAT) visit in 2013 recommended…
Brief summary of the first expert mission in Seychelles
Wednesday June 13th, 2018
The first Expert Mission in Seychelles was conducted on 13 and 14 June 2018. The meetings took place in the Department of Risk and Disaster Management (DRDM) in Mahe. Representatives of other stakeholders including the regulatory authority, the customs and the police participated in the activities. Nine experts from Seychelles attended (including four female participants). One expert of the Implementing Consortium (ENCO, SCK-CEN, and STUK) was also present at this mission. The aim of the mission was to collect and assess the information and the status in the areas that are within the scope of the CoE project P 60, with the view of customizing the support to be provided to Seychelles. Where appropriate, the mission also provided the initial recommendations in the areas of interest. The regulatory authority staff explained that the Act covering their activities is mainly focused on radiation safety. There are no regulations on nuclear security in place as of now, but some regulations and guidelines are currently being drafted by the regulatory authority. Those include the authorizations, inspection and enforcement related with radioactive material. The regulatory authority staff provided explanations regarding the process to draft, approve and adopt regulations in Seychelles. The legal texts that…
Brief summary of the first expert mission in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 11-15 June 2018
Monday June 11th, 2018
The first expert mission to Ethiopia, in the frame of the CoE Project 60, took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 11 to 15 June 2018. The meetings were held in the Ethiopia Radiation Protection Agency (ERPA) premises. All of the relevant ERPA staff was available at any time for discussions. The other stakeholders were invited as required. In the opening presentation, Mr. Solomon Getachew, Director General of ERPA made an overview of the radiation protection infrastructure, legal and regulatory framework and management of radioactive sources in Ethiopia. The new Proclamation (Law) on safety and security of radioactive sources, approved in 2017, established the ERPA, under the Ministry of Science & Technology. ERPA initiated the development or updating of all nuclear security related regulations. An assistance in review of some of them in the frame of the Project 60 was requested. Ethiopia is not yet a party in nuclear security Conventions including CPPNM and its 2005 Amendment. Nevertheless, ERPA has active international cooperation (e.g. Forum of the Nuclear Regulatory Bodies in Africa (FNRBA), bilateral agreements with US DoE). Also, the discussions with neighboring countries (Sudan, Kenya, Somalia, Djibouti) on border control, information and experience sharing, etc. are ongoing. Significant steps…
ISTC-implemented Project on Nuclear Safety in Southern Africa Stimulates Contacts between Kazakh and South African Universities and Scholars
Friday June 1st, 2018
ISTC-implemented Project on Nuclear Safety in Southern Africa Stimulates Contacts between Kazakh and South African Universities and Scholars One of the specific features of the International Science and Technology Center is its ability to bridge scientific and academic communities, to blend the talents of experts and practitioners from distant parts of the world, such as Southern Africa and Central Asia. A convincing illustration in that regard is the EU-funded and ISTC-implemented project Support to the Southern African States in Nuclear Safety and Safeguards. The Project is designed to help upgrade the safety level of transcontinental uranium ore transportation from Tanzania and Malawi, through Zambia, till the port of Walvis Bay in Namibia. The ISTC established partnerships with leading South African universities, research institutions and nuclear safety training centres. In September 2017, the project participating countries gathered in Centurion, at the main facility of the RSA National Nuclear Regulator. One of the most active presenter at that meeting was Prof. James Larkin, Director, Radiation and Health Physics Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. From 23 to 26 May 2018 he was in Astana on a working visit. He met colleagues from the Kazakh University of Law and Humanities (KAZGUU), including Rector…
Brief summary of the first expert mission in Nairobi, Kenya, 21-24 May 2018
Monday May 21st, 2018
The first Expert Mission to Kenya, in the frame of the CoE Project 60, took place in Nairobi from 21 to 24 May 2018. The twenty-one national participants (including four female participants) were staff of all main stakeholders of safety and security management and users of the radioactive sources. Three experts of the implementing Consortium (ENCO, SCK-CEN, and STUK) were also present at this mission. The objectives of the mission were to collect information and assess the status in the areas of interest for the CoE project P 60. At the opening of the meeting, Mr. Joseph Maina, the Chairman of the Radiation Protection Board (RPB) introduced current arrangements and activities in relation with nuclear security in Kenya. The RPB staff and other stakeholders described in detail the present status and difficulties of the radioactive source management in their areas of responsibilities. Similar to many other countries, control of the disused sources and in the search of the possible orphan sources, which were used before the radiation source management was established, remains a challenge. The basic security related laws have been developed: the draft Nuclear Regulatory Bill has been prepared for submission to Parliament and the new Disaster Management Bill…
Project 60 featured in Geneva during the preparations for the 2020 Review Conference of the Parties to the NPT
Saturday May 5th, 2018
5 May 2018. Prof. Geoffrey Emi-Reynolds, a member of the Ghana National CBRN Team and former director general of Ghana Nuclear Regulatory Authority, participated recently at an event, convened by the EU Delegation to the United Nations in Geneva and dedicated to the management of the full-life cycle of radioactive sources. In line with the event’s main theme "Benefits of the NPT: international cooperation in radioactive sources throughout their lifecycle", prof. Emy-Reynolds spoke about Ghana’s positive experiences from participating in the EU CBRN Centres of Excellence Initiative and in particular the Project 60. He participated at the panel discussion together with representatives from the European Commission’s Joint Research Center, the EU Delegation to the UN in Vienna, the IAEA, and the French Nuclear Safety Authority. According to the information released by the organizer, the event focused on “the value of strong dialogue between researchers, field practitioners, operators, regulators and policy makers”; it also highlighted “synergies between technical cooperation, nuclear safety and nuclear security in contributing to the development and sustainability of nuclear science applications in different areas that use sealed radioactive sources”. The side event took place during the second session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2020 Review Conference…
