IRDP sponsored an extended siting review workshop for the Forum of Nuclear Regulatory Bodies in Africa (FNRBA). The workshop held October 18-21, 2010, was hosted by the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) of South Africa. This workshop was part of the second meeting of the FNRBA’s thematic working group on regulatory infrastructure for nuclear power plants. The countries represented at this workshop included Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Libya, Namibia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Tunisia, and South Africa.The workshop covered in detail the requirements and guidance associated with...
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AdSTM staff members Richard Barrett and William Bateman were invited by the Nuclear Energy Department of the Polish Ministry of Economy to lecture on nuclear safety and security to an audience of over 50 government officials from several National and local agencies. The Polish government is currently considering the advisability and timing of a possible nuclear power program. Mr. Barrett and Mr. Bateman gave presentations on a wide range of topics including the legal framework of safety regulation; the phases of regulatory oversight; the functions and activities of a regulator; the conduct of...
On August 26, 2010, representatives of AdSTM met with a representative of the Armenian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (ANRA) to discuss implementation of various aspects of the NRC sponsored International Regulatory Development Partnership program (IRDP) in Armenia and further areas of cooperation with the Armenian regulator.A significant area of discussion focused on the development of a licensing process and an accompanying procedure that could be used by ANRA, as well as other regulatory agencies with limited resources, in licensing reactor designs that were previously licensed in the...
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Office of Atoms for Peace (OAP) of the Kingdom of Thailand held a workshop in Bangkok, Thailand, from June 28 to 30, on best ways to regulate the location of nuclear power plants in that country. The OAP is Thailand's regulatory authority for the production and use of nuclear energy and radioactive materials. The workshop is part of NRC's partnership with countries considering new nuclear power plants. The goal of the program is to help participating countries develop sustainable regulatory infrastructures to protect the public and the environment....
NRC staff and support contractors traveled to Hanoi, Vietnam to present training and hold discussions with the Vietnam Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety (VARANS). Two courses were presented over a four day period. The first course presented was on Nuclear Codes and Standards. This training provided an introduction to and the importance of the use of codes and standards in the licensing process. The course provided insights into the fundamental principles incorporated into the design of nuclear generating stations, NRC requirements contained in Appendix A to 10CFR50, and a number of...
NRC staff and support contractors travelled to Yerevan, Armenia to present training and hold discussions with the Armenian Nuclear Regulatory Agency (ANRA). A three-day training course was presented on the requirements and guidance associated with reviewing an application for approval of a site for a nuclear power plant. The training was based on information contained in two generic documents previously developed by the IRDP: G-TR-S, “Reactor siting safety requirements,” and G-RG-S, “Reactor siting risk-informed review guide.” Topics covered in the training included natural and man-made...
IRDP sponsored a Nuclear Executive Workshop in Abuja, Nigeria for regulatory agencies of ten countries from throughout the African continent. The countries represented at the workshop are in various stages of developing a nuclear power capability. Many have been participating in the IAEA Milestone process, an approach in which a nation progresses systematically through stages of development toward eventual achievement of a nuclear power option.The workshop is designed to assist regulators in creating action plans to guide development of the capability to license and regulate nuclear power...
IRDP staff and contractors conducted a Nuclear Executive Workshop at the Hanoi offices of the Vietnam Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety (VARANS). The workshop included training sessions on regulatory agency structure; regulatory functions and activities; staffing; training and qualification programs. VARANS staff participated in “breakout” sessions where they could discuss options for developing their regulatory program. At the conclusion of the session, IRDP and VARANS management reached agreement on directions for cooperation in the coming year.
A paper describing the IRDP approach to development and implementation of a regulatory agency was presented at the ANS annual meeting in Atlanta. The paper described IRDP work in support of regulatory agencies in countries with emerging nuclear licensing programs. There was a great deal of interest and discussion on the part of attendees.
IRDP presented its first training session this month; a three-day program on site review at the Hanoi headquarters of the Vietnam Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety (VARANS). The content of the session mirrored the technical requirements and guidance contained in documents developed by the IRDP. Participants in the training consisted on management and staff of VARANS and a visitor from the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) of South Africa.