15 Dec (NucNet): An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of experts said South Africa has a robust regulatory framework for nuclear safety, but recommended a number of improvements related to regulatory independence and the oversight of radiation safety. The Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) team concluded on 15 December 2016 an 11-day mission to assess the regulatory framework for nuclear and radiation safety in South Africa. Regulatory responsibilities in the country are shared by the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR), which regulates the operation of nuclear facilities and fuel-cycle facilities, and the Directorate Radiation Control (RadCon) in the Department of Health, which regulates the use of radiation sources in medicine and industry. “We found that the NNR is an effective regulatory authority with competent staff, a strong safety culture and solid infrastructure,” said team leader Victor McCree, executive director for operations at the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission. But Mr McCree noted that RadCon lacked sufficient financial resources and staff to fully maintain its regulatory function. He welcomed a government initiative to integrate the regulatory responsibilities of NNR and RadCon into one single authority and called for its acceleration to further strengthen the country’s regulatory oversight of nuclear and radiation safety. The IRRS team said the government should ensure that the regulatory authorities are effectively independent by allocating adequate resources and ensuring that regulatory judgements and decisions can be made “without undue influences that might compromise safety”. The team said the government should establish a policy for decommissioning facilities and a process to develop waste management plans, as well as complete its plans to create a national fund for radioactive waste management. It called on the regulatory authorities to develop and maintain regulations and guides consistent with international standards, and to “systematically collect and analyse operating experience”. South Africa’s Koeberg nuclear power station near Cape Town has two reactors that generate almost 5% of the country’s electricity. The country also has one research reactor, several fuel cycle and waste management facilities and uranium mines. It uses many radiation sources in medical and industrial applications, the IAEA said.
