IAEA review says Egypt’s nuclear regulatory system meets global safety standards
An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) peer review found Egypt’s legal and regulatory framework for nuclear and radiation safety to be broadly aligned with international safety standards, Egypt’s Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Authority (ENRRA) said on Thursday.
The findings were presented at ENRRA’s fourth board meeting following the completion of the IAEA’s Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) mission, which was conducted from 13 June to 24 June at the request of the Egyptian government.
The mission assessed Egypt’s regulatory framework against IAEA safety standards and international best practices to evaluate oversight of nuclear and radiological activities.
An international team of 20 experts from 14 countries, supported by IAEA specialists, reviewed Egypt’s legislation, regulations, policies, and regulatory procedures. The mission also included interviews with relevant authorities and visits to the El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant, the Egyptian Second Research Reactor (ETRR-2), Children’s Cancer Hospital 57357, and a Petrojet facility.
According to ENRRA, the review found that Egypt has a strong legal and regulatory framework for overseeing nuclear and radiological activities and identified several examples of good regulatory practice.
Among the strengths highlighted were Egypt’s emergency preparedness and response system for nuclear and radiological incidents, its human resources development programme and knowledge management practices aimed at incorporating international expertise into regulatory activities.
“The mission’s findings confirm that Egypt’s peaceful nuclear programme is being implemented in line with the highest safety standards and mark an important milestone in the continued development of the country’s regulatory system,” ENRRA Chairman Hany Khodr said.
ENRRA said the review reflects Egypt’s commitment to international peer-review mechanisms and to strengthening its regulatory framework in cooperation with the IAEA to enhance nuclear and radiological safety.
Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English