From August 27 – 30, 2018, The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (US NRC) –International Regulatory Development Partnership (IRDP) sponsored a workshop on the “Regulation of Research and Test Reactors” in Accra, Ghana. The workshop was organized by the Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NRA) of Ghana in collaboration with the Forum of Nuclear Regulatory Bodies in Africa (FNRBA), which included representatives from Burkina Faso, Cote D’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Madagascar, Morocco, Nigeria, and Senegal.
IRDP instructor, Mr. Richard Holm, provided participants with an overview and described practical application of the US NRC’s regulatory framework for Research and Test Reactors (RTRs); a review of guidance documents; and class exercises. Topics included RTR licensing, relicensing, and license amendments; Reactor Operator licensing; Safeguards and Security; incidents and events; emergency planning and decommissioning; and the format for RTR License Applications and Safety Analysis Reports.
Ms. Maureen Conley – US NRC, Office of International Program, and Ms. Tammy Way - Director, IRDP Program -- participated in the training throughout the week. In addition to the instructional sessions, each country representative presented on their country’s nuclear energy program, including their regulatory framework and training needs.
Throughout the workshop participation remained exceptional, which was exemplified by the participants’ questions and class discussions, and requests for additional information that would help in the development and/or update of their own regulations.