IAEA experts asses challenges faced by Tanzania’s radiation safety regulation

Africa, News October 15, 2015 , by IRIA No Comments

Tanzania’s Atomic Energy Commission (TAEC) face several challenges in building an independent nuclear regulator but with strong commitment from the Government, the regulator has an opportunity to become an effective, independent body, an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of experts said.

“Tanzania’s regulator faces many challenges that also provide opportunities,” said team leader Tom Ryan, Head of the Radiation Protection Regulatory Programme at Ireland’s Environmental Protection Agency.

“With strong commitment from the Government and by tackling the challenges, the regulator has an opportunity to become an independent, strong and effective body.”

The IAEA Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) team recently concluded a 10-day mission to assess the regulatory framework for nuclear and radiation safety in United Republic of Tanzania.

The team of experts made recommendations and suggestions to the Government and TAEC to help them improve the country’s legal and regulatory framework and functions in line with IAEA Safety Standards.

John Mngodo, the Acting Permanent Secretary of the United Republic of Tanzania’s Ministry of Communication, Science and Technology, underlined the Government’s commitment to improve radiation safety regulation as recommended by the team and said the IRRS mission would “remain in the history of regulatory development in the country”.

Tanzania has no power or research reactors but plans to start mining uranium and uses radiation in medicine and industry.

Tanzania needs to establish an independent regulatory body with responsibility for controlling all radiation facilities and activities in the country, said experts in their preliminary findings, according to IAEA experts.

TAEC urgently needs to bring all unlicensed facilities using radiation under regulatory control, the team said, adding that the responsibility and functions for regulating uranium mining must be clearly delineated between TAEC and the Ministry of Energy and Minerals.

The team noted that TAEC has established a comprehensive system of academic education in nuclear sciences and technologies which contributes to regulatory staff’s education.

The experts noted that TAEC needs to update the country’s legislative and regulatory framework, develop and implement an integrated management system and use a graded approach that adapts the level of regulation to the level of associated risk.

The 13-member IRRS team comprised experts from Australia, Belgium, Ireland, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan and Zimbabwe as well as six IAEA staff members.

IRRS missions are designed to strengthen the effectiveness of the national nuclear regulatory infrastructure, while recognizing the ultimate responsibility of each State to ensure nuclear safety.

The team observed regulatory activities and held discussions with TAEC staff. Team members also visited two medical facilities and one industrial site that use radioactive sources.

The mission also provided recommendations and suggestions for improvements, including:

• The national radiation safety policy and strategy should be revised in line with international safety standards.

• TAEC’s staff with regulatory responsibilities should receive practical training to develop and maintain skills that enable them to perform their duties effectively.

• Potential conflicts of interest that could arise from providing technical radiation safety services while conducting inspections should be prevented.

• License applicants should submit a detailed demonstration of safety that should be assessed as part of the authorization process.