From November 5-8th, 2024, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC’s) International Regulatory Development Partnership (IRDP) participated in a four-day Nuclear Safety, Licensing, and Regulatory Development workshop in Kenya, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State under the Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology (FIRST) Program. Staff from the IRDP provided information on establishing a regulatory authority, the NRC licensing framework, an overview of the SMR Regulators’ Forum, key differences between Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and large light-water reactors, and examples of NRC experience with SMR licensing reviews.
Presenters from Sandia National Laboratories discussed nonregulatory subject matter, covering the International Atomic Energy Agency’s safety requirements for SMRs and guidance on emergency planning zones, an introduction to reactor safety analysis, waste management considerations, and examples of advanced reactor designs. FIRST partners from Japan, which included the Japan Atomic Industrial Forum International Cooperation Center, and the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry, provided insights on Japan’s nuclear policy in support of SMR development, the establishment of a regulatory workforce, and Japan’s practices for licensing and regulating commercial reactors.
The workshop facilitated discussions among the Kenya Nuclear Regulatory Authority and the Kenya Nuclear Power and Energy Agency on regulatory topics related to licensing SMRs. It successfully provided participants with a deeper understanding of potential approaches to regulating SMRs in Kenya.