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 the review of the Atomic Energy Act (AEA). The draft revision of the AEA No. 7 has been prepared and is ready for the parliamentary procedure. Several legal and regulatory documents related to RN material (safety, transport, processing uranium ores, import/export of radioactive sources and uranium) have been approved or are in the draft form.
The security aspects of the management of radioactive sources are established by TAEC, though some improvements are possible. Specific expertise in nuclear security among TAEC staff, for drafting the regulations and procedures, for emergency preparedness and response, for nuclear security inspections, etc. could be enhanced, though the provision of specialized training. TAEC established the licensing process for import, export, transport, handling and possessing of radioactive materials, though the new security requirements for the radioactive sources are not yet fully reflected. The assistance in the development of the respective SOPs was requested.
The final disposal for radioactive sources is planed using borehole disposal in the long term. All disused or recovered orphan sources are stored in the Central storage for radioactive material, next to TAEC offices in Arusha. The ENCO experts visited this storage, assessed the applied security measures there and provided recommendations. The development of the RN emergency response plan, use of the available equipment and provision of the required additional radiation detection equipment, conditioning the disused sources, and upgrading the radioactive sources inventory control were all discussed, and the support needed for resolution will be elaborated.